Autumn Cruise: Day 26

It blew an absolute hooley last night, but by this morning it was much calmer.  In spite of rain it the forecast, it was also dry but overcast.  We’d slept really well on the very quiet and dark mooring, so didn’t set off until 9am.  As we approached Bridge 102 it appeared that Ryan on the fuel boat, Southern Cross, had just taken on a delivery of diesel.  The boat was certainly low in the water.

It was just a few miles into Braunston, where the sight of the church and the former windmill on the top of the hill is something special to the canal traveller.  We turned right at the junction towards the village — meaning that on this trip we have done all three sides of this triangular junction.

We waited to stop, and gambled on there being a space nearer the village, outside the marina.  Having left a bit later than normal we thought our arrival time was pretty good, and we had seen a few boats on the move.  Sure enough, there was a big space beyond Butcher’s Bridge, which we and another boat slotted into.  We went up to the village to the butcher and the convenience store, returning across the field to the bottom lock.  We set off again to go up the locks.  The former chandlery at the bottom has turned into an artist’s studio and gallery in the past three weeks.

We met quite a few boats coming down the locks, and eventually teamed up with a singlehanding lady going up.  At the top, we continued through the tunnel, where I took one of my best fluke shots of an air shaft.  While steering, I just have to point the camera upwards and press the button at what I think is the right time — so I was pretty pleased with this one.

We were aiming for the new piling just before Norton Junction.  It was pretty busy, but there was still space — and there will soon be more, as even more piling is going in.

This evening, Catherine, Nigel, and the kids are coming round as they live very close — and they’re bringing fish and chips from their village chippy.

7 miles, 6 locks.  (262 miles, 287 locks)