I woke up early and thought about where to head off to figuring that up Braunston locks and through the tunnel would be a good direction to head in. I did think about heading down Stockton way but thought that might be a little hard going for friends who had not experienced canals before.
The previous evening had shown that the pump out toilet was a little more full than we’d originally thought so figured that it might be a good idea to pump it out (the cassette and spare were empty thankfully).
Shortly after 9am we set off out of the marina by the lower entrance, up the canal and in through the main marina entrance to the pump out point.
The girls decided it was then a good time to visit the village shop and butchers so off they went leaving us two men to do the dirty work.
After pumping out the girls weren't back so we decided to take a short trip to Braunston Turn and back to kill some time and then at least we were pointing the way.
Coming back towards the stop house we could see our shopping party had returned so we moored up next to the marina entrance to have breakfast.
I suddenly had a feeling that I’d seen an email stoppage alert which mentioned Braunston Locks. Having had deleted it off my phone I could not see what day it was for. Luckily someone in a CRT jumper walked past and we were able to glean off him that the stoppage was for the next day but would be over by 4:30pm but this was going to be too late for our friends who wanted to leave us earlier than that. No problem then, we’d head off in the other direction.
I reversed the boat back to the marina entrance where I started to turn round. Halfway through doing so a widebeam came into view around the bend by the Stop House. I finished turning and was just about to say “Thank you” to the widebeam when he shouted to me that what I had done “wasn’t very smart” and how I “should have stopped my manoeuvre and let him past”. Whoever he was made me have to explain to my friends that not all people on the canals were grumpy and most were very relaxed and friendly. I won’t say the name of the widebeam but its name didn't mirror the personality of those on-board!
That incident aside we headed off in the direction of Braunston Turn and turned left towards Napton.
At Bridge 101 a Greenfinch came and sat on our rear fender for a few hundred yards eyeing up the cabin doors and at one time trying to get in.
When we were around the Shuckburgh area I had another thought and after a few conversations we went to plan C and instead of turning right at Napton Junction, we carried straight on onto the Oxford Canal.
When we reached to bottom lock there were 2 CRT volunteers to help us on our way up the locks who told us of a stoppage the following Monday at the top locks in case it interfered with our return journey. It didn't as we were planning on coming back down the flight the next day.
We met a few boats coming down the flight which meant we had an easy run up, turning in the Old Engine Arm and coming back down one lock to our mooring for the night. Shortly after another boat come down the lock and moored in front of us.
After a shower and beer or two we walked down the locks to the Folly Inn where we spent an hour or so with the main debate being should we stay and eat there or go back and have what we have on the boat? It was decided that it might be best to go back and cook on-board.
We had lovely steaks purchased from the butchers in Braunston and with the empty wine bottles and beer cans stacking up we decided to call it a night.
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