A Long Stretch To Napton

We had a long stretch ahead of us of 25 miles with only three locks at Hilmorton. Mike made a good start just after 8 o'clock, leaving the girls to make a more leisurely start. The day was quite straighforward - except for other boats! There were a lot more hire boats and those out for a short break - many seemed to be attempting the Warwick Ring - a challenge for a week. Others were intent on showing well they could do despite their alcohol intake (although this was a growing problem later in the afternoon!




The route is largely rural, apart from around Rugby, which itself is not unpleasant, although the canal does not run near the town centre. In Newbold Tunnel we met a group of cygnets trying to paddle through - as soon as they saw us they turned around and only just managed to escape before we reached them.




Stretton Stop was quite a delay: not quite clear what had happened apart from hire boats doing a changeover. There is a small footbridge which sometimes adds a delay but when we arrived there was a build up of waiting traffic in both directions. As a result it took quite some time to clear this point.





Alice enjoyed watching the ducks and other water birds - feeding them some left over bread crusts.



At Clifton Cruisers - who had been very helpful to us last year with our electrical problerm - we called for diesel and also managed to pick up the replacement part for the bow fender.
By early afternoon we arrived at Hilmorton Locks - Alice helped Mike operate them. She managed to open the first bottom gate all on her own!



We were now aiming positively to reach Napton locks before mooring - we would have liked to have been at the top but this became increasingly unlikely, not least because of so many moored boats. Around Napton Junction they seemed to be almost continuous for several miles either side. There are at least three hire bases at or near to the junction and tomorrow must be a main changeover day.

Braunston turnover bridge

We made the meal early in the afternoon so that it was ready for Alice at her we'proper' time which she duly tackled wqith gusto - clearing her plate! Christine also persuaded Mike to make some chocolate dipped cherries which rounded off the meal quite nicely, thank you!

It was just after eight when we reached the bottom of Napton Locks and not realistic to tackle going up so we found a mooring. with quite a number of boats already lined up on the straight section back from the flight we had to pull in quickly. Christine managed quite an acrobatic manoeuvre as she found - or rather did not immediately find - a place to land on the bankside!