Out into the country.

We went into Leighton again this morning to do a few chores and find a pork pie. Where the Tesco's Supermarket is now was the old Vickers Company that made the Vickers Vimy biplane heavy bomber that was introduced right at the end of the war. After the war it was used commercially and is famous as the type of plane that Alcock and Brown made the first crossing of the Atlantic in 1919. Bae is still in the area where the interiors of planes are made. 

Vikers Vimy introduced to the RAF 1919 and retired 1933

Another famous company that set up in the town in 1926 was Gossard. They were able to help the war effort by producing parachutes etc as well as their corsets to give the country a lift. (get it?). Mary Norton who wrote the Borrowers was also brought up in the town. We just went under the bridge and took on water before slowly heading down the cut.

Miles stone by Grove Lock to the Thames.

There were plenty of people sitting outside the Grove Lock pub as we went up the lock. The hanging baskets were lovely with little narrow boat brackets.

Grove Lock.

Grove Lock Hanging baskets and brackets.

The weather was again very warm and this means Macy the cat is not really feeling like moving about. She likes to sleep on her 'throne' at the window so she can ,look out occasionally but she looked so cute all fast asleep in the heat.

Macy the cat resting her eyes.

We were soon at Church Lock. The wind had blown the gate open so we went straight in. Here is an example of a double arched bridge. The Grand Junction Canal had water shortages and to save water and speed things up for single boats the company built a narrow lock next to the wide lock. This entrance survives but the lock has gone. There are also pumping stations placed to back pump water up the locks and there is one here too.

Church Lock with the narrow second arch of the bridge to enter the narrow lock adjacent. The pumping station was on the left side of the locks. The towpath changes over here.

Church Lock is named after the Chapel next to the lock. It was thought to be the smallest in Buckinghamshire and is of 14th century with a later bell tower. It is now a private home.

We moved on looking for a spot to moor. The bank is over grown and seems very shallow. It looks like the bank has been built up with stone and in places this has collapsed and made it difficult to get to the side. We found a spot and sat out on the bank doing various little jobs. After tea we went for a walk to Slapton where we had a pint at the thatched Carpenters Arms. I had a Sundail by Berkhampsted brewery Haresfoot.

The Carpenters Arms, Slapton.