Very easy descent on Braunston flight

Not a ripple on the water. Last nights mooring without the bullock causing mayhem!!!!

Glorious sunset

There is something good to be said for having restriction times on the locks at Long Buckby and Braunston.  For the first time we got through Braunston tunnel without meeting another boat. It always seemed to happen just when we get to the bendy bit and 9 times out of 10 we would end up hitting each other. No ones fault really just the tunnel builders all those millions of years ago. (Must have had a drunk surveyor)

Braunston tunnel entrance.

Looking back.

 "Now kids, mummy's having 40 winks SO no one is to move!!!!".

 We set of just before 8.30am and made the top of Braunston flight just after 9. Only one boat was already waiting so we paired up and as luck would have it at every lock boats were already coming up. Apparently it was manic at Braunston bottom, with at least 6 paired boats waiting to ascend. I expect Crick was to blame for the amount of boat traffic and boy was I glad that we were going away from it. Dennis and Margaret on Nb Icing helped us through the flight. We got a text message yesterday to say they were at Braunston and Ian in his infinite wisdom text back to say we would be at the top of the flight by about 3pm.Well I knew there was no way we were going to get up Buckby flight and be at Braunston for 3pm let alone 5pm when they shut . They waited for 2 hours at the top fully expecting us to come through the tunnel at any moment, only giving up all hope when the lock keepers padlocked the gates. This morning they were already at the top waiting for us and did they give us an ear full!!!! I pointed the finger solely at Ian and he actually admited he got it wrong. Its a shame Margaret didnt give us a ring yesterday to see where we were  but all ended well when we enjoyed a good meal and a pint at the Boathouse Inn later in the day. Going down the flight was a doddle. The other boat was a canaltime and the hirer had never been boating before. Okay he got it wrong more often then not but you know what, we also messed up when we first started boating. All in all he did a pretty decent job only hitting me twice.

Margaret in pink

Ian and Dennis

Margaret and Dennis saving a mooring for me.

We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow. Dennis and Margaret are staying for a few days so the decision will be made tonight whether we stay with them or set of on our travels again.