Summit else this sunshine

More problems with signal I'm afraid, but when I say the word Braunston, most will know what I mean. So, again a bit of catching up to do.

The weather has certainly continued to take a turn for the better these last three days. Thursday saw us call in at Cropredy Marina, from where we set off a month previously. We took on 113 litres of diesel and a gas bottle and also made sure the car was ok. I shall catch the train down to Banbury to fetch it in a week or so. 

Louise steered up Claydon Locks, five locks which raise us over thirty feet to the summit level of this lovely canal. 

Then on through Fenny Compton 'tunnel' which, as its name suggests isn't actually a tunnel at all, but a narrow cutting. When the canal was first constructed it did of course have a tunnel here, but the top was removed many years ago. 

This pretty turnover bridge takes the towpath from one side to the other. 

We watered up and had an ice cream at Fenny Compton Wharf, before we meandered on to moor for the night near to Bridge 130. A very peaceful spot, but the following morning it seemed a bit of a shame as just around the corner had been Andy & Sue on nb Festina Lente. Louise gave a quick blast of the horn as we passed on Friday morning to say hello. She was again at the helm (things are looking up) as I walked with Jasper. We'd swapped over by the time we passed Sue & Vic travelling south on No Problem. One day we will be able to stop for a proper chat, but this time it was just a quick hello. 

I blogged about this boat a couple of months ago, and plenty have since, but it was obvious that the water in which it now sits is much lower now than it was then. Maybe the owner will breach the bank again to refill his exclusive mooring.

No queue as we arrived at Napton Locks, so we started the descent straight away. We were following a boat down, so had to turn locks, but further down the flight, we regularly passed other boats, so although not the quickest descent, it was very pleasant in the sunshine. 

The windmill at Napton stood out in the sunshine.

There were plenty of folks milling around at Napton Narrowboats waiting to get aboard their boats yesterday afternoon. We soon passed Napton Junction and Wigrams Turn Marina and continued towards Braunston. We hired a boat from here back in 2006, our first taste of the South Oxford. It clearly had a lasting impression on us. We moored soon afterwards near to Flecknoe and had one of those afternoons on the towpath.

Today we were away quite early, wanting to try and beat the rush through Braunston. We arrived at the bottom lock around 9am and were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves next to go up. We doubled up with a hire boat from Napton which had a very experienced crew of six!! It was like having our own F1 pit crew. Apart from an enforced wait halfway up due to water and boats coming down, we flew up. So one up for the hire boaters I have to say. Magnificent work from the crew of nb 'Voyager'. 

Top Lock with pit crew 

We met two boats in the tunnel. The first was easy enough to negotiate, but the second a little more difficult. The first issue was that it's tunnel light didn't work, and secondly it was towing a butty which didn't want to follow in a straight line. A bit of clanking and bumping as we passed but we got through unscathed. Why would you go in a tunnel without a light ??

We turned left onto the Leicester Line at Norton Junction. The properties here always look appealing. 

Before long we were at Watfod Locks. The lock keeper told us there were four boats on the way down and so to come up above the first lock and wait. One look at the pound above the first lock and we decided we'd wait as it was at least two feet down and a boat that had just gone up struggled to get out of the lock. 

A bit low in the pound

Eventually we entered the flight and passed the last boat coming down in the pound above the bottom lock. These locks are very enjoyable and before we knew it we were at the top and passing under the rushing M1 motorway. We'll pass under it again at the end of the week much nearer home, but I prefer this route. 

Looking back down the flight 

Add caption

Tonight we've moored opposite Yelvertoft Marina. We love this stretch of canal between Watford and Foxton and so will have a lazy weekend up here. Moored right behind us tonight is the boat which is subject of a this months Boat Test in the magazine Canal Boat - La Tortuga, built by Fernwood. Very nice it looks too.