An empty start, but we reach the River Nene and its great..

Gayton to Weston Favell, GU Northampton Branch Canal and River Nene, 7.75 miles 20 locks

I was looking forward to today and woke early.. a knock at the door from British Waterways “There is no water in a couple of the pounds (stretch of water between two locks), we are filling them up but it won’t be too long”..

A boater came up last night and left all the top gates open.. That is what caused the huge exit of water as it leaked through the bottom gates of the first three locks!  Annie of NB Moore2Life said to me while we were walking the K9s that we should go back and close all the gates he left open.. I thought “Nah be OK” Wrong!

But it wasn’t too long ‘till we were on our way down the flight.  Having gone down two of them who should be walking along the towpath but Paul Balmer of Waterway Routes..

It was great to see him, I knew he had been very busy this week and would probably not be able to make it today.. but a special visit from him.. and we sure did appreciate his help down the lock flight.  Paul has helped us down this flight each time we have done it, it’s like a tradition now.. thanks Paul

It was very windy today, and I got caught a couple of times, giving No Problem a hefty bump into one of the locks, it reminded me to take a lot of care in the high wind with this long boat.  But what scenery along this stretch, it really is a lovely flight..

Noisy though as the main A43 runs alongside, and at one point Junction 15a of the M1 literally straddles the tiny canal as it dives for cover underneath it in a tunnel like structure.. but our first view of the River Nene for this year as we come round the corner after exiting the last lock of the flight of 17..

A stop at Morrisons at Town Quay was needed to replenish the veg and meat stores.  First time out for our ‘wheels’ to keep No Problem away from the high concrete wall ..

I like shopping in Morrisons here, you can bring the trolly right alongside the boats at the quay, very handy..

Then it was off through the first lock on the Nene to the FREE pump out station!!

Here Vic pumping out our loo courtesy of the Environment Agency who do not charge for this service.  British Waterways charge for the use of DIY pump outs.. not sure of the rate, is it £10, £12 or £15?  And that is for a timed pump out.. our tank is so big it would take more than one timed session I think.  The boatyards charge between £15 and £17.. so at least this summer we will be able to save a bit as it will be free if we can find enough EA ones.

Onward, making for our intended mooring at Weston Favell, but firstly with wind in our hair we opened the throttle and No Problem flew with hardly any flow on the river..

We have noticed a lot of improvements to lock pontoons already.. probably due to the National Waterways Festival that was held at St Ives last year.. lots of narrowboats had to go down the Nene to get to it and EA made improvements because of that.. here at Rush Mills lock there are new landing places for tying up while working the lock..

Whacked out tonight, always a long day the first day from Gayton Junction, but well worth it.. I am in my element back in a place a really love, back in a place where already I have seen swallows skimming the river, crested grebe, oyster catchers, tufted ducks and nesting swans and greylags.. hey and this is only day one!