Marinas around Braunston and A good fish!

9th and 10th Sept - Moored at Braunston, Grand Union Canal
11th Sept - Braunston to Napton Junction, Grand Union Canal, 5 miles 0 locks
12th Sept - Moored Napton Junction, Grand Union Canal

Delivered the cratch cover to AJ's, hopefully it will be ready for collection at the end of the week. Unpacking the satellite system, I realised there was a lead missing from the box, and managed to persuade Roadpro to bring it down to Braunston which they kindly did. The curtains didn't get done, Braunston Marina putting up their laundrette charges by 50%, the cost of the dryer is the most expensive I have seen anywhere in the country (£1.50 for 20 mins) and the one washing machine that was working didn't clean the clothes very well. I went into their office to get some money back on the tokens I hadn't used, and asked (not complained!) if they realised the boaters dryers were not at the going rate, then had a lecture about how the machines were abused, how it costs a lot to keep them going, and that anyway, I didnt HAVE to use them! Not a good attitude in the Marina Office, unfortunately I have always found them unfriendly, maybe if I was to buy a boat Tim's attitude might be better.

In contrast, the people in the chandlery at Braunston Bottom Lock could not have been more helpful and friendly. I reversed No Problem from Butchers Bridge back to the bottom lock, and No Problem was very good to me indeed, not once did I have to put her in forward to straighten up, so many gongoozlers too! I have found that once I have 'got her going' she steers extremely well backwards, pointing the tiller full over in the direction I want the back to go, then gently back to the centre again.......

We left the plants from the top of the boat on the towpath along with Annie on guard, hoping to get back to that mooring after picking up the fridge. Not only did the shop put the fridge on, but they took the old one away, and will be taking it by van to Daventry Tip were there is a proper recycling place for fridges. Many, many thanks to you all at the Chandlers, first class service.

Leaving Braunston on Saturday we had a pleasant trip down to close to Napton Junction, we are going to Calcutt Marine to have a new engine fitted in October, and we shall call in this week to discuss what we would like and whether we can have it! So yesterday was spent setting up the new satellite system, men and screwdrivers, women and pass me this and that....... why is it the men get to just twiddle a few nuts and bolts while the women have to run around them finding this screwdriver or that spanner?! Teehee. In the end a great job was done and hey presto after a bit of 'woman fiddling' a superb picture via the astra satellite made us both smile.

After quiet an eventful few days, I was very glad of a bit of 'doing nothing' stuff today, and took off this morning with Lucy for a walk to alert Calcutt that we would be arriving on Tuesday to discuss No Problem's new horsepower. I didn't realise there was to be a new Marina at the junction here, and was amazed at the size of it, huge it is! Here is one half of it, the other half is in the Sept Pics, a link to the pics is on the left. The pilings or scaffold in the ground is the bases for the pontoons by the way.

So with 7 miles of each other there are marinas at Napton, Calcutt, Braunston, the one just after Calcutt on the right as you go towards Stockton, I can't think of the name at the time of writing, and now this one. It is going to be one of the busiest places on the whole system during the summer and weekends once this one is up and running, I must make a note not to be here in future during summer weekends!

When I got back from Calcutt, stuck the fishing rod out, peace at last.......... errrrrrr no......... within 5 minutes of feet up fishing, a huge fish managed to find my measly bit of bread on the hook, reeling in to see a good one and half pound bream stick it head out of the water and into my catch net! Nice one!

The weather has detiorated this afternoon, so I think it will be feet up to watch some TV with a perfect picture.