Light in the tunnel.

Yesterday I moved on from Braunston, stopping first at the service point to do the usual fill and empty, unfortunately just as I was finishing with that two boats appeared from behind me heading for the locks, that meant a delay for me, so I pootled along as slow as I could manage but when I reached the lock they were both still there waiting for a boat coming down, oh well the delay allowed another boat to catch up with me so I had locking buddies for the trip up the six Braunston locks (1 -6 ) which lift or lower you 35' 6" in all.

Waiting at the first lock where a pair of boats were ascending.

My locking buddies for the ascent N.b. Saros,

While waiting I snapped the Chandlers.

My companions were a family of four on holiday but not for the first time on a narrowboat, so things went quite smoothly, as is often the case Dad steered while mum ran about working the locks and keeping a close eye on the two young children, it all went well until she couldn't close one of her bottom gates, I walked around the lock and had a go as well but something was caught against the cill, a half dozen swift pushes and pulls on the balance beam created enough turbulence to move whatever was fouling it and on we went.

No real time for pictures as the locks are quite close together and I don't like distractions when sharing locks, I like to keep an eye on everything and small children around locks always heighten my apprehension. But they were both well behaved and polite and the trip was a pleasant one, leaving the top lock (6) they decided to stop for lunch before the tunnel so we said our goodbyes and I headed on.

I was looking forward to testing my new tunnel light, I know it may not be very exciting to most of you but to me it was quite an event ;-)

Approaching the tunnel entrance.

Braunston tunnel is 2042 yards long, I have been through it before but this time I could actually see ahead of me, it was a different experience :-) add to that I was also able to tick off another first, passing a boat in a tunnel, despite having been through quite a few tunnels this was the first time I met traffic, not one but three boats, I was very happy , small things please me sometimes, and............

The roof changes appearance along the length, some bits rendered.

Some brick, some stone, 

 ......with my camera on a different setting I finally got the flash to work in a tunnel, it's only taken me two years to work that out ! It wasn't totally successful though and seems to be a bit hit and miss but at least I got something.

And looking back.

Coming out of the tunnel on the short summit section it's quite clear Autumn is with us and it was very lightly raining.

But I didn't have far to go before reaching Norton Junction and this delightful little toll house,

which Pearson's guide tells me was the base of the late Commander Fielding of the Salvation Army who along with his wife ran mission boats Salvo and Aster ministering to the working boat families needs. It is now a holiday cottage.

It was then onto my mooring for the night at Long Buckby Wharf where I had arranged to meet the fuel boat Callisto today, he has just been and I took eight bags of smokeless and a top up of diesel.

I had a walk around the junction but like many of them it is just that, two canals meeting, in this case the Grand Union Mainline and the Grand Union Leicester line, not much to see at all apart from the toll house.

Current mooring:

Totals this post: 4 miles : 6 locks : 1 tunnel