Grand Union Canal - Aylesbury to Leighton Buzzard

15 June 2003

Sunday dawns sunny and hot, with a view of Aylesbury canal basin with the Inland Revenue office towering overhead. At one time there were proposals to extend the canal down the valley of the Thame to the Thames near Abingdon (to meet with the Wilts & Berks canal there), but the plans came to nothing, and so the line became a branch.

A beautiful still morning as we cruise back towards Marsworth along this delightfully quiet stretch of canal

Approaching Marsworth, our lock-wheelers Merry and Helen have been hard at work, and we cruise straight into the open lock

Lunch was at at the White Lion at Marsworth, with its large beer garden/patio. A couple of old wooden boats grace the towpath opposite the pub.

Back on the main line of the Grand Union Canal

Gate paddle gear on one of the upper gates of Lock 38, just below Marsworth

A busy scene at Lock 37 as we descend towards Leighton Buzzard

One of the Seabrook Locks

Helen, Lucy and Jane catching up on the gossip as the lock empties

Sheila opens the lock gate

Craig (our visitor for the day) on the other gate

Helen has lifted the paddle and waits for the lock to empty

Jane checking the map

Handbell ringing on the move

Stephen, Craig, Mary and Helen looking cheerful

A bridge carrying the towpath over the entrance to a long-gone basin

Jane watching the world go by

Mooring next to Tesco in Leighton Buzzard

Stephen, Alan, Craig, Jane, Lucy, Helen, Sheila, Mary and Merry

Unfortunately on Monday morning it was time to give Splendid back to Wyvern Shipping, but a splendid boat it was, with efficient service from the boatyard staff at both ends of the holiday. Although location is a factor, it was the first time Lucy and Stephen had used a hire company twice.