Tour 06 Ends

Our final trip of Tour 06 was to take Quidditch to Welford for hull blacking. We’d booked our dry dock from Monday September 25th.


Located at the very bottom of the Welford Arm (Leicester section of the Grand Union) we estimated that the journey would take 2 days sailing. Setting off from Wigram’s on Friday 22nd we moored overnight just 40 minutes down at bridge 103, one of our favourite short trips. This would give us a head start come Saturday. This would also be a new stretch for us, as we’d not as yet ventured the other side of the Grand Union past Braunston locks.
Setting off around 9.30am Saturday we arrived at the 6 Braunston double locks and locked thru’ with NBAnnie from Braunston Marina, completing the top lock at around midday. NBAnnie was well off for crew so Dee had a reasonably easy transition.
Next came another first as we completed the 2042 yard Braunston Tunnel. This was the first time we’d completed a two-way tunnel and after passing several boats within, including a working boat being towed, we emerged into a wooded cut 20 minutes later.
At Norton Junction we turned north on the Leicester section heading towards Crick. From here the canal meanders through light woods and rolling fields before the motorway (M1) and railway takes over, the canal literally passes the back door of Watford Gap services!
Arriving at Watford Locks we were presented with a small queue of 5 boats and a 90-minute delay. After negotiating the locks, which includes a staircase of 4 single locks (this the reason for delays), we continued on navigating the Crick tunnel at around 4.30pm. 1528 yards long, the tunnel was opened in 1814. All tunnels built in this area suffered great problems in construction. Quicksand’s caused the route of the tunnel to be changed and greatly affected work. Stephenson found similar difficulties when building the nearby Kilsby tunnel for the London to Birmingham Railway.
We moored for the day overlooking Crack’s Hill, a curious looking tree topped mound!
Sunday we had a leisurely journey and after turning onto the Welford Arm at Welford Junction we arrived at our dry dock at around 4pm, passing thru’ the one 3ft lock at Welford, the only lock of the day.
Leaving our dry dock Wednesday 27th our work complete the journey back was excellent with no delays at Watford Locks and making good time we moored at Ball’s Bridge (N0.3) for the night. Thursday 28th we set off around 11am arriving back at Wigram’s at about 4pm our journey complete. The one event of note on our way back occurred just as we emerged from the Braunston tunnel when 2 hire boats collided head-on within! Fortunately no serious damage but we were sure glad we passed the oncoming boat outside of the tunnel!!