Braunston

We were aware that there is a Historic Boat Festival taking place in Braunston this weekend so we wanted get through there today as boats were already making their way there even this early in the week.

Approaching Braunston church

Keith wanted to visit Midland Swindlers Chandlers there to buy some rubber seal strip and it is right on the junction making maneuvering difficult but he managed it beautifully. He only wanted 3mtrs but they would only sell it by the roll! Their loss.

Braunston Junction

As we carried on pass all the wonderful historic boats we passed the boat Dedalus whom we went down the Bristol Channel with from Sharpness to Bristol back in 2013. Unfortunately they were not at home.

Entrance to Braunston Marina

One of the many historic boats

Would you have a boat built here??

A butty pair

We then negotiated the 2042 yard long Braunston tunnel meeting three boats coming the other way and then onto our second right turn of the day at Norton junction. As it was lunch time we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at the lockside New Inn at Long Buckby Wharf. It was warm enough today to sit outside to eat and we became Gongoozelers for a change.

The lock beside the pub

We were moored just down from the junction in a reasonable spot but beside a dusty track that was the access road to a CART depot so we took the advice of the ice cream boat and moved down one lock and moored opposite some nice looking detached houses.
An ice cream had to be bought and whilst we were making conversation with the proprietors, arranged to descend the awkward Buckby locks with them in the morning.
Whilst we were eating our treat on the bow there was knock, knock on the hull. It was only the owners of the Dedalas boat that we had seen in Braunston earlier so we were able to catch up on the last two years sailings.