We set off at 7.45, on a rather chilly morning. First stop was Rugby Boats just after they opened at 9.30 where we took on 90 litres of diesel. We plodded on to the bottom of the locks, at one point being in a convoy of five boats. Catherine, Nigel, and Matthew were at the bottom lock to help; Grace had opted to carry on with her Saturday activities at a stables. One boat was going up the lock on its own and another was waiting, so we went up with them, and they then joined the boat ahead. One of a two coming up behind then joined us.
The two ahead were both Gayton hire boats, and Catherine accompanied them up to make sure they got on ok, as there were a number of first-timers. We met plenty of boats coming down, and eventually got to the top. We turned the corner at the junction towards Braunston, and moored up for lunch, cooked by Adrian. Setting off again we went through the tunnel, behind a rather slow boat. It was an eventful passage, with at least six boats passed. One of them was a cruiser, which gave the boat ahead a real thump and then ended up across the tunnel. He also whacked us. Later the boat behind told us that they’d hit him sideways on, and feared they’d sink him!
We decided to moor at the top of the locks. I walked down to the marina with Catherine who needed to pick up Grace. The locks were chaos with loads of boats coming up. Some pounds had four boats waiting. Braunston itself was rammed, with no mooring spaces. Nigel and Matthew had stayed with the boat, and Catherine is coming back in a bit with fish and chips. There is very little mobile signal so I will add photos tomorrow.
14 miles, 7 locks. (25 miles, 14 locks)
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