Mission 2 - Be careful what you wish for.......

Left over piece of Tunnel lol

8th July
True to form, Yogi is ready to set off Sunday morning and not Monday morning as we had agreed previously!! lol.
Was wondering what on earth I could blog about today as have already told you about this bit of canal but so much has happened I'm spoilt for choice!! 

Beer 'O' Clock!!

Anyway, as I said. On the start of toady's journey I was sitting on the boat wondering what to blog about. We had just entered the Blisworth Tunnel and I decided to have a play with the video thing on my phone. I still haven't worked out how to edit them or get them on line yet so I thought I would have a play. I was videoing my hangy things swinging about. (I made myself laugh then!!! Lol not THOSE hangy things, my ornaments and plants of course!!). When I was bored with that, I looked about for something else to record that's when I spotted a headlight in the distance 'cool' I thought 'I can video that'. So with my best commentators voice I started to record proceedings and this is what happened.............

           **Click Here for My First Video!!**

After the excitement in the tunnel subject for blog was no longer a problem lol.
Next point of call is Stoke Bruerne, and the flight of locks there.   It's normally quite busy there as its a local attraction with the canal, cafes, museum and pubs.  Today was extra busy though, all moorings full of boats, some two a breast. As we approached the top lock a very large gathering of people came into view. All brightly dressed, skipping about waving their arms in the air. As we got closer it became apparent they were Morris dancers!!. (I love Morris Dancers, not sure why, I just do). Not just one group of them but at least ten!! It was like being an extra in the Wiccaman!! Quite funny but creepy at the same time. They were having some kind of dance off wars frantically jingling and skipping about, each trying to out do the other!! Like I said, pretty surreal. We decided the only thing to do in this situation was go get a pint and watch the proceedings unfold.
We spent the next couple of hours people watching and wandering aimlessly looking at the boats surrounding us. It was a most unexpected and welcome rest.  We even found Geraldine and Mike on the Cheese Boat again and stocked up on Black Bomber and a new discovery, Ginger Spice. Yum yum yum.


9th July  

Running Sculpture in Milton Keynes Housing Estate

Here Be Shops.....

Not much to say about today, was chugging in a big way to cover some ground.  We stopped briefly in Milton Keynes so I could get to the Post Office and post some parcels.  We are starting to learn that if there are boats moored en mass that normally means there is a shop nearby and sure enough there was lol

The Mission - Phase 2

OK, we now have a new plan.  No longer are we going to wander aimlessly around the waterways at a leisurely pace and take in the sights and sounds of the cut.  Not for the next 6 weeks or so anyway.  We are heading back to Roydon to collect Viking and bring her back to Braunston.  Silver Blue is going to be looked after by young Jack who visited us a few weeks back.  So, move off of Silver Blue, onto Viking then off of Viking and onto new boat.  I cant give you any details about the new boat yet as I would have to kill you if I told you now. ;0)

Braunston in April

So, phase 2 of Yogis mission begins. Back to Roydon in less time than canalplan says a normal person should be able to manage it lol.
4th July we set off for Southern Waters and made our way towards the Braunston Lock Flight.  I had got used to single locks and to go back to double ones was a bit of a shock to the system the gates are sooo much heavier!!  But I managed and we were heading for the Braunston Tunnel in no time.  It is really funny, I really hated these tunnels on the way up, but after the Standedge they are positively spacious!! lol 


We stopped for the night just before Norton Junction and just after passing NB Cornmill which has apparently just had new paint and is much shinier than normal.  I thought she was looking even more stunning than usual and now I know why.

5th July its the Buckby Lock flight, 7 locks all down hill, excellent.  We arrived at about 9am and there were 2 boats already going through so we sat and waited for our turn.  I was just getting sorted when I saw a black boat pass our window and thought to myself 'cool, someone to share the locks with'.
Got my kit together and went outside to start doing the lock and Yogi told me to get back on the boat?  Perplexed I was to say the least, but I did as I was told and made my way onto the boat to find myself standing next to Geraldine of The Cheese Boat.  How fantastic to meet her and her other half Mike, what a fantastic couple!! I am not just saying that either they are lovely.  We tied our boats together, Mike drove, Yogi did the locks and Geraldine and I chatted for the duration of the flight.  At the bottom we met up at the cafe at the Whilton Marina and had a fry up together too!!  What a top day, I had a lovely relaxing day, didn't have to do any locks, met a really fab couple and didn't have to cook lunch. I don't think today can be topped, I really don't.