'What the Romans Did for Us'

Tuesday, 14 June, 2011.
Stoke Bruerne to Buckby.
16 Miles, 6 Locks.

Up at 6 o'clock this morning and off at 6.20 with blue sky's and no wind, the Blisworth Tunnel was so clear and with no approaching boats I was able to use a powerful torch to have a look at it. 

Stopped at Gayton Service block to empty Cassettes and then it was just a nice Cruise in perfect conditions to the bottom of Buckby Locks.

At one point the Canal runs between Nether Heyford and the A5, as we swung around one of the many bends where the Canal follows the contours of the land up on the hill I noticed tents and bare ground but no heavy plant equipment so thought maybe it was an Archaeological dig, a quick search found that it was a Roman Villa excavation. The website mentions the "Late 18th century Grand Union Canal", never heard it called that before.

We were 4th in the Queue at Buckby Locks and went up with another boat, a competent crew who knew what they were doing, apart from their mad Springer Spaniel, we stopped just before the top lock and I went up to see if there was space on the mooring on the opposite side to the New Inn pub but as it was lunchtime a lot of boats had stopped so we will stay where we are and move up tomorrow.