March weekend - Day 2

It started raining in the early hours, and the towpath was already getting quite muddy by the time we got up.  We had breakfast and were ready to go by 9am, with the rain still falling steadily.  Not that we're complaining; the reservoirs need filling if any of us are to get any decent boating this year.

I walked to set the top lock, and had to fill it.  In fact, we had to fill all three locks before we could use them.  At the bottom lock, Canalbreaks has taken over not just the landing of the lock that's closed, but the other side as well.  That's Briar Rose in the distance, with Adrian sheltering under the bridge.

Once down the locks, Adrian went inside to get warm, while I steered.  It's a familiar plod along through Rugby, and not surprisingly there weren't many boats on the move.  If we'd had the option, we'd have stayed where we were too.  At times the rain was quite heavy, and it was also quite cold.  I was quite relieved to see the entrance to the marina.  For once, there wasn't a stiff wind blowing across the marina; there was just the odd gust which slightly disrupted a decent effort at getting onto our pontoon.  As soon as we'd moored up, I had a hot shower to warm up, then we had lunch and prepared for home.  On the drive back south, the hills on the border between Berkshire and Hampshire were covered in a dusting of snow.

6.5 miles, 3 locks.  (15 miles, 6 locks)