Braunston

A cold start to the day with overnight rain threatening to return. We set off as usual, passing the familiar Napton Junction soon after. The stretch to Braunston is familiar and generally unremarkable.

Entrance to Wigrams Turn Marina, Napton Junction

It is always sad to see buildings that look as if they could have been serviceable but which have been left to go to ruin. One wonders what the history is to lead to this situation. Surely a property in this sort of location would today be quite valuable even if basic services have to be installed.

Dark Skies and Fields near Napton

At one point there was a sign to coast past a dam - it appeared to be a temporary fix to a leak, comprising a large tarpaulin laid across the bed of the canal.

We also passed a Waterways crew repairing a bank with new piling.

Turnover Bridge, Braunston Junction

Braunston Junction Bridges

At Braunston Junction we stopped to use the services - this involved having to reverse back from the turning. At least it gave Christine a chance to pop in to the chandlers to look at their anchors to see how they compared with the one we bought in Stourport, which is just a bit too big in one direction to find a real stowage place on board. If we could just modify it a bit . . .

Waterways Office, former Toll House, Braunston

We moved on slowly, planning to stops, as we have before, above the first lock, to have our lunch. However, when we arrived at the Braunston flight we discovered that the restriction notice required us to wait for up to an hour for a boat to arrive and lock share. At least it was only 25 minutes! But then we also discovered that the lock keeper was imposing a further restriction of waiting up to an hour for a boat to come the other way to empty the lock ahead. This had cause a queue of four pairs to build up in the first pound.

Eventually the pair ahead of us was able to proceed and we followed on, a little slower than usual but not too bad. Christine had already prepared her lunch and eaten it whilst we waiting below the bottom lock. Mike was about to start when the other boat arrived and he had to wait until the third lock when there was a longer wait and he could cook his! The weather improved and warm layers had to be removed.

After about 2 and half hours from when we arrived at the bottom of the flight we emerged at the top and soon entered the cutting for the tunnel. Braunston Tunnel is wide and dry - we met just a couple of boats coming the other way.

Rather than go down Buckby Locks and risk having to go some distance beyond to escape the roar of the M1 for the night, we decided to pull in before Norton Junction. Bad idea! We had known this stretch to be very shallow at the edges although that reputation had been dissipated at our last visit (or even two) when we had found a suitable spot. Either it has been removed or we were very lucky on those occasions because try as we might we could not get alongside and, with the junction fast approaching, we opted to pull as best we could and not worry about the tv signal!

8.4 miles - 6 locks