What is it with Margaret and tunnels?

Monday 3rd July 2023

We arrived at Barby moorings at 10 o’clock. We have our neighbour Margaret as passenger for today’s journey as she loves going through tunnels and we plan to pass through the one at Braunston today.

The weather was sunny but a little breezy as we manoeuvred out of our mooring and made our way around the central island in the moorings to find the exit. Hard to port and immediately under the M45 bridge towards Braunston. We passed a lot of boats heading North and also met Brian aboard Autarky just before the A45 bridge who warned us of a boat towing another following him. It appears the boats attending the Gardener rally yesterday are going home today. We waited until they passed before continuing into Braunston.

 

The skies decided to dump their heavy load on us as we arrived at the bottom lock, no one else to share with and so we completed the first two locks solo in the rain. A drier slow ascent of the rest of the flight was made due to a very slow single boat three locks ahead with the intermediate locks having two boats in each.

 

Out of the top lock and we found the same slow boat just pulling out from the moorings there, so we ended up following them, either at tick-over or in neutral, all the way through the tunnel. Margaret was in her element sitting on a comfy chair in the bow well deck for the slow transit of the entire length.

Out of the tunnel, and once Welford wharf was passed, we managed to overtake ‘slow boat’ and continue to Buckby top lock at a sensible speed. We spotted butty Success moored on this length alongside it’s new motor. 

 

Although we passed through the top lock solo, we shared the rest of the flight with a novice crew on a Calcutt hire boat. They were happy to admit they were new to the game but were very quick learners so by the time we reached the bottom lock they knew exactly what needed to be done when.

We said our farewells and made our way to bridge 21 where we wanted to moor up. Unfortunately a thunderstorm started just as Graham got the centre rope tied to a piling hook and so he came inside to sit out the storm and avoid getting drowned before finishing the task.

Once the rain ceased, and the ropes were all deployed. Graham then went back on the Di Blasi to fetch the car from Barby. We then packed up our stuff, and Margaret, loaded into the car and set off to the Crossroads pub at Weedon for dinner. Even though their website states the kitchens close at 9 pm, they refused to allow us to eat at just after 8pm. A poor show – shame!

G, B & M