Wednesday 19th May
We set off through Braunston Tunnel at 07:30. With the wiggles in the bore, not wearing my glasses and other excuses keeping a straight line was troublesome. For the first time I made the turning onto the Leicester section at Norton Junction in one. The sunshine streaming through the trees on the first part of the canal was very beautiful and the day showed some promise. We arrived at the bottom of the locks at 09:50 to find ourselves 6 in the queue and luckily on the last bit of piling available. The lock keeper arrived promptly at 10:00 and got us all organised. There were 6 waiting at the top apparently. For those unfamiliar with the locks, from the bottom there are two regular locks, then the staircase of three, plus another regular lock at the top. The two in the front of our queue were to go up and wait above the second lock, while all the boats at the top came down, then the next four, headed by the two already waiting for the staircase and ending with us, would go right up. The staircase works most efficiently with a stream of boats. It was nearly midday when we started up and by 13:40 we were moored at Crick. Again, as yesterday, just in time to be able to shelter from a very heavy shower.