Rain Stopped Play for a Day.

Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th June 2019 in Braunston.
Very heavy rain was forecast and it arrived as advertised so we decided not to tackle the flight of locks ahead but to have a quiet day "in".
Yesterday, we fell into conversation with Carole and Martin in the hire boat moored next to us on only their second day ever narrowboating. They were enjoying themselves despite the weather and came on board MM for a morning coffee and to pick up advice on their proposed cruising route.
We ventured out long enough to walk up to the village to post some letters and then backed MM up to the moorings before the Stop House as the moorings that we were on are limited to 48 hours - and we do like to try to abide by the rules.
The highlight of the afternoon was a Scrabble competition, which R won by two games to one but only, said M, because she generously allowed him to use what she considered a dubious word. ("I would have won anyway", said R!). Competitive, us? - never!
No photos on Monday due to the horrible weather.
On Tuesday morning, we treated ourselves to a final breakfast in the Gongoozlers' Rest. No, the boat isn't listing, M was! "She's been on the gin again", said R.

After breakfast, R moved MM and filled her with water while M went up into the village to post more letters. She also dropped into the butcher's shop to buy local eggs and, to her surprise, the butcher remembered her and proudly produced some "middle cut" bacon that he had got in especially for us (at the weekend we had asked him if he had any and he said that he couldn't get it anymore). "Good thing I went back", said M!

As we approached the bottom lock, the gates opened for us and we were very happy and surprised to see that one of the volunteers was Martin, who had helped us all through the Atherston flight two weeks ago and had come on board MM for a cup of tea and to shelter from the rain. He was as pleased to see us as we were to see him!

The well known "Admiral Nelson" pub by lock 3 has a long and chequered history. It was originally a farmhouse and predates the canal. When the lock was built next to it, it opened as a pub and was bought by a sailor, who had fought at Trafalgar, with his prize money. He it was that named it after his hero, Admiral Lord Nelson, who was killed at Trafalgar.

At lock 5, M who was ahead "lock wheeling" fell into conversation with a German family on a hire boat. They were sharing each lock with another boat and MM was doing the same in the other direction, sharing with nb. "Margaret", you can just see MM in the distance waiting to come into the lock.

MM and nb. "Margaret" in lock 6 together next to "Top Lock Cottage". The cottage was for sale last time we passed by and we were sorely tempted. The new owners are keeping it immaculately.

R disappears into the mouth of Braunston Tunnel, which is 2,042 yards long. "Will he ever emerge?" thought M, as she set off on the old horse path over the top.

A plaque on the tunnel wall commemorates the 200th anniversary of the opening of the tunnel, which happened at 2:00pm on 21st June 1796.

M loves the walk over Braunston Tunnel; the old horse path is a joy even on a grey and damp day like today.

The owner of nb. "Margaret" was taking two friends out to teach them how to do locks so, after they had gone through the six locks and the tunnel, they turned round and we passed them on their way back to the tunnel and down the six locks again. After that, they should know how to do a lock!

The junction at Norton is very tight and we were somewhat impeded by a hire boat that was broadside across the entrance to the Leicester Arm. Despite the wind, which was blowing very strongly, we managed not to hit them and, after they had sorted themselves out, we passed them to enter the Leicester Arm.

We moored up mid afternoon, rather cold and wet but pleased that we had managed to avoid the worst of the rain. It is a very pleasant rural spot, only slightly marred by the background roar of the M1 about half a mile away.

Mooring was interesting as the wind was blowing hard away from the towpath.
Today: 5 miles, 6 locks and 3.6 hours, plus 3.5 hours for power.
Trip: 75 miles, 31 locks and 39.9 hours.