Blisworth -> Gayton Junction

Gayton Junction


This is my new location, commonly named ‘Gayton Junction’.

I was here last year, only under the A43 flyover, listening to the cars and trains and painting my boat during the day.

The boat is painted now, and I don’t have to stay under the flyover.

You can see Bonnie on the picture if you look closely…

Rain

Today it’s raining, as has been the pattern for the last 2-3 weeks to a month.

As I’m not at work, I decided to take the opportunity to have a look down ‘Blisworth Arm’ which leads to the River Nene and branches off from Gayton Junction toward Northampton.

It’s perhaps half a mile or so before the first set of locks.

Top lock - Blisworth Arm
Top lock – Blisworth Arm

Here it is…

As you can see, it’s the tiddly locks like you get on the Shroppie, Staffs & Worcester and all the other little inland canals. These can be easier for a solo boater, as you can run over the roof and your boat doesn’t swing around so wildly in the locks.

I’m used to the double locks now. I’ve been on them for the last 12 months at least.

Since I reached the Kennet and Avon which was 2016.

It’s about 4 miles from Northampton in this spot.

Gayton Junction

Has a pub, The Walnut Tree.

I used it’s services the other day when I needed to download a game to pass the time in the rain.

Stoke Bruerne -> Blisworth

Arrived on Sunday. Moved through the tunnel, across the snow covered wastelands of Northampton.

Most of the journey is underground, through the Blisworth tunnel, which is if I remember rightly, a little over a mile.

Now located in Blisworth, where I will stay for the next couple of weeks.

Blisworth is OK. It’s got a pub and a Post Office, which acts as a shop for the odd loaf of bread etc.

There are many friendly ducks and wild foul here.

Doctors

I registered with the doctors here the other day to look at my ear.

She said I should get some ear drops. The problem’s kind of gone now. Got to get some inhalers though after smashing mine up. Continue reading “Stoke Bruerne -> Blisworth”

Nether Heyford -> Stoke Bruerne

I’ve been here for a week now.

Due to life events of one type or another, haven’t got round to updating the blog until today.

Stoke Bruerne

Last stop before you go into Buckinghamshire. Stoke Bruene is at the top of a set of six locks.

Not wanting to go down the six locks, I’ve located myself at the top near to the narrow-boat museum.

Stoke Bruerne
Stoke Bruerne

The village itself is fairly small. It’s entirely filled with parking restrictions, be it in way of double yellow lines or signposted ‘no parking’ notifications.

CRT Museum car-park

In this knowledge, I moved my car down to the CRT museum car park, near to the narrowboat museum, which is pictured here on the right with the signpost outside.

The first night I left it there, my wing mirror got bent back… Continue reading “Nether Heyford -> Stoke Bruerne”

Armed robbery Nether Heyford post office

So….

Went to get my bread this morning. Couldn’t drive, the weather being cold, snowy and inclement.

I walked down to Nether Heyford post office and stores in the village.

I could see they had the shutter down on the left side. As I got closer, I could see a Police cordon.

Initially, I thought it was over the disabled ramp due to the ice, but as I looked closer I could see it was over both entrances.

The shop had in effect been cordoned off.

Shop Keeper

At this moment, one of the staff with her branded apron, popped her head out of the door.

“Sorry, we’re not going to be open this morning”…

“Been robbed again?” – says I.

After a slight pause, “Armed robbery. We won’t be able to open until about 3.”

Gave her the thumbs up, and began my trudge back to the car. Continue reading “Armed robbery Nether Heyford post office”