W started our next canal cruise on Sunday 1st June but were not able to post a blog due to lack of internet connectivity. The past 2 days are therefore described here.
We drove to our marina on Saturday morning and after unpacking the car visited the local Sainsburys for a weeks worth of groceries as there are very few shops on the first part of our route. After spending the night in the marina we set off on Sunday morning south on the North Oxford Canal joining the Grand Union at Braunston.
Soon after leaving the village the canal ascends the Braunston flight where 6 double width locks raise boats by 35 ft. Thr first 3 locks were easy as we shared with sother boats with minimal waiing for boats coming down, But then we hit a queue as passage through the 5th lock was very slow due to a broken paddle and a badly leaking bottom gate.
Immediately after the final, 6th, lock we stopped for the night. Unfortunately there was no mobile internet connection so it was impossible to produce the blog.
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| Moored above Braunston Top Lock |
Today, Monday, we set off early at 8:45 and soon reached the 2045 yard Braunston tunnel which we passed through quickly as there were no boats coming the other way.
A couple of miles beyond the tunnel the Grand Union splits with the Main Line going south to London and the Leicester Section north to Leicester and beyond. We chose the latter option turning left through wooded countryside to Watford Locks, near to the M1 Watford Gap Service Station.
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| Passing through woods on the way to Watford Locks |
The Watford flight consists of 7 narrow locks with the middle 4 being a staircase where the top gate of one lock is also the bottom gate of the next lock. . Since boats cannot pass in the staircase and the operation is more complex than with a normal lock there are lock-keepers on duty to ensure the locks are correctly used and to help boaters get through them quickly.
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| Densie in the Watford staircase |
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| AT the top of th staircase |
Beyond Watford Locks the woods are replaced by rolling hills and farmland though the scenery remains attractive. 2 miles further on we reach the Crick Tunnel, at 1528 yards rather shorter than the Baunston Tunnel. However there is much dripping water and so we always where waterproof jackets here.
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| Above Watford Locks |
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| About to enter Crick Tunnel |
Beyond the tunnel lies the village of Crick where we have moored for the night.
Journey Statistics
Sunday 1st June
Distance: 4.35 miles
Locks: 6
Time: 4 hours 10 mins
Monday 2nd June
Distance: 8.21 miles
Locks:7
Time: 4 Hours
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