Braunston

Between locks on the Buckby Flight

Sharing a rising lock on the Buckby flight

On the move early at 8:20.  Our  first job was the 7 locks of the Buckby flight, which are seriously hard work being deep with heavy paddles and gates.  Fortunately 6 of the 7 locks were set in our favour significantly reducing the effort.  We shared the final 2 locks with an inexperienced group of holiday makers out on their first cruise and reached the top after 2 hours 45 minutes

Approachng Braunston Tunnel

At the top of the locks they turned right to take the canal towards Leicester whereas we continued on the main line towards Braunston Tunnel, at over 2000 yards, one of the longest tunnels on the system.  It is barely wide enough for two narrowboats and is infamous for its kink in the middle where one always seems to meet a boat coming the other way.  We met two on-coming boats, both of which we managed to avoid hitting though we did rub the tunnel walls on one occasion.

Out of the tunnel and down the 6 Braunston Locks which are much easier than the Buckby flight and only took 1 hour 25 minutes.  Reaching the old canal village of Braunston we moored up near the marina.  After lunch we had a visit from Pete and Sue a couple of friends with who we found a convenient table and chairs where we spent a pleasant socially distanced afternoon of chat, wine, and snack food.

5.63 miles 13 locks 5 hours 25 mins cruising