Good morning sunshine

A good start to the day. Blue skies and wall to wall sunshine.

Still a bit chilly but the sun makes all the difference. 

Last night there was a beautiful sunset. 

Which was almost as gorgeous as she who must be obeyed. 

And for all my faithful followers, a picture of food. 

The meal was OK but we think the pub has changed hands - no specials menu - no chicken curry - but, very clean and all the staff wearing masks where appropriate.

Set off through the top lock, had fun at the junction with boats turning left and right, not looking where they were going, and then on to the dreaded Braunston tunnel. It's only dreadful because there is a kink in the middle and one year I lost a navigation light when passing another boat.

It's quite dark in the tunnel and you only have a headlamp to see the way. 

It's quite a relief when you eventually come back out into the sunlight. 

Mind you, (I'm always saying that) we passed two boats in the tunnel without incident. 

Next, the six locks of the Braunston flight. Luckily we paired up with another boat and there were plenty of boats coming up, so the overall passage was fairly swift. 

Here’s the Admiral Nelson pub, right where everyone can cheer you on when you make a pigs ear of working the lock. 

It's not work, work, work all the time - just seems like it. 

At the bottom lock we passed Valhallah, an all black widebeam, now up for sale. Wonder what it's like inside. 

Glad we were going down the locks because there were ten boats queuing at the bottom waiting to come up. We calculated that the tenth boat would be there for about three hours! 

And here we are passing Braunston marina. Normally in summer the traditional boats have a rally here and it's jam packed. Sadly, not this year. 

Fun again at Napton junction with newly acquired hire boats heading into the bushes, ending up broadside across the canal, and generally having a good time. 

Oh, and I nearly forgot, the splendid sight of swallows dive bombing into the canal for an afternoon drink. Thought they were going to dive bomb us at one point. 

We have pressed on along the Oxford canal to Napton on the Hill where we plan to have a meal at the Kings Head. Hopefully a more exciting meal than last night - we'll let you know.