A hot days Cruising

We got up at 7.00am and sorted ourselves out.. we watched Adam leave going in the other direction just before us as we then set off..We crossed the Ouse aqueduct and headed into Wolverton..

The Grand Union then took us all the way round Milton Keynes past Giffard and Campbell Park when we hit the first lock at Fenny Stratford.

 This is a unusual lock because it has a swing bridge and a pub in the middle of it.

We were lucky enough to not have to shut the gates or the bridge due to another boat wanting to come in..  but our luck run out when we got to Willowbridge Marina. They were craning out a boat as we approached so we pulled opposite the marina as the boat swung round and just missed our bow..

We then waited and they got the boat out the way just as another boat came along and pulled in on the diesel pump, "oh we were waiting to go on there" we shouted..  They did offer to move but we said we didn't mind waiting (we did really).. After watching them rush about we got on the diesel pump and got a gas bottle which had run out on our journey here.. With our wallet feeling lighter we set of again to turn the corner and find a diesel boat selling diesel at eight pence a litre cheaper, it would have saved us eleven pounds (another beer night) Oh well, gutted!! We then got to Stoke Hammond Lock which we have got to say is one of the prettiest locks on the Grand Union..

From there it was onto the Three Locks at Soulbury. There were two volunteers on here and it made fast work of them, just as well with all the onlookers from the pub restaurant..

The day had been warming up and was getting to the stage where we just wanted to sit in it, so we found a mooring we like at Old Linslade..

We set the telly up and had another beer and some nibbles out in the cratch and watched the boats go by..

Quiet Weekend required

Well after what had gone on last week Al just wanted to chill on Derwent6 so chill we did.... we're good at that.. The weather has been cracking and made you feel a bit lethargic so it was ideal for us to relax.. we watched the tennis and grand prix all weekend.. On Saturday night we treated ourselves to the pub and had a nice meal with a few beers.. It has been nice to sit out in the cratch with a candle and drink wine with some cheese and biscuits late into the evening....
On Sunday we did much of the same (enjoying marvellous Murray) but in the evening we met up with Adam on n.b Briar Rose. He was out on a trip on his own....you might know Adam from the Canal Boat reviews he does on new boats.

We had a long chat about what we were up to and his trip plans in September. We planned an early start in the morning so it was to bed for us at 10.30pm..

A meet in London for JBJ

So Al was still down in Kent looking after her Mum while her Dad was in hospital..he still wasn't allowed to have his second bout of chemo and he was getting frustrated in there.. Al wasn't getting much sleep with her Mum up all night worrying about Alf, so a viscous circle really and also her arm had come up in a massive bruise..

Del had to stay with Derwent6 because  of where we were.. but he wasn't complaining.....
On Friday we planned to meet up. We had a Bon Jovi concert in London, so Al got some relief from her sister and met Del at Green Park tube station at 10.30am. We got in the fan club queue and she got a call from her Dad saying they were releasing him from hospital that afternoon and could come home.  They still couldn't give him his second bout of chemo but hey ho at least he was back home..This also meant that Al could return back to Derwent6 after the concert. We picked up our gold circle tickets and then got something to eat at Maccy D's..

It was nice to catch up with what had gone on..  We went to the toilet (as you do) before we left Macdonals and Del spotting their funny caption in the mens urinals... it said " This waterless urinal saves up to 100,000 litres of water a year" and you can see why, you couldn't use the bloody thing!!...

At 2.30pm we queued to get into the venue and decided we didn't want the barrier this time so sat at the back of the gold circle section so we could rest our backs against the fence, it was quiet nice in the sunshine and we did have a three hour wait till the band came on.. we had a band called BUSH who turned out to be very good then the Kaiser Chiefs came on and were very average we've got to say, with "I predict a riot" being their best hit.. 

Bon Jovi came on at 7.20pm and played till 10.20pm, so we had three hours of bliss even though Richie Sambora, Al's favourite guitarist. didn't play.. She wasn't happy!! but Jon, Dave and Tico performed well.

After the concert we got back to Green park with the thousands and then just managed to get a seat back to Milton Keynes on the main line train.. We walked back to Derwent6 at 1.00pm knackered, Del and Al styley!!! Live while we're alive and sleep when we're dead, still running through our heads....

Single to Cosgrove

Al was staying at her Mum and Dad's last night while Del stayed on Derwent6, so it was disappointing news to find out her Dad's chemo due on Tuesday had been cancelled due to the fact he had the shivers..he was fine in himself but they wouldn't do it in case he had an infection.. They also wouldn't release him from hospital.. so Al stayed to look after her Mum.. Del stayed with Derwent6 and did the brasses and a few other jobs.
On Wednesday, we found out they were going to now do his chemo on Thursday so he would have to stay in on Wednesday, no wonder you can never get a bed when you need one.. Del decided to move Derwent6 even though we were on a fourteen day mooring..

The weather did break during the day and Del made his way through Grafton Regis and Yardley Gobion.

It was a lovely slow cruise in the sunshine and he soon made it to Cosgrove.

When he arrived at the lock someone was sitting on the lock gate and opened it as it was in Del's favour.. On the other gate was a girl who opened them when the lock was ready...... touch!!

Del needed to find a mooring and there was one space left which he squeezed into... just in time to set the telly up and watch the tennis... well done Murray!!

Down the locks in pain

On the Monday all seemed very quiet on board Derwent6.. We had been here at the top of the locks too long but we had phoned CART to let them know we were overstaying by a day.. We set off early so we could catch the locks in our favour but that went wrong when we untied and two boats passed us..

So the two boats must have felt sorry for us as they refilled the lock as they left which made it a bit easier.. Al then whacked her arm on the windlass as the catch never went down properly.. Del rushed in and got a cold flannel but she still had a big bruise come up..

We got to the bottom of the locks and there were spaces on the 14 day moorings..

We set up and then Al got the bus and train down to Kent as her Dad had to have another bout of chemo, and her Mum had to be looked after.. Del stayed with Derwent6...

British Grand Prix Weekend

With another two crew members you would have thought we would have been off this morning but we had other plans.. We had tickets to see the British Grand Prix which was a 21st birthday present for David..

We were up early and ready to go at 8.00am. Sarah drove us to the circuit and then returned to Derwent6 .. The weather on Friday was not too clever but we were excited about seeing the cars all be it they were balls of spray when they went past us on their practice sessions.

The weather was better in the afternoon and we watched them nearing top speeds, pretty scary in real life. We left at 5.00pm and Sarah picked us up at a meeting point a mile away from the circuit. We quickly got showered and spruced up before we hit the M1 down to Kent..


We hit a bit of traffic but we managed to walk into Terry's 60th Birthday party at 8.45pm.. We were pleased we made it as it was a lovely surprise for her to see us as she thought we wouldn't be able to make it. It was also great to catch up with all the family...

We left just after 11.00pm and made our way back to Derwent6 at Stoke Bruerne, arriving at 1.15am.. yes a long day!
On the Saturday, qualifying day, we were up and out at 8.00am again. We had got it sussed now with the seven mile drive through the lanes to the circuit. We had to walk pass the hotel where the racing drivers were staying. Al got to meet up with Sergio Perez, Jenson Buttons teammate.

We also met Romain Grosjean from the Lotus team and also Jean Todt....

We watched the qualifying from the bend Copse which they take at 170 mph.. It was great to watch Lewis Hamilton put it on Pole.
When we got back to Derwent6 in the evening we then got ready and went to the Indian restaurant here in Stoke Bruerne called The Spice of Bruerne. We had a nice meal but we all found small bits of plastic in the chutney and ended up getting a free meal for two  next time we go.. With full tummies and knackered we fell into bed..
Sunday, Race day.. Up like a lark and excited about the race we got to the circuit a bit earlier. It was a lovely day and nice and warm. We saw a few more drivers on the parade laps and watched the GP2 and GP3 races.

 At midday the Red Arrows Display team done their stuff, and blew you away as usual.

The race was one to remember as Lewis got away and then had a puncture, the crowd sighed. This left Vettel in front and then he broke down, the crowd cheered. And Rosberg won the race and Hamilton finish a brilliant 4th with the crowd cheering on every lap..

Afterwards we were able to go onto the track and go to the after race party on a massive stage..

So it was a fantastic day, but we were shattered. We got back and then went over the pub for something to eat which David very kindly paid for, before Sarah Bernie and David made the journey back to Kent.

After a bit of a tidy up we fell into bed ready for an early start in the morning..

A New Chimney

With Al away again Del was up early and polished the roof of Derwent6 due to all the white marks over it from the tunnel..he noticed that the chimney was loose so decided to change it.. After inspecting the collar you could see it needed cleaning up and painting.. Then he adjusted the chimney to fit the collar.. Of course the brasses needed doing and the new chimney..

The afternoon was spent watching the tennis..  Later in the evening Al returned with friends Bernie and Sarah and we quickly went down the pub for a quick drink and something to eat.. knackered we all fell into bed as we needed an early start in the morning...

Stoke Bruerne arrival

Del was up early and set off this morning at 7.45am.. it was lovely cruising with the mist on the water and all the wildlife out.. 

Al and David had the chance to have a lie in as there were no locks..after a hour Al surfaced and Del had got to Gayton junction..

David surfaced just before we entered Blisworth tunnel.. 

We got very wet in the tunnel and we were lucky enough to find a mooring before the top of the locks at Stoke Bruerne..

We had some lunch and then went for a walk to suss things out before Al had to get the bus at 2.15pm to Kent to see her Dad.. Alf had recovered well from his first bout of chemo and he now has some check ups to see how he is getting on..

Del and David watched the tennis in the afternoon before heading down the pub for something to drink and eat...rude not to!!

On to Bugbrooke

We were up early  but decided to have some breakfast before we headed down the Buckby flight..

With David as our help in hand we timed it so we didn't have to queue and went down with a hire boat with a good crew.. it made life very easy for us all through these normally difficult locks..

Once we hit the bottom lock it was easy cruising through the very pleasant countryside where we stopped for water at Weedon..

We then continued on through Nether Heyford and moored just before Bugbrooke..

The first thing we did was put up the washing line in this glorious weather. Then David brought out a couple of beers and we put up the chairs and table..

It wasn't long before the BQQ was on the go..