WHAT A DAY! Day 276
Tuesday 23rd April – Day 276
What a day! Where to start! ((At the beginning is preferable, although I like the bit where you get in trouble!)) This is the day I warned you about so make sure you have an extra drink and some snacks to read it.
We set off early and quickly moored up to fill with water, empty the toilets and bins and then cruised a little further along and turned into Braunston Marina to fill up with diesel, buy a new gas bottle and a bag of coal. There was another boat filling with diesel so we had to slot in behind them which meant the stern was sticking out into the path of boats leaving the marina and under the bridge and junction onto the canal.
Of course, another boat wanted to come out, so I let go of the rope and let the boat float over to the other side so they could get out all whilst having a natter. Then as we are waiting, Tim turned up ((they didn’t know he was called Tim until after of course!)) and told us he used to own our boat! So, of course, we had a good old chat with him and showed him the boat. He seemed impressed with what we had done and shared interesting info about the life of the boat which I won’t add here else this blog will need more than that bottle of wine ((It’s okay Sandra bought a crate of wine ready!)) I will add more into the canal book. Then Tim’s wife Jane came over and another chat and another tour. It was lovely to meet them and we have arranged a catch up when we are next this way or meet on the cut ((by catch up, Peachy means a drink as it seems only certain types of people own this boat hence the name))
Anyway, diesel, coal, gas sorted we set off and meet another YouTuber – narrowboat Spudley at the locks- Amanda and Wayne. We first watched their vlogs when Wayne shared an update on the Oxford landslip. They joined us in the first lock which lucky for us had lockies on. Of course, we got chatting ((Of course, repeating yourself Peachy)) and they followed us on YouTube and he did a little video of us – it’s weird being filmed by someone else! I bet we looked like right muppets! ((I have no doubt)) but they are going to promote us and help us get more followers and we will do the same in case any of our viewers are not watching them.
It’s a pleasant journey doing the six locks with a volunteer helping us who has her own boat and we chat ((There is a theme here)) as she has cruised her boat to London and then Thames before so again, it’s reassuring for us. At the end of the locks and with the rain starting at lock six, we tackle Braunston tunnel which is just over 1,800 metres long. Luckily, we are prepared ((No, I don’t believe it!)) and the light works and we have an umbrella just in case! We meet two boats but we all passed each other with no issues. The tunnel was amazing – again I will save some info for the canal book and it will be on YouTube. We moor up not long after and I get to the desk to check emails as we are in the final stages of getting the brochure ready for print so lots of things to tie up and sort. ((it’s not over yet folks!))
We then decide to go into Daventry as we need some shopping and miss the bus by about 1 minute so walk in, which is about 30 mins maybe. Then I buy some emergency jigsaws from the charity shop and get some shopping and sneak to the pub for one. Then Jane messages me who owned our boat and said they will try and look for the paperwork for the plot as we had nothing when we bought it. Then Wayne & Tammy messaged and we have arranged to try and catch them for a drink in the next couple of days.
On the way back from Daventry we catch a bus which doesn’t drop us near where the boat is. Chris finds a route on google which takes us through a housing development under construction. Well, we get a security guard shouting and running at us telling us we cannot go that way! We ended up having a bit of a laugh with him as he said it happens all the time. I did suggest a sign to tell people – although makes you wonder if that is really a public footpath they have blocked off!
Anyway, we find another route and actually spot one of the vents for the tunnel which was quite cool. Then it was back to the boat, dinner consumed and then I cracked on with another proof of the brochure. It’s 9.15pm now and this day had felt like a weeks worth of stuff and this blog is the edited/highlighted version. ((I’m exhausted!)) right, laptop off and day most certainly done!
Cruising: 2 miles / 6 locks / 1 tunnel
London bound totals:
Cruising: 89/198 Locks: 105/174 tunnels : 5 (not sure how many to London!)
