Days 50 - 54: Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal

Tuesday morning early and we set off from Gayton Junction down the 17 locks towards Northampton along a branch of the Grand Union Canal which ends there and joins the River Nene.  We planned originally to travel along the Nene towards Peterborough and then to Cambridge via the East Anglian waterways, but time hasn't allowed the longer trip.  We did want to visit Northampton, though and dip our toes in the Nene.  Reports were varied about both the Northampton Arm and the Nene itself - the only way to find out was to go.

The Arm begins with the Rothersthorpe flight of 13 narrow locks followed by 4 more widely spaced which terminate just before the centre of Northampton.  The new marina at Becket's Park on the River Nene was our destination, so we would travel through the centre of the town on the river.

Gayton Junction facing north, showing the turn to Northampton on the right

Coming down the picturesque Rothersthorpe flight

One of the drawbridges on the flight, recently restored and fixed open

Wire sculptures by lock 10

Very enthusiastic helpers

We passed a boat carrying the Canal and River Trust CEO (left) and a local MP (centre) after their unveiling of the latest of several mosaics as part of the 200th anniversary of the Northampton Arm

Mosaic at Gayton Junction

Entering onto the Nene after lock 17

Next time, we'll do this trip east from Northampton along the Nene

Waiting to exit lock 17 

...then out onto the river

...and finally to our berth at Northampton Marina