Thursday 24 September 2020

World Gorilla Day and a catch up with our friend Jan.

 Thursday 24th September 2020 in Braunston.

Very brooding cloudscapes gave rise to lovely silhouettes at 6:30 this morning.


Today is apparently "World Gorilla Day", so Guy was guest of honour at breakfast (in case you were wondering, Guy is the short hairy one holding the banana!).


The sky had cleared as we set off to visit our friend Jan in Willoughby. This lonely remnant of the once famous Great Central Railway still waits patiently for the next "Master Cutler" from Sheffield to London, once revered as one of the fastest train services in the country at the time.


The rain held off until we had arrived at Jan and Abbie's new house, where we were eagerly greeted by Jan's goats who thought our presence might mean food.


Jan is building the house on his own and it is still work in progress, thanks to planning delays and building regulation changes since it started. Jan has done a really spectacular job, particularly given the obstacles placed in his path by officialdom. He and R compared notes about the difficulties of self building a house.


So many memories of R building the house at Les Treuils! We spent a happy couple of hours with Jan having a long overdue catch up. Jan hopes finally to move in over the next month or so.


Then off again heading south with familiar views of Braunston church and the sail-less windmill.


Even this late in the year, there are still swallows here and M caught this one flying low to drink from the canal. M can't remember them ever being this late to migrate, perhaps they were delayed by the lovely Indian summer we've had.


Having found a mooring in very popular Braunston, we walked down to the Gongoozler's Rest, a narrowboat café and another of our favourite breakfast haunts. We were worried that it might have closed but were delighted to see that it still opens daily from 9:00am to 2:00pm, although they are only doing take-away. That is tomorrow's breakfast sorted!


Tonight's mooring outside Braunston Marina.


Today: 3 miles, 0 ;ocks and 1.1 hours.

Trip: 121 miles, 33 locks and 62.5 hours.

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