08-24 Old Lindslade on the Grand Union

Sunday 23rd August:  A rather grey start but still very muggy. By the time we walked to Pages Park with the dogs to catch the 10:40 train it was quite pleasant and not too warm.  We traveled to Stonehenge Works behind No 778,

over six level crossings

and numerous footpaths and were late arriving due to a faulty radio and being unable to get permission to pass into the station straight away.  We decided to go back on the next train at 12:15 to give us time to have a rather quick look round the site and at the quarry,

watch a little shunting

and the digger being manouvered

and have a coffee on the platform.

The next train arrived also a little late, pulled by "P C Allen"

and we grabbed a seat in the closed car and had the carriage to ourselves

after realising it might be a problem in the open carriages with the dogs.  Just after we arrived back at Pages Park it started to rain and we had a rather quick look at the engine shed

and shop before walking back to PO in rain that was steadily getting heavier.  Luckily we had just got back on board and the rain became a deluge.Once the rain eased off about 3pm I went for a Tesco shop having to rush to complete before 4pm then when back on board I prepared to set off while Bridie unpacked and stowed the stores.  We stopped at the services back near Tesco for water and then made our way past a line of moored boats and through Leighton Lock.  By the time we got to the loop in the canal at Old Linslade it was looking like rain again and we moored up for the night (or given the weather forecast it might be longer!)

Monday 24th August:  Had 4 Wyvern hire boats pass us returning to base just above the lock we came through last night, between 7 and 8:15 this morning and they were pushing a lot of water in front of them and moving us before they arrived. So got up reasonably early despite the weather.  The rain is set in for the day by the look of it and we are just being wimps and staying dry! Unlike all the hirers coming down now  from Wyvern Shipping. We can not understand why so many of them are sounding their horn as they pass us and as they enter the bend about six boat lengths beyond us.  In the end we rang Wyvern to ask but they deny all knowledge so I can only guess the rain is getting them down and they all think of trying out their horn at the same spot!?  Also asked why they mostly seem to sport a St Georges flag on the back

which I understand to be illegal - I thought only members of the RN and the Dunkirk Little Ships Assoc were allowed to do this and that for ships at sea (but not on the Grand Union?) the Red Ensign is the flag that would be more appropriate.  Also it is the same as code flag "M" which means "my vessel is stopped and making no way through the water" !  Seems like Wyvern Shipping (!) are taking a risk supplying the flags.