Wine Afloat 2005

Street's
Ahead

This outing was organised in conjunction with Ian Huggins, as a RBSG Ski Club South event. It was a 3 day cruise with a wine-tasting on Friday night with wines chosen by Ian Huggins. As well as taking Pride of Lothbury out, we hired a commercial boat, Wild Burdock, from the fleet at Calcutt, so in total the party was 14 people.

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The Route

After coming out of the Calcutt pound into the first double lock, we proceed to the junction with the Oxford canal taking a sharp left, travelling 5 miles to the Braunston turn (The Northern Oxford joins here) very picturesque with no locks. Continue up the 6 double locks for approx. 4 miles entering the famous Braunston tunnel with a kink in it (2042 yards long)

After completing the tunnel we look for moorings. This will be remote, away from traffic & noise, and we may encounter the usual problem of mooring in shallows near enough to the towpath, so we may need to use the plank, but this will only add excitement for people (after drinking lots of wine!)

On Saturday morning after a leisurely get up, say 09:15 - 09:30 we travel approx. One mile to Norton Junction where the Grand Union Leicester arm joins the main grand Union canal.

We will continue South onto the main line and descend the 7 lock Buckby flight passing through Weedon winding (this means turning around) near Stowe Hill Marine, stopping for liquid refreshments at the Narrowboat Public House by the side of the canal close to Weedon. After a brief water stop we will ascend the Buckby flight, mooring close to the New Inn by Buckby Top lock, close to Norton Junction.

Phil has confirmed the pub is open all day & does food on Saturday evenings (as a big group our meals may have to be staggered on several tables). One advantage, they have a Northamptonshire Skittles alley (we throw 'Cheeses', one of a limited No. of pubs in the area that still undertake this) - should be fun.

A leisurely rise on Sunday morning 09:15 - 09:30, then through the Braunston Tunnel to descend the Braunston 6. Then moor up for lunch (there are 4 pubs in Braunston, two close by the canal (one at one end of the village the other at the other end) the other two in the centre of the village - approx 10 minute walk.

We need to leave by approx 14:00 (depending upon where we moor up) ensuring we get back to the boatyard in time (Pride of Lothbury will need cleaning by those on board)

This should be an ideal route, plenty of contrast, not too strenuous, using double locks so both boats can go together, a tunnel thrown in, time in the pub for socialising.

Summary of Cruise Report