Date - 21/04/08 Day - Monday Start - 0930 Norton Junction End - 1800 Stoke Bruerne I looked out a 9 am to see Emma and The Andrew working down through Buckby Top Lock so I decided to wait half an hour before following. I started the engine at 9-30 and went out to slip the ropes only to see an Viking Afloat working the lock, I waved frantically and set off as soon as possible to no avail, by the time we were at the head of the lock they were half way down. I had a word with them and they agreed to wait at the next lock, as they left the lock the chap on my side said "This is the way to Birmingham, isn't it" I told him no its the way to London and suggested they reversed back into the lock and then back to the junction to wind, so back in they came and up backwards which confused a boater who had just arrived at the bottom of the lock. Once they were out backwards we carried on down. We only met 2 boats in the rest of the flight. Whilton Marina were selling diesel at 79p/lt so at Nether Heyford we stopped at Fred Tarry's and topped up with 40 lt at 72p lt. Just prior to Fred's I watched a good sized grass snake swim across the canal and after some difficulty to climb up into the towing path and off into the undergrowth, I would have expected the water to have been far to cold for him still. Since we were last this way a new marina has opened at Bugbrooke and another at Gayton Junction. At the junction we stopped to fill with water and have a cup of tea with Graham and Brenda who met us there by car. Blisworth tunnel was particularly wet and when we emerged it looked as if the roof had been hosed down as it was wet all over. We dropped through the first two locks at Stoke Bruerne and moored for the night -- Brian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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