Boatmove / Rumpus Fun Cruise May

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Tour 2001

Boatmove / Rumpus Fun Cruise May / June

1- Uxbridge to Blisworth. Grand Union Canal.

The purpose of this week and a bit out was to get Earnest to Langley Mill as a springboard for the start of the Summer Tour. Langley Mill was chosen to test out the Cutweb / AWCC reciprocal mooring agreement thingy as well as to polish off the Erewash, that Neil had only ever done one way up, (due to lending Beatty out) Neil had contacted Brain Dominic, with a view to meeting up and the traverse up the Erewash was soon transformed into the Rumpus Fun Cruise, as the Little One would be just about finished (well as much as any boat ever gets finished!)

Wed 23rd May 2001

In the evening Neil + John and Pat Chapman were dropped off at the dumped Earnest, that was still residing at Uxbridge VM, opposite Uxbridge Boat Centre.

Thursday 24th May 2001

Shove off at 07.00. We wait at Denham Deep (still NO gate paddles) for the smallest member of CNBOA - Ken's Trad "Bug" - Chipp. At Moorhall Road Bridge, below Widewater Lock we espy Tina and Julian T on the bridge. Tina was dropped off by J on way to work - No boating for him today! Tina was at a loose end for a couple of days (time booked off work for postponed Cutweb Boat Rally At Napton) and had offered help on the drag up to Tring summit. 10.15 we lost Chipp at Stocker's Lock, due to catching up another boat. Ironbridge Lock as ever took forever to fill. Lesley, Pat's Watford dwelling friend joined us at Common Moor Lock. At Kings Langley Lock, we caught up with nb Ironis and shared this other slow filling GU lock.
Between 16.15 and 17.10 we had a protracted Apsley Sainsbury's stop as the crew struggled to take on board the Commode D' Or's Macaroon supplies (Neil "Macaroon" Arlidge's sudden liking for macaroon's amused the crew for the next few days!) At 18.55 we were at Winkwell Swing Bridge and by 19.20, tied up on Julian's moorings (temp spare spot beside nb Idleness) That night we were take on the now customary guided tour of the local hostelries by the Tee Total Tina in J's car. First on the agenda was the Crown and Sceptre at Brydens Camp - NO BLOODY FOOD! - chef off. Back up food pub was the Old Chequers at Gaddesdon Row.
Met up with local Terry Streeter. Neil thought that it would be a good idea for Terry to meet Julian as he was thinking of getting a residential nb in the area. Julian warned Terry of the problems of getting secure residential mooring with planning permission. J recommended boat for Terry - Vicon at Seabrook was up for sale with Residential Mooring. Of course we finally ended up at Judy's pub the heavily disguised Rose and Crown at Trowley Bottom. Newbies to this venue were of course amazed at this amazing time warp venue. As usual poor old Judy wanted to talk to the non local people and we had to oblige! After being chucked out pretty smartish (lights out!) at 23.00 we retreated to Bourne End moorings, where J and Neil retreated to Idleness to listen to Pink Floyd derivatives, not particularly loud (RESPONSIBLE ADULT ALERT!)

Friday 25th May 2001

Left Bourne End, at same time as J left for work! (08.20) Tina's car had been positioned at Slapton, ready for a quick getaway to meet J - Week Ending Slow Motion to Aldermaston, on K&A. Nice run up to Cowroast (11.42), weather now quite hot - Neil in shorts, sporting Cutweb T shirt! Traverse along summit pound took until 12.30, where we had a 20 minute wait fort a pair of boats coming up (no, Neil can't understand it either?!)
Got to bottom of Marsworth Flight at 13.30 and stopped on shady vacant spot on Tina's moorings (just above Red Lion Bridge) for a cool lunch stop - yes I repeat lunch stop!!! (13.40 to 15.00) Of course boat passed us just as we were leaving! Arrived at Slapton Water Point (between Lock and Bridge) - 17.30. During the three quarter of an hour water stop Linda + kids + dogs (-ve parrot! ) arrived and Tina left.
After this we motored down below the lock (moany mooring warden alert!) and moored up for night (18.30). Normal TNC non-operational time water fill up. Next followed a cramped Passat drive to Carpenters Arms (lazy bu**ers!) for an excellent, but now getting a bit pricey) meal and a pint. After this Neil + John + Pat made a quick getaway to drop off Passat back at Neil's house and pick up the Chapman's new Proton. Neil was then dropped back at Slapton, during a sharp learning curve drive for John (first time in new car) Neil had to be full beam alert monitor!

Saturday 26th May 2001

Start off 07.25. Stop at Leighton Buzzard Tesco's 08.45 to 09.20. Passed the entire Wyvern Shipping Co hire fleet (or so it seemed - we never realised they had so many boats - all very spic and span.) Soulbury Three locks - 10.40 to 11.15. (Willowbridge diesel 28p/L) Out of Cosgrove Lock (free of MK!!) at 16.15. At 18.10, up from Br 59, as usual had passing slow recognition of Bernie and Sandie aboard Lexa - Lister sounded in fine form! 18.05 arrived at Stoke Bottom Lock.
Passed A Shepherd Moon (THE Shepherd Moon? - Black and cream) a couple of locks up Stoke flight. Nice evening passage up flight, no one about, apart from people coming down, who could not moor at Stoke Bruerne! - we had other ideas. Out Stoke top 19.05. Blisworth Tunnel seen to be free of boats, so Neil feeling a bit devilish decided to go for record! In at 19.18 and out at 19.38 - well up to best achieved in Beatty! Normal mooring in Blisworth, opposite Blisworth Tunnel Boats (20.00). Famous Linda Cauldron curry + lager for dinner.