Braunston

At Hawkesbury Junction the Coventry Canal connects with the North Oxford canal which took us south-east.  Not long into our journey we noticed the engine was overheating.  We topped up with water and then topped up again,  nothing seemed to be amiss but the engine needed another top up.   Once we'd moored up we had another check round but still couldn't see the source of the problem so Kev rang the River and Canal Rescue, the AA of the waterways.  They would be with us that afternoon but also checked if we needed provisions, water or anything else because that is all in the service they provide for stranded boaters.  

Before RCR came to our rescue we realised the cause of the problem.  Remember we drilled a hole to fit the solar panel cables and heard running water?  A pool of water in our utility area confirmed our suspicions and we spent some time removing shelves and panels to access the pipes.  The drill had made a neat hole in the pipe taking hot water from the engine to heat the hot water tank in the galley.   After replacing the pipe we just had to refill the cooling system. This is always tricky because air locks form and it took a couple more days running to bleed out all the air.  

The North Oxford is mainly rural and pretty but conveniently passes through the outskirts of Rugby near a Tesco.  On the approach to Braunston we looked out for the medieval ridge and furrow field patterns which are still clearly visible.  

The mounds are medieval ridge and furrow field patterns which dominate the countryside on the way to Braunston.

We moored up at Braunston, a busy junction where the Oxford canal joins the Grand Union. Working boats selling diesel, coal, gas and other items are a common sight in this area.  We bought some coal and were surprised how many different types of solid fuel the boater stocked.   

A working boat ties up alongside his customer's boat.  The boat on the left is moored up at the water point and the arches in the background are bridges over the canal junction.   

Braunston is an attractive village with some old dark ochre ironstone buildings.  We were surprised to see the wooden frame of an earlier dwelling preserved on the side of a brick house.  

The frame of an earlier building preserved on the side of a house. 

Our journey from Hawkesbury to Braunston