Thursday afternoon we left Calcutt Boats with a fully serviced central heating system with a new fuel pump and flame sensor, Trev's wallet being some £300+ lighter!!!
Approaching Napton Junction and the fields are a lovely golden colour.
Known to the old working boatmen as "Wigrams Turn" it is where the Grand Union Canal meets the Oxford Canal. Right turn for a winding road to the Thames and left for us off towards Braunston.........
no less winding
We moor for the night on the outskirts of Lower Shuckburgh.
Friday dawned, the rain poured and we stayed put.
With more clement weather we set off for Hillmorton Locks
Plenty of moving boats today but then it is weekend.
Braunston church on the horizon signals the approach of Braunston Junction.
Braunston is a triangular junction with twin Horsley Iron Works towpath bridges.
Its left for us....
and congestion.....
Remnants of the medieval 'ridge and furrow' farming remain obvious in the pastures bordering the canal.
We pass under the West Coast railway line to London
Arriving at Hilmorton Locks, a flight of three duplicated locks raising or dropping, depending on your direction, the canal 18ft 7 ins.......
and there is a festival in progress......
These lines of poetry, carved into the lock arm, are part of a series found around the 'system'. They commemorate the inaugural year of Canal and River Trust.
A taste of the festival....
After taking on water below the locks we moor half a mile away from the festival.
9 1/2 miles and 3 locks.
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