Braunston

Here I am Rune

Distance 2.5 miles

Total 1667 Locks 82 Tunnels

Running total mileage 2312.1 miles

Once again back on the move travelling through Braunston Tunnel, down the Braunston flight of locks and into Braunston itself, outside of the marina. A fairly easy day’s work as we manged to team up with another boat, ‘Samsara’ to come through the lock flight. Interesting method used on this occasion at the suggestion of the helm of the other boat. I have gone through locks in tandem with other boats but this was the first time of going through with the two boats tied together. It works OK provided that all of the lock gates open fully (travelling in tandem up the Hatton flight we had to break away at a lock near to the top as one of the gates wouldn’t open fully so you can’t get two boats into the lock together).  I was intrigued that the helm of the other boat hadn’t seen me steering a boat before but was happy for his pride and joy to be tied to ours to go through the locks whilst he worked them. It does make quite a difference to the steering and, to be honest, if anything went wrong it would probably have been his boat that would have hit anything since from my boat I had virtually no view of where the side of his boat was. It all went very well however and we managed the 6 locks, one tunnel and about 2 ½  miles of canal in slightly over 2 hours. Think we may remain here tomorrow to get a few bits and pieces and press on towards Fenny Compton on Wednesday.