Blisworth, Grand Union Canal – Wednesday 23 May 2012
Up at 7:30 and a leisurely breakfast as there is no start through the locks until 9:30.  While waiting saw a boat with a foreign flag I thought I recognised.  Went along to chat and discovered it is a tiny world.  The flag was the Murray River ensign from Australia – I had seen it last week at Wolverton and chatted to the owners of “Aussie Mossie (from Down Under)”.  The crew (on a Wyvern boat) were impressed that it had been recognised!  At this point the lock crew said we could start at 9:00 and with boats also coming down the locks seemed to be set for us all the way.  I stopped to have a look at the museum, while the others went on – to go through the tunnel and on to Gayton before turning round and coming back.  After lunch I decided that I would go through the tunnel – interesting.  Tunnels leak and there are ventilation shafts that drip water on the unwary boater.  Because the weather has been so hot today (34 in the boat) when the water hit the boat it immediately turned to steam – I couldn’t see where I was going!  It was like being in a sauna; normally a coat is needed, but not today.  When I came out of the tunnel there were no wet patches on the roof.  Having reached Blisworth I moored up and have given the boat roof a wash – the guy on the next boat has gone to have a lie down – he said I was tiring him out.