There and back, and There and Back Again!

 

Tuesday 26^th to Sunday 31^st May at Braunston.

We awoke on Tuesday morning to find that the process of removing the infrastructure of the show had already begun. Men arrived to start taking the KG and Lakeland marquees down and R had to remove the contents of the KG tent rather hastily as they had not been taken away last night. It was amazing how quickly everything disappeared and the marina began to look normal again.

 

As an exhibition boat, MM could stay in the marina until Friday without charge so we decided to go home for a few days to recover; four days of intense heat, activity and emotion had taken their toll. We were exhausted and M had lost her voice! We drove home on Tuesday afternoon via Aynho and KG at Enslow.

On Friday, we drove back to Crick, picked up MM (not literally!) and took her out on to the cut having said a huge “Thank You” to the staff at Crick for all their help. The weather was still hot and sunny but we were fortunate to find a shady mooring almost immediately  beyond the road bridge.

 

On Saturday morning, we set off early to go through the seven locks of the Watford flight, helped by some very cheerful volunteers.

 

We moored up at Norton Junction for lunch before setting off again, R and MM headed through Braunston Tunnel while M decided to walk over the top.

 

Like last time that M walked over the tunnel, she got lost on the first half of the former horse path which has been obliterated by a large new housing development. However, the second half, down towards Braunston, proved to be as delightful as usual with far reaching views of the pretty village.

 

Going through the six Braunston locks, we teamed up with a couple on their “liveaboard” boat “Reynard”. Coincidentally their names were Dan and Erica (with a C not a K). At the bottom lock we rewarded ourselves with well deserved ice creams.

We moored up on the canal outside Braunston Marina while R took a taxi back to Crick Marina to collect the car.

 

Breakfast in the Gongoozlers’ Rest floating café was a “must” next morning; we were very happy to see Avril still there and as cheerful as ever. She remembered not only us but also the name of our boat. Sadly, these days they only open weekends but the staff are busy during the week doing outside catering.

 

Later, Scott, Paula and Amelia came to visit and we went off to have lunch in the Admiral Nelson pub by Braunston Lock 3.

Back at MM, we took them for a short trip to move MM into Braunston Marina, where she is booked in for a few nights while we have to go home yet again for a few days.

 

We are due back on Thursday 4^th when we will finally start our “Last Hurrah” cruise up to Tattenhall Marina near Chester.

30^th May: 9 miles, 13 locks and 4.4 hours.

 Year to date: 73 Miles, 64 locks and 38.2 hours