A bit of a lie in, not our usual early start as we needed to be in Braunston for around 9am to pick up a delivery and chandlery bits
Weaving into Braunston around the moored boats can be interesting. This pair behind the widebeam are Oak and Ash, the old hotel pair now in private ownership
Passing past the old Toll House and waterpoint
A lucky mooring just outside the marina near the footbridge, for a quick walk around the village to complete our errands
We had an 'energy' bacon and egg sandwich, (we had nipped to the butchers as well!) before we joined the queue for the locks, and wow what a queue!
Eventually after nearly 2 hours of waiting and helping other boats up and down the first lock, Richard had his turn and our slow rise up the 6 double locks began.
Swapping over, I had a go on the tiller for a while, as we kept catching the people in front up and the temperature kept rising! Just sheer volume, but it would have been lovely to have done it first thing and no one around!
Through the tunnel (2042 yards long) and out into open countryside, we hoped the Buckby flight would be quieter!
Busy busy with lots of moored boats on the visitor moorings on the left
The New Inn was heaving, with every seat outside taken and lots of gongoozlers watching the boats coming and going. We met friends coming up the lock and managed to get a quick 2 minute conversation in over the sound of boat engines.
An unexpected storm hit us as we worked down through the 7 locks on the Buckby flight, but it cooled us down ( and the dogs, who had been enjoying a sunbathe and slow walk down the hill).
We stopped to get some chocolate from the shop at the bottom, then, accompanied by the M1 for a while, we started to think about whether our intended destination for that evening (Blisworth) could be a realistic prospect, after the hold up at Braunston
Rugby Boats, where we had previously had the motor boat lifted for blacking in January
No, Blisworth would have to wait until Sunday, as 7.30pm, we had had enough and we needed some tea!
Journey remaining ~ 61 miles and 69 locks
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