West Mids Meander: Day 3

We had a nice evening with Catherine and co, and the moorings at the top of Braunston are very quiet, although boats kept coming past until about 8pm.  This morning it was a little bit Misty to start, and just as we were about to set off a boat came through the tunnel.  We paired up with them for the locks, much to the dismay of another boat moored there, who were also preparing to set off.  By the time we got to the lock by the Nelson we began to meet boats coming up.

We completed the six locks in under an hour, even including having to re-tie a boat from outside the boat yard whose stern rope had frayed right through and was across the canal.  We saw a boat test boat, Momentous, going the other way.  Adrian jumped off at Butcher’s Bridge to walk up to the village butcher, while I carried on to the water point by the Stop House to fill the tank, get rid of rubbish, and start a load of washing.  By the time we were setting off again and turning left at the junction, the sun was out.

The shared Oxford/Grand Union section was very busy, both with boats moving and boats moored.  One of them was Erin Mae.  We turned right at Napton Junction and a couple of boats were coming out of the top Calcutt Lock so we could go straight in.  We knew there were two boats behind us, so waited.  The first moored up but the second joined us in the lock.  It turned out to be Braidbar no 91, a 51ft 6in boat which was repainted last year.  We met boats coming up at each lock, so we flew down.  The other boat was returning to Ventnor Marina, but we carried on.  We had lunch on the move, then set off down the Stockton Locks, where a couple of boats were just coming out the top lock.  I’ve always liked the Stockton flight, and although it had clouded over it was still very pleasant.

We were following a boat down, but also met boats coming up, so progress was pretty quick.  We caught up with the boat in front at Itchington Bottom Lock.  We tied up for the night on the rings just beyond Long Itchington, having done seven hours of boating.

11 miles, 19 locks.  (36 miles, 33 locks)