Through the Watford Gap.

The good weather continues and this morning when I poked my head above the hatch just after seven there was a atmospheric (in both senses of the word) mist on the water,

Smoke on the water with a little less traffic than when the boat show was on at Crick.

Once we got away Macy the cat thought it was looking cooler out than in but changed her mind when she saw the tunnel looming and, like the other female crew aboard, dived in side. Only one of them was doing the cleaning!

Macy enjoying the cool of the shady trees before noticing the tunnel as we pass the bridge and ABNP and sees the tunnel.

The tunnel was a bit 'drippy' but was nice and warm. It wasn't until the last quarter that three boats turned up coming the opposite direction. Our guest helmsman did a great job of missing everything! It wasn't long until we passed under the M1 and were at the top of Watford Locks. The water point was free so we tied up there and started the water and went to look for the keeper. It turns out that there were three or four coming up. We were okay to go down the first lock when it was our way and then wait in the pound before the staircase locks.

The guest lock wheeler making an appearance at the top of the Watford flight.

I had a good time helping the boats coming up the locks and nattering. Most were hire boats and there excitement and enthusiasm in the sun is infectious. It is really good to see them enjoying being on the canals.

The house at the bottom lock at Watford.

There were a couple of boats waiting to come up. One in the first pound and one at the bottom. It was interesting chatting with the lock keepers and hearing the yarns and stories. It wasn't long before we were at Norton Junction. It is a lovely spot with a beautiful toll house of the corner that belonged to Captain Fielding of the Salvation Army. He and his wife ran the mission boats Aster and Salvo (ex Cornwall)that cruised the system from 1951 to 1963 assisting the boaters families. They over wintered at Sutton Stop. They used offices and halls around the system for big meetings and services and the boat had a lecture hall and cinema projection equipment in the bow where the shows were ever popular.

The original toll house at Norton Junction has been extended and with the willow tree and shepherds hut it looks great. It is the office of boat broker too.

Just round the corner down towards the Buckby Flight is another couple of cottages made of the local honey coloured stone making it a very picturesque spot. We moored just base the C&RT works but got covered in dust when the field beyond the hedge has cut and bailed.

To slake the dust we popped down the cut and across the gates to the New Inn that was doing a roaring trade on a day such as this. It is a Marston's pub and I had a pint of EPA and New World. As as special treat Helen has made a lemon meringue pie.