Braunston

We met Joe on the towpath last night running up and down in training. He told us he could run at 20mph but his ambition was to run as fast as Yousef Boult who can, apparently, run at 32 mph. He raced up and down with his dog. He seemed keen to chat. He was going to keep on training until he was really fast and he was only 17 he said. I shook his hand and wished him well. He was still running up and down in the fading light.

Last night we went to the Two Boats Inn. "Can we have meal" I said. "You need to get a table number first" the barmaid said. The room was empty so we went to the table opposite. All the numbers had been removed from the table. "We will sit there" I said. "But there is no number" "Thats table 5" she said. Not bad meal I had good old 60's Scampi and Chips and Joanne had Lasagne.

Off today towards Braunston. As Crewe or Derby or York or Darlington is to Railways so Braunston is to Canals. Its about half way between London and Birmingham and grew up as an important staging post. The village is only small though.

After Calcut top lock, the 78th since Stourport, we headed into hgh arable country of wheat and oats.(see below)A sunken old working boat near Wolfhampcote which made a sad sight.

And at last into Braunston at 1500.

We are leavig the boat here for a few days to go back into that other world by means of the 1030 bus to Braunston. So no more blogs readers until next Wednesday. SL is safely moored up and on shore supply after the first 79 miles since Stourport. All ready to tackle the next sction to Leicester.