A second attempt at Watford, 3 different canals, another tunnel and some retail therapy at Braunston have made for a packed day.

We got going early to get down the locks at Watford. A broken paddle meant we didn’t make it down yesterday. It was fixed really quickly but by then it was raining so we stayed put. The flight at Watford used to be locked when the lock keepers leave. But they are experimenting with leaving them unlocked, so we started down around 7am. 

After the locks, the canal sneaks past the back of Watford Gap motorway services. It used to be possible to use the services as emergency backup if you were missing some groceries. It doesn’t look like you can anymore. Tall fences and locked gates bar your way today.

After a short time we reached Norton Junction, where the Leicester Line joins the Grand Union Mainline. Turning right, we headed towards Braunston Tunnel, past yet another favourite mooring spot. 

The tunnel was frustrating for two reasons. We were following another boat which unfortunately slowed to a crawl once in the tunnel. The problem is that it is easier to negotiate any tunnel if you keep the revs up. It makes it easier to steer by making every steering action more effective. At such a slow speed accurate positioning in the tunnel is difficult and you are at the mercy of boats coming in the other direction. Their wash pushes you sideways into the tunnel wall and there is nothing you can do about it. Added to that each one of the 3 boats coming the other way had their tunnel lamps adjusted straight ahead. Yet again, I left a tunnel with spots before my eyes. 

After the Braunston Tunnel, there are the 6 Braunston Locks to descend. It’s also back to wide locks. Now we had our first lock queue to deal with, but at least it meant that we had another boat to share the locks with.

After the locks there is a busy stretch of canal, with lots of moored boats. Braunston has long been a centre for canal activity, both during their commercial heyday and now.

Braunston is also where one of Midland Chandlers canal-side stores is located, right by the junction at Braunston Turn. We often stop there, when passing, to indulge a little canal-style retail therapy. Today was no different. We treated ourselves to a new Porta-Potti! 

After some lunch, we pushed on up the North Oxford. On this canal, we are back on more familiar territory. I wrote about my single-handed experiences on this canal last year in this blog, but it was also part of many trips we made over the years, both on Heron and on shared ownership boats.

We arrived at the paired Hillmorton Locks late in the afternoon. The balance beams of the middle locks are now decorated with pithy phrases, but I can’t quite fathom why.