Saturday 19 September Watford Locks and on to Braunston (7.5 miles, 13 locks, 1 tunnel)
Today we may have Rachel and possibly Pip with us later, so we are doing boat jobs for a start until we know more precisely! It’s cool, windy but sunny, so John’s Rydale jumper will get an outing.
First, the plan is we pass under the M1 and down the interesting and scenic seven narrow Watford locks, which include a staircase of four with working side ponds. We travel three miles past Norton Turn, onto the Grand Union Canal main line, through the sinuous Braunston Tunnel and down the six wide locks - unless we stop at the Admiral Nelson!
Rachel came early with dogs Honeypie and Spaniel Tessa, and met us at Watford. She and Liana, helped by the friendly lock keepers, worked Annie down the seven narrow locks. Again, there were loads of narrow boats going the other way, six before us ( we only had to wait for two) and six waiting to go up after we were down! They walked the dogs to Weldon Hythe Marina, enjoying the sun. Soon, we reached Norton Junction, where we turned sharp right towards the 16 feet wide Braunston Tunnel.
Enjoying the scenery, we waited at the tunnel mouth for a boat to emerge, after which we got dripped on and passed slowly and carefully six oncoming boats, thankfully without incident. The tunnel should be straight, but has lots of slight corners where the separately dug sections join, so in some places it’s easy to touch.
Pip joined us at Braunston Top Lock to help us down the locks, which we descended in part with A friendly and competent hire boat crew.
After five locks, Liana spotted friend blacksmith Brian and Jane Greaves on NB Emily and smithy butty Bronte, so we moored up for the day.
The four of us had a lovely meal outside at the Admiral Nelson, courtesy of Rachel (thank you! X), followed by a windy game of Startrek Catan (Klingons instead of robbers), which Pip won.
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