It turned quite cold last night and I was expecting the canal to be frozen over this morning, but there was very little ice on the canal, Crick Wharf Marina was partly covered but that was it. We were away a little late as Diana went for some fresh vegetables for the Post Office. Crick Tunnel was much dryer than last week, just wet at the ends. As the M1 motorway came into view we could see one boat moored just before the bridge, one under the bridge and a third approaching the top lock. I dropped Diana off under the motorway to book us in with the Volockies who were both at the top lock. She then waved me forward, the Volockie said he had seen no sign of life from the other boats so we were on our way, the other two followed us down. I worked the locks while Diana steered the boat down, she met another boat coming up in the bottom pound so we could leave the gates in lock 2 for them. The pound below the locks was well up and flowing over the spill weir.
Some time ago there was an imitative to plant a tree every mile along this canal, I don’t recall if other canals were involved. They were called living mile posts and each one had a metal plaque, most have survived but not all, likewise some of the plaques have suffered graffiti.
One of the trees is right beside the entrance to Welton Haven marina and is looking quite healthy, but the sign is hidden in the hedgerow.
The railway crosses the canal at quite an angle resulting in quite a wide bridge for just two tracks. I find the construction quite interesting as each side of the bridge is brick vaulted construction but the middle section is concrete. This makes me wonder if
the bridge is the original but has had the centre section replaced at some point, or was it much narrower and they moved the sides out and inserted the concrete section. Both sides of the bridge have identical cast iron facings with a concrete beam and railings on top.
Ever since we came this way last week CRT have been reporting a tree down and passable with care, its not much more than a branch with plenty of room to pass. It may have been down when we came through last, I can’t be sure.
We carried on down to Norton Junction and just as I started to turn a boats bow appeared coming from the Buckby flight, also going towards Braunston, so I held back and let him by. I think we saw his bow and stopped before he saw us. Now on the Grand Union Main Line we continued towards Braunston for about a mile before mooring for the night on the first length of piled bank.
Today’s Journey
6¼ mile with 7 locks in 2¾ hours
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