Long Buckby

Today's schedule was tighter than yesterday - we had to reach Long Buckby locks by 1:30 or face an overnight stop below the flight. With some 10 miles to go, Mike set off at 8:30 on a grey, cold but dry morning. It remained, weather-wise, like this all day.

It is a pleasant run but without many significant features. The railway is a constant companion but it is only when much nearer to Buckby that the motorway joins the traffic.

Banbury Lane New Bridge

Former Level Crossing

At Banbury Lane, the original bridge crossed the main line at a level crossing but this has now been replaced by a new bridge and embankment and the former crossing is but a metal fence.

Banbury Lane Old Bridge and Wharf

Filling Concrete Bags

Two Types of Bank Repair

 We passed a waterways gang making a series of bank repairs. They were using a mixture of techniques. No doubt this makes an immediate and effective repair but the result is very patchy in appearance and one is left wondering how long before a 'proper' replacement of the rapidly failing towpath bank will be the only option. In some places there seems as much repair as original.

Willow Bundles and Other Repair Materials

Many of the bridges that carry a road across the canal have a house or other building alongside - no doubt a reminder of how the canal was once an important delivery method and the wharf at a bridge crossing rather like a railway station. One example is at Flore Lane.

Flore Lane Bridge

We made sufficiently good progress that we stopped briefly at Weedon so that Christine could 'pop to the shops' - according to the symbols on the Nicholsons she expected to find one close to the bridge. Alas, the map was misleading and the shops are a distance away in the centre of the old village. However, a garage shop was able to supply milk and a paper which was about all that was urgent.

Mike made a start on re-wiring the battery management panel which had been returned by the manufacturer as having no fault. This is the second time that we have had this experience although the previous time was two years ago. That time we discovered that the wiring installation done when we first had it fitted was very poor. Thick 12V power cables had been used but the connectors on the panel are designed for very thin signal cables - after all they only provide a voltage for measurement, not any significant current. The plan this time was to terminate the original wires in a separate connector block and run signal wires from there into the unit itself.

None of this is particularly difficult were it not for the fact that any boat wiring in cramped cupboards requires a degree of flexibility that is now sadly missing! Eventually, much later in the day, after several sessions interrupted by locks and mooring, it was complete and appears to be working correctly. Phew!

Long Buckby Bottom Lock

Just after half past twelve we arrived at Long Buckby Bottom lock and Christine decided that we should have lunch before setting off up the flight. However, when the locking up time was not far away, another boat arrived and we (Mike, that is!) decided to join with them to save water. Lunch was rudely interrupted!

A very pleasant couple were on the other boat - they had only recently acquired it as a 65 foot replacement for their first, shorter, boat.

Overflowing Lock at Long Buckby

The climb up the flight was largely without incident but a chance to chat whilst the locks emptied and filled - another boat was only just ahead of us.

Long Buckby Top Lock

We arrived at the top with the lock keepers waiting to chain up. They were letting a couple of boats down into the next long pound where there are some overnight moorings - above the top lock was rather congested. However, another two boats were disappointed that they would have to wait until morning to make any progress. In one case, yet again they had not been warned of the restrictions by their hire company. (When we had moored, a couple from another boat came to ask when the locks would open - they were clearly not happy!)

Norton Junction Cottage

After passing through Norton Junction and under the first bridge we moored. Braunston Tunnel is not far away and the moorings the other side are not very brilliant. At least this time we found a good stretch where there is sufficient depth to come alongside (nearer the tunnel we have previously had serious problems) but quite a few other boats also made the same decision!

Bridge 10

Tomorrow is the last of the three days when we have to be especially careful about our timings. After this, only Hillmorton has any restriction that we know about.

11.7 miles - 7 locks