Braunston

A much later start today - just after 9:30! Still hot and sunny, although it became gradually hazier during the day and a cooling breeze developed. Nevertheless, it remains exceptionally pleasant weather for cruising.

We set off, planning to go a little way up the Leicester Branch, through the Watford flight and the turn around in order to return to Lower Heyford mid afternoon on Thursday. However, as we reached the winding hole just before the locks, discretion took a hand and we opted to wind and set off back straight away.

There were lots of boats around, many of them leaving the large rally at Braunston over the weekend.

Not long after Norton Junction we reached Braunston Tunnel. Although it is wide there is a little kink about a third of the way from the Eastern side - a trap for the unwary as it does not prevent seeing the other end at the start of the passage.

There are luminous signs indicating the distance travelled in the tunnel - much more comforting than in past days when it was a matter of looking both ways and judging which was the brighter. Even in a roomy tunnel such as Braunston, it is always comforting to see the half way point and know that you are on the way out!

BW have been experimenting with alternative ways of stabilising banks - two different techniques are visible just after the end of the tunnel where there was a slip three years ago in the floods which held us up for a while. Although they were only put in place quite recently, grass and other wild plants are gradually beginning to poke through which will eventually naturalise the appearance.

Out of the tunnel and it was too soon to stop for lunch - not that there was much opportunity for mooring anyway, so we continued on to tackle the Braunston flight.

We shared the first four locks with another boat but they managed to find the last space above the next lock - their crew was about to mutiny for the lack of food! However, another boat (being delivered to the boatyard at the bottom of the flight for some American owners) joined us at that stage for the final two locks.

At the bottom there was no chance of mooring - there were still lots of boats which were hear for the weekend and not yet set off. It was manic today - just what it was like on Sunday for anyone passing through can only be guessed at! Several boats have been well restored, or at least kept in some semblance of their working days.

At the junction we stopped to use the sani station - briefly saw David Dare from Lower Heyford who was visiting Midland Chandlers. Another boat pulled into the water point space that we had been waiting to use so we gave up on that - we were well-filled yesterday afternoon anyway.

Just after the junction, turning towards Napton, we ourselves stopped and enjoyed a full lunch hour!

Although the cooler breeze had by now arrived, we were feeling pretty lethargic again so, rather than tackle the Napton flight today, we found a mooring spot just before Napton Junction. Failed to locate a satellite signal again today - wondering if there is something amiss with the equipment? At least the DVD worked, except it was a pretty rubbish film!