A long day.

 The wonderful sound of a song thrush helped us on our way  at 7 am that morning. We crept past Like Ducks to Water hoping not to wake Jacquie and soon we came to Braunston Tunnel.

 Straight through without meeting another boat but by jove it was wet! Jade was lying on the back deck and she and her bedding got soaked! She was ever so pleased to be carried down the steps to the cabin below ( Beeston has nearly straight steps leading onto the deck and Jade finds it to challenging to clamber up or down).Once out the locks are only about 1/4 mile away and  with all the locks against us it was heavy going, especially when I nearly ran out of water in a very low pound.

We turned left onto the GU heading for Napton Junction and with very few boats around managed to get a bit of a spurt on (no we didnt creat a wash!) It was such a lovely day for March, warm as well as sunny so out came the silly hat and sun glasses.

 At Napton junction we turned right, did the 3 Calcut locks and within 2.5 miles had the 10 locks at Stockton to descend. Then came Bascote locks with the staircase,  Welsh road lock, Wood lock and the 3 Fosse Locks before finally calling it a day exhausted at 5pm.

Vent inside Braunston Tunnel

Moorhen display at Bascote lock

Total travel time 10 hours. Did 17 miles and 29 locks.( every one against )