July 22 - Wessex Rose - 7 Locks and Stoke Bruerne

This morning we immediately hit the series of 7 locks.  

After a bit more cruising we squeezed under a bridge...

before arriving at the last lock in Stoke Bruerne, our final destination.

David working the locks.

Paul, Sue, Jim, Karen, Phyllis

We arrived at Stoke at around 11:00.  There were a lot of boats moored near the locks so we moored a little way further up the canal.

Because of our early arrival we had plenty of time for a trip into town...

to see the Village Hall (of minimal interest), 

the Old School House (now looks like it is a home),

 and the church... 

with its old cemetery and

a bunch of very interesting benches.

We were back in time for lunch on the boat - light yummy wraps.

We then spent time on the sun deck with Jim and Phyllis before they headed out to catch their taxi to London Heathrow airport.  They are flying out tomorrow very early.  

We then walked back to the area beside the last lock to go through the Canal Museum.  It was on the top two floors of a very old stone building. 

The museum had very informative displays about all aspects of the canal system, including maps of the canals, information about the engineers and builders, the uses of the canal, and the uses in war time. 

There was even a small boat that showed the interior living area of one of the small cabins…very cramped.  

All in all it was an excellent museum. 

We walked down to the Blisworth Tunnel.  This tunnel is almost 2 miles long.  It is wide enough for two narrow boats to pass in it but those with a broad boat (like ours) must reserve a passage and must go through at 7:00 am.  We are not going through the tunnel.

The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting in the lounge and on the sun deck.  Life is wonderful.