Cruise to Hillmorton locks for dinner via Braunston

We had a great spring cruise the other week only 20 miles and 10 locks but the weather was glorious.Sunshine, cloudy, chilly wind but some warm short sleeve afternoon but no rain - just brilliant boating weather with all the trappings of spring. The reason for the trip was to visit the cafe above the bottom lock.Its now called The Canalchef Cafe (previously Badsey Cafe) as moored outside is nb Badsey and a new addition of the butty Angel, very good they look to. They are open each day for coffee and lunches but only Friday evenings for dinner, I had lamb shank and Anne the stew which were both excellent and well worth the trip..

Our mooring just before bridge 87 with the spire of Braunston church acting as a beacon.

Braunston Turn bridges in spring sunshine-left to Hillmorton

I just love these Black Face lambs watching the world go by.

Not a boat name this time -its Sir Hiss from the Disney film Robin Hood.

Going back up the locks at Hillmorton , they are paired single locks and it was the busiest we have seen it.

Our mooring near bridge 80, just the other side of the hedge is a Detention Centre.

Near  to bridge 80 runs the route of the old Great Central Railway. This is the remains of an old occupation bridge which last saw a train 50 years ago.

Steam narrow boat Hasty which is a replica Blisworth Tunnel Tug- a lovely sight and sound.

A wide bugger!!luckily it was moored.

Our first lot of ducklings and there were 13 in total.

Narrow boat spotters book and cross stitch

Not much boating over the last 5 months but we did manage a few days out on the boat in glorious sunshine the other week. Just a lovely slow cruise through Braunston to Hillmorton and back-I'll post some pictures soon.

We did manage to do a trip from our "bucket list" which was A Great Railways Trip to Norway/Sweden and into the Artic Circle- we did see The Northern Lights, just the once in The Lofoten Islands but they were magical. We also visited the Ice Hotel and I went down the worlds deepest underground Iron Ore mine.A great trip during which we met some lovely people including Jenny and Martin who has just volunteered as a lock keeper at Stone. 

When we went through Audlem on the Shropshire Union last June we had to visit the excellent craft shop next to the Shroppie Fly pub where I purchased a copy of Historic Working Narrow Boats Today. Its a spotters heaven as you can tick off what you have seen and it may also tell you the boats history

Anne has been very busy and has now finished her cross stitch picture of Fradley Junction and very good it looks to.