And yet more wind!

We started off early again today and moved up to the services near the moorings for a pump out (FREE - YES, FREE) which meant winding so that the port side of TQ was nearest the quayside. When done we went back to the moorings to wind again. Whilst we were filling with water, Lin spotted some of those Signal Crayfish easily seen in the shadow under the nearby bridge. They seem to spend most of their time fighting and hiding in the holes eroded in the bridge foundations. Shortly after we negotiated the last lock on the Nene, Northampton Town Lock and made our way toward the junction with the Grand Union Canal and up the seventeen locks in the Rothersthorpe Flight.

No, I can't put a caption here!

The first four locks are well spaced but then the next thirteen are very close, close enough to set the next lock ready.



Lock 17, River Nene behind, Grand Union ahead

On the way down some two weeks ago we spotted some logs in a pile between Locks 12 and 13 and thought we'd have some of them on the way back if they're still there. Well they were and I set to with the chain saw and cut up two logs into rounds in about ten minutes. Best leave the rest for someone else.

So I turned a couple of these...

...Into these.

Now we look like real liveaboards.

Two weeks ago at lock thirteen all the land adjacent to the canal appeared to be a site dedicated to nature and I was quite horrified to see this:-

The site is massive and the dust being whipped up by the machinery and the very strong wind is phenomenal. I am convinced the councils and governments of this country will not be satisfied until every square inch of this green and pleasant land is covered in concrete. It is absolutely criminal.

The Express Lifts Tower

Here's another odd structure. Would you believe some idiocrats have made it a listed building? It's not even slightly glamourous and even looks unfinished. If it had a designed top and was open to the public, then maybe it could qualify, but as it is?

As I said earlier we're back on the Grand Union and we ended up at Bugbrooke and have been in The Wharf for an evening meal. We had Steak and Ale Pie. It was delicious and very filling. Back on TQ and it's now raining, something we've not seen since the 19th September. Tomorrows forcast is dire, very strong winds and heavy rain. We could be tempted to stay here.

More tomorrow.