Thursday 18th April 2013 Ramble 16: Bugbrooke Wharf to Long Buckby Wharf

Thursday 18th April 2013

Ramble 16: Bugbrooke Wharf to Long Buckby, which is between 8 and 9 miles depending on whether you trust electronics, mileposts or a map and a little wheelie thing.

What a start! John offered round some little lemon pies that he had made. Yummy and thanks. We were joined by Peter, Jem, Sue, Sue, Margaret, Hugh and John making nine of us, altogether.

So, it was back to the canal towpath, some parts of which were sheltered from the gusting winds, others not. It was obvious that the winds were causing the boats difficulties in places, especially as this section of the canal meandered and wasn’t direct.

 At one point spoil from recent digging by badgers (or was it big rabbits!) came across to very close to the canal and narrowed the towpath.

 Further on, a well looked-after green Trabant was spotted across the canal. The bodies of these East German cars were made of Duroplast, a plastic made from recycled materials. Over 3 million were made over 30 years from about 1960.

 A lonesome duckling swam furiously away across the canal when we approached, not helped by the choppy conditions. We also saw a single house martin, one of the first back to start nesting. We didn’t see any herons today, but many more flowers were out, especially the yellow ones - celandines, coltsfoot, dandelions, primroses and daffodils.
 

 As we approached Weedon, the canal passes by aqueduct over several small roads and the River Nene. It didn’t appear to be more than a brook in size, as the source is in nearby Badby, and could be easily missed (!).

 We experienced a heavy shower of rain where there was no obvious shelter, so we just put our heads down and carried on.

While we were having a spot of picnic lunch, news reached us of a fallen tree across the canal a little further ahead, which was preventing the passage of boats. Upon reaching the site, at bridge No 21, we learned that the tree had fallen just a couple of hours earlier and already workmen were busy removing it. We watched as, with chain saws and a winch attached to a Land Rover, the tree was cut and dragged from the water and up a slope.  

The weather brightened up in the afternoon and we carried on, alongside the canal which in turn was close to the main west Coast railway line and A5 and M1 roads.

 Near Whilton, after the canal passed under the railway, we saw a ‘bower’ boat. This was a dingy type of boat with small alder trees growing all around the outside with the branches trained together making a bower or arbour. Unique, I guess.





By Whilton marina and Buckby bottom lock No. 13 we stopped again for a drink in the cafe. The previous lock we saw was at Stoke Bruerne, over 13 miles away.  It is a delightful spot with small cottages beside the lock housing a pottery and art studio and a memorial bench for Henry Grantham, the lock-keeper for 40 years, constructed out of canal boat parts. It is a sedate and tranquil spot but so close to the M1 motorway and extremely busy railway.

 The last stretch took us past more locks of the Buckby flight to bridge No. 13, climbing towards Norton Junction the point where the Leicester Arm of the Grand Union joins.  Just here are notices for boaters to keep to one side as a brick wall has partially collapsed into the water. 

Saturday 6th April 2013 Ramble 15: Blisworth to Bugbrooke Wharf

Saturday 6th April 2013  Ramble 15: Blisworth to Bugbrooke Wharf, which is 5 miles (verified by Jem’s GPS gadget).

Together with Jem, Sue and John, we continued from Blisworth Mill flats, roughly north to north-westwards along the canal. If it wasn’t bright sunshine to start with, it soon became so, and the temperature rose considerably during the walk (so hat, scarves and even coats came off). All very welcome after so many recent cold and dull days.

The first bridge we walked under was Candle Bridge (No. 50). It was so called, because years ago, it was from a nearby cottage that candles were sold to boaters to help light their way through the long, dark Blisworth Tunnel.

Just beyond here at Gayton Junction, with its smart signpost, the
Northampton Arm joins the grand Union Canal. The arm has 17
locks down to the River Nene at Northampton, about 5 miles away.
Boaters can then reach places such as Peterborough, The Fens, The
Wash and up the River Great Ouse to Bedford, if they have enough
time to spare.





 
We saw clumps of purple and white violets, also the greatest amount of colt's-foot that I have ever seen. This was close to the water’s edge and blooming brightly in the sunshine.

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  All along the walk today we saw that the main West Coast railway line, which closely followed the course of the canal. The speed that the Virgin pendolino trains travelled made them difficult to photograph. Two main trunk roads, the A5 (the route of the Roman Watling Street) and M1, were not far away either side of the canal and railway and early on in the walk we passed under the A43 Northampton to Oxford dual carriageway. Despite all these transport routes being nearby, our walk was surprisingly tranquil and peaceful, mostly with gently rolling hills of agricultural land around.

 Snow was still present in hidden sheltered areas alongside a few hedges.
 

 As we approached Bugbrooke the canal passes over the Hoarstones Brook. From the towpath we could look down the steep embankment through the trees, to see the small river below. Jem and Ian ventured down and found that there were two tunnels under the canal (one for the brook and one for farm traffic). So, in a while, Ian appeared on the other side of the canal having crossed under and without getting wet.

 We finished at The Wharf, Bugbrooke where boats were turning at the winding hole and, yet more people were out enjoying the sunshine.