Braunston

With the very light mornings - and today its was sunny - we woke early but still did not set off until just before 9 o'clock! Soon we were much closer to the motorway and the noise was oppressive - without it this is a beautiful stretch. All night long, it rumbles on and can be heard from such a long distance away. This stretch sees four major transport routes running parallel for some time, barely 500 metres separating them: A5, railway, canal and M1 motorway.

As we neared the bottom of the Buckby flight, a boat ahead of us closed the gates in front of us - we would probably not want to share with people who do that, but another boat arrived shortly after we did so we ascended the flight together. They were especially helpful and quite knowledgeable. With a slow boat in front of us it took just over a couple of hours to complete the flight.

We continued along the Grand Union Main Line, leaving the Leicester Branch to our right and our companions from the Buckby flight. Before navigating Braunston Tunnel we pulled in for lunch, setting off once more after an hour's break. This section, from Norton Junction to the tunnel has had the bank much improved since we came along here four (?) years ago with the rest of the family. we had to moor with a gangplank, the bank erosion was so bad. Ellie managed to fall off into the water!

The tunnel is almost straight and completely dry. However, one of the few kinks came as we passed a boat coming the other way, making it a little more difficult to avoid the walls. In fact we passed two boats in the tunnel itself. At the end of the tunnel, works to repair the collapsed bank which nearly cause us serious problems three years ago, are still only just being completed.

As we began to descend the first of the Braunston locks, another boat arrived and we waited to share the water with them. Three men who have been making trips together each year for the past fifteen. They have been most places but may well explore the Kennet and Avon next time. Although we were, as a result, able to work through locks ourselves quite quickly, the flight was quite busy so it took an hour and a half to complete.

Just after Braunston Turn, where we left the Grand Union for the narrower experience of the north Oxford Canal, we immediately stopped to fill up with water.

We have very few locks ahead of us for some considerable time - only the Hilmorton Three before the end of the Ashby! Still, it gives more time for reading and the weather was certainly right for it! We eventually moored up for the night about a mile before Hilmorton as we wanted to keep well away from the railway line and the M45 motorway!