Braunston Tunnel

Monday 7th June
Rugby to Buckby Top Lock (Norton Junction)
16 miles  10 locks

Left moorings 8 ish, Jayne still in bed but was soon up making tea. Cruised through Rugby watching the Monday morning rush hour from the canal, rather be here than there. First locks of the day are at Hillmorton, 3 here, these will be the last of the narrow locks for a couple of months. Stopped for breakfast above Hillmorton Top Lock.
The Oxford Canal meanders through low fields giving a lovely view across the countryside, before reaching Braunston Junction where we turned left onto the Grand Union then pulled over for lunch. Jayne had lunch and I walked up into Braunston Village for some supplies.
It was then the climb up to Braunston Tunnel through 6 wide locks (wide meaning they will take 2 narrowboats side by side). It was then into the tunnel, 2040 yards long and no lights apart from the headlight on the boat.

Entering the Braunston Tunnel

Inside the Tunnel

The tunnel is wide enough for 2 boats to pass, the worst bit is the first 5 minutes while your eyes get used to the dark. Jayne stays inside the boat when we travel through tunnels, today she did her ironing.

Out into the daylight again and a couple of miles to our planned mooring stop for the night outside The New Inns at Buckby Top Lock, couldn't moor outside the pub so dropped down the first lock of the Buckby Flight. Quick wash and change and into the pub, declined the Desperate Dan Pie, but nevertheless tucked into a great meal and a couple of pints of Old Hooky, me not Jayne she made do with lemon and lime.