Leaving Norton Junction we negotiated the right hand turn towards Braunston. Our dear friends Elizabeth and Nigel had planned a couple of days in the area and we were keen to share a trip or two on the canals with them. We arranged to meet them at the top of Braunston Locks but first we had another tunnel to go through.
Braunston Tunnel is the seventh longest on the network at 2024yards (1.15 miles) and certainly not the straightest. Given the amount of rain over the past couple of days it was no surprise to us that we were greeted by cascading waters from the roof just after we had entered it. The tunnel is reputed to have a ghost and sometimes I wondered if it was ahead of us as there was another boat light for ages that never seemed to reach us! Not this time though, NB Stephen had just stopped until we passed! Construction was carried out by candlelight and the circular brick vents were also used to remove spoil by means of a hand winch.
Once we had located N&E – not that easy when neither party have any phone signal – we set them to work manning the lock gates.
There are six locks on the Braunston flight and we were heading down them! Different from any we have done before this flight are wide locks meaning you can get two boats in at one time – going the same way of course!
Now, there is something I have to tell you about locks that I don’t think I have explained before. You know the purpose – to raise the canal up (or down) a hill. The method – bringing water in from the top to fill it by opening the top paddles or emptying the lock by opening the bottom paddles – at all costs the paddles must be closed when you have finished the task in hand otherwise the lock will keep emptying (or filling) and you will get nowhere – a rookie error I have been known to make in the past! That’s not what I want to tell you though! Ever noticed why Paul keeps looking behind him?
That big piece of concrete below the gate with the yellow arrow is the cill! At peril of losing your boat, or worse, you must stay clear of it. All the locks are clearly marked where it is located…. Now you know why Paul takes the boat through the locks and I do the hard work!!
Anyway, moving on…. We negotiated the locks, almost without incident, thanks to the efforts of E&N and we even joined a hire boat for the last couple. We moored overnight near the marina and enjoyed some bubbles and cake and a meal together.
Next day E&N joined us early and we headed right from Braunston junction, which is probably west, up the Oxford Canal towards Rugby for a bit.
Braunston is a bit of a mega with the canal community. It lies at the junction of the Grand Union and Oxford Canals on the border of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, between Daventry and Rugby.
The village sits on a ridge above the canal and All Saints’ Church dominates the countryside for miles around. Built in 1849, it is the third church on the site.
The unique triangular junction between the Oxford and Grand Union canals has two bridges carrying the towpath over the canal. Here there are a beautiful pair of Horseley Iron Works cast-iron bridges with low graceful arches. A third similar bridge is situated at the entrance to Braunston Marina.
We had a second lovely evening with N&E and then took our leave from them. Next morning we treated ourselves to breakfast at the Gongoozler’s Rest Cafe at the entrance to the marina. A very tasty ham and cheese toastie with sauteed potatoes!
We have met some very interesting people on our travels on the canal network, seen some beautiful countryside and craft. We think Penny and Sedge on NB Camilla deserve a special mention though! They were moored close to us at Braunston. They have just purchased this boat, have three hours experience on the canals….. are moving the boat to Bristol and plan to live aboard! This is one BIG project!
Time to head back towards Wigrams……
I think I would prefer one of the canal side properties with a mooring at the bottom of the garden to a garden rather than this garden and living aboard a boat 24/7…. Some wonderful moorings on this stretch of the canal though!
Passing Wigram’s we took a wee detour to The Folly…. This beautiful canal side pub was closed for winter when we were last here in February – long before Covid 19 was part of our every day vocabulary! Today they have reinvented themselves wih a collection of marquees in the gardens! Maybe someday we will get to see the inside!
We also managed to pay a visit to the Boat Inn where Arfur and Winnie are most put out by Covid as they have lost their alloted table!
I know there is so much more that I could comment upon. Our ever trusty engine – but the technicalities of that are for another day! Our ever helpful harbour master, Gary, who is just camera shy!
The winding holes (pronounced wind – as in the north wind doth blow!!) – and how my amazing husband manages to turn a 60′ boat around in a 70′ triangle!
We did a recce for where we might take the boat on our next adventure in the spring – more locks, less tunnels!
The sun sets on another adventure for the Bear’s… 55 miles, 3 tunnels, 1 aqueduct, 3 winding holes, 5 junctions, 2 diesel top ups, 2 gas bottles and 1 pump out and a lot of rain, fun and laughter….
Thank you for following us, keep safe and keep well xx
H&P Adventures 
Great pictures, nice to see as we are slowly heading that way.
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