In sharp contrast with yesterday, the sky today was completely overcast but both dry and not cold. We were a little uncertain where we were aiming for at the end of today as we needed to find somewhere where Joanna could collect Alice late afternoon. She is due to accompany Jess on Trick or Treat visits to their neighbours.
Alice, of course, was straight into her book after breakfast and before long had read even the extra book found on our shelves. Sadly, the only opportunity to find a nearby shop was at Tesco around lunch time and they were totally useless for reading material! At least the iPad proved to be a suitable backup.
Part way through the morning we started to see Lock Distance posts as well as mileposts. We have been more used to seeing them on the Southern Oxford - they were intended to arbitrate between working boats that arrived at a lock at much the same time. The first to pass such a post had the right of way. What is not clear is how this was enforced!
Most of today we were passing lines of moored boats, most of them residential in one form another. Several Visitor Mooring stretches were obviously being occupied in readiness for the new winter mooring scheme, both for a specific location and the roving permits. Sadly, too many of these boats are all too obvious from their condition. The cruiser in this photo is called Greybrooke Tender: assuming this means that it once belonged to a yacht one wonders about its size!
Many of the boats on long term moorings are well entrenched but this one keeps its livestock on board!
We saw more fallen trees today but they had all been attended to so that at least navigation and the towpath were passable. No doubt they will be cleared properly as time permits. This example obstructed perhaps two thirds of the canal width.
Another tree . . .
At Copper Mill Lock, a river runs close to the canal and appeared to be quite full.
Below the lock there is a good view of the former Copper Mill factory after some demolition but no doubt this will soon disappear behind a new development.
A little further a boat named Victoria caught our eye. As well as other related decoration, it also claimed to have been Registered at Balmoral!
In some places the towpath was passable but only with a bit of a clamber.
Mike was walking between locks at this stage, partly to take a closer look at Troy Cut, a former branch to the gravel works.
He also had this chance to take a closeup of a heron that was resting on a towpath bridge.
Christine and Alice walked along the towpath for the final section - Alice took some of it at a run!
Some boats had narrow escape from the trees.
Just above Widewater Lock we opted to pull in for a mooring as this was the only place we could see where there was guaranteed access for Joanna. Although it was alongside a noisy gravel processing site, it fell silent as the sun set. Below the lock it was a longer walk before there was a free mooring space. Joanna and Jess duly arrived before long and did not stay long as Trick or Treat was calling.
7.2 miles - 9 locks
No comments:
Post a Comment