Monday 16 march 09. Braunston to Stockton, 3 locks 3 hours, still on the Grand Union.

Some freshly picked flowers from the towpath for the wife (Only the daffs). All together now....ahhhhh.

We slipped our moorings at about 10 ish heading for Napton Junction and ran straight into the rush hour!!


We gave way to this boat at the first bridge, bit of a rarity for us is another boat, the Monday morning rush is still with us.



This was the scene that greeted us after opening the bottom lock at Braunston yesterday, having passed through a lot of countryside for a few hours this was a bit of a shock. There were boats everywhere and people milling about doing whatever it is that boaters do. Worst bit though was the water was covered with a film of oil and diesel, shot through there at two miles an hour back to the countryside.

A tiny cottage and out building, the lock beam should give an indication of the scale, if Snow White had popped out followed by a few small miners I dont think we would have been surprised.

There is still lots of work going on here, the towpath and bankside are having major refurbishment. All those sandbags seem to be full of a compound that sets hard when it gets damp, (a bit like the bag of cement you left in the shed) that to me is a really good idea as you can fit them all together when they are soft and just leave them to form the bankside in their own time. Clever.

We have stopped early today and are girding our loins for the assault on the next 17 or so locks tomorrow.

So until then...............