We had about two days for canal trials to find out if the boat had any minor faults before the naming ceremony we had arranged at Braunston. Our
first minor fault came half way through boiling our first kettle for a cup of
tea. We ran out of gas ! Lacking a gas bottle spanner we employed our trusty Stilsons.
Our very first run was to Braunston from Calcutt and back to Calcutt. On the Saturday
we cruised up to Braunston again and all our family came to the naming ceremony.
Sunday saw us on our own. Going through Braunston Tunnel we seemed to meet the
world and his wife while following a cloud of spent diesel fumes. The lock keeper
was in attendance at Watford Flight, and we were soon flying at a heady 3mph along
the top pound towards Foxton. Two nights later we stopped at the top of Foxton
Flight and had a very decent pub meal, and a pint in the village. Next morning
we had a very easy passage down the locks and went well until about four o clock
when we came to an abrupt halt. The lengthman had chained the locks due to an acute water
shortage. Starting about nine the next morning we dropped down into our second
lock and were actually sitting below the cill. The British Waterways lengthman
very kindly provided us with water, which he could not really spare, to enable us to run
exactly down the centre line of the canal scraping the bottom, and not daring
to approach the banks. We shopped in Leicester, and that night we ran out to the
countryside to moor. After we had crossed the summit the water shortage was over but the weather was becoming increasing frosty, especially early in the mornings.
It became dangerous to set off very early in the mornings because it was very slippery underfoot both on the boat and at the locks. This is one of
the differences between boating for leisure and commercial boating. If we were
a working boat we would have to run however inclement the weather. You gain
a lot of respect for the men, women, and children who not only ran in all weathers,
but sometimes might have had to shovel 40 tons of coal out of the boats when
they arrived at their destination. When we reached the River Trent we turned
left towards Sawley Marina. We decided to stop at Sawley, and berth for the winter.
In fact we stopped at Sawley for over two years.
It had been an interesting first
cruise which proved our boat was sound in wind and limb, and what was important to us comfortable, warm and easily manageable.
