Wednesday 5thAugust
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| Braunston Church |
We are staying in Braunston again today, so we had a lazy
start, then mid-morning, we walked up on to the road and walked along to
Midland Chandlers to have a look around.
After that we walked up into Braunston village, past the church and
along the main street to the village shop.
The Community café is opposite the shop and we went in for a coffee and
a snack. We had to wait a bit as they had
a power cut, but it was soon fixed and we got our order. The cakes, tea cakes, scones, bread, etc is
all made by people in the village and it is run by volunteers. It’s a really good café and very reasonably
priced, the cake and tea cakes were delicious.
We walked back to the canal via the park and the locks. We chilled out for a bit, then had a walk to
the top of the locks. An old chap called
Len who lived in Banwell who we got to know used to live in the cottage at the
top of the locks when he was a boy, his father used to look after Braunston
tunnel and he told us lots of stories about when the barges came through
carrying chocolate to Cadburys in Birmingham, they used to shave off pieces of
it for him. It was nice to see the
cottage where he lived.
We are leaving Braunston tomorrow, off up the Leicester Arm
of the Grand Union Canal.
Thursday 6th August
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| In Braunston locks with Ian & Clare |
We are chugging off today, and we wanted to set off promptly
as we have six locks and a tunnel to do today.
We were getting ready to go, when a boat called Book and Spud came past
and turned around in the marina entrance.
We met the people on that boat up in the village yesterday at the
Community Café, so as they went back past, we asked them if they were going
through the locks and if so did they want to pair up as these locks are double
ones, they said yes so we set off behind them to the flight of six locks. Their names were Ian and Clare (to their
family they are known as Nanny Book and Grandad Spud!) and they had two lovely
dogs, a border collie and a labradoodle.
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| Leaving Braunston Top Lock |
Clare and I went up to the first lock as there was a boat
coming down and the lady on it was very stern and when we said shall we open
this paddle and she could do the other side, she said one of you needs to go
over there as you will need to open both gates as you have two boats, we knew
this but she was rather shirty, I was going to go over, but as she was opening
the paddle I waited until she had finished, but she said to me you need to go
over the other side, I said I will when you have done the paddle, we helped
open the gates and she went on her way.
We felt like naughty school girls!!
Not sure why she told us off as we were only trying to help, but it was quite funny.
Our passage up the rest of the locks was very smooth as
there were a few boats coming down, so most of the locks were set for us and it
was nice to travel up with Clare and Ian, we chatted as we went along and
helped each other.
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| Entering Braunston Tunnel |
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| Passing a boat in the tunnel |
We got to the top of the flight and just around the corner
Braunston Tunnel was waiting. It is a
wide tunnel so boats can pass and as this is a busy stretch of canal, the
chances of meeting boats coming the other way are pretty high. If we do, it will be our first time passing
in a tunnel as all the other tunnels we have done, we have never past anyone
and sure enough this time we past five.
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| Ian and Clare going out the tunnel |
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| We made it!! |
We actually both enjoyed going through Braunston tunnel and
before we knew it, we were coming out the other side, I think it was because
you are thinking about the boats coming towards us and the boat in front so
that takes your mind off being in the tunnel.
Braunston tunnel opened in 1796, to bore through the
Northamptonshire heights, the tunnel is 2042 yds long. Its construction was hindered by quicksands,
and a mistake in direction whilst building has given it a slight S bend.
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| Norton Junction |
Safely through the tunnel, we were soon at Norton Junction,
we waved goodbye to Clare and Ian as they were going straight on and we turned
up the Leicester section arm of the Grand Union canal.
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| Approaching Norton Junction |
We stopped for water, then moored up.
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| Shop at Buckby locks |
We walked back to the junction and went for a
walk down to Buckby locks and walked to the gift shop on the second lock. We got an ice cream and sat by the lock for a
bit watching the boats go through, then walked back to the boat.
We are chugging on tomorrow and as all this section is new
to us, it’s quite exciting going into the unknown wondering what tomorrow will
bring.
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| Moored at Norton Junction |
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