Car shuffle day. Mike planned an early start so that we could at least make a little progress in the afternoon once he had returned from Packet Boat. Fortunately he set off earlier than expected (just before 8 am) as the journey was much longer than the estimate, even at the start of the trip. Instead of arriving there at 9:30, it was after 10:15! It was raining quite heavily with a lot of spray but also there were roadworks right in the middle of the intersection of the A5 and the A45 - with 4-way lights.
Mike quickly parked the car and set off to walk to West Drayton railway station (quick route march!) arriving with just a few minutes to spare. The train was very busy but arrived into Paddington on time. It was then down to the Underground and a transit to Euston.
This time there were 15 minutes to spare - so he was able to pick up a roll and a drink before the train was ready for boarding. No sooner had he found his seat than the train set off, with the first stop Rugby. Mike had planned to do some work on this train but it took almost the whole trip to recover from the earlier efforts!
A smart walk into town - uphill this direction - and after a failed attempt in Sainsbury Local to but a cafetiere (as instructed by text message) it was already time for the bus out to Hillmorton Wharf where Christine was ready with chicken, leek and potato soup.
However, she had just found that the cap to the water inlet was stuck so before we could fill up that needed fixing!
By now the rain was easing off - and soon after it stopped for the rest of the afternoon. We reversed out of the marina (as advised) - of course just as we emerged a boat came round the corner! More delay came when we finally attempted to leave when a hidden obstacle under the water knocked the rudder out of its lower cup. So, with limited steering, we managed to reverse back into the marina where one of the staff kindly helped after Mike had failed to re-locate the dislocation!
Finally, finally we were off! The rain had been replaced by strong winds which made steering heavy and in need of concentration. Occasional gaps in the trees and hedges alongside the canal could suddenly result in the boat taking an altogether wrong direction.
The former canal buildings alongside Kilsby Road Bridge have been carefully converted into houses.
This stretch does not have too many landmarks - just a variety of different bridges. However, this photo shows how the rain had departed leaving grey but varied clouds.
The (in)famous Barby Moorings seem to have attracted a number of boats but the facilities still seem to be rather primitive and certainly lack most of those listed in Nicholsons!
The straight section down to the M45 road bridge shows how the autumnal weather is gradually leading to changes in the trees but there is still some way to go before the full range of colours emerges.
The last couple of times we came this way, Bridge 80 had floating fenders around the off-side abutments as it had been damaged by boats over the years. Now it has been fully repaired but it will take some time for weathering to soften the harshness of the new parts!
Some of the bridges have much larger spans, right across the full width of the original canal - most have just enough room for a single boat.
Some fields still have the ridges made when used for strip cultivation - or so we have been told. Presumably they pre-dated the canal as in places they seem to be just cut off like corrugated cardboard.
Just a little before Braunston we opted to moor for the night. Alas, Mike failed to allow for the wind through a gap in the hedge - the wind whistling through pushed the bow right across to the opposite side - just as a boat arrived in the opposite direction. Eventually we made it alongside but hardly a master class in mooring techniques - more about how not to do it!
Before the sun set we had a few tasks - Mike needed to tighten the stern gland as it was dripping a bit too freely and also there was a surplus of water underneath the engine which needed pumping out. Then it was on to the logs which Christine had sorted out during the morning - some we had for a while were too long for our little stove. We had bought a small electric saw which was pressed into service and then the pieces could be neatly stowed away.
4.4 miles - 0 locks
1 comment:
Mike, Thanks for sharing the information about the corrugations in the fields. I saw them when we went by in September and wondered about their cause/purpose.
Amos
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