The morning started sunny but before too long was becoming overcast.
We headed out onto the Grand Union, this time turning right towards the locks. Becky hadn't done any wide locks before but had done enough narrow locks to know what to do. As we approached the bottom lock there was another boat entering so we were able to share with them. In the time it took to do the flight the weather went from overcast with a little sun, to hail, to rain, and back to overcast again!
Once through the locks it was time for the tunnel. I’d not passed through Braunston Tunnel for a good 5 years and not steered through it for 14 so I had pretty much forgotten how not straight it actually was! I knew about the slight ‘S’ bend but would it be too much to make the walls straight?
We only met 2 boats in the tunnel but it was still nice to be out of the other side.
Reaching Norton Junction we decided to turn left onto the Leicester Line which would be a first for us (not that I’d been the other way before either). We were really glad we did, it is a lovely stretch of canal and one we immediately said we would definitely do again.
We passed the rear of Watford Gap services and were soon on to Watford Locks. I’d never done a staircase like this before so was looking forward to it. We moored up behind another boat at the bottom of the locks and Becky went off in search of the lockkeeper. She came back after booking our passage up and we waited for the last boat to come down. About 35 minutes later we were on our way with Becky repeating the phrase “Red before white, you’ll be alright. White before Red, get a clip ‘round the head” (something the lockkeeper had told her to remember in which order to work the paddles).
It didn't seem like long before we reached to top and soon we passed under the M1 and into the countryside again. I’d heard that Crick tunnel was very wet so was prepared for a soaking but at least the sides were fairly straight!
We moored up by the marina at Crick where the wind was blowing us about but it wasn't too bad before taking a walk up into the village for a look around.
After returning to the boat to get changed we headed up to the Red Lion for a few drinks. Walking into the bar it was like entering a contestant for the most stereotypical English Pub competition! Old wooden tables and chairs, horse brasses and collectables everywhere, leather bound menus with typed inserts which were obviously changed regularly and the lovely smell of homemade food! Oh, and someone that I used to know during my days regularly volunteering for the Cotswold Canals Trust who had just moved his boat to the marina! We'd previously met by boat a few years before. After a brief catch up, Becky and I sat down with our drinks and thought we would just take a look at the menu. One rib-eye steak and a vegetable cheesy bake later we left and headed back to the boat for the night feeling very full and commenting on how good value it was.
The next day we planned to head for Welford.
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