Days 65 - 68: Braunston to Rugby

Next stage was the northern section of the Oxford canal to Rugby, via Barby Marina where we stopped for a night followed by the three locks at Hillmorton.   The entry into Rugby is winding and the new mooring rings are all now before bridge 58.  As it was narrow there, we continued the mile or so to Newbold on Avon and the 14-day municipal moorings there just before bridge 50 and the Newbold tunnel.

The three alpacas at Barby Marina

The top lock at Hillmorton

The unusual paddle gear

Looks like we're coming into Rugby!

The lake at Newbold Quarry Park, next to the canal - originally a limestone quarry and now home to endangered white clawed crayfish and several species of fish

By the lakeside

Brickwork much repaired, on one of the bridges near Newbold

We spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights on pleasant moorings at Newbold.  Next major stop will be Hawkesbury Junction where the Oxford Canal meets the Coventry Canal and we'll continue northwards along this to eventually join the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Days 63 - 64: Norton Junction to Braunston

On Thursday we did the Braunston Tunnel, at 2042 yards the longest in our trip so far and a little tricky due to its S-shape.  We met two boats coming the other way and negotiated passing each smoothly (i.e. we didn't hit anything!). Immediately after the tunnel is the flight of six double locks leading into the centre of Braunston, which we went down with Peter and Helen on their boat Quitula.

Approaching the tunnel at Braunston

Coming out of the tunnel

A plaque commemorating the 200th anniversary of the opening of the tunnel in 1796

Looking back into the tunnel, two boats following

Colourful old signs by a house near Braunston locks

A beautifully preserved cottage by one of the locks

We've seen several of these shepherd's huts on wheels - this one overlooks the locks

Braunston is a very popular centre for canal boats, with every kind of craft and service

Next day, we explored Braunston and walked back up the locks for a drink at the Admiral Nelson pub.  We also visited the marina with its charming rope maker's shop and a variety of boatbuilders and then the Stop House where we were shown some of the Canal and River Trust collection of vintage photographs of boating and canal life.

View from Braunston Marina, showing

the characteristic wrought iron bridge and an old crane

Inside the rope maker's shop asking about a new bow fender for Blue Adeline

Another view of the shop

The pumping station, built in 1805 to pump water back up the lock flight

The Gongoozlers' Rest is a cafe on a narrowboat

At our mooring opposite The Boathouse pub

Days 58 - 62: Gayton Junction to Norton Junction

A quiet few days starting with, at Gayton Junction, picking blackberries, making bread and going for walks.  The blackberries went into a compote with plums, two tbs sugar, ½ tsp of crushed cardomon, juice of half a lemon and a splash of port - then cook until the fruit is soft... lovely!

Collecting blackberries near Gayton Junction

Jan's easy bread recipe (makes one loaf)

For the starter:

170g white bread flour

I tsp easy yeast

1 tsp sugar

240 ml hand hot water

For the bread:

200g white bread flour OR wholemeal flour

1 Tbs olive oil

1 tsp salt

Put 170g of white flour into a bowl and add the yeast, sugar and water.  Whisk untll mixed, cover and leave for 40 mins or until the mixture is bubbling.

Add the olive oil, salt and the rest of the flour (gradually) stirring until the dough comes together.  Transfer to a floured board and knead until silky, adding small quantities of flour to keep from sticking.  Put the dough back into the bowl and cover, leave for 1 – 1.5 hours until doubled in size.

Knock back and transfer to a  900g (2lb) baking tin.  Cover and let rise for half an hour.  Bake at gas mark 5 for 10 mins on a low shelf then gas mark 4 for 20 mins.  The loaf is cooked when it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.  Turn out and cool.

Before we set off on Sunday, we watched a boat being craned out of the canal at Gayton Marina

...and slowly swung into place on supports

Our next stop was Bugbrooke and we walked in to the small village store on Monday.  We'd hoped to do some more painting, but the weather wasn't favourable.  On Tuesday, we headed off to return up the Buckby locks.  The stern gland, which greases the propellor shaft and has to be kept topped up on a daily basis by turning its brass handle had started dripping rather a lot and we decided it should be looked at.  The very helpful proprietor of Stowe Hill Workshop, Robert, checked the alignment of the prop and corrected it - touch wood, it hasn't leaked since.

Very helpful and knowledgable

A traditional pair of working boats, one towing an unpowered 'butty' seen here with the decorated wooden tiller

This slightly creepy sculpture is near a canalside gallery

On Tuesday evening, we moored just below Whilton Marina at the bottom of the Buckby flight of 7 locks and on Wednesday went up the locks to Norton Junction.

We didn't need to open any paddles on this lock - it filled from the water flowing over the top gates!

This lock was refurbished nearly 130 years ago

A waterfall over lower lock gates - due to a gate left open on the lock above

A more tranquil scene

Pretty canalside cottage at Norton Junction

Left to London - but we're heading north to Sawley via Braunston

Day 57: Return to Gayton Junction

We've reached the turning point in our trip - as we return up the 17 locks to Gayton and from there take the western arm of the Leicester Ring via Rugby and back to our home mooring at Sawley.

Leaving Northampton Marina

Bridge on the River Nene - we're heading for the middle arch

The Carlsberg brewery - previously Phipps - on the riverside

Looks like a tight squeeze

The clear water of the canal, full of fish (we think roach or rudd)

Denis directing eager volunteers - lots of passers-by stop to talk and offer assistance and children really enjoy lending a hand

... or if you're a swan, a dignified beak

Jan crossing the lock gate

A passing cyclist on holiday from Belgium - particularly interested in how UK locks work

Lock 12 with the bridge carrying the M1 above

Passing under the raised drawbridge to enter lock 10

Preparing to enter lock 4 at about 6.30pm we got a shock: the pound above it was almost drained of water and impassable.  Advice by phone from the CRT duty officer was to open one paddle in each pair of gates in the four locks above us and wait until the pound filled enough to get the boat safely through.  With some trepidation, we followed instructions, carefully closing the paddles again once the water level had risen.

A bit like the plug had been pulled out...

...but it refilled surprisingly quickly!

Climbing the rest of the lock flight as the light faded, we used the headlamp to illuminate the lock gates.  It seemed to take ages but that was because we had to take everything really slowly to avoid accidents.

By the time we reached Gayton and moored safely, it was after 9 and moonlit... it's not recommended to boat this late, but we were keen to finish the flight to avoid getting stuck again