The day dawned back to an equitable nature this morning. It was nice to get up, feel the heat, and see the sun. There were the usual few who set of early munching their flakes as they passed. We set off a little later than normal as we weren't heading far.
This is the innocuous feed from the Daventry Reservoir. It was actually running a little as we passed. It is just on the edge of another huge housing estate called, I think, Monksmoor, that brings Daventry to the canal.
This was Welton Wharf and in the past Braunston tunnel was known as Welton Tunnel. In 1892 George Henry Tilley was the wharf manager and he ran a coal merchants from there. However he was declared bankrupt owing about £25! He said that he had been a manager for another coal merchant for 2 years and before that had been a lock keeper on the Grand Union Canal for eight years
The wharf was part of the Norton Estates that were owned by the Marquess of Bath. the whole lot, 2,240 acres, 48 cottages and villages pubs and wharf were put up for auction in 1947.
The northern entrance to Welton or Braunston Tunnel looks positively bucolic as we approach it. We passed a couple of boats that seemed to be preparing to leave so we thought we would have company when we fetched up at the locks.
We were right, we did have company at the locks, not with either of the two boats we had thought it may have been. As we were waiting for a boat coming up there was the noise of bow trusters thrashing and it became obvious that the two were travelling together. However a moored boat behind them was ready to move and down we went with them. It turns out they were 'vlogers' and everything was filmed. I never knew whether they were talking to me, the dog or the camera!
They stopped in the pound after the Admiral Nelson so we were on our own for the last 3 locks. We found a spot to moor alongside the marina, before Bridge 1. After a bite of lunch I set too cleaning the stove. It needs a bit of a refurb. especially as this year we need a BSS and I'm pretty sure it won't pass with this! Mind you it has been like this for a while and does not leak at all. We have two CO meters and they have never gone off.
We went for a walk and called in at the marina to see if they knew anybody who could refurbish an Arada Hamlet Hardy stove. They said they could do it, so I will have to have a look around and see what is what. We are back aboard middle of next month, which would be before the Historic Narrowboat Festival that would be chaos here.
We walked up to the church and into the village to buy some bits and some smoked bacon and then off to the Admiral Nelson for a pint in the sun. It was fun watching the newly boarded boaters from the hire basin coming up the locks. It seems obvious they they haven't watched the video of 'how to work a lock' that the hire company's send out. It was fun seeing if couples or groups will still be talking at the end of a weeks hire based on the first lock. I'm sure they get better as they go on.
From the field above the first lock we walked down to the art suppliers that is now in the old chandlers. Helen managed to find a bargain too.
Later Helen was sitting out reading when she was asked to help as a boat a little way up had managed to put a drill through his finger. Helen was very professional and the bleeding stemmed and the wound cleaned up, and assisted to contact 111 etc etc. It didn't look too bad but with possible need of antibiotics and tetanus etc they got booked in at Coventry Hospital! It seems that we are in the middle of several hospitals. We went to the Boathouse for tea and back to the boat nice and repleat .
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