The sun continued to shine and it was very hot for a couple of days before being plunged back into overcast skies and challenging winds.
We continued our journey through Hilmorton Locks in the cool of the morning and made steady progress under clear blue skies towards Braunston, which was gradually filling up with vintage working boats for their historic boat festival, which hadn't taken place since before the pandemic. Some beautufully restored and maintained boats were already on display.
It was getting really hot so our search on coming out of Braunston was for some shade, which we found at Bridge 99, where we spent a lovely cool afternoon and evening and managed yet another bbq.
What a change the next day when we had to don our jackets against a strong, cold northerly wind as we travelled towards Napton. We stopped for an early lunch and a warm up at the moorings at the bottom of the Napton flight. We had just untied our mooring lines and were heading off to ascend the 9 locks when a head appeared from the bow of the boat in front of us! A familiar looked at Jenny and simultaneously we both cried hello. It was Jane and Ian on Esio Trot. They had just come down the locks and were in the process of mooring so we did a quick bit of manoeuvring and retied our lines and after giving them some time to sort themselves out and have their lunch we gathered for a lovely afternoon of catching up and sharing boating stories interspersed with heavy rain showers! British weather!
Strong winds stayed with us the next day when we did eventually ascend the Napton flight in record time! Every lock, on a very quiet flight, was in our favour.
We tied up for the day at an empty Ariel mooring - where has everyone gone?
Sunshine, wind and showers took us into Fenny Marina, where we were due to meet 'old' friends, Dave and Val together with dear old Dylan and their new 6 month old puppy, Barley, who were staying at Moreton-in-Marsh in their motorhome, and were driving over to see us on Sunday.
Always good to see friends after so long, summer 2019 being our previous get together. We walked to the Wharf for Sunday lunch and unlike our last visit there we were very impressed. Good ale and excellent roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and plentiful, well cooked veg. There was a pleasant buzz around the place as well. We will return! Once again much chat and catching up. The perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
The strong wind continues to blow across the marina! But at least the sun is shining.
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