Voyages of Gabriel: Braunston to Stoke Bruerne

Thu 20^th July (Continued) Braunston to Welton Wharf

Having had a snooze in the afternoon, we looked at the weather forecast, and realised that Saturday was to be wet all day, and we didn’t want to do the Buckby Locks in the rain. We decided to do a bit more boating today instead, so we left our mooring by the marina, and started up the locks. It was very quiet, and we made it quite quickly on our own. By the Admiral Nelson, we briefly met the people from Charis Irene, who are BCF.

After the top lock, we positioned the new floodlight we had bought, along with the magnetic torch that Mark had lent us, and entered the tunnel. The lighting worked fine, and we had no problems. We found a mooring shortly after Bridge 6, Welton Wharf. It was quiet and peaceful, and we heard owls later.

Heading for Braunston Locks

Braunston Bottom Lock

Lock 3 by the Admiral Nelson

Passing Charis Irene

Braunston Top Lock

Moored by Welton Wharf

6 locks, 3 miles. Dep 1850, arr 2030

Fri 21^st July Welton Wharf to Nether Heyford

An early departure brought us to where Graham and Sandra were moored, and we had a brief chat with Graham as we passed. Then we passed Norton Junction heading for the Buckby Locks. There was no-one to share with, so we went in on our own. Thankfully, we found a hire boat before the second lock, and we shared with them. Hazel made a quick visit to the shop that sells canal ware, and we bought a jug for Joyce’s birthday.

The hire boat was Canaloni, and it was helpful to share the locks, although they hadn’t done much boating before – just a trip on the Thames ten years ago. At the bottom lock, James ran into the chandlers to buy some milk as Gabriel descended in the lock. At the bottom it was difficult to get back on board, as the walls widen out, leaving a gap to leap. James managed it, and we went first. There was a boat waiting to come in.

We cruised without incident alongside the noisy M1 motorway, and then the wiffly bends between the railway and the A5. We didn’t stop at Weedon, not even to visit Tesco. We noticed that the diesel price at Rugby Boats was 105p. We had paid 99p at Dunchurch Pools, so we felt pleased with the tip off that Graham had given us.

We moored near Nether Heyford, but there were boats on the piling where we had intended to stop, so we went a little further and had to use mooring spikes. Thankfully, someone in the past had managed to put some bits of string through the iron rails on this section, and we found one at each end which served to stop us from surging too far when boats went past, and some of them were speedy.

Passing Graham on Micah

Norton Junction

The Leicester Arm

Buckby Top Lock

Sharing with Canaloni

Canaloni leaving Buckby Bottom Lock

Back into widebeam territory

BCF boat Kathleen Margaret

Seven large cygnets is a success

Bold Betty built in 1930 in Potter Heigham

Moored near Nether Heyford

Tied onto bits of string

7 locks, 7 miles. Dep 0815, arr 1235.

Sat 22^nd July Nether Heyford

It rained and rained all day, so we went nowhere. Despite having four ropes out, the mooring pins at the bows started to pull out as boats churned past in the rain. James used one of our huge angle iron spikes instead, and that seemed to work. We don’t often use them, but nothing else will do in soft banks.

No boating today, and no photos.

Sun 23^rd July Nether Heyford to Stoke Bruerne

We found a short cut through a hedge and across a field to reach the road into Nether Heyford. We visited the One Stop and bought some bread, before sitting on a bench in the sunshine overlooking the green. James went to retrieve a brolly that Hazel had left in the shop, before we went into the Baptist Church for their 1030 service. It was an elderly congregation – we think James was the youngest apart from the pianist. The most up to date song was “Bind us together,” but we had a warm welcome. Sadly, there was no coffee after the service, even though they have a café. It’s not the coffee that’s important, it’s the opportunity to chat.

As we left the church, we noticed that Hazel didn’t have the brolly, so we went back to collect it. Twice in one day! Back to the One Stop for milk etc, and then back to the boat.

We left promptly, while the weather permitted, and we made good progress, until we caught up with a slow boat in front. They must have been novices, as they almost hit an oncoming boat because they moved the tiller the wrong way. They turned round at Gayton Junction, so we were able to move on. At Blisworth, almost all the moorings were taken, so it was well that we didn’t need to stop. We went through Blisworth Tunnel using torches once again, and found a mooring with no problem.

We went for a meal in the Boat Inn, and Kathryn joined us for a drink.