Retirement with No Problem

Bugbrooke to Whilton, Grand Union Canal, 7.25 miles 3 locks

A busy day today with a call at Fred Tarry’s for the first of our winter coal.  6 bags of ‘cosy nuts’ which in the past has always burned well on our stove costing just under £48.  I was pleased with that, the price of coal has gone through the roof the last couple of years, I was expecting to pay a bit more..

This caught my eye as we left Nether Heyford…

It was quite a long way away, I thought at first it might be a parachute got stuck in the tree, but a quick look in the binoculars revealed something else!   I hope my picture helps you to work out what it is..

I called in to Bedazzled who have moved now from Whilton Locks to a smallholding at Bridge 21 at Brockhall to pick up some LED lights.  Friend Kevin pointed me in the direction of a Hong Kong seller on Ebay who’s prices were extremely good, but as I had already bought some from Richard before, the trust was there. 

It was great to see how well they are doing at Bedazzled, Richard and his wife have spread themselves out and are now running a tidy smallholding with chickens running around giving free range eggs which are on the shelves, plus loads of homemade jams including port and plum jam.. I noticed that you see because I had made rum and plum jam myself this year.  There was also fruit and veg all from the farm. 

I love Richard’s showroom, all those lovely LED lights which go under the gunnel to give some really fantastic light.. Vic is not keen on them, so I saved a bit in my purse today at least! 

Well worth a stop there if only to browse and pick up some eggs..

This was good to see further along..

On the way past here in the other direction last June this place was deserted, now it is in full flow again.  What was Stowe Marine is now Rugbyboats.  Full boatyard facilities including diesel.. but nobody about to ask if they accepted boaters declarations.. for those not in the know, we now have to declare what diesel we will use for propulsion and what we will use for heat and light.. with only one diesel tank we have to make a good guess.  The propulsion part is taxed higher.. some boatyards will let boaters decide for themselves.. self declaration.. but some will only sell at a split of 60% for propulsion and 40% for heating.. we don’t won’t stop at those yards.. they are obviously too lazy to work out the maths!!

Anyway, it’s good to see this popular place up and running again in these difficult time for businesses..

But this is one business that is doing well..

Whilton Chandlers.  I have a packet coming here for me to collect with a spare part for our kerstan sky dish..  Unfortunately it hadn’t arrived today, so we will have to wait until tomorrow.. Hopefully it will come then.  It was busy on the 48 hour visitor moorings with no room to be had, so we decided to climb a few locks…

Sharing them with Moore2Life, there is Vic on the tiller for a change!  I was on lock duty.  Vic had a hard day yesterday, I think the final three river locks on the River Nene took the stuffing out of him, and he was very stiff this morning, so I super glued him to the tiller with strict instructions to stay there!

We moored after about three of the locks in the flight.. loose ropes tonight in case the pound (stretch of water between two locks) drops.

Gosh it is noisy here.. the M1 is about 200 yards away to my right, and the trains are belting by at 120 mph about 300 yards on my left.. I really do hope that spare part arrives tomorrow!!