The 1996 Tour Page 9

9. Northampton to Hatton, via River Nene, Northampton Arm and Grand Union Canal.

Thursday 18^th July we left Northampton at 9.25. The Grand Union Northampton Arm was reached at 9.45. Rothersthorpe Top Lock was passed at 12.35 and Gayton Junction and the Grand Union Main Line at 12.50. We headed north, passing Weedon visitor moorings at 15.05, Buckby Top Lock at 17.40 and Norton Junction with the Leicester Arm at 17.45. Braunston Tunnel took between 18.16 and 18.39. We moored at Braunston Top Lock for the night at 18.45.

Friday 19^th July we left early at 7.00 to miss the Braunston floating cottage weekending set. Braunston Bottom Lock was passed at 7.45 and Braunston Turn at 8.00, we carried on the Grand Union. We stopped just below Bridge 99 for breakfast between 8.25 and 9.00, Napton Junction was passed at 10.10. “The Boat” pub at Stockton Top Lock was passed at 11.45 and we stopped at the bottom of the Stockton Flight at 12.50. We stopped for lunch and a quick pint at the “Cuttle Inn” for an hour and at Fosse Wharf for water for15 minutes. Radford Bottom Lock was passed at 17.10 and at 17.45 we were moored on the Leamington visitor moorings, just the other side of Bridge 40. Leamington near these moorings is a bit of a dump so that night we stayed in. That night Ian Scott came to meet us for the weekend. It was a hot night and for some strange reason Ian decided to sleep on the roof!

Saturday 20^th July we left Leamington late at 10.00, as we only wanted to get to Hatton Top Lock that night. Ian had been woken early by a nutty bloke prodding him. Apparently the bloke thought Ian was dead! We had a brief stop at the friendly and established Kate Boats hire boat base in Warwick for a 10-minute diesel stop. Cape Locks took between 11.05 and 11.15. Hatton Locks took a leisurely 2½ hours and we arrived at the top at 14.10. We moored on the permanent moorings, which are never taken up. That night we went to the “The Waterman” pub / restaurant for an excellent steak and a pint. This pub is situated a few locks down from Hatton Top Lock.

Northampton Lock. Northampton. River Nene.	Leaving Northampton Lock and joining main channel of River Nene. Northampton.	Northampton, South Bridge in the distance. River Nene.

Northampton. River Nene.	Dan gets ready to leave and tells what an unbelievably good time he has had! Northampton. River Nene.	We dump Dan on towpath. He was to get a train back to MK from Northampton. Northampton. River Nene.

Northampton. River Nene.	South Bridge. Northampton. River Nene.	South Bridge. Northampton. River Nene.

Carlsberg chemical plant. Northampton. River Nene.	Northampton Arm Bottom Lock No 17 is just round the corner. River Nene.	Bottom Lock No 17. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.

Bottom Lock No 17. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Above Lock No 17. Cotton End Wharf. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Arriving at Lock No 16. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.

Arriving at Lock No 16. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Leaving Lock No 16. Northampton Loop of WCML beyond. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Lock No 15. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.

Pipeline works and A45 viaduct. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Wooton Lock No 14. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Rothersthorpe Flight. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.

Rothersthorpe Flight. The M1 Tunnel. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Rothersthorpe Flight. The M1 Tunnel. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Rothersthorpe Flight. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.

Rothersthorpe Flight. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Rothersthorpe Flight. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Rothersthorpe Flight. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.

Rothersthorpe Flight. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Rothersthorpe Flight. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Looking up at Rothersthorpe Top Lock. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.

Rothersthorpe Top Lock. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Gayton Marina and Alvechurch hire base. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	Bridge No 2 Northampton Arm, Gayton Junction. Grand Union Canal.

Gayton Junction. Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal.	We have just turned onto the Grand Union Canal. Gayton Junction.	Looking down at the River Avon from the Grand Union Canal Aqueduct. Leamington.

The Boat pub at Bridge No 21. Grand Union Canal.	Hatton Flight. Grand Union Canal.	Hatton Flight. Grand Union Canal.

Hatton Flight. Grand Union Canal.	Hatton Flight. Grand Union Canal.	Ian Scott. Grand Union Canal.

Neil finds the WWW's voodoo doll!	Neil makes the voodoo doll do the anti-tideway spell dance!	Which sends Ian into uncontrollable laughter!

Colin has a bad case of sunburn and is peeling badly!	This lazy racing pigeon hitches a ride for about half an hour!