What a lovely few days I have had. It certainly makes a difference when the sun puts its hat on. Everyone that you meet seems to be in a good mood. Since my last blog post I moved up a little way to Nether Heyford to visit a friend who then made dinner for us. After dieseling up I had an evening cruise up towards Whilton ready for the Buckby locks next morning. I rarely cruise in the evening because I am always wondering whether there will be a mooring spot left but it was so nice that I will definitely be doing it again. On the subject of mooring spots I am amazed at how many more boats are now mooring in my favourite places. In another year or so I reckon the canals will be FULL. Weekends in particular are busy with hire boats and marina boats out on the cut.
Whenever I have done the Buckby locks I have had problems: too shallow to moor on the lock landings; too deep so water had to be let out in order to level the top gates; gates that could not be moved so that help had to called out; fender caught on gates when the flow was too strong for reverse; etc. However, this time the passage was as good as it has ever been. I shared with nb Hannah Ruth who were very efficient and friendly and we also had a pair of lockies - the first time I have ever seen any on this flight. Once at the top I moored and went to the New Inn for lunch, a fairly standard baguette. Onward to Welton and a good trip through the tunnel. It was mainly dry and I only met a boat right at the very end. I decided to moor at the top of Braunston locks which was a really quiet spot. I moored next to Steam barge Hasty that I had met earlier this year on the way to London. Unfortunately there was no one on board. I wandered down to the shop for some supplies and just had to treat myself to an icecream.
Next day I had another smooth journey down the Braunston flight which was busy with boats coming up so all locks were ready for me. I had to wait outside the bottom lock chandlery which was not open. After ten minutes or so a girl came cycling up at great speed and full of apologies but she had fallen off her bike into the cut! They didn't have what I wanted but no worries. Braunston was as busy as it always is so I carried on as far as Napton. On the journey I passed nb Pipe Dreams who shouted "Do you remember us? We met you years ago on the Leicester Ring". Wow, what a memory! Now I'm worried that I must have done something memorable on the Leicester journey! Now I need to prepare for the Napton flight of locks although they are usually okay as long as they are filled slowly. (In the early days I was the victim of its rather strong undertow on a couple of occasions). At the moment there is a restriction on the locks with last boat needing to enter by 4pm.
