To say the weather today was changeable is an understatement. It was quite misty when we got up, and we set off at 8am. As we got to the bottom of the locks half an hour later, we saw a boat behind us, so we had locking partners all the way up. Anne and John on Endeavour were experienced boaters, and Adrian and John on the helms had a shared interest in aviation to talk about.
We got to the top in the usual hour and a half, and set off through the tunnel. We passed two boats inside, no two more just about to enter as we got to the other end. At the Blisworth end it was raining, and a while later it chucked it down for a few minutes. It was one of those coat-on-coat-off days, because when it wasn’t raining the sun was out. We stopped for diesel at Rugby Boats, where the price has gone back up to £1.20. It had another go at raining just before Buckby Locks, but by the time we got there is was sunny again. Some boats were just coming out the bottom lock, so we headed up, and we met more downhill boats at the next three locks.
We discussed whether we should stop in the long pound, but decided we’d try our luck round the junction. At the top lock, two boats were about to come down, so while they did that I walked a loop round to the junction, over the bridges, and back the other side, to check whether there were any spaces (there were). It was then our turn to come up the lock, watched by drinkers at the New Inn.
We went round the corner to the space near the far end of the piling. At about the same time, we had messages from the Norton Gang (ie my second cousin Catherine and family) asking where we were and suggesting they bring fish/battered sausages and chips. They’re just back from a couple of weeks on Rowington and have been to Llangollen so we’ll be keen to hear about that.
19 miles, 14 locks. (22 miles, 14 locks)
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