Braunston

We left Northampton separately as I cycled ahead to set the first of 16 locks.  The water was very clear and I could see a motorbike on the bottom of the canal by the first lock; luckily the water was deep enough for Brent III to sail over the top.   By using the bike to go ahead and set the locks we were hoping for a quick run up the locks but our plans were thwarted by a slow moving boat ahead, time to put the kettle on.  

Pausing in the lock for a cup of tea

Eventually we reached the top lock and then sailed on to the scene of a crime which forced boaters to evacuate and shut the canal down for 5 days.   Someone had drilled into a pipeline carrying kerosene and an estimated 50,000 litres spilled into the canal.  Apparently when this activity is successful the thieves are able to insert a valve into the pipe to draw off the kerosene.   As we passed the pungent aroma of kerosene hung in the air and a team was still working to remove the pollution.  Their methods must have been very effective, we didn't see any sign of the pollution as we travelled up the canal.  

The pipe nearest the bridge was drilled near it's base on the right hand side.  The yellow bagging is containing the pollution 

At Gayton Junction we turned north onto the Grand Union and were immediately surprised at the amount of boat traffic, it was much busier than we were used to on the Nene and Fens.  There was an advantage to to being back on the canals, cheaper diesel.  At Nether Heyford we stopped to fill our almost empty tank.  

The 7 locks at Buckby were busy with boats moving in both directions.  Shortly after finishing the flight we pulled over on to familiar moorings at Norton Junction.  The next day we decided to start early so we could go through Braunston Tunnel and the 6 locks before the canal became busy.   We were quicker than expected, passing the canal shop at the bottom lock as it opened at 8am. 

The canal shop has a range of stock for boaters including basic groceries, ice creams, souvenirs and second hand books.

15 minutes later we were looking for a mooring at Braunston but were a bit early, no-one had moved on yet.  Luckily we were able to squeeze into a gap and call it a day.  

Braunston was especially busy because a historic boat rally was taking place the following weekend and some of the moorings were reserved for them.  Some historic boats arrived, Jules Fuels working boat was selling diesel, narrow boats passed through and above it all there was a strange noise in the air, a drone was filming over the canal.  

A spy in the sky - a drone filming the canal

We're used to ducks coming over when we open the side hatch but a duck at Braunston was very cheeky,  it flew up onto the gunwhale and had a look in.  

Is there anything to eat?

On Sunday the rain stopped and the sun came out much to the relief of the Braunston gardeners who were having an open day in aid of the Macmillan Nurses.  I had an interesting afternoon pottering around the gardens admiring their colourful displays.  One garden had a fig tree with some fruit on it.  The owner told me there are several fig trees in the village and they even have a category for them in the village show.  

A colourful display in one of the gardens

That evening I took the girls on a walk back to Braunston Tunnel.  We left the towpath at the tunnel entrance and took the track up the hill following the route of the tunnel.  At the side of the track an unassuming round brick structure, the tunnels air shaft, is the only clue to the feat of engineering below.

The air shaft looks surprisingly small from the outside 

Our journey from Northampton to Braunston