Braunston

Here I am Rune

Distance 7.3 miles

Total 1514 Locks 76 Tunnels

Running total mileage 2158.2miles

Today’s trip actually adds up to quite a lot, over 7 miles, 13 locks and a tunnel. Once again the weather held out quite nicely for us, we passed down through Watford Locks without the drama of our last visit when I managed to catch the rudder on the cill in the second lock of the staircase. Interestingly exactly the same scenario arose in that once the boat was in the lock and before the bottom gate paddles had been opened to drain it the top gates began to drift open. I suspect that it has something to do with water entering the lock from the side pound and that may explain why on the last occasion the boat began to drift backwards. I now employ a different technique in locks and actually get off the boat and, using the centre rope, tie it off at the front to prevent it drifting backwards; this prevented a recurrence of our last visit.

 The next ‘adventure’ was Braunston Tunnel, whenever I have gone through this tunnel I always meet traffic coming the other way, and today was no exception. The tunnel walls cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called straight and when it comes to passing oncoming traffic it invariably involved bumping the side wall but at least today it was only a minor bump. Got into Braunston for about 4.45pm and, surprisingly, easily found a mooring.

 Tomorrow we descend on the chandleries to restock with engine service requirements. Will probably stay here until Sunday.