Grand Union Canal, Braunston to Crick 24.11.13

Grand Union Canal, Braunston to Crick

Sunday 24th November 2013

Happy Daze nestled in on the 14 day moorings in Braunston

We all had lunch and endured a few hours of Tractor Ted and CBeebees on the telly! Milly and little Jack, love him, went home on Sunday afternoon, 130 miles later and the'yde be home!

Our place on the towpath in Braunston, opposite (out of the picture) the Boathouse Pub

Paul pumped out the loo when they'd gone and I took Jack out once more. We stopped here only one night, it was quiet enough, the extractor fan from the pub did stop eventually! This was the Grand Union main line, it's busier than where we'd just left, more people walk the towpath here, there's boats moored all along the towpath, boats moving about during the day and even one went past at 11.00pm!

The weather is really great for autumn, it's cold, crisp and dry. A lovely day to go cruising! 

We called in at the water point to fill up the tanks, and empty others - as you can see, its Paul's job!

So on Monday we set off all wrapped up against the cold, just going 150 yds down the canal to the waterpoint to fill up with water and to empty our toilet Paul pumped out yesterday into the chuckit!

All done, another quick stop at the rubbish bins takes two minutes and were off up towards the flight of 6 Braunston locks. Slowly making our way through Braunston we pass the large Braunston Marina, full to leaking with boats. 

We cruise past Braunston Marina....

Boats moored all over the place as we look for somewhere to tie the boat while Paul gets the lock ready

Onwards to the locks we pass another hire boat marina, and surprise, surprise hire boats everywhere. They've even used the lock mooring bollard to tie one up to, leaving not much room at all to tie up our boat at the lock. We get in at some sort of an angle, and we wait for a boat to come down the lock.

Now it's our turn and I take the boat into our 'first for ages' wide beam lock. 

Leaving the bottom lock of 6, we wait for the next boat to come through, and they join us for the rest

Were soon up the top of the lock, and there's a little canal shop by the lock. I go in and take a look, there's lots inside, but nothing I really need right now, best save some money. As were tied up on the side of the pound there's another boat about to come up the lock and they're on their own too. So the lady comes over to ask us to wait for them in the next lock.

We glide in to the other locks easily, going up side by side

We go up the remaining 5 locks with our new companions from Crick, lovely people, a cheery wave at the top sees them on their way towards the tunnel while we pull over on the 48hr moorings just above the locks. 

Just entering Braunston Tunnel, we really shouldn't have put that extra log on the fire when we left

After our lunch stop we decided to carry on through the tunnel and moor up somewhere on the other side, there's nice moorings between the tunnel and Norton Junction. Here there are no dog walks, and theres nowhere to park the car either.

The tunnel wasn't far, its only just over a mile long, it's dry today, there's no cascading water coming down on us and there was no boats coming our way either. 

Coming out of the tunnel the other side

So we had a great run through and on the other side we went on a couple more miles and moored up between bridge 9 and Norton junction.

We were cosy and warm after our cuppa soup and warm by the fire

We knew this area well, were familiar with the dog walks here, in fact we've stopped round about here on quite a few separate occasions. We love the views, the lovely grassy (now empty) cow meadows, the woods that run along the off towpath side of the canal. We can get the car to bridge 9 and there's several parking spaces right by the bridge.

It's very cold now, I got chilled through today, and as we pull up in our chosen place we head off in and get the kettle on and cuddle a cuppa soup!

View from the bridge towards Happy Daze on a very quiet and peaceful stretch of the canal

After our lovely walk with Jack we settle in for the evening. Were happy with the day, the suns been shining although it's been cold. It's been a fab autumnal day. We've dumped poo and rubbish, filled up with water, got through 6 wide locks and one tunnel and cruised 4 miles and now we're nearly at Norton Junction! We stopped the coal/diesel work boat as it went past us, they were laden with supplies for all the boaters braving the winter out on the cut! So we stocked up with coal and diesel, making a note of when they were coming by next.

The coal/diesel/gas/wood...... boat comes past us and with a quick shout they stop to sell us supplies

On Tuesday it was icy and cold. Paul went off on his bike to Braunston to collect the car. This involved a 4 mile cycle ride back along the towpath and as the towpath didn't go tthrough the tunnel, he had to find his way over the tunnel! So within a couple of hours he was back. 

This new water point is well and truly frozen on the outside anyway! 

Cold and wintery now as we look down at the view from the boat

We gave Jack a winter hair cut as well today, took a couple of hours but he was so good, and looks such a smart little dog again. 

Jack with his new haircut under his cosy warm purple coat!

Wednesday 27th November we went to Woodford after our dog walk. I had an appointment with the doctor and we were going to visit the Island, and in particular, my good buddies Lyndsey and Anna. We had a lovely day, everyone was lovely. Had delicious pumpkin soup for lunch and Paul walked a very happy Jack around his old stomping ground! He was very excited to go back and visit! We didn't leave until it was dark and stopped on the way back for a yummy KFC for tea!

Autumn on the Grand Union Canal

Thursday was jobs day, Paul has now converted the bedroom telly to run off 12volt, and changed it from freesat to freeview with a new Maplins digibox! So we now have two working tellys, both running from the same arial, both running off the 12v batteries! Happy days! He also serviced the engine, changed the oil etc. a job that's not pleasant but has to be done!

Friday we walked Jack in the morning and at lunch time walked him again as we were leaving him on the boat for the afternoon. We were going shopping and were going to Kettering to meet up with Lyndz and Anna. We also went to the tip to dispose of the used engine oil. Shopping done, we'd got everything we needed, caught up with the girls and we drove off home. It wasn't long before we were trudging down the pitch black towpath dragging the heavy shopping trolley behind, shopping bags cutting into our shoulders. Finally we were back on the boat and a very happy Jack was waiting to greet us! Paul wasn't feeling very well so he took himself off to bed and I had a quiet evening by myself. On Saturday 30th November Paul wasn't much better and although previously we had decided to move the boat, we stayed put so Paul could get some rest in the warm boat. We didn't do a lot today, little jobs around the boat, typed up some of this blog.... I've done lots of walking with Jack as it's been a lovely sunny and bright day.

The sign says turn left....

Sunday 1st December (Happy Birthday to my wonderful grandson Callum who's 10 today) it was lovely and sunny, not a drop of wind and not really too cold either! Paul's feeling much better today, so I got up early to walk Jack and by 8.30am we were ready to make a move. 
We were heading up the Grand Union Leicester Line, it's a sharp left at Norton junction. We've got 7 locks in a flight to do today, the Watford locks. Watford as in 'Watford Gap' services, not Watford, London! So we set off early, the sun low in the winter sky.

Here's Norton Junction, and were turning left down the Grand Union Canal, Leicester Line

It was only minutes before we turned sharp left at the junction on to the Leicester Line and under the footbridge that was once a swing bridge.

Turning the sharp turn to head under the footbridge on the Leicester Line

In the early morning sunshine we head the couple of miles to Watford locks and it takes about an hour to slowly glide through the still waters of the canal. We don't want to rush it today, so we creep along slowly, we just want to take it all in.

We cruise through some beautiful woodland....

... the sunshine give it a magical feeling, warm and glowing....

... and around every corner there's more beautiful autumn colours

As we go under this road bridge, the low winter sun hits the water and reflects right under the bridge

We absorb all the wonderful countryside all around us, all the different colours and sounds of autumn. We cruise past Watford Gap Services, it's full of busy people trying to get somewhere fast! But not us!

C&RT workboats stacked up with fences and tools wait for tomorrow when they make a start on winter maintenance on the flight of Watford locks, good job we're going through today!

... Paul tugs the boat in as we fill up with water before going through the locks

At the bottom of the locks I fill up with water at the water point while Paul goes off to book in with the lock keeper. As four of these locks are in a staircase, there's no passing between locks so the lock keeper has to know you are coming up or down so you can take your turn. Normally it's about an hour's wait in a queue here, but today there's no one waiting at the top to come down, and just us going up! Surprising as they're closing this set of locks for winter repair tomorrow for two weeks!

Entering the first of 7 locks at Watford

Paul winds the paddles down and up ahead the next lock is open and waiting for us, thanks to the Lock Keeper!

We set off into the first lock, the second one was empty and open for us, thanks to the lock keeper. So into the second lock, and then the 4 staircase locks. 

The flight of 4 staircase locks. See the red and white paddle posts....
 REMEMBER."Red before white, you'll be alright: White before red, you'll end up dead!"

This is where there are no pounds of water between locks, you use the water from the lock above to get you up to the right level. There's red and white paddles to lift and they have to be done in the right order. There's a little rhyme people use to get it right, "Red before white, you'll be alright, White before red, you'll end up dead!" So now we know! Well we survived the staircase locks, we got up the 4 locks quickly, one more single lock to do and we were at the top, takes you right under the bridge of the M1.

The very friendly lock keeper as we enter the last lock, he's still helping us!

Completely crazy! The M1 bridge as traffic hurtles over the canal, probably not even knowing the canal is here!

We went on half a mile into the countryside and we left the busy road behind us. Just lovely old fasioned fields to our right, a few cows and even fewer sheep were grazing. But this area is called Watford Park, and there are footpaths all over the fields just beckonning us in! 

Our beautiful little spot away from the noisy M1!

So we pulled over on some armaco, struggling a bit as it was quite shallow at the sides. But we got in, slightly tilting on one side, but were in! And it was just as lovely to walk these lovely fields, Jack had a fantastic time, loads of room to run his little socks off! 

Just had to put this lovely picture in of Jack, he had an amazing time playing with monkey, and the autumn leaves!

It was quiet here, hardly anyone about, no boats going past us at all as the locks at Watford were now closed for winter repair! 

Watford Park, we explored the fields around us, so lovely, and they're there for the public to walk!

What a beautiful spot we live in...

We explored the fields, got some wood from under an old oak tree. The farmer came by in his truck and questioned us about the wood. After a short conversation about the wood belonging to him and although the land can be walked on "it's not public wood" he said... he let us take what we'd got, and we promised not to take any more!

Jack in the woodland as the sun rose over the park one side of us...

... and went down the other side of the canal. 

We cycled to Norton Junction on Monday 2nd December, only 3 miles but the towpath was fairly tricky, narrow, muddy and on a slope! But we got there fine, bought the car back to the bridge and went home for lunch. After a walk with Jack we came back to the boat, I stayed in the boat while Paul fished, caught a few small ones apparently.

C&RT workers drain the pound of water between the top lock and flight of 4 staircase locks for maintenance

Happy days as we get ready for our next mini adventure to the tunnel and Crick.

As we come round a bend and under the bridge there's the tunnel, all ready and waiting for us...

Tuesday 3rd December we set off again. We headed the short distance to the tunnel, only about a mile. We entered the notoriously wet mile long Crick Tunnel, umbrella at the ready, only to find it was only slightly wet and dripping at the far end! Yippee!

Inside the tunnel there's evidence of a lot of water running down the walls in the past, but not today, dry as a bone

Coming out of the tunnel, the bridge up ahead indicates where Crick Wharf starts

Out of the tunnel we came to Crick Wharf and went past the 14 day moorings opposite. We went under the road bridge, we had planned to stop opposite Crick Marina on the 14 day moorings there, but in the winter they become winter permit holder moorings only, the whole stretch, so we had to carry on. We only went on about a mile further and the other side of the footbridge to Cracks Hill there were some rings just before the winding hole. 

The boat moored up, and Cracks Hill in the distance

The view down from half way up Cracks Hill

We pulled over and tied up. This'll do fine, we'd got a great view of Cracks Hill, walks all around us, no neighbours, but also nowhere to park the car! So we decided to only stay here for one night, we'd move tomorrow and find somewhere we could park the car near to us as we needed to do some Christmas shopping! But here was lovely. 

We were welcomed by this sign in the entrance to a sheep field!

Nearly up the top now, everything's looking very small down there... 

We made it, its a long way up!

We went off to explore the Hill, climbed to the top and had a wonderful view from the top! Could see for miles, all the green fields all around, Hillmorton masts and even Rugby!

We had a lovely quiet night, not a sound! On Wednesday 4th December we woke up early, we were on a wood mission, we spotted some lovely hawthorn yesterday that had been chopped down and was piled up just a field away from the towpath! So we headed off in the half light of the early morning and managed to carry three bits each! Really heavy solid wood! After our walk with Jack and our wood mission complete we decided we would move the boat back to the 14 day moorings opposite Crick Wharf. The ones we went past yesterday! 

This was a lovely little spot here, opposite the Wharf, but it was really quiet and peaceful

So I turned the boat round at the winding hole and headed back towards Crick Marina. At the third entrance to the marina I turned the boat round again, this time I went in reverse and backed up the rest of the canal, under the road bridge and reversed into the moorings, still heading in the right direction to go onwards to Welford!

This was a fine place to stay, not a great view but we can get the car by the canal here! Opposite was Crick Wharf, and a boat we knew well. It belonged to Neil, the ex manager at Welford Marina and the joiner who put new doors on our boat last year! After having a good long catchup with him he suggested if we wanted we could park the car in his car park, much safer there. We obviously obliged!

We walked over the fields that went over the tunnel entrance....

Looking over the tunnel entrance down to the canal

The sunsets over the opposite side of the canal, looking like a massive fire!

So thats what we did, and stayed here over a week. It was a lovely place to be, we managed to go into Rugby a couple of times to do some christmas shopping, we went to Kettering shopping, Paul went to visit his mum and to collect our license that had already been processed and had arrived in the post. 

This was Jack's favorite field of the moment!
He loved chasing the smells, and occasionally the pheasants, out of the long grass

And we had wonderful walks here too, the lovely sheep fields, the long meadowy grass and the deer fields made this a lovely place to go walking.

The deer were very inquisitive, but wouldn't come any nearer

They just all stopped and stared at us as we walked alongside their field

We left Crick on the Thursday 12th December, we were on our way to Yelvertoft, and then on to Welford where we planned on stopping for a couple of weeks over Christmas. The weather was good, a little grey and damp, but it could have been worse,  at least it wasn't wild and wet or windy! 

This is the autumn landscape as we leave Crick, Cracks Hill up ahead.... been here before I do believe!

We're now on our way to Yelvertoft.... that's yet to come. Catch up with the next blog soon!

Last entered Friday 13th December 2013