Christmas mystery photo - the answer

As James says - and Alf and Sue agree with him - it's Buckby Top Lock on the Grand Union Canal.

It's hard to imagine now, but this was back in April when drought restrictions were in place.

We were the last boat up the flight that day: the lockie chained the top gates closed as soon as we'd gone through.

Now we have more rain than we know what to do with. The latest stoppage alert from CRT advises that the Leicester line is closed after a collapse of the Debdale embankment. CRT says that the cause was a waterlogged bank.

GU Leicester line, Debdale Embankment slip

Thursday 27 December 2012 until further notice
Navigation is closed due to an earth slip on an embankment due to prolonged heavy rain saturating the soil.

Canal closed until further notice pending assessment of embankment and works to stabalise [sic] the earth structure