Repatriation: Day 7

Finally another sunny and warm day — which was just as well because we have travelled some very familiar and rather dull waters today.  We set off just before 8, and were soon passing the back gardens and allotments of Nuneaton.  We passed Marston Junction and Charity Dock, then arrived at Hawkesbury Junction.  Adrian jumped off to work the lock while I took the boat round the 180 degree turn under the junction bridge.

A boat was coming down the lock, but as the fall is under a foot it didn’t take long.  We then had ahead of us the long straight sections of the North Oxford Canal; we treated ourselves to a mid morning crumpet.

We plodded on through Ansty, Stretton Stop, and past Brinklow.  As we went into Newbold Tunnel, a boat at the other end panicked and was soon right across the canal.  It was a Willow Wren hire boat, and by the time we passed them the couple were having a discussion about really needing a map.  I pointed out that the tunnel can fit two boats inside.  At Rugby there were plenty of moored boats and plenty of traffic.

When we got to Hillmorton Locks, there was a boat in front of us waiting to go up, and one already coming down.  Then another downhill boat arrived, so it was a while before we could start ascending.

Only one lock of each pair was being used; it turned out the others were closed for social distancing reasons.  The volunteer lock keepers thought this was ridiculous, and so did we when we found three boats waiting in front of us, with very little movement at all.  Adrian made use of the waiting time by going across to the cafe to buy Magnums.  Then he went up to the second lock to help out, as did the teenage boys from the boat behind us.  More and more boats were coming up the bottom lock, so eventually one of the volunteer lock keepers came and opened the other locks to get things moving.  All in all, the three locks took longer than some much lengthier flights we’ve done.  We moored at the top of the locks at about 4.30, and immediately got out the bucket, the sponge, and the polish, and did the other side of the boat, so we no longer look like a disgrace.  Adrian had made a moussaka as we’d been coming along this afternoon, and after that I have a union meeting by Zoom.

23 miles, 4 locks.  (120 miles, 63 locks)