A cloudy day to start, with moments of bright sunshine breaking through. The countryside beautiful, very green and English.
There were a lot of boats travelling up the Whilton flight with us, so we had to wait for almost every lock. I was trying to make bread dough, which kept rising, and as I didn't have time to shape it or put it into pans I just kept knocking it back every few locks.
David volunteered to steer, and decided to wear Alan's Panama hat while he did. It looks much better on him than it does on Alan, so I suspect that it may have a new owner. It rained the whole way up, then the sun came out again at the top. I put the bread in the oven quickly, so that it would be ready before Braunston tunnel when we would need to turn the oven off.
The Toll House, Norton Junction
Braunston locks were completed in the bright sunshine, we worked very quickly down. Every boat we met was crewed with experienced boaters, paddles were opened sensibly, gates were opened on time, boats were in the right place. In Braunston we moored up, and headed up to 'the Old Plough' in Braunston itself. We ordered three vegetarian lasagnas, and drinks, then settled down in a corner. After a while a very apologetic young man came and said that there were no vegetarian lasagnas left. A discussion showed that there was only one vegetarian meal of any type left - which wasn't much use for three vegetarians. So we finished our drinks.I went to the bar to pay the tab that had been started when I ordered food, and the lady there said, "you were the people we couldn't feed - you should have been told when you ordered, before you took your drinks - no charge". All credit to them, I do think that what they did was right, but how many pubs would actually do this?
We found somewhere else to eat, looking out across the Northamptonshire countryside in the fading light of evening.
Miles:17.5 , Locks: 13
Total miles: 58.4, Total Locks: 45
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