Phew!!!

Today was meant to be a gentle day and stopping a little way down the Napton locks ....but....the best laid plans.......
We had a leisurely start (0750) but we had already had two boats go past us.   Barney and I walked for the first hour......so I felt very virtuous......
A little while later I managed to get in touch with A J Canopies.  Our pram hood frame is bent and we needed someone to look at it.   It transpired that unless we could be in Braunston by Wednesday there would be no one available until after the bank holiday weekend so the reluctant decision was taken to carry on as far as possible with a view to going into Braunston early Wednesday.
This seemed a reasonable plan until we reached the first lock at Marsdon Doles.....where there was a queue and we were number 6....ah well.....the sun is shining.......
We made very slow progress and after the first of the Napton locks the word came back that there was a stoppage ahead as the butty of a working boat had done something to it's rudder.......and was blocking everything........
The mooring below the first lock is delightful, good towpath and opposite a field of buffalo........so were were tempted to stay put and have a really early start on Wednesday.
Geoff walked on to suss out the situation and I prepared to moor up only to have him return and say boats were now on the move (albeit slowly) so we continued.   By now it was very hot (shouldn't complain!!) and we were both getting somewhat weary.......
Eventually found a familiar congenial mooring spot and here we rest......
After an epic day like this we would normally have a layover day....but....Braunston and AJ Canopies beckons.
The one bright spot is that we may just catch up with John and Fiona on Epiphany sooner than we thought....
Total distance:11.58 miles 
Elapsed time:8h18m40s   (Phew)
Locks:9
Bridges:25 
Average speed:1.39 mph (2.48 lock/mph)