Spring Cruise - Day One

We had a trouble-free journey up to Stockton Top, arriving at 1pm. We loaded the boat and were off at 1.45. Getting out of a packed marina was a challenge.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon, with just a slight nip in the air. As we approached the Calcutt Locks, we saw a Kate hire boat going into the bottom chamber. Then as we got closer, a boat came out of Calcutt marina, giving us someone to share with. We realised later that we'd shared the locks with the same boat on our very first Debdale trip back in 2007. It means this is an almost exact copy of a photo from the earlier cruise.

While we were in the bottom lock, a boat left the wharf and joined the Kate boat, so everyone was neatly paired up.

We turned left at Wigram's Turn, and made good progress. It was 5pm when we reached Braunston Junction, and turned left again. We moored up shortly afterwards in a very quiet spot just beyond Bridge 88.

9 miles, 3 locks.