I turned the heater off and went to light the fire. It took a few goes this morning but I was quite out of practice but after a while it was roaring away nicely.
Breakfast consisted of a few slices of toast as we'd not been to get any supplies so far.
From November 2012 the fresh water system on the boat had been drained down to stop any freezing of the pipes if the temperature got cold enough so the first job of the day was to go and fill the tank up with water. I replaced the shaft, boat hook and plank on the roof as these had been stored in the front cabin over winter and they were quite in the way!
I started the engine and while that warmed up we decided whether to use the tap in the marina or one of the ones out on the Grand Union Canal. We decided to use the one on the canal as then we could go for a short trip.
We reversed out of the mooring and through the marina to the second entrance and turned left. Turning right would have taken us to Braunston locks which were shut for maintenance and there isn't a tap down there anyway!
We moored just in front of the Gongoozler's Rest café boat and ran out the hose to the tap. I closed all the taps on the boat (left open over winter) and started filling the tank. Meanwhile Becky went to the café boat and bought a couple of coffees. After a while I opened the taps and turned on the water pump and thankfully water appeared out of all the taps after a bit of spluttering and splashing.
Narrowboat 'Amy' arrived from the 'Turn' direction and moored in front of us wanting to use the tap when we had finished. They had been in Braunston for a week or so and were heading off up the Grand Union once they'd filled with water and turned around. The stoppage at Calcutt Locks was meant to have finished on Friday but I recall an email from Canal & River Trust amending the stoppage until 8am on Monday and checking on my phone I was correct. The owners of 'Amy' didn't mind a few more days in Braunston and the guy was quite happy as he could get a decent pint in the pubs.
After an hour the tank was looking nearly full so we stopped filling as we knew we weren't going to use much water and wanted to leave the tank with some space in it as we wouldn't be draining it again when we left the boat.
We cast off and headed up the canal to Braunston Turn where the Grand Union meets the Oxford Canal. This isn't the original site of the junction however, that was where the entrance to the marina is but in 1830 the Oxford Canal Company straightened their line a bit and built an embankment known as Braunston Puddle Banks cutting off 5 miles of winding canal which caused the juntion to move to its new location.
The Oxford meets the Grand Union at 90 degrees like a lot of junctions but here there is a triangular 'traffic island'. Winding at the 'Turn' involves turning left onto the shared Oxford/Grand Union section down one side of the triangle, reversing down the other side of the triangle and returning the way you came which makes up the 3rd side. This isn't too problematic but I have seen it done with a motor and butty which must be interesting!
We arrived back at our mooring in the marina just after midday (Becky having vetoed my suggestion of a pint in the Boat House).
We plugged the landline electrics back in and turned on the immersion heater to give us hot water now the tank and calorifer was full.
Locking the boat up we took the short walk into Braunston village and headed for the butchers who asked if we'd come by submarine! Here we bought our supply of meat and veg for the next few days before heading to the store to get a few bottles of wine, etc.
Dropping the shopping back at the boat we took a walk up the locks to the Admiral Nelson for lunch. We'd first gone to the Nelson the previous October and loved it however we learnt that it was to close again as it had been sold. Thankfully the tenants were able to raise the money and buy the pub themselves so it is now a Freehouse.
We took as seat in the bar as the restaurant was full. Becky ordered a Cajun Chicken Burger and I had Gammon, Egg and Chips. There was a bit of a wait as they were short staffed but the beer and wine were as good as always so we didn't mind and we certainly didn't mind when the food arrived!
We left feeling very full and walked up the lane, across the field and footpath back into the village thinking we'd have a drink in the Old Plough. The last few times we'd been there it wasn't brilliant but it looks like it has new management and the pint of Doom Bar I had was quite nice. The landlady, obviously taking time out from cooking, came and engaged us in conversation and was very pleasant. Unfortunately we were the only people in there but I hope she makes a success of it and it goes back to how I remember the pub during the Braunston Boat Show days.
We returned to the boat, lit the fire and watched TV only having the Pasties we'd bought from the butchers at around 8pm when we felt hungry again.
