Sunday - 13 locks, another day of rest

We had thought of going to church in the cathedral of the canals (Braunston church) but there was no service scheduled this week. So we got all togged up ready to tackle the locks.

The sky is overcast but it's not raining yet. 

I do have one confession to make. I said that last night we battened down the hatches but what I forgot to do was take the chimney down and put the cap on the flue. Consequently, when I started the engine, black sooty rain water came flying out everywhere. Anyone remember the Black & White Minstrel Show? Well, it was almost a rerun of that but, luckily, I managed to avoid most of the spray back. 

We were lucky to team up with another boat in the second lock having come through the first on our own and in no time at all we reached the top. Partly this was due to many hire boats coming down the flight with crews willing to close gates, etc.

The house at the top lock has been done up recently and looks very smart. 

Through the tunnel, which I still don't like, and then on to Watford flight.

Usually it's a case of 3 boats up and 3 boats down but, today, there were 5 boats at the bottom and none at the top. The lock keeper told us all to 'Go for it.' 

Near the top the, just as I swopped with the captain so that she would steer the boat and I would work the paddles and gates, the lock keeper appeared and said that he would give me a hand. Guess who was not amused! He said that they had had a fun afternoon because water was being let down from up top because of all the rain that they'd had. Good for the system but with a flight of 5 locks he had to manage the flow so that pounds and gates did not overflow. Glad he knew what he was doing. 

After that we stopped just around the corner (away from the noise of the M1), battened down the hatched again, including taking down the chimney, etc., and enjoyed a good old Sunday roast chicken.