Tuesday, 12th July
Trev said he would like to go to Stoke Bruerne before we go back to Braunston. So, at Gayton junction, we turned left, went through Blisworth Tunnel--the longest tunnel on the system--and enjoyed the respite from the heat. We moored up at Stoke Bruerne, which is just the other end of the tunnel. This is a busy spot, and we had arrived early to make sure we would get a mooring spot. We walked along the canal to The Navigation pub. We'd had a meal there last year on the way down to London and enjoyed it. It was another very hot day, and we sat in the garden under a huge umbrella and ate al fresco. It was just perfect, one could imagine one was in France! (My favourite country, after the UK, of course!)

Eventually, after about thirty-five minutes, we came out the other end, safe and sound, and moored up, as there was a shop nearby, and, of course, Trev loves his daily paper! We came back past Gayton junction where we came out from Northampton yesterday, and carried on to Bridge 34, and moored up. It was incredibly hot, and we were glad to get out of the heat. Later in the day, Trev serviced the engine, and then we had a barbecue. The temperature dropped, it was a lovely evening, and we sat out until quite late.

Thursday, 14th July
Another hot day! Margaret & Alastair went by, on "Hepburn". We last saw them on the Ouse, at Otter's Reach. We hope to meet up next week at another of our favourite moorings on the Oxford Canal. Margaret and I are planning a sewing day! See what you're missing!

This morning, Trev checked the batteries. There are six of them and they're quite inaccessible, with the leads going over the tops of some of them, and these have to be taken off. So it's not a five minute job. Then he attacked the rust on the engine room floor. Inevitably, the floor gets wet, and this has caused the rust.

We set off around 4.00 p.m. to miss the worst of the heat. A breeze got up and it felt as if the weather was changing, but at least it was cooler. We only travelled three miles and stopped at Stowe Hill for water. Then we moved off the water point and moored up. We had intended to travel further, but it was humid and I felt quite shattered with the heat.

Friday. 15th July
We travelled south along the Grand Union today, through Buckby Locks and on to Norton Junction. There is a pub right by the top lock, and we had some amusing banter with the patrons at the pub as we came through. We got the last mooring spot, right next to, but not on, the water point. There is always a sign at the water point telling boaters not to moor up except to take on water. However, this didn't deter a boater who arrived later and plonked himself right on the water point, thus ensuring no one else could get water for the rest of the day. There's always one.......

We went for a drink at the pub in the evening. There was quite a few boaters in there, and we enjoyed their company.

Saturday, 16th July
We were up early this morning and set off by 8.00 a.m. First we filled up with water again, and then along the GU towards Braunston. We went through Braunston Tunnel and down the Braunston Flight of six and in to Braunston. We were lucky, in that we found a mooring. It was very busy, but it was lovely to be back! Braunston feels like my canal home, since that's where it all began for us. We moored next but one to "Shendish", another Dave Bassett boat. Its owners were the ones who convinced us we weren't capsizing at Penkridge, when we were very new boaters!

We went for a cruise along the part of the canal where the Grand Union and the Oxford share the same stretch. We did about three miles and moored up. They'd brought a picnic and it was a very good one! Mary & Dave know how to eat and drink, and so do we! So it was a pretty good meal. The weather was wonderful and we had a lovely day.

Sunday, 17th
Now the reason why we had to moor up in Braunston last night will become apparent. The postmen are coming today! Catharine and Mamdooh duly arrived with the post and we all walked up to the Admiral Nelson for lunch. Then back to the boat for strawberries and cream. It's a hard life........

Monday, 18th and Tuesday, 19th July
Trev was up early and off into Daventry before I was up. He hitched a lift with Cynthia, a friend who lives in Kenilworth and works in Daventry and passes by Braunston on the way. It gave him a chance to meet up with her. He got back around noon, and we set off. I was looking forward to going back to Braunston, I enjoyed the time there catching up with friends, and I was glad to go! It's too busy for us.

First we filled up with water. You might think we do that rather a lot! Well, it's similar to when you're on holiday in an unusual place, and you spot a public w.c. Use it in case there isn't another one for ages! Our tank takes one hundred and fifty gallons, but that soon gets used up, with showers and a washing machine and washing up, etc.

We travelled out in to the country and moored up next to Margaret and Alastair on "Hepburn". Margaret and I have a sewing day tomorrow, but I won't bore you with a blow by blow account of that. Suffice it to say that it made a pleasant interlude and it was good to have company.

Wednesday, 20th July
We said goodbye to Margaret and Alastair and set off for Wigram's Turn. This is where the Oxford and Grand Union Canals separate again, and we took the Oxford route. As we travelled to Napton we could see the windmill on the hill. It's quite a local landmark, and the canal winds all round the hill. A bonus was that a little shop has opened at The Folly Inn, at the bottom of the Napton Flight of locks, and so we didn't have to walk in to the village. It's just open through the summer season, and it saved our legs.

Then off up the Napton Flight of nine locks. I did the locks whilst Trev steered, as it was very windy, and I'm not keen on steering the boat in the wind. All went well until the last but one, where we ended up in a queue of six boats, and it took over an hour to get through. Then on through the last lock and a mooring to die for! It was perfect. Up high, overlooking the magnificent Warwickshire countryside. We could see for miles, and there wasn't a house in sight, just rolling fields of golden corn blowing gently in the breeze, trees, hedges, barns and glorious sun. The wind had dropped and we sat out, all on our own and drank in the view--and a glass or two of wine as well! It was a perfect evening.

Thursday, 21st July
We would love to have stopped here another night, but we had more friends coming to visit. So we set off for Fenny Compton, where we were going to pick them up. Pete, Ronnie and Bobbie (the latter two are sisters) duly arrived and we had lunch on board and then set off. We'd given them a choice of routes--either an almost lock free cruise, or one with five locks each way. They opted for the one with locks, so we set off southwards towards Banbury. we went down the Claydon flight, winded and came back up the Claydon Flight! It's certainly much easier to go through locks when there are four of you doing it, plus a steerer. We've never been through locks so fast!

When we got back to The Wharf at Fenny Compton, it was about six o'clock and there was no mooring. We had to go about half a mile on, to get past all of the boats. This was quite a nuisance because actually we wanted to turn in the winding hole and be ready to continue our journey tomorrow. It means that we shall have a long way to back up to the winding hole in the morning.