Lyra's Travels

Monday 6th August 2012
A nice lazy start this morning. We didn't get going until after 9.00 o'clock. Moving up to the facilities block we found it occupied so pulled in just in front of them and waited. And waited. Although they appeared to be finished they didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave. The guy just stood on the back deck waffling on his cell phone. I was just about ready to ask what was going on when he decided to finally move. The block is very close to the junction and being really bitchy it was interesting to watch him make a right mess of turning for the junction.
Setting off we turned left (southward) heading for Blisworth Tunnel. At over a mile and half long this is one of the wonders of the canal building age. It's the third longest canal tunnel still in use in the UK. It is also very wet in there! I was glad of the umbrella, as in some places there is a proper deluge, particularly from the air shafts.
Near the other end of the tunnel lies Stoke Bruern, a tiny village which has become quite a tourist attraction with a canal museum and other canal orientated tourist traps.
Following the village there is a flight of 7 locks and we've come down just 2 of them and will stay here tonight.