Mike Stevens' UK Inland Waterways Pages

TRIP REPORTS : THE YEARS BETWEEN BOATS

KENT GREEN & THE LEICESTER RING

August 1986

Part 2 : Kilby Bridge to Coventry

In the afternoon we were whooshed up the flight by the lock-keeper and a band of helpful gongoozlers. Some small children asked for a ride, so I took them into the well-deck. Ian, ever the educator, took the boat right up to the top gates in one lock and gave the youngsters the thrill of expecting to be drenched or drowned. At the top lock Peter strode out along the towpath and asked how far is was to the next lock. On being told "20 miles" he changed his mind and got on the boat. We found evidence of some dredging in places on the summit, which was prettier than we remembered it. At Stockleys Bridge (before Yelvertoft) Peter found us a pretty mooring at 18:57, with enough depth and decent towpath.

We had a lie-in and Ian did early coffee before we started at 07.36. It was a pretty but gusty run to Watford, where there was no queue at the locks. Our reverse gear played up. The lock-keeper's goats were happy to accept carrots, but otherwise a bit shy. At Welton Hythe we took on water and had a pump-out at the new Weltonfield marina: impressive but very exposed. At Norton junction we joined the GU main line, moored and went for a very slow pub lunch (poor kitchen organisation?) at the New Inn at the top of Buckby locks. We heard that Duggie, the lock-keeper at Buckby, had retired, still lived in the village and "is drinking well". In later years I was to meet him again in The Boat at Stoke Bruerne. The new lock-keeper seemed pleasant and had a huge, sleek, satisfied-looking dark red cat in the lock cottage window.

Continuing after lunch, we had to queue for Braunston locks, and moored at Braunston, by bridge 1 at 17:50.

The Josher steamers President & Viceroy moored nearby just after us. President has been converted back to steam operation, but Viceroy hasn't. We went to the launderette but were too late for the shops. I retired to bed exhausted while the others had a good dinner at The Old Plough.

Ian, Peter & Wendy were up at 07:30 for shopping. It wasn't as good here as it used to be. We started boating at 08:38 in alternating sunshine & clouds. We took on water then joined the northern section of the Oxford Canal, stopping next at Stretton Stop to shop for souvenirs etc. in the very good boatyard shop. At Hawkesbury junction we headed in to Coventry, mooring in the basin there at 18:48. Restoration of the old warehouses was in progress. What was finished looked good.