A complete change in the weather, from 100% cloud cover to virtually 0% all day, although by late afternoon there was some thin, hazy, very high cloud. The temperature, however, was quite low and at times a sharp breeze came across the fields when there was no hill or tree cover. Altogether, though, a good day for cruising, just as well as we had only the three Hillmorton Locks to interrupt our journey today.
Whilst Andrew popped into Braunston village for a paper, Mike moved the boat up to the service point alongside the junction and close to Midland Chandlers.
After we had completed the usual services, we went into the shop with a couple of things in mind. Firstly, we are coming to the end of the two large Elsan Blue containers that we bought a year ago at the Midland Chandlers shop in Mercia Marina and we hoped that a similar deal was still available - it was! Also, we wanted to get another roll of decking cover so that we can treat the two locker lids the same way as the steps up to the cabin roof and the steering well. These we covered during the winter and so far it makes a real improvement but we used the whole of the roll we purchased last spring. It is not cheap so it needs to be used carefully!
We were then able to make a proper start to the day with the bright sunshine making a much better job of the photographs. However, apart from the usual potential additions to Mike's canal bridge and lock photo library (that is integrated into his CanalMap program) we did not spot too many unusual features.
It is never easy to capture birds with the camera whilst on the move so it was rather good that this one came out OK.
Unlike the southern Oxford, this part was updated some time after it was initially built as a simple contour canal. The updating created a number of straight sections as can be seen ahead of us as we go under the M45 near Barby.
Another feature is the sloping side stones which mean that it is not possible for boats to moor very close to the edge - as we would discover when it came time to stop for the night!
From a distance this bridge looks as if it should be a railway bridge but is Tarry's Road bridge, close to Hillmorton.
Just the other side of the bridge are these elegant converted buildings.
Late morning we arrived at Hillmorton Locks, three pairs of doubled narrow locks. Each of them was ready for us with a boat coming out so we completed the flight in what is, for us, probably a record time of 19 minutes. There was a volunteer lockie at the last one so we at least only had to shut one of the bottom gates.
There was a bright splash of colour from the daffodils outside the middle lock cottage.
We continued on through Clifton, where we spotted nb Petroc, soon to be out for season we expect. At Brownsover, a suburb of Rugby, we moored to have lunch and then to visit the adjacent supermarket to stock up for the weekend - the larger shops will not be open on Sunday.
As we mentioned above, this canal was straightened to improve the flow of traffic and a number of loops of the original canal line can still be seen - in a number of cases marked by splendid towpath cast iron bridges.
By now, Mike knuckled down to make use of the purchases from Midland Chandlers and so he missed seeing nb No Problem - he was only told that we had passed them after he had finished his task about two hours later!
As usual we had to hop off to open the small footbridge across Stretton Stop, not a lock but a toll gauging point. this would originally have been an important feature - after all the only purpose of the canal builders was to make money by charging tolls!
We may well have asked the question on previous trips and if we have ever found the answer we have again forgotten - why this bridge? It carries small road across the canal and railway line to give access to a house just to the left of this picture. Just a little further along the track, was once a recording studio but, since its web site seems no longer to function, perhaps it has now closed.
We continued far enough to get away from the railway line but not to approach the mesh of motorways just before Hawkesbury Junction. The sloping sides made themselves known at this point and we have a defensive moat between us and the bank!
Stop Press
Just been out to take a couple of more pictures. Firstly, in what is left of today's sunshine, here is our mooring situation. Another boat has now stopped just behind us and they seem to be even further away from the bank!
And here is the first of the two locker lids with its new deck covering - alongside the step which we did at the New Year.
18.5 Miles - 3 Locks
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