Not too busy Braunston Junction.

 It was a nice morning but boded a mixed bag of a day. That maybe why several boats were on the move early

The first place of note Willoughby Wharf by Bridge 85. It turns out that this was a very busy wharf. It had been run by the Mill family for at least three generations. There were lime kilns there and it was traded along with coal. Timber was dealt with, along with hay and many other things. When the new railway, the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway extension tracks, was being laid it gained much traffic as a base was set up here, where the new track was at its closest. Materials were brought in from all over. By the track a store, office, carpenter's shop,blacksmiths and an engine shed were set up around 1894. It had a serious fire in 1897.

This is looking back at the wharf as I had to take evasive action for the boat just seen. Just up from the wharf was the Navigation pub that was also run by the Mills family 

As we approached Brauston boats were coming thick and fast and it was nice to see the old windmill and the church too. We would soon be there.

Near the junction is this house and outbuilding. It looks like it has been there almost as long as the canal. I think that the outbuilding looks like stables but I may well be wrong. It got quite mizzley passing through Braunston Junction, but soon brightened up again.

There are still some fields to harvest but a lot is in and in the sun the countryside looks lovely.

Just by bridge 101 somewhere was this new build house with wopping great wings on it. It is obviously not completed as there are no windows in. I can't find anything on line with a cursory look, but I can't imagine who would want a house like this, and white, in our weather. Maybe Americans, or a religious school or something. Anybody any ideas/news? I will dig a bit deeper when I get home as the internet is a bit slow tonight.

Lower Shuckburgh was another busy wharf which had a coal and lime wharves, granaries, stores, stables and a house with outbuildings, yard, garden and orchard. In the 1820 a layer of workable clay had been found on the site and a brick works had been set up with kilns, hovels, sheds and brick yards. I think the building in the picture is the old granary. Where the main road crosses the canal a little west of the village was another wharf close by the road that had lime kilns that were not longer in use by 1888.

Napton Junction was soon with us. The boat ahead of us had swung down there so we thought we would have a lock buddy for our first double lock in a few years.

I assume the lovely house at the junction was a lengthsmans house as well a toll office for the start of the Warwick and Napton Canal.

The boat we thought we would be able to share with stopped for water and as there was a boat coming up we went down alone. As we lowered down a boat left the mooring before the next lock so we shared with them. They had been having a lot of electrical work done. His engine alarm was going off all the time. By the time we had gone down lock 2 he was overheating so stopped, and we went down No. 3 on our own again.

We turned into the first entrance of Ventnor Marina and made for the service wharf in the first section of the two basins that are not connected. We called Steve and they came and gave us our fuel and a bottle of gas that had run out yesterday!

This was to be our new home. We will obviously have to up our gave as the basin is littered with Braidbar boats and all seem to be polished and no rust showing. It is lovely and quiet and seems quite spacious too. I reckon we will have to get the hang of getting in and out with the wind, but shouldn't be too bad.

Off back to get the car tomorrow.