Another chilly day

We had a fairly uninteresting day today. Lots of boats on the move, especially holiday boats out of Gayton Marina heading back at the end of their holiday.

We moved up to the bottom of Stoke Bruerne Locks by about half past ten and were the sixth boat in the queue. We paired up Slavonion Grebe out of Gayton for the seven locks. As we were crossing with boats coming down at most locks it was an easy passage up the flight. There may be a water shortage but it is being well managed as the water level in the pounds was better than I have seen it previously. We parted company with them at the top lock as they were stopping to visit the Waterways Museum, worth a visit if you are in the area but we have visited it previously.

We carried on through the Blisworth Tunnel, a lot less drips than on many previous occasions and surprisingly we only met two oncoming boats. We then encountered our only bit of excitement for the day as a boat decided to pull out of Gayton Junction in front of us, frantic reversing so as not to hit him meant the wind caught us leaving us diagonally across the canal with another boat coming up behind us! All good fun!

We are now at Bugbrooke about two hours from Buckby Flight, another one with time restriction but unless we drastically oversleep we should clear that tomorrow. I just need a couple of bits from the chandlery at Whilton Marina before we go up.

Today's journey 10.4 miles, 7 locks and 1 tunnel


So far this year we have travelled 77.8 miles, 89 locks, 3 swing bridges and 1 tunnel

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1279.5 miles, 1175 locks, 59 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 41 tunnels