Pootling about

It was a misty Wednesday morning but I decided to head into Rugby and top up with non perishables, so around 9:30 I set off and headed to the three Hillmorton locks ahead.

These locks are duplicated so normally a choice of two side by side but arriving at the first I found the left hand lock was hazard taped off, so took the right lock, at the second lock it was the same, a volunteer  was in attendance and he told me that they had found evidence of movement in the side wall of the left lock so to be safe they had closed the three on that side until investigations could be carried out, as it was quiet it made no difference to me, as I was leaving the last lock a boat approached so I left the gates open for him.

Leaving Hillmorton bottom lock.

It was uneventful heading into Rugby but I took a couple of snaps of the Kent Road bridge, the graffiti spoiling the original decoration.

I moored up where I had stopped last visit just after bridge 58, not on my favourite mooring list as obstructions below the water line prevent you getting into the bank and each time a boat passes you are pushed against it with a bump, fenders are ineffective as they have nothing to rest against. I did two trips to Tesco, I bumped into Les from N.b. Valerie while in the shop and we had a natter as you do. I was going to push on again but decided to stay the night.

Next day (14^th) I headed to Newbold where it is, I think, a more pleasant area, last time I came through here the moorings were packed but I spotted 3 gaps and decided to go through the tunnel and wind (turn) further up then come back to the moorings, potentially a risky strategy but as it was still only 11ish I hoped it would stay quiet.

Of course once I had gone through the tunnel I passed about five boats so it was fingers crossed none of them wanted to stop at Newbold. I intended to wind at the entrance to the original Newbold arm, now defunct, but my timing was poor and a boat had pulled over blocking the entrance to the arm for some reason, it wasn’t a problem, I could have waited for him to move but not far ahead was Lime Farm Marina so I carried on and winded there instead.

Newbold tunnel

Passing back through the tunnel, 250 yards long, and no other boats in sight, I was pleased to find the moorings were still vacant so I moored up here.

Yesterday was miserable with continuous rain all day.

I am currently hanging around a bit waiting for Karl to begin heading towards Braunston where we have agreed to meet up but yesterday he emailed to say a slight further problem with his boat meant ordering a part so the move that was scheduled for today would not be happening until sometime next week.  I will stay the weekend and watch the F1 and then decide what to do Monday.

Totals this post: 6 Miles : 3 Locks : 1 Tunnel (twice)