Retirement with No Problem

Whilton to Braunston, Grand Union Canal, 5.5 miles 11 locks

No spare part yesterday for our kerstan sky dish so we stayed put, and this morning still nothing had arrived at Whilton Chandlers.  I had ordered the part from RoadPro who kindly said they would deliver it to the chandlery for me to pick up on the way through..

With that news this morning I was disappointed, I didn’t want to spend another evening between the railway and the M1, so asked if they would post it back.. but Richard at Whilton Chandlers went out the back and produced the bits I needed.. he will replace those with my bits when they arrive.. brilliant stuff, thanks Richard.

With me on lock duty today I was out and about with the camera, so I have lots of pictures for you today on the blog..

These first two are of the top lock at Buckby… nice pub that, The New Inn.  We have spent many an evening here in the past, but for today we would pass without a pint.  Norton Junction, apart from the numerous pans and barges of British Waterways, is a very picturesque spot..

And this is the junction where the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal goes off..

We went that way last year hoping to cruise to Great Haywood via the River Soar for a change.  But we got caught in the floods and never made it having to put No Problem into Sawley Marina for the Christmas break.. this year we would go the safe way…

So it was under the bridge and onward to Braunston Tunnel.. I wasn’t feeling nervous at all today about going through the tunnel.  It was ever since I had been taken through the fantastic tunnels at Dudley that my fear of tunnels seems to have disappeared, and I just met the one boat, as you do on the only bendy bit in there.  Just touching the side as the hire boat had gone for complete safety, or so he thought, but stopping completely waiting for me to pass.. little did he know that I would draw his stern into my path.. no harm done, and I would rather that than for someone coming past me at full throttle!

So next to Braunston Locks.. I thought these would be a bit easier than the Whilton and Buckby flights earlier.. gawd gimme the Nene Guillotines any day..

This pic is just above the top lock.  We had to follow one down today, nothing coming up through the flight at all, so it was a good workout for me..

Vic enjoyed his break from doing locks, and he was getting more and more confident with each lock he had to steer into.. I bet when we get to the single locks again he will be refusing to let me be lockie!  Gosh these gates are so heavy, I am aching tonight for sure..

But is was nice to be out on the towpath with the camera picking up some shots I don’t normally get..

The Admiral Nelson pub is one place I have never visited, although I must admit I nearly did today.. Looking at people having a pint on the benches outside was nearly too much.. but I would be missed for sure..

Lots of interest on the way down.. I think I have always visited this shop when passing, today was no exception, and out I came with a couple of pints of milk.. it could have been a lot more, but I only took a couple of quid in with me on purpose!!

And so out of the bottom lock…

It was quite late in the day, well we didn’t set off from Whilton ‘till after lunch.. waiting for the post you see.  Would it be too late to get a mooring in Braunston.. probably.. We were lucky, one space just after the Stop House, and what a lovely mooring this is…

This from the window this evening.. There used to be trees and bushes on that side of the canal, but the new hotel owner, the hotel you can just about make out, wanted all the vegetation chopped down to give views to his guests.. good O!  Gives me nice views too..

I see the British Waterways Winter Stoppage list is now online and downloadable.. click here for the pdf file which can be printed on normal A4 paper, or if you prefer it on excel click here