To The Gongoozlers' Rest for Lunch

Friday 7th June 2019 in Braunston.
There is heavy rain forecast for today and the early morning sky certainly had a stormy look to it.

The rain arrived more or less on cue and stayed through the morning. When we walked down to Braunston yesterday, it was crammed with lots of boats breasted up waiting for the Braunston Locks to re-open last night. We hoped that most of them would have moved on by midday, so we unmoored at about 11:00am and set off. Luckily, the rain eased and, by the time we were half way to Braunston, it had stopped.
We had timed it about right as there were a number of free mooring spaces and, after picking up some water, we moored up a few yards east of the marina entrance.
On the opposite side of the canal, in the bushes, we saw this young lady dutifully sitting on her eggs. The nest appeared to be constructed out of dried reeds and was about two feet above the water line. Shortly after, the rain returned with a vengence.

M decided to photograph the pork pie that she had acquired from the local butcher yesterday.

However, instead of eating the pie, we decided to go to the Gongoozlers' Rest for lunch.

A fellow boater by the name of Martin on nb. "Grinstead", had ordered a take-away sausage bap. Dogs are not allowed on the "Gongoozlers' Rest", so he ate his bap outside, while his very well-behaved dogs looked on hopefully. (They did get a little in the end as a reward for their patience).

Braunston Marina is very attractive, even in the rain.

By late afternoon, the rain finally stopped. Hooray! M walked up into the village to buy some milk and to make a couple of calls (the signal down on the canal is very poor). Butcher's Bridge is Bridge Number 1 on the Grand Union Canal going south from the junction with the Oxford Canal. The reason for the name may be lost in time, but the path that crosses it leads up to the excellent butcher's shop in Braunston village, so maybe that explains it.

Some evening sunshine was very welcome.

We plan to stay in Braunston for the weekend.
Today: 2 miles, 0 locks and 2.5 hours.
Trip: 70 miles, 25 locks and 32.8 hours.