Braunston, the boat Mecca?

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Braunston, the boat Mecca?

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 19:29

1 hour 39 mins, 2.83 miles

So say some - certainly it it the Mecca of Historic Boats when the Rally takes place here. We have been here by boat a number of times now but every canal and place on the system North of the Thames is new territory for Epiphany!

We set off from last night's mooring - a good one (as are the ones further on Adam!) and lovely and quiet despite the farmer working until gone 10 pm with his tractor headlights on. Make hay whilst the sun shines eh? Plough whilst the moon is up more like!

The canal is pretty wide and straight with a few wiggles just to keep the helmsman awake! I imagine in the summer season there are lots of moored boats on the piling by the towpath but today there were relatively few and less boats on the move too.

As we approached Braunston Junction this poor boat was a salutary reminder of the hazards of fire.

I had to take the obligatory photo of the first sight of Braunston Church on the hill! I do have better ones from other trips - it was a bit grey today!

At the Junction the two distinctive iron bridges are the other iconic feature.

It is turn left to continue up the North Oxford canal towards Rugby or turn right as we did, continuing on the Grand Union canal which will take us towards the tunnel and eventually down south to London.

This stretch was a subject of dispute between the Oxford Canal and the Grand Junction Company as the Oxford Canal owned the canal from Napton Junction to the Toll House here at Braunston. They charged very high tolls to get even with the rival company who had a more direct route to London and the Midlands! Those were the days!

We moored soon just past the Mill House pub. These moorings are 14 day ones, from October to March, but we shall not be staying here that long!

We had a wander along to the Marina to suss out the launderette and then up the hill to shop in Braunston. The butcher does great sausages and is very friendly, always ready for a chat. Londis is expensive but we did a bit of a shop there too. At least we are contributing to the local economy even if we do not pay for a mooring and use facilities that are on the canal for ALL boaters. Dig, dig!