Marina Hop - Barby Moorings to Ventnor Waterside and Marina

 Monday 19th August - Barby Moorings to Bridge 103 New Bridge

Today we begin the move from Barby Moorings to Ventnor Marina.  Dave set off with the car to the new Marina, parked it in front of our new mooring and waited for the taxi to arrive to bring him back to Barby Moorings.  Once the boat was ready we cast off with the help of our neighbour because the wind was pushing us back onto the mooring.  We turned left out of the Marina and headed towards Braunston.  The water levels are quite low and progress was slow and sluggish.

We passed a workforce in the canal, they were shoring up the towpath and sealing the wash holes with sandbags.  Wash holes are caused by the wash from speeding boats finding weak points in the bank and washing the ground away.

We are approaching Braunston, the village and church clearly visible on the skyline.  

The two cast iron bridges at Braunston Junction.  We are going to turn right under the first of the two bridges and head towards Napton Junction.

Toby is having a ride on the roof today, he has curled up on the pram hood and is enjoying the scenery.

7 miles, 0 locks, 2hrs 48mins

Tuesday 20th August - Bridge 103 to Ventnor Marina

Woke this morning to bright sunshine.  A short journey today to the new marina.  As we prepared to set off boats appeared from both directions and we had to wait for a quiet moment to begin our journey.  

This part of the canal is very windy with several sharp bends with bridges on them.  Fortunately we didn’t meet anything coming the other way.

At Napton Junction we turned right under the bridge and headed slowly down to Calcutt Locks.  There weren’t any boats in sight so we began our descent on our own working one side of the double locks so everything was very gentle.

Calcutt Boat Hire is based between the three locks and is usually very busy.  Today it was very quiet with three hire boats moored up in the pound.  It has generally been felt that this season on the canals has been very quiet and the sight of boats moored up and unused would suggest there is some truth in this.

Immediately after the final lock we made a right turn into Sunrise Basin where Ella will have her new  home.  Unfortunately the skies darkened, the wind got up and the heavens opened, we got soaked bringing the boat into our new mooring and all thoughts of backing into the mooring were abandoned and we slid in bow first.

Ella is now safely moored up at Ventnor Waterside and Marina and we shall leave her tomorrow and return to Worcester.

3.5 miles, 3 locks, 2hrs 14mins