Northampton to Bugbrooke to Braunston (plus a bit)

10 & 11 September 

Monday 

We left the marina at 9.00 having waited for the EA person to come on duty so that we could return our gate fob and reclaim our deposit. Steve has put away the anchor trusting that we can manage the remaining third of a mile of river without needing it.

Farewell to Northampton past an old grain warehouse, now apartments

And farewell to the Nene as we take a left turn.

We were behind nb Chrisden as we arrived at the first of today’s locks; we are now off the Nene and are on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union. Chrisden’s crew told us that 2 or 3 boats had already started up the lock flight. These are single locks so it's a question of following one another rather than sharing a lock. It worked out that we and Chrisden travelled at the same speed as we soon got into a pattern of us arriving just as they were leaving the lock in front so we were able to empty the lock straightaway. This was fine until we both started to catch up with the boats in front at about the ninth lock out of 17. But the weather was dry and not too hot or too cold, so we just carried on, but a little more slowly.

We had passed John and Jane Pescod on Ichthus moored on the edge of Northampton. They said they would be following soon and they did actually catch us up with 5 or 6 locks to go.

There is a character on this flight called Leon who spends his days working boats through the locks. He told me he does the complete flight once and then catches a bus home. I was going to make him a cup of coffee, then realised that the folk on Chrisden had already done so. He is obviously well known to the people in the area and those who travel these locks regularly.

There was a lot of weed in some places and not much water in others, but we all got through without too much of a problem though the weed made opening some of the gates completely quite difficult.

The top of the flight with a boat ready to go down.

As we worked our way up the flight, we did not meet a single boat coming down until we reached the top!

We turned off the Northampton Arm at Gayton and are now moored up on the Main Line outside The Wharf at Bugbrooke.

We saw several swallows around Gayton Junction – we hadn’t seen any for a few days and thought they’d abandoned us for warmer climes.

Later on we realised that Ichthus was moored a little way behind us, so we arranged to meet them for a meal at The Wharf. Following the meal we all adjourned to our boat for coffee.

Tuesday 

Rain was forecast for today – and we got it. It was dry as we left the mooring at 8.30 but rain was in the air as we started the Buckby flight and halfway up it was raining in earnest. We're back to double locks for this flight, so it was good to have the company of nb Laurimar for all the locks. There were two volunteer lockkeepers at the bottom lock but they disappeared up the flight as we entered the lock. They did set the next one for us but then we didn’t see them until the top lock where they again disappeared, this time down the flight. Perhaps it was something we said! 

We didn't need the lockies help, but I do think that if they worked separately instead of together and had walkie-talkie radios to tell each other of boat movements, they could tell boaters if other boats were approaching and save unnecessary lock turnings and make sure that, where possible, boats shared locks.

As Laurimar intended carrying on through the Braunston Locks, we decided to go along with them. Arriving at the top lock we realised there was a third boat in our little convoy, and a single boat going down the lock in front of us. Following some negotiation, the boat in front waited for us and we paired up with them, while Laurimar waited for the boat behind and paired with them. So we did the Braunston locks with Legacy.  We all got wet but everyone remained good humoured and we were all glad of each other’s help. 

Braunston Locks (photo taken on outward journey!)

By the time we got to the bottom of the locks the rain had stopped, so we continued through Braunston and moored up out in the countryside ready to carry on to Hillmorton tomorrow.