Smoking.

I took the bike out yesterday for a run into Easenhall, it’s a bit too far to walk and uphill (aren’t they always).

A pleasant little ride, apart from the cars, with some wonderful country views on the route.

It’s a small pretty village but nothing outstanding, this property at the beginning of the village must have some lovely views from the turret.

A single thatched cottage.

And a very small split village green.

Although the pub get’s a good review in my Pearson’s guide I didn’t venture in.

Back on the boat and late afternoon I heard a very distinctive thumping engine sound; I looked out of the side hatch and couldn’t see anything but it continued for some time until eventually around the bend appeared this boat.

I am no expert but I imagine it was a coal fired steam engine; it was certainly ‘smoking’ J

It really looked good though, it was puffing out big smoke rings but sadly the camera didn’t pick those up. I was so amazed I didn't even catch the name to try and research it.

Today I intended to bike into Brinklow but for some reason decided against it.

It has been a day to stay put and have sympathy with those crews that had to move.

There have been a few sunny breaks but none lasting more than a few minutes, let's hope it's dryer tomorrow.

Cloudy, Rainy, Sunny, all good though.

I looked out of the side hatch this morning around 8am and pondered two things, firstly should I go or should I stay, the weather looked very dodgy but the forecast was showers, secondly how should I spend my lottery win!

Now when you get that email that says ‘We have good news about your ticket’ first thoughts (for me anyway) are ‘it will be a £10 or something’ but then you start to think ‘what if it’s not £10’ so I logged onto my account and it was not £10.... it was £2.80, now that’s 80p I didn’t have yesterday so what to do with it L, oddly I don’t usually do the Euro lottery but twice this year I have and both times I have ‘won’ £2.80, perhaps I should do it weekly, all those 80p’s would add up!

Anyway I decided to risk the weather and move on so at 10:15 I set off and moved onto the water point for a splash and dash, it pays to keep it topped up, and then headed for Newbold Tunnel.

When you look at that picture it doesn’t look as if there is room for two boats to pass but there is.

I managed to get a picture looking back as I headed for the exit portal, you can see the lights in the bottom left corner, they are placed at regular intervals and should light up the tunnel in different colours, I have seen pictures of when they were first installed and it looked good, a real shame they are not working now.

I often snap pictures by mistake whilst picking up or putting down my camera as I am usually watching where I am going and not how I am holding the camera, they get deleted of course but I thought I’d keep this one and share it, it’s not bad, in focus and in the dark of the tunnel, I like it.

The grey is my fleece lining flapping open, not my stomach !

This little boat could have been made for me, but something’s not quite right, Mmmmm.... I wonder what it is J

You may need to zoom in.

There are a few bridges that would have been the course of the original canal before the improvements in the early 1800’s but now lead to nowhere although some are used for entrances to Marina’s or residential moorings, this one, and the one further on, leads to Brinklow Marina.

The weather had been kind until I was just pondering finding a mooring close to the village of Easenhall and suddenly there was a very heavy downpour, pretty much soaking me before I had time to get the waterproof jacket out and on, and then as I came around a bend through the pouring rain I spotted the mooring that would suit nicely and got tied up only for the rain to stop and the sun to come out, my timing was not so fortunate today.

I had a visit from the local swan family, the eight signet’s now almost as big as mum with some white colouring showing, they will soon be fully grown and set off on their own, I don’t know where dad was, he was with them yesterday as they passed me while I was having my beer at the Barley Mow.

As I was typing this a young idiot on a hire boat came past far too fast and too close and side swiped me as he tried to correct knocking a few bits of the shelves, there’s plenty of room just look at the mooring pictures! nearly all these problems (not that here have been many) are caused by boaters (not only holiday makers) going too fast, I had words but I doubt it will make any difference.

I will stay a while and visit Easenhall and Brinklow as I am somewhere between both of them just before bridge 34 with fields all around.

Tonight’s Mooring

Totals Today: 4 miles : 0 Locks : 1 tunnel

All ready now

Yesterday I moved from my Rugby mooring, it wasn’t nice but it wasn’t bad either, just nothing special, it was shaded and I couldn’t get to the edge properly even though there were mooring rings to tie up to, but it did get my shopping done without too much of a walk.

Rugby mooring

I need a plank, on my list to obtain still.

The move to Newbold on Avon was short, passing lots of bridges

Three bridges in view

and not much else other than Willow Wren’s hire base.

Entrance to Willow Wren base uses part of the original route of the canal
which was straightened in the 19th century

The ‘cruise’ took 45mins in total and knowing it was short I didn't set off until 11am.

In the afternoon I walked into the town and got a haircut.

This morning feeling somewhat energetic I cleaned the inside of the boat, polished surfaces, washed floors, cleaned bathroom and once more amazed myself at how much dust I generate but with full cupboards and a clean boat I am all ready now for the next leg of my journey.

I went for a walk this afternoon, through the tunnel (250 yards) which is just ahead of me, it should be all lit up nicely with a special light display but nothing showing today

maybe all the bulbs are out.

Looking down from above the tunnel exit.

This tunnel was part of the improvements made to shorten and straighten the canal and was constructed in 1829, the canal originally meandered around quite a bit to avoid the rising ground levels.

I then walked across the fields to head back into town, I stopped for a while and looked around the church, St Botolph’s.

The obligatory pubs, The Barley Mow, backing onto the canal

and the Newbold Crown in the main street.

The town centre proper is a mile or more away and offers very little according to Google maps so I didn’t extend my walk that far.

I stopped on the way back and bought some milk and a newspaper then having dropped the milk off I walked back to the Barley Mow and enjoyed a couple of pints and a quiet read of the paper.

NewBold is ok, peaceful moorings in the sun, if it’s shining, not a lot to admire but pleasant enough, weather permitting I will move tomorrow.

Tonight’s mooring.

Total Travel:  1 mile: 0 Locks

Today was a day of mostly getting things done.

I cast off this morning at 9:30 and headed for Hillmorton Top Lock,

which was against me so a quick picture of Quinquireme waiting patiently for it to fill.

The cassette needed emptying and I had 4 bags of rubbish to dispose of so I tied up between the middle lock and the bottom lock and walked across the bridge to the Elsan point, then again after emptying the cassette taking the rubbish to the bins, there is nowhere to tie up on the off side where these facilities are, which is a bit unusual.

Having done those two things it was down through the bottom lock where volunteers where in attendance and then onto the water point.

Leaving Hillmorton bottom lock(s)

A bit off a wait as there was a boat on both water points but all done by about 11:45 and off towards Rugby.

The canal wanders around a bit on this short run and there are a number of bridges and some artwork to entertain the passing boaters, walkers and cyclists.

Coming through bridge 66 I slowed down as visibility is not great and there are moored boats and a bend ahead. 

Just as I got to the bend just before Clifton Cruisers wharf another boat appeared, as they do on bends, and the lady spotting me steered towards the piling edge and the failed to steer away again clattering into it much to the amusement of the three or four onlookers at the wharf.

Leaving the offending bend behind

A modern housing estate looms into view as you approach the outskirts of Rugby.

The visitor moorings I intended to stop at where full so I carried on through bridge 58 and moored after that.

I don’t really want to be in Rugby but needs must, so once sorted it was a trip to the nearby Tesco for a ‘big shop’, luckily only about a ten minute walk which, during the return walk, carrying two very heavy bags, lengthened my arms by about 20mm.

Having unloaded and sorted that away it was a 30minute minute walk to the launderette, just over an hour in there then a 30 minute walk back, I needed to get some clothes clean and dry and with the weather as it is I didn’t fancy having it hanging around drying on board.

Having sorted that and put it all away it was time for a second trip to Tesco for all the things I couldn’t manage on the first trip, beer, wine, brandy, necessities, tea bags on special offer so I bought 800 of those (5x160 packs) and just to prove it was not all about drink I bought two scented candles J

So now I feel good, tired but content in the thought that if I find a nice rural mooring away from the crowds I can survive for quite a while, as the youngsters say these days, achievement unlocked.

As i said I don’t want to be in Rugby so tomorrow I am going to move again just a very short hop of about a mile to Newbold which Pearson’s guide says its worth stopping at.

Total today: 3 miles : 3 Locks

Words

It was a chilly misty start to the day yesterday.

I had a bit of work to do in the engine bay, degreasing the sump area directly below the engine to get rid of the very small amount of diesel that had leaked over the past month or so forming a thin film over the area so I made a start on that once it had warmed up a bit and was all done by mid-day.

Looking on Google maps I saw that there was an Aldi about a 30 minute walk away and so I decided to stroll there and pick up a few bits and pieces, Hillmorton is not the most picturesque of places, at least not the route I took, it’s a fairly nice modern suburb of Rugby I suppose, but nothing much to photograph, as I drew near to Aldi I was not very happy to find it was being refurbished and was closed, luckily there was a Sainsbury Local almost next to it so I got all I needed in there.

I hadn’t really had much of a look around the area so I decided to stay another day. It was very chilly again today and I left it until afternoon before wandering up the towpath to look at the locks.

They are duplicated locks here, the first of these I’ve encountered so six locks in pairs side by side.

The middle pair has words carved into the beams

These words are known as Locklines and they were to commemorate the inaugural year of the Canal and River Trust (2012).

They were created by three poets, Roy Fisher wrote the lines used at Hillmorton, while Jo Bell and Ian McMillan wrote lines which can be found at other locks on the system.

The whole piece reads:

Working water

Held captive for a while

Then sluiced away to join

The world’s other waters

Again

Open

Enter and

Be lifted safe

With words at your back

These doors make depth

Power to sink your boat

Bodily into the land

And let it go riding out

Unharmed

Step at a time a river

Climbs carefully

Down through the town.

Not really sure about that but I suppose it's better than looking at a plain black beam?

I think tomorrow it will be time to move on again. 

Goodbye Oxford South.....for now.

I woke at 6:40 not long after sunrise, it seems to have become a habit now, it was dark clouds and very chilly, looking very much like rain, and so my first thought was stay put (at the mooring, not in bed!), however I put the TV on briefly to catch the weather forecast and he said ‘might be the odd shower first thing then a bright sunny day temperatures around 17’, so I thought I’d get moving.

At 9:30 I cast off and headed towards Braunston Turn.

Left for Oxford Canal North, Right for Grand Union, I'm off left.
A shame I couldn't get both bridges into the viewfinder.

After passing all the moored boats and negotiating the tight narrow bend with a bridge safely (why did they bend the canal there!), as nothing was coming toward me, the canal widens out to beautiful open countryside again, now there is a slight problem with beautiful open countryside when it’s chilly, and that is the ‘wind chill factor’, and by 10:15 I was shivering, and so I had to find a suitable spot and moor up temporarily to add layers, change ‘crocs’ to boots and have a cuppa. I confess at this point I nearly called it a day but I told myself to ‘man up’ and continued on my way, a little more comfortably.

I was somewhere along a nice straight piled section around bridge 82 when two boats approached and I noticed the second one was a fuel boat, I waved at him just as I came to a nice open section and shouted I would moor there if he could supply me diesel, he quickly went into reverse and as soon as I got tied up he was alongside me, lovely, I have been so lucky with these boats. 60 odd litres and 4 bags of smokeless to get me started as the chilly nights draw in, and it was kettle on for another cuppa, I actually gave him more business because the boater moored behind me came on deck and saw him so he took a load of him as well.

Boat behind me taking some fuel from Jules Fuels

I then had a little game of ‘chicken’ with a boat as we went under the M45, not really, he was a lot further away than the camera says and there was plenty of room.

I really liked this simple little bit of artwork/graffiti? Just a few lines but very effective.

Carrying on past the Barby Moorings.

Just past the Barby moorings there was a whole line of small plots of land with moorings, no houses, just gardens and moorings, the next three pictures were on those plots.

I quite like this name.

And how about this for a sunny afternoon glass of wine spot, no boat, they must be off cruising.

I couldn’t see if this was a home or just a project, I think it’s an old ambulance.

Passing The Old Royal Oak where evidently you can get 17inch plate specials, if you have the stomach for it!

I have moored on the 14 day visitor moorings at Hillmorton just before the locks and will stay here tomorrow as the F1 highlights are on TV and of course the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ launch is tonight, what? Now stop that, that’s unkind thinking I’m losing it, I like it, it’s ‘the journey’ from complete idiot with no rhythm to speak of, to competent dancer, well that and maybe admiring the skill of the female dancers J

After setting up the TV ariel I had a quick chat with the neighbours, as you do, and found out there was a small village store just a short walk away, I needed more milk, I don’t know how but I do consume an awful lot of milk, maybe it’s the twenty cups of tea a day and Weetabix, looking like a castle with a very large moat, for breakfast, anyway I bought another 4 pints and just one bottle of Shiraz, as you do.

Views from the side hatch

Totals Today: 8 miles : 0 locks

My thoughts on the Oxford South:

I thoroughly enjoyed the Oxford canal, beautiful and varied scenery with some really lovely remote overnight stops or busier visitor moorings at the popular places, lovely villages to explore and if towns are your thing Banbury would have all you need, I avoided Oxford, it’s not really what I am looking for but I am sure that some time in the future on a visit back down south I will stop there on my way to the Thames. If I have any criticism it would be the depth in some places and the need to cut back the overgrown banks, again only in some places, generally it was excellent and I am sure the depth and cutting back will be a well known theme to boaters.

Also I've just passed the 2500 pageviews, thanks to all of you who are looking in, I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoy doing it, the boating that is.

Serviced and ready to go.

I moved up the canal yesterday to enable the mechanic to have access to my boat, so I moored between bridge 99 and 98, 98 having road access, I didn’t want to go right into Braunston in case mooring was a problem.

I then got the trusty bike out and nipped into Braunston for a few provisions, the towpath is, what should I say, challenging, for bike riders and it was only with diligent attention and near expert (well sort of) handling that I managed to avoid a swim or being stung by nettles or attacked by brambles, on a positive note though, there has been very few lycra clad riders powering past my mooring.

Today as arranged around 1pm the mechanic duly arrived and after making a few notes and fetching parts needed from the chandlers, serviced the engine, talking me through what he was doing and how, he also renewed the leaking fuel line, I think the cost was worth it for the first time but I am confident I will be doing future servicing myself.

Once he had gone and I had tidied away a few bits and washed up I made myself a cuppa when a boat began passing very close by my side, you get used to boats appearing to be very close, especially if two are passing each other, but this was VERY close just as I stood up to see why he was so close (it’s very wide here) he suddenly put on loads of power and swung away from me causing his stern to crash into my bow with a loud crunch shaking my boat violently, I went on deck to watch him career across the canal and strike the boat ahead and opposite me (the red boat in the second picture) this time his stern bouncing of its stern, he then managed to career back across the canal and just managed to avoid going into the overgrown bank and then back across the other way, he repeated it to prove it wasn't a fluke until slowly getting it back under control, this was all done with lots of power and massively panicky tiller control, there were no boats moving other than him (and ours after he had bashed into them) what caused it I have no idea, he did not look drunk, but he had no reason to be so close to me in the first instance, perhaps he got distracted by something, oh well no real damage, just a bit more paint scraped off, and it gave us all something to talk about for 10 minutes.

These pictures show how much room there is.......behind me where he came from.

and this shows the space between my boat and those opposite, this boat was not the one involved, he is just showing how it should be done, room for three passing boats abreast there! 

You do witness some strange things.

So now dependant on weather tomorrow I am free to continue my travels.