As the map on the “What’s New” page is getting complicated I have added, where possible, individual weekly mooring maps
We left Market Harborough Monday morning. Mark has gone home. We are on our own. Bridge 4 loomed large, becoming more intimidating the more we thought about it. Another boat was also preparing to leave so I had a chat with him and discovered he and his wife were, like us, dreading that bridge 4. He had, apparently, terrible trouble at the bridge on the way through and jumped at the chance of help. We followed him down the arm although one of the day boats got between us and was going so slowly the other boat was well ahead until just after bridge 5 when the hire boat pulled over and stopped.
Sue and the other boat wife managed to open the bridge with out much difficulty and as the two narrow boats were preparing to go through the day boat came hustling through with the guy on the helm telling us that he had stopped so we could do the bridge for them (there were 4 strapping guys and three lasses on board). The guy on the boat accompanying us quickly responded with “Yes and there is another ahead which we expect you to have open waiting for us”. To give them their due they did, and we tied up on the water point beyond to fill with water while waiting to ascend the Foxton Locks. The water point had a non-standard end to it so we were unable to get water, which was probably just as well as less than 15 minutes after booking in with the duty lock-keeper he was waiving us into the bottom lock for our ascent with just one boat to follow us. When we got to the top there was not a single boat waiting to come down and, other than the boat in the chamber directly behind us, none to come up. The lockies recon thats almost unheard of at this time of year. We managed to fill with water at the top of the locks and carried on towards our mooring point that night just below bridge number 50 (what3words - microchip.spun.doing).
Tuesday was so hot we stayed where we were for the day and lazed about in front of the fan.
Wednesday was as hot, or hotter than yesterday. We moved on planning to get as close to Crick and its Co-Op store as possible before mooring (what3words - sometimes.anguished.serve). Our main excitement of the day was going through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel (1170 yards). Although wide enough for two narrowboats to pass in the tunnel we waited at the entry for two boats to exit before we went in hoping to get through without the faff of passing, but it was not to be but never mind it’s good experience, particularly as we didn’t hit the other boat as it passed.
Unfortunately there were many things we could not get in the Co-Op. The cashier said so many delivery drivers were having to self isolate the stock, of which there was plenty in the warehouses was not getting to them as promptly as required.
Fridays first task was passage through the the Crick Tunnel, we passed several boats in the tunnel but all had reasonable lights (not blinding) and slowed to tick-over as we passed. From the tunnel it was but a short distance to the next point of interest - The Watford Flight, this comprises seven locks in total, from the top there is a single lock then a four chamber staircase lock and finally two single locks giving a total drop of 52’-6”. We arrived moored behind a queue of just two boats and went to find the lock-keeper, “blimey” she said “it’s your lucky day so get yourself a lottery ticket. Just follow the boat in front of you down".
On the way up these locks took us around two and a half hours to go through, including waiting time, going down was around a half hour or so. Being so quick we were soon at Norton Junction where we moored for the night (what3words - sharper.vaulting.outfits) still just on the Grand Union Canal - Leicester Line.
Saturday was deemed a lay day so we lazed around and wandered down the Buckby Locks to the canal shop where we bought a couple of canal plaques, to remind us where we have been, a wooden pig and a wooden duck. No I don’t know why we bought the pig, or the duck - we just liked them.
We got on our way again bright and early Sunday morning and after stopping at the water point to fill our water tank we headed up the Grand Union Canal main line towards todays goal Braunston but first the Braunston Tunnel and the Braunston Locks
The 2,042 yards (1.16 mile) tunnel at Braunston was a nightmare, we passed around six boats in the tunnel mainly hire boats who came to a virtual stop at the side of the tunnel. Very easy to avoid. The nightmare came with an owner occupier that had a veritable searchlight mounted on the front of his boat pointing straight down the tunnel, so bright I was unaware of two boats in front of him until we were almost on them. We politely suggested that his tunnel light needed adjusting and why and was rewarded by rude arrogance. Sue and I have been married 49 years and 10 months and that was the first time I had heard her use bad language, in fact everyone in the tunnel heard her use bad language. the target certainly did. The boat that followed us through the tunnel also mentioned the light and they too were given a mouthful. Another boat we passed had a similar very bright light we mentioned it to those owners who apologised and said they would adjust it as soon as possible - what a contrast!
The locks were reasonably easy as we had another continuous cruiser boat sharing the locks, they knew what they were doing so the flight was soon behind us. We managed to find space on a 48 hour mooring almost opposite the Boathouse Inn. (what3words - blurred.tries.initiates)
A good end to a good week which saw us travel 32 miles, work 23 locks and running the engine for 22 hours 35 minutes.