Braunston to Yelvertoft

Thu 4th Oct  Braunston to Norton Junction

We had a few chores to complete before setting off.  James took the boat forward to the elsan point to do what was necessary, while Hazel walked up into the village to buy a couple of items we had forgotten yesterday.

Leaving our mooring in Braunston

The Boathouse

By the time she was back, James had moved along to the Stophouse where he was filling the water tank, and had disposed of rubbish, and put on the tunnel light.

Nothing had passed us while we did all this, and we set off very slowly for the locks, in the hope that another boat might catch us up.

The Stophouse

Gongoozlers Cafe

Braunston Marina

We spotted Raymond, the last wooden butty to be built at Braunston, paired with Nutfield, a wooden narrowboat built in 1936. They were operated as a pair for Blue Line, delivering coal to London until 1970.

Nutfield and Raymond

No other boats to share with had appeared, but a boat was coming down in the bottom lock, so we went in. Two more boats were coming down in the lock above so we went on up.

Braunston Bottom Lock – Lock 1

Leaving Lock 1

We were told that there was a boat going up in front of us two locks up. They must have come out of the marina, or a mooring nearer the lock than we were, as we had seen nothing go past.  As it happened, we were quite pleased to be on our own to protect our new paintwork, and give it a chance to harden off properly.

We spotted a lock with “Built at Bulbourne” on it. These will be a rare sight in a few years time, as they no longer make lock gates there.

Bulbourne plaque

Other boats coming down told us about problems at Buckby Locks, where they are closing the second lock at 3pm to save water. Yesterday there was a problem with the first lock which held up boaters too long to allow them to get to the second lock by 3pm. Those on a schedule were cross, and very angry with the poor guy whose job it was to padlock the second lock.  We are not going that way until next week.

When we reached the top lock, we put the chimney down and headed for the tunnel.

We met two boats in the tunnel. The first one was about to pass us nicely, when they panicked and put the boat into reverse, thus losing their steerage. Their bows moved across and the two boats connected. We had both been going slowly, so there was no damage, except for a scuff on the new paint on the port side!  The second boat came into the tunnel when we were just two boat lengths from then end, and they were out too far in the middle. James steered to close to the side in an effort to avoid them, and there is now a scuff on the starboard side as well!

Braunston Tunnel

Autumn sun near Braunston Tunnel

There were glorious autumn colours in the cutting after the tunnel.  We were pleased to see that CRT are finally restoring the edge near Bridge 10, where for about five years there has been horrible orange netting as the concrete edges were falling into the canal. Now they are installing a long length of piling – enough for about ten boats.

Repairing the moorings

We stopped there, as there is a lovely view, and less noise from the A5 and M1, which are up ahead.  It was a warm sunny evening.

Lovely views

The line of moorings as seen from Bridge 10

Sunset near Bridge 10, Norton Junction

6 locks, 5 miles, 1 tunnel

Fri 5th Oct  Norton Junction to Yelvertoft

As we have some spare time, we had already decided to divert up the Leicester Arm to Yelvertoft to visit the church there on Sunday. So we set off through Bridge 10 to Norton Junction where we turned left.

Leaving our mooring

Norton Junction

Into the Leicester Arm

Two miles north of the junction comes Watford Gap. A Roman Road runs through it, called Watling Street, now the A5.  The canal was built close by in 1814. This was followed by the railway line, and then, more recently, the M1, which makes a considerable amount of noise.

The canal climbs through two locks, then a staircase of four locks, followed by another single lock. The flight is known as the Watford Locks. 

Watford Locks

Approaching the staircase

Going up

In the final lock, as our boat reached the top, our stern fender caught on some steel edging on the bottom gates. As Hazel tried to steer the boat out of the lock, she found she could not move.  We had to close the gates and lower the water level a few inches to release the fender.

Snagged Fender

We stopped for water, rubbish and elsan facilities at the top of the locks. While we were there, we met a man called Richard from a boat called Thursdays Child. He is a Christian, and we gave him a BCF leaflet.

A mile or so further on is Crick Tunnel, which is fairly straight and slightly damp. It was good to emerge again into the lovely autumn sunshine with beautiful colours in the trees.

Crick Tunnel

Autumn Colours

We needed some coal, so we turned into Yelvertoft Marina, where we purchased two bags of Supertherm.  The coal we have been using has been on our roof all summer, having been bought in Aylesbury before we left in April.

Into Yelvertoft Marina

We moored soon after the marina, on the left, before we reached Skew Bridge at Yelvertoft. We had piling, and were hoping to see little owls again, but they were not around this time.  We lit the fire, anticipating a cold wet day tomorrow.

Chimney smoke

7 locks, 7 miles, 1 tunnel

Sat 6th Oct  Yelvertoft

The rain started at about 8am and we sat it out all day as planned.

No boating today.

Sun 7th Oct  Yelvertoft to Smart's Bridge

Following yesterdays rain it was misty this morning and everything was damp.

Wet and misty

Our mooring near Yelvertoft

We walked along the towpath to Skew Bridge, and then down the hill past the Anglican church, past the Post Office and the butchers to what used to be called Yelvertoft Congregational Chapel.  It is now called Yelvertoft Independent Chapel.

We met Jim and Jan Lyon there. It was good to see them again after two years since we sang at a Saturday night folk concert entitled Canal Fever, and then led the worship the next day at their morning service.

Yelvertoft Independent Chapel

We had a warm welcome, and the service was very informal. A lady on the keyboard led some of the music, and Jan on guitar led other songs. Jim preached.  James was asked to share a little of what we have been up to over the last two years.  During the time of prayers we remembered Lin Atwill, who is in hospital in Bath awaiting tests. We all sat in a circle for coffee afterwards. What a friendly church!  James chatted to Bob Reeves, who is a keyboard player, guitarist and comedian, and has a boat called Infinity.

Jim and Jan had kindly invited us for an excellent lunch at their home, before we all walked through footpaths back to the canal. We needed to turn the boat, so they joined us for a boat trip to the winding hole, more than three miles away. 

Jim and Jan in front of their house.

Time for a boat trip

As it was getting late, Jim and Jan got off part of the way back, at Bridge 27, and walked a more direct route back. We moored up on rings near bridge 24 – Smart’s Bridge.

Moored near Smart’s Bridge

0 locks, 5 miles

Next: a short cruise to Crick to meet friends from Australia, Nick and Jan. Then back to the Grand Union main line to head south towards Aylesbury.