A Change of Plan

Stoke Bruerne is a small village that is reputed to be the best example of a canal village in the country.   Buildings facing the canal have remained unchanged and the first canal museum was opened in a restored cornmill in 1963.   It's the first time we've been this far south so we decided to travel on our own and stop more frequently.  

Stoke Bruerne locks and village

After torrential rain the water levels on the canal were up and flooding over the bottom lock gates as we left Stoke Bruerne.  I was pleased to get back on board after paddling through 6 inches of water at the last set of lock gates.  The rain had stopped before we reached Cosgrove which has an unusual 'Horse Tunnel' under the canal.  It is only 6 feet high but was supposedly built to allow horses to be led under the canal to the blacksmiths.

Cosgrove Horse Tunnel

At Wolverton the wharf is newly developed and has convenient moorings for the supermarkets.  It also has a striking sculpture of a figure standing high above ground level.  

The sculpture at Wolverton.  Cyclists through the ages, starting with a penny farthing on the hand, are riding down the outstretched arm

After shopping we continued towards Milton Keynes and were impressed by a 150 metre long, black and white train mural at the side of the canal.  This was painted by Bill Billings and represents the past, present and future of Wolverton.   It has undergone regular restoration work to keep it in good condition.  

Part of Bill Billings Train Mural

Milton Keynes was built up to the canal but we saw very little of the town because extensive, well kept parkland has been created alongside the canal.   We continued on to Fenny Stratford which is now part of Bletchley and home to Threads and Patches, a needle-workers heaven.  I enjoyed a browse through the huge stock of materials, threads, wool and many other items.   The building was divided up into several rooms, some of which were equipped for workshop sessions and the chatter of sewing machines accompanied me as I admired the quilts and other completed pieces which were on display.  I resisted the temptation to buy, I already have a good stock, and not much spare room, on board.  

We moved on to Leighton Buzzard in more rain but luckily the bridges were high enough for us to leave the wheelhouse up.   The next morning we made use of the 2 hour shopping mooring before heading into the countryside.  From our mooring we saw hares in the field opposite and a kingfisher perched in a bush.  He stayed for a while and I tried to take a photo but it was a bit too far away.  

I walked with Bess and Brinny down to Marsworth Junction and that was as far south as we'd go on this trip because the next morning we had a change of plan.  Kev's knee has been giving him some trouble and we decided it would be prudent to turn back before the next section of canal which contains 52 Locks.  

Our journey from Stoke Bruerne to Marsworth Locks