There was a way through

THERE was a way through the boats at Braunston, though it may have been daunting Roger Fox writes.

To many this view could be daunting. You just have to say: "They cannot be that stupid. There must be a way through."—and there was.

I met one hirer who was very incensed, calling it chaos. At the time that we were there it was far from chaotic. However, I can well believe that the parade might be a nightmare.

We went through Braunston on Friday with our own ex working boat, draught about 3'3" with no problem apart from carrying out some minor dredging in the clear route shown. As a British Waterways volunteer I made no charge for the work!

I was surprised that there was no one on the locks advising the unwary what lay ahead. There were several canalside notices from Buckby onwards, but many might not have appreciated the scale of what they might meet once down the locks.