Once again heading to Braunston!

One of the three locks at Hillmorton

Didn't realise how long had passed since I last wrote here!  We safely made it into Braunston about 12 days ago now!

Coming out the last of the 3 locks, next stop lunch!

Whilst there we met up again with new friends on Olivella and also Ross and his Finish wife, Pierka (sorry for spelling).  We hadn't seen them for a couple of years.  After 2 nights there we moved on to the Oxford Canal towards Rugby, where we arrived about a week ago.  On the way through we caught up with friends Sue and Mike who we hadn't seen for about 4 years.  Sue made us a new cratch cover and also a cover for the stern.  We are meeting them again today for Sunday Lunch in the pub!
After a couple of nights in Rugby we moved on having decided to carry on to Brinklow where we could wind and return!
So Monday saw us moving on towards Newbold on Avon.  As we got there Paul spotted a cygnet which seemed to be stuck in a hole in the towpath.  So we moored at the nearby water point.  I was armed with a long handled brush as Father Swan was standing protectively close!  Paul scooped the cygnet out of the hole and it launched itself out of his hands and into the canal where it seemed to sink, but thankfully bobbed

Beautiful dragonfly

back up and swam away, closely followed by Dad!!  It was very strange as the male swan was not as aggressive as they can sometimes be.  It was almost as though it knew we were helping!
Having reached our end point we turned and headed back toward Rugby
As we are moving on we are also completing chores along the way to get Falcon looking her best.  On our return to Rugby we moored by the picnic area whilst I was cleaning the oven Paul was busy with touching up paintwork etc!  We also had the Boat Safety Scheme Check done.  This has to be done every 4 years and Falcon's is due in September so we thought it would be a plus selling point to get that done.
So today we are moored just at the top of Hillmorton Locks and shortly off to The Waterside for lunch with Mike and Sue.

Onwards to Braunston

Moored at Yelvertoft Marina

Having caught up with Barry we did move on to Yelvertoft Marina, mooring the opposite end from where we started.  Got caught up with the washing, just spending the one night there.  We then headed on to Crick arriving there on Thursday.

On Friday Lisa and Phil arrived for the night.  The weather was lovely so we were able to cruise through Crick Tunnel and wind, then mooring for lunch before heading back to moor one boat length from where we started, but facing the other way!

Just to make sure we know where we are!

Had a pleasant evening visiting the hostelries in Crick and a meal in The Red Lion.  They headed on after breakfast on Saturday, then yesterday we winded again and headed down the Watford Locks.  Not so many as Foxton and no Gongoozlers!  7 locks here with 4 of them in a staircase.  We had a short wait at the top, but then with 3 lock keepers it was a swift easy passage down through.  This morning we have had a short cruise to the junction and are now moored at Norton Junction which is on the Grand Union Canal proper.  This goes from London to Birmingham.  Tomorrow we will head into Braunston.

Nearing the start!

Travelling up Foxton Locks

We have been carrying on with our southward journey.  A mix of busy days and shorter days.  Saturday was very hot, but we managed to work up through 5 locks before finding a mooring where we could sit in the shade.  In between cruising Paul is trying to get some work done to Falcon in readiness for her going up for sale next month! Meanwhile I have been busy inside.
On Sunday we arrived a Foxton Locks.  There are 10 locks there in 2 staircases of 5 locks.  This raises the canal by 75 ft, in about a quarter of a mile.  Friends Ruth and George who live not too far away came and joined us for the day.  We arrived at the locks just

George working hard!

before 12, put our name on the list to find we were 12th!  Still this gave us time to eat lunch and we set off shortly after.  Ruth stayed on the stern with Paul whilst George came with me where I kept him busy with the paddles!
With the 4 of us we were soon at the top.  Unfortunately George and Ruth had to go shortly after, so Paul and I had to go to the pub on our own!
Yesterday we arrived at North Kilworth and caught up with Barry on Blue Moon who is now moored in the marina there.  He was one of the first boating friends we made back in 2012 whilst we were still in Yelvertoft Marina.  We are now just a couple of miles from that marina and may well be popping in the on the way through.  On Friday our niece Lisa and her husband Phil are coming to see us.  So all in all a busy time!