That dreadful tunnel catches me out, but it's party time in Braunston

Saturday to Tuesday – Norton Junction to Napton, Grand Union and Oxford Canals, 12 miles 6 locks

Braunston tunnel was just awful for me this time, I wasn’t in the mood to travel through on Saturday, but John Sinclair was going to meet us the other end to help us down the locks having visited us at Norton in the morning.  I was OK until two boats entered the tunnel close together.. I hit the side of the tunnel as the first one’s bow edged towards me which threw me into the passing boat, and with my confidence shattered smacked the other a heavy glancing blow as I went by.  Here is a picture that is impossible for me to take, No Problem exiting the tunnel.. thanks to John for the pic …

Talking to Chas at the top of the locks, he too hit both boats in the tunnel.. now that is unusual for him, he informed me that both boats were taking a bad line towards the centre of the tunnel hence why I glanced them a blow.  It did make me feel a bit better that Moore2Life had done the same as No Problem! 

“Braunston is busy” shouted Les, and I spied him on the towpath half way down the flight.  Last time I had met Les was last year at Priory Marina in Bedford on the River Gt Ouse.. of course since then NB Valerie has been built and Les has been doing a fair bit of travelling.. Here is another nice photo from John’s camera as No Problem and Moore2Life descend the locks to Braunston..

Les was quite right, Braunston was very full, and there was nowhere to moor at all around Butchers Bridge.  I settled No Problem alongside NB Valerie, while Moore2Life stopped at the bottom lock chandlers to pick up some new batteries.  Homemade soup all round then, and the bread tasted good too!

So party night it was on Saturday aboard No Problem.. There were a good few at the party too!…

Les and John facing, with Ann and Les’s mate John on the left, Vic, Charles and of course Lucy on the right.  I was sat where I took the pic from.. see plenty of room aboard No Problem!

A knock on the door on Sunday morning from Jenny and Mike who read the blog from Spain,they are over here on holiday on a hire boat.  They are looking forward to perhaps coming back from Spain to ‘live the dream’ It was nice to meet you both .

Then a stroll along the towpath on Sunday morning catching up with acquaintances, stories and rumours, an amazing place.. tis the ‘hub’ of the canal system is Braunston somehow, “Like the centre of the Universe” thinks Chas.. Anyway then I spied..

Then I noticed a narrowboat by the waterpoint that had a ‘home port’ of Godmanchester on the side.. I started chatting to the owners, and it emerged that they too read the blog, so it was Hi to Vickie and Ian.  Nice to have met you both too!

Jumped on the bus to Daventry on Monday with Chas and Ann, who had to go to the dentist, and on Tuesday morning I popped into Braunston for a pint of milk before saying a fond farewell to Les, I do hope our paths cross again next year, who knows.. and we made our way out of Braunston having missed Angela Jefferies (NB Liberty Belle) by a couple of minutes because of my trip to the village.. Hi Angela and Trevor, sorry to have missed you this time..

I played I spy today and here is the first one…

NB Balmaha, who we had met often travelling back up the Nene this last week or so.. a quick wave to Mo and Ness.. I wonder how long it will be ‘till we see them again.. not too long I hope.. have a good winter you two!! .. The pulling into Wigrams Marina at Napton Junction….

NB Quidditch!  Plenty of bloggers about then around this area at the moment!

Filled up with diesel here, at 52p a litre.  Before being taken out to lunch by John Sinclair.. Thanks John  …  followed by a ‘walk-thru’ of John’s narrowboat moored at the far end of the Marina.. what a lovely boat it is too.. Made in Poland under the brand of Aqualine Manhattan.  Settled tonight near the Folly at the bottom of the Napton Flight of locks.. tranquil here after the razamataz of the last few days..