This will keep us warm!

It has been an eventful couple of day even though we have not travelled very far.  On Tuesday we cruised through lock 12, the lock which had collapsed causing the Aylesbury Arm to be closed for many months.  Then the afternoon found us foraging!  Paul had spotted some wood on the tow path so off we set with the chain saw as you can see from the picture!  The wood keeps us warm in so many ways, not the least in the gathering of it!

So Wednesday should have been a cruise of a couple of miles with 3 locks then into Aylesbury Basin.  All was well until the second lock when we were warned by a passing chap that the next pound (stretch of water between locks) was very low.  It was more than low there were big sand banks on either side.  So we rang the Canal and River Trust (CRT) and had lunch whilst waiting.  Seems there is construction work going on the in basin and the workmen were letting the water out so they could do their work!  Not ideal for us. .  Meanwhile we had been talking to Sue from a boat we had first met 5 or 6 days ago.  They were behind us, then as we filled with water just before turning towards Aylesbury, they passed us.  So we knew we were following them.  Sue was walking the dog and told us they were stuck in the basin as the water was too low to leave.  In any case they wouldn’t get through the pound that was stopping us!

 So we walked into Aylesbury and had a short walk around the town.  By yesterday  morning CRT had let enough water down through so that we could continue.  We had already decided we wouldn’t stay in the basin, not very pleasant with all the contruction work anyway.  So yesterday was the final 2 locks down, after turning we filled with water and came back up the same 2 locks, taking us nearly 2 hours the levels were still so low!  So today we will be wending our way back to the Grand Union!