Out for the evening

Friday 2nd July 2010
This edition of the blog will contain notes on the current sartorial choices of towpath cyclists.

I finished work a bit early, so suggested to Alan that we spent the night on the boat. We need to talk about what we are planning to do for the summer break, and how we are going to get various things things done on the boat, and I had the idea that we could sit in the evening sunshine with a glass of wine.

Alan suggested that we moved north a couple of locks, to be away from the railway, which seemed a good idea. There are winding holes (if you include the unofficial places where we can wind a 50ft boat) every few locks in the section north of us.

We set off, but found that immediately below the Seabrook 3 we couldn't get the boat into the side, so ended up mooring just above the Ivinghoe locks, with a view of the Chilterns across the canal. We cooked dinner, and chatted about our plans. "What we need is 'Cruising Rings and Other Things'", I said, so Alan opened the cupboard to get the book out, and we moved forward in the boat to look at the various options.

A bit later we heard chomping noises, only to find that Charlie had discovered the loaf of bread that I'd put in the cupboard, had dragged it off the shelf by pulling on the plastic bag that I'd put it into and had taken a couple of large bites out of the top. I cut the top off the loaf, thinking that we could still make sandwiches with the remainer tomorrow, and threw the cuttings out for the ducks - I don't want Charlie thinking that he can just take a couple of bites and he'll get the rest for his tea.

When Alan rebuilt the middle section of the boat he added a very useful cupboard, the top shelf of which we use for our books. One of the useful features of this cupboard is that when the door is opened it blocks off the back part of the boat - good if you've got someone else staying on the boat and sleeping in the front section, or if you want to change clothes in some privacy. However, you do have to shut it when you take things out, or the dog will start to look for some extra food.

In the dusk a duck with 11 large ducklings came by and began to attack the weed just under the water line of the boat.

We took Charlie for a walk down to Horton Lock, the sun slowly setting in a stunning display of pink and orange. On the way back a field full of young cattle charged up the field to huddle in the corner peering at us over the fence - there must have been 40 or more, but it was too dark to take a photo - all we could get was pictures of glowing eyes in the dark.



Horde of cows













Saturday 3rd July
We were quite sluggish getting started, so it was much later than usual that we started up the boat and got going. After some discussion we decided that it was far too nice a day to wind the boat between Ivinghoe locks, so decided that we'd set off for Slapton and turn there. I knew I'd got things to do at home, but any excuse to go off boating....

Just as we finished emptying the top Ivinghoe lock a little boat, with a balcony of flowers on the front, arrived behind us. We waited for them at the next lock and shared with them for several locks.

Maude-Again is a 20ft 6 inch fibreglass boat that the owners built in their back garden. It took them a year, and it is built of flat sheets of fibre-glass provided by a local supplier who manufactures his own flat sheets. The owners explained that the advantage of this is that for three weeks after manufacture the sheets are flexible, and can be bent into curves. This way they managed to get away with not having an expensive mould for the boat. They used galvanised forms for the corners. They told us that they had built the boat 7 years ago, and it took a year to build. They now trail it all over the country, and have travelled extensively in their boat - all credit to them.

Signs at Slapton.


















We were going so well that somehow Slapton came and went (who wants sandwiches made from a loaf with the top cut off anyway), and we kept heading north. Eventually we got to Grove, where we knew that we really did have to turn around - but not before trying out the pub. Several people had said that the food is good, if a bit expensive. It was a little pricey, but nothing out of the ordinary, and the food was fresh and quickly served. The 'fat chips' that came with our meals were excellent, and in quantities that I really couldn't cope with - although I tried valiantly.


Alan steers, approaching Church Lock, just past Grove Marina.
We winded, and headed south again. The canal seems much busier today than I've seen it in ages - far more boats moving than usual. The sun continued to beat down, although by now there was a slight breeze.

Coming back through Horton a group of young men on mountain bikes passed us. They were all dressed differently, some in long trousers, most in shorts, and the final one in cycle shorts. Now, I own several pairs of cycle shorts, which I invariably wear underneath cycle tracksters. They are very comfortable, but I wouldn't impose my rear in cycle shorts on any unsuspecting passers by. It is a feature of cycle shorts on bumpy towpaths that they make visible a disturbing quiver - except in the most rock hard derrieres of the truly addicted cyclist. I was just considering what kind of mexican wave version of this I might be capable of - when another small peleton of cyclists shot past. The final young man in this case had eschewed cycle shorts for a very fetching crimson dress. It was a strapless dress with a tight velveteen bodice and a full circular skirt bordered with white hearts reaching to about half way down his well toned thigh. From his cycle bag protruded a long, curly blonde wig, which he had presumably decided was unwise on such a hot day.

I was so struck by this sight that I completely failed to notice that the lock was full. Alan had slowly been moving the boat forward, and it pushed the gates open - leaving me stuck on the non-towpath side - which prompted one of those completely pointless arguments that can only happen on a very hot sticky day.

Charlie tethered to the lock sign to keep him safe while we work the boat through.

This photo shows the old pumping house beside the middle Seabrook lock. There were water supply problems on the canals from the early days, and there are many pumping houses next to short flights of locks, where the water was back pumped from the bottom lock to the top pound. Many of these old pumping houses are now homes, this one remains empty, with doors barred against entry. Alan wandered over and took some photos. On the other side are boarded windows.

We got back to the mooring far, far later than we should have, having had a really great day, but not really having got much further with our discussions of what we need to do.