The End of our 2019 Season

So, here we are at the end of our 2019 season.

On Monday we travelled from Gayton to Stowe Hill in the dry but with rain setting in at lunchtime we stayed put for the afternoon. Another cosy afternoon in front of the fire and a good book!

Our journey to Braunston was trouble free in the company of two different boats. It  is always good to share these big double locks with heavy gates. The weather was dull but the rain stayed off.

We have spent our last couple of nights on the water at our favourite moorings, one of which is south of Braunston , and the other is in the 'wilderness' between Napton and Fenny, where  we have been treated to a beautiful sunset across these vast open skies.

We head into Fenny Marina tomorrow morning after a very mixed season which has left us with some interesting memories. We have travelled through 550 locks and clocked up 360 engine hours since we set off at the end of April and today Hunters Moon clocked up 5000 engine hours.

Back on the Canals

We are very pleased to be back on more predictable waterways as we progress off the Nene at Northampton and make our way up the 17 Locks on the Northampton  Arm of the Grand Union.

We are both full of cold so decide to stop early, light the fire and settle in for a cosy evening of 'Strictly'.

Rain, rain and more rain on Sunday so we stay put.

Whilst we were stuck on the Nene ( for 10 days) we had signed up to the EA flood line, which automatically messages SSA info for the river. At 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon we received a message to say the river was closed again! Thank goodness we got off when we did!

Moving at last

It has been a very long and frustrating week but at last the Strong Stream Advice has been lifted and we have made it back to Northampton. Unfortunately,  the weather was dreadful for our dash to get off the river before another possible closure of the Nene due to heavy rain. Strong and very gusty winds and heavy rain showers were our constant companions during the 8 hour journey through 13 locks. We were very pleased to get moored at the end of a tiring day.

Frustration

No heavy rain for several days has bought the river levels and flow down. However, although we made the short trip from Irthlingborough to Wellingborough in calm  conditions  and gentle locks the Strong Stream Advice is still in place. Apparently, it won't be lifted until the whole river has settled down for 36 hours! Very frustrating since conditions, where we are and towards Northampton, are normal.  If it wasn't for Doddington Lock being reversed, the Environment Agency's method of water control on the Nene, which is situated two locks up river from us, we would be able to move on.

More heavy rain is forecast for Sunday so the stoppage will not be cleared over the weekend and we just have to wait and see the effect of the rain on the water levels. More rain next week as well. Fed up!

Meanwhile, we have water here and can empty Elsan and rubbish so we are much more human now.  There is a Tesco,  Lidl, Halford,  Dunelm, B&Q and various other retail shops close by so no problem with provisions.

Debris brought down on the strong current

Our neighbours in Wellingborough 

This is just some. 

There are loads of them!

Mainly good tempered and well fed

The biggest down side of this mooring is the noise. Whitworths Mill works 24/7 and the  massive extractor fan is right opposite Hunters Moon. There is are very light flour dust in the air and Hunters Moon may well end up inside a  Wellington crust!

Stranded!

Well, as we have said before our plans are what makes God laugh!

We were making good, if rather slow progress, against a strong flow of water, especially on the approach to locks, never expecting to see an ominous red warning board at our selected overnight mooring. It was a Strong Stream Advice , which basically means it is dangerous to navigate any further!

After many phone calls, the number on the board being the wrong one, Sid eventually managed to speak to a human being who strongly advised us to stay put and who couldn't say how long we might be here, obviously, because it all depended on how much more rain fell!

Having not seen this possibility and planning to get to Wellingborough, where we could fill with water, get rid of rubbish and empty our Elsan tanks, we were caught out completely.
Never mind, not much we can do but make the best of it. Water rations and bucket and chuck it (back to our early sailing days) will see us through, we hope.

Fortunately,  there is a new Aldi store a short walk away so we have been able to stock up on provisions and bottled water.

We are  warm and cosy and on a safe mooring, not in any hurry and in good humour, at the moment!

Overflowing lock

Lock landing stage under water

Fast flowing rising water

Looking across to Irthlingborough