Northern Exposure: Day 2

It was very windy overnight, and there was rain heavy enough to wake me up.  But this morning there was bright sunshine while we had breakfast, and we set off at just before quarter to nine.  It was still fairly breezy in places.  As we approached Buckby Locks, a man on board an ex OwnerShips boat, Cotonwood, asked if we were going up the locks, and would we like company, as they were just about to set off.  The answer to both was yes.  At the bottom lock, Catherine, Nigel, Grace and Matthew were waiting to act as crew, and there was a boat just coming down the lock.  With all the help and good company we made excellent progress up the flight.

Just round the corner at Norton Junction we saw Derwent6 so tooted the horn to alert Del and Al; our chat was brief as we passed, but it’s always good to see them.  We came through the tunnel, and moored at the top for lunch; Adrian had made a chicken and broccoli pasta bake with garlic bread and salad.

Our locking partners we’re going the same way as us, and had also stopped for lunch so we could do the Braunston flight together too.  We were following a boat down, but there were also a pair to come up the top lock.  We all got on very well together.

During the bottom half of the flight, Matthew took over the tiller and was excellent at steering into the locks in spite of a stiff breeze in places.  He’s too young to do a helmsman’s certificate, but is hoping to get a Scout badge for steering powered boats.  At the bottom, we found a mooring outside the marina, where we had dessert — one of Catherine’s amazing sticky toffee cakes.  We’d had a couple of sharp showers during the day, and after we moored up there was another.  Within a few minutes the sun was out again, lighting up Butcher’s bridge just behind us, again the dark sky.

10 miles, 13 locks.  (26 miles, 20 locks)