We decided. No matter what. We need to be out travelling. So we used the excellent reasons of wanting to be in Fenny Compton to help our friends warm their new house and wanting to be in Thrupp to celebrate another friend's 10 years aboard. So, come last Friday, Elizabeth stepped off the train from London in pouring rain to find Pete standing with the golf brolly, ready to walk her to Reg. Ah. We went back to Bella where Pete had spent the day in between work calls getting Bella ready to go. When we both got to her, all we needed to do was wait for the next shower to pass, drop lines and go! So we did. We were turning south toward Braunston at 6:25 pm - the latest we have ever set out! But the night was still light, the clouds were lifting and we made it to bridge 100, in between Braunston and Napton, by 9:30. Still light!
Braunston was a hoot. This weekend is Braunston canal festival and as we cruised slowly around 8:30, we were gently warned that there would be no spare mooring! We reassured worriers that we were just passing through. The pictures show the tight squeeze of boats.
Where we did moor was so still and quiet it was heavenly. With the duck doors open, we leant out and heard nothing but the quiet sounds of the countryside putting itself to sleep. Perfect.
