Saturday, 13 June 2015

Another Trip to Stoke Bruerne

(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)
Retrospective post for Sunday 7th June

We are now well into the festivals and galas season, so will be attempting to attend as many by boat as we are able, although with so much to do on "Flamingo", we are resigned we will be doing less this year than we might have in previous years.

One lock completed at Stoke Bruerne - waiting for the 2nd.
One that is on our "must do" list is the Stoke Bruerne Family Festival with "Sickle" at least , because, like last year, we have commited her to be used for one of the displays.  Our hope  is to have her joined by "Flamingo", which is the first opportunity we have had to get both boats together.

So, once again, we find ourselves into planning logistics of moving boats about, and being able to get back to retrieve cars.  As our son Michael uses one of our cars during the week, any short boat moves involving a "two car shuffle" can only be done at a weekend.  Thus we elected to move "Sickle" up to Stoke Bruerne the weekend before the festival.

Onwards and upwsards......
Not a lot to report for the trip, although I could maybe mention the Wyvern Shipping hire boat in the tenuous "control" of one of the least competent crews I have witnessed in many years.  Four of them were stood around the tiller and the controls, and as one got into difficulty with a bad manouvre, another then grabbed the tiller, and completely over-compensated in the other direction.  Thus they zig-zagged down the canal, largely avoiding the banks, except at the bridge holes, which didn't fare as well!  In the end I did what I never usually do, and TOLD them I was coming past, rather than asking them if I could.

We had an easy passage up the locks, but having started late at the other end, and hit several hold ups on the way, our actual arrival wsas quite late.  We elected to grab a quick meal at the pub, before starting to round up the cars, but at least "Sickle" was now where she needed to be.

Fenny Stratford to Stoke Bruerne
Miles: 17.6, Locks: 8
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