Tuesday 23^rd October 2018

Last night when we were in the Boat Inn having our dinner, Brenda suddenly started to get a lump on the right side of her neck that just got bigger, eventually sticking out further than her ear. It was really painful for her but disappeared as quickly as it appeared and was completely gone by the time we got back to the boat.

While she is better today, she has felt grotty all day and hasn’t felt up to doing anything. It was a wake-up call though, as to how vulnerable we can be if one of us becomes sick. Brenda would be a lot more prepared for this than myself. She always googles for local surgeries wherever we are.

We had reached the limit of our allowed stay in Stoke Breune so had to leave. I first went up to the locks and found Sister Mary’s gravestone. She is buried in nearby Roade churchyard but her gravestone was threatened with destruction when the site changed ownership and function. The new owners, recognising its significance, gifted it to the Canal Museum. 

I called at a fuel boat that had arrived, Corona, and bought 2 x 25kg bags of coal. One of Excel @ £11.50 and one of Homefire Ovals @ £13.50. We have been using Excel but thought we would also try another type to compare.

We set off and almost immediately came to Blisworth Tunnel again. We met two boats coming towards us so the passage took slightly longer. It is virtually impossible to judge the distance of a boat coming towards you in a tunnel until they are almost right on top of you. Invariably, you always slow down early.

Beyond the tunnel it is a short distance to Blisworth village, passing the impressive Westley’s Mill and Pickfords Wharf. Westley’s was originally a spice mill, now converted to apartments. Pickfords Wharf was actually owned by the same house removal company we know today; they were an early canal cargo carrying company. We moored up just beyond the mill and had a Mandarin Duck swimming around the boat, the first duck other than mallards, moorhens and coots we have yet seen.

I scrubbed the back half of the roof. The non-slip paintwork is beginning to acquire a black mouldy growth. While the scrubbing hasn’t removed it, it looks a lot better. The boat hook and pole were given another coat of paint each.

I visited the local store for bread and milk. Blisworth looks a delightful place full of old, thatched cottages. With the pale yellow Northampton shire stone, the buildings are very pleasing. However, we are leaving the exploration until we cruise the Grand Union Canal from one end to the other.

Weather: another nice day although much cooler.

Day Total: 0 locks; 2 miles; 1 Tunnel; 0 Swing Bridge; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 0.9

Overall Total: 293 locks; 489 miles; 22 tunnels; 2 Swing Bridge; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 301.3