Braunston Tunnel |
Braunston Locks |
During the night we could hear the M1 motorway and the railway in the distance but the faint noise did not
disturb our sleep.
At 8.55 we cast
off and within a few minutes turned onto the main line of the Grand Union
Canal.
lack of boats at Braunston |
Soon we
encountered a major feat of canal engineering – the Braunston Tunnel. It is
over a mile long so the far portal looks like a pinprick of light when you
first go in. Another boat followed us into that eerie space their spot light
shining a long streak on the water. Two boats approached.
The Captain
passed the first easily but was warned that the boat behind had never been in a
tunnel before. However the rookie pilot surpassed himself inching past our boat
gently- unlike another hire boater who rammed us in this same tunnel 6 years
ago.
We entered the
locks after the tunnel and waited for the boat behind to join us. Often people
don’t wait but rush on alone. However the locks can be worked quicker with two
boats as one crew member can go on ahead
and prepare the next lock and open the gates while the other crew member closes
up.
on the Oxford Canal |
We flew down the
locks aided at the third by volunteers painting all the woodwork as they set
the lock for us and opened the gates. They worked the paddles carefully so as
not to smudge the wet paint and waved us on our way. We also met boats coming
up so those locks were waiting for us to go straight in.
Below the locks
our companion boat moored up but we cruised on through a strangely deserted
Braunston. Normally there are boats queuing to go up but there were only two
moving along the canal and there was plenty of places to moor. Braunston was a bustling settlement in the days of freight as the Oxford and Grand Union Canals met there.
We eventually
moored for lunch beyond the junction with the Oxford canal opposite sheep
filled fields.
At 1.30 we set
off again enjoying the warm weather. A boat passed with girls sunbathing on the
flat roof as if it were mid-summer. Lottie also enjoyed stretching out on the
sunny rear deck. In contrast to the
Leicester section the Grand Union Canal had more boats moving, many of them
hired. On the long straights there was always a boat in sight but then I could
see over a mile down the canal.
Barby straight |
We passed an old canal side garage that had been lovingly restored to its former glory with its old signs for Pratts Motor Oil intact. the complex also boasted of an old phone box, a dove cote and a wishing well.
We arrived at
Hillmorton (the first of the narrow chambered locks) to find one of the paired
locks being repaired. Well it was cordoned off behind vivid orange mesh with
work boats surrounding it but six fluorescent jacketed workers were supping tea
in a barge. I guess it was their tea break as it was 3.00.
Wishing well and cottages |
Unusual garden furniture |
We descended the
other lock finding the paddles and gates light after so long on the heavy wide
locks. At the lowest lock on the flight the easy to operate lock was worked by
volunteers. We needed help like that back on the arm wrenching wide locks where
there was no one.
We moored below
the flight and went in search of ice-creams. It was lovely sat at the lock side
cafe relaxing in the shade.
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