Thursday 28th March

We were moored just a boat length from a water point so we moved up and filled up with water. The Gongoozler's Rest Cafe seemed to be doing good business for a cold Thursday morning. We then headed off towards Braunston bottom lock. It was very busy round here with lots of moored boats, both shared boats from BCBM and hire boats from Union Canal Carriers.
There was a CRT chap doing some work on one of the bottom gates of the first Braunston lock. Once we were in the lock he helped us through. Some of these locks were in good condition and some were in need of much repair to brickwork. Some locks had two top ground paddles as well as four gate paddles and one lock only had one ground paddle in operation. Consequenty this lock took ages to fill.
After the top lock it is only a short way to Braunston tunnel. In this short distance seven boats came out of the tunnel and passed us. Braunston is a two way tunnel and I was glad we had not met these boats in the tunnel. As it happens we had to pass two boats in the tunnel. There's not much room to spare.
We turned left at Norton Junction and headed up the Leicester line. We has a suss out of the fuel filling and pump out at Weltonfield Marina that we will have to use tomorrow. Then we passed Welton Haven Marina which is going to be WD's new home. It looks very peaceful and the nearby M1 wasn't too noisy.
The M1 Watford Gap services came next on the right although there is no official entrance from the canal. It would however be quite easy to climb over the fence should you so desire although the moorings were not good. 

We then spent a pleasant hour or so going up the Watford flight. They are narrow locks and according to Pip were a joy to operate. The M1 is close by and there is a lot of noise. Pip got talking to the volunteer lock keeper. He said that he enjoys working this flight more than Foxton as you don't get the sightseers only boaters.

On through ever quietening countryside as the M1 heads away from the canal. I had to make an emergency stop just south of Crick Tunnel as a boat came through a bridge hole on a blind bend. Then into the tunnel and this time we didn't meet anything coming the other way. 
Our destination for this evening was to meet one of Pip's long time friends Lizzie who lives on NB Panda, moored at Crick Marina. As we passed Panda we knocked on the roof and said "Hello". We have been invited for an evening on board Panda and made arrangements to meet up later.
A bit further up the canal we winded and then moored up on the visitor moorings opposite the Marina.
We had a lovely evening with Lizzie talking about Panda, WD and our own boat that is yet to be built. There was also reminiscing about the times Pip and Lizzie worked together at Watford.
A late finish, the canal looked like it was getting ready to freeze over as we walked back to WD.

9 miles, 9 ordinary locks, 1 staircase of 4 locks, 2 tunnels.