Today was the first really warm day of our trip, with lots of sunshine and the canal was completely still when we set off, with barely a ripple.
Our first port of call this morning was shopping so we moored where the canal was very close to the road and just a few minutes walk through a field of broad beans to the One Stop grocers in Nether Heyford.
We managed to get milk, broccoli, bananas and a couple of treats – a cheesy pasty for a Chris and a pork pie for me, then walked back. After a coffee sitting in the sun, we set off again to Weedon Bec, checking out the best place to moor – not too close to the railway or the road, not on a bend or narrow stretch, reasonable view and walking distance to our walk start point and the pub for dinner tonight! At Weedon Wharf we had reached the furthest extent of our journey and turned round at the winding point – a kind of three point turn for boats – and Chris did a grand job.
We returned to our chosen mooring beside a big field with a couple of mobile homes parked and had lunch, again in the sun!
The afternoon was spent walking, following part of the Nene Way from Weedon, through Flore to Nether Hayford then back through fields along another path. It was well signposted and we have never walked through so many fields of broad bean plants with their pretty pink flowers!
There were flower filled meadows too …
…and we played poo sticks in the River Nene with fronds of cow parsley (3-1 to Mrs Hayes!) The half-time exotic Soleros from the One Stop were delicious.
In the evening we went to The Narrowboat at Weedon having booked a table in advance, and it was the first time we’ve had dinner our together this year! Since it was still warm, we chose to sit in the garden with a view of the canal as we munched through pizza and chunky chips and a couple of pints for Chris and burger and red for me … but we did clock up 7 miles today, so we deserved it!
Next day we began our return trip and spent the morning enjoying the more rural feel to this section of the canal. As we approached Gayton Marina, we phoned ahead to check they could pump out our loo as the gauge had moved into the red, not glamorous, but necessary and swiftly achieved.
We moored up nearby and had lunch then set out on a walk to explore the Northampton Arm on the Grand Union Canal that branches off at Gayton Junction.
It may only be 4.75 miles long, but it packs in 17 locks and joins the River Nene which enabled goods to travel from Northampton to London and the Midlands. It is also a narrow canal, so each lock only takes one boat at a time and it also has a couple of draw bridges.
Recent restoration has made this a quaint stretch with a mosaic nature challenge which spells a phrase …but this is remains a mystery as we only followed the canal part of the way … guesses welcome!
We saw one boat coming up, and a lady with a novel method of not having to walk round to close the lock gate!
At lock 10, we crossed the canal, jumped over a ditch …
… and continued our walk through fields. It seems like nearly every field we walk through is planted with broad beans so today we had the Guess the Crop Challenge – as we approached each new field I guessed beans and Chris guessed anything else and somehow won 3-0 so after the Pooh sticks, we are even! We have since found out that beans are a major crop in the area but most are field beans used as animal feed, even though they look like broad beans.
There are field margins round all the fields and every walk I’m amazed that I’m still spotting new flowers …
… and also some swinging ladybirds
Four miles later we got back to the Grand Union Canal and crossed the Gayton Turnover bridge, specially designed so horses could change sides without detaching the tow ropes – the towpath changes sides in the first place so the horses don’t end up wonky from always pulling the the same side.
Back at Daisy we had tea and cake and then decided to moor for the night a little further on … which became even further on as we missed our last good chance to moor before the Blisworth Tunnel and had to go through. Old hands, we motored more confidently and despite slowing to pass two boats, still got through in just under half an hour, so ended up mooring just after 7pm in almost the same place as three nights earlier.
Dinner was soon on the table and the wine swiftly poured.
Off Travelling Together 