Retirement with No Problem

Yesterday and Today, Br 103 to Norton Junction, Oxford and Grand Union Canals, 7.5 miles 6 locks

Setting off fairly early yesterday we passed Tia, the narrowboat of Carol and her other half who’s name escapes me.  They had been at the Braunston Boat Gathering over the weekend selling their environmentally friendly products such as ecover..

We enjoyed the short trip to Braunston in wonderful weather, Lucy and Meg ran the towpath all the way even going over the turnover bridge (a bridge that takes the towpath from one side of the canal to the other) at Braunston Turn.  It was at that point that Ann and Chas from NB Moore2Life appeared along with Molly their jack russell.. well all hell was let loose as all the dogs met!..

I was pleased to see the boatyard that restores old engines was still going strong, but I suppose they do specialise in antique engines, I don’t think there are many yards that can repair and restore like them..

A quick stop in Braunston to pick up some post and the usual bread and milk before going on through the locks joined by Moore2Life.  Oh I must say how nice it was to see Vickie and Ian in Braunston, we have met them a few times now, they are from the Godmanchester area on the River Ouse, and Vickie stuck her head out to wish us well on our cruise down their home river.. Nice to have met you both again.

Nice to see the Admiral Nelson fully open again, a landmark Pub alongside the locks at Braunston..

Then the tunnel.. I didn’t have any problem with that this time.  I have always been quite terrified of going through tunnels in the past, but since I went through the tunnel at Dudley this year on their trip boat my attitude has somehow changed, and to be honest I quite enjoyed it! 

Five boats passed in the tunnel and only a hire boat managed to bump me, all the others I slid past nicely.. I feel sorry for hire boat steerers, no experienced at all at going through tunnels.. they always look petrified to me.. but it was only a little bump, and as I went past the skipper I gave him plenty of encouragement.

Today we collected a tesco order and just relaxed as it really was too hot to go down through Buckby Locks by the time Mr Tesco had gone and we put the stuff away.. we will leave early tomorrow to miss the worsed heat of the sun..

Bit of excitement though this afternoon when the air ambulance landed right across the towpath hedge from us, wow the dust and stuff it kicked up was tremendous..

There had been an accident on the A5 just by the locks here, nobody was injured actually, well only slightly, the crew were none too happy not to have been updated with that information after they were called.. I bet the farmer will be none too happy to see the hole in his barley field either!

They do a great job, and as a walker I am always comforted that these paramedics can get to any part of the country rural or not.

Blog readers at the window this evening off to enjoy a pint at the pub no doubt.. their narrowboat North Star is moored just up from us.. nice to have met you this evening you two!