Day 19 - Wednesday January 3rd - Braunston to Stoke Bruerne 20 miles 3 furlongs, 13 locks, 9 hours Weather - Overcast
Set off at 6.45am, past all the moored boats and straight into the bottom lock. A good run up the flight, as every lock was in my favour. Lock No 5 looks to be in a bad way, the offside top gate is held in place by loads of chains pulling the hinge part of the gate back tight to the quoin. The pound between this and the top lock was down quite a way, but while I was working through the lock I saw the bottom gates of the top lock open and a ground paddle raised to let water through. The lock keeper then wandered down to see how I was doing. I told him that the rest of the pounds in the flight had been OK. We had quite a chat at the top lock while drinking the mugs of tea that he got from the house. Got away from there at 8.40am, through the tunnel and arriving at Norton Junction at 9.30am. As I was approaching the top lock I saw someone opening the top gates and a boat started to pull out as I passed it. Very good timing for me, as we were able to share the locks all the way down the flight. Reached the bottom of the flight at 11.20am, and chugged the rest of the way to Stoke Bruerne, mooring up above the top lock at 3.45pm. The rain which had been threatening all day managed to hold off until after I'd moored up - the heavens opened shortly after! The Boat Inn for a beer or two this evening, then down the flight in the morning. Terry Streeter NB Arun - Stoke Bruerne
