They beat us to it. Sue and Vic cruised past as we started the engine. It was only a little after 9am and only a short distance to the lock. Hillmorton locks has singles locks side by side so it stood to reason that we would catch them up and descend the flight together. It was nice to see a volunteer lock keeper at the top lock helping not just Sue and Vic but us as well. He stayed with us all right to the bottom.
 |
| Sue in her very fetching pink cap leaving the top lock |
 |
| And Vic setting the next lock |
 |
| Sue lifting a paddle for us |
 |
| Penny keeping a close eye on Sue's maneuvering abilities. ( in actual fact she was seeing off some ducks) |
Having said a cheery good morning to the lockie and saying how lovely it was to have Hillmorton as his work place, he agreed then said it's not for much longer though. I thought he meant the volunteers were leaving the locks to us boaters now the winter was setting in but in actual fact it's all to do with the radio masts disappearing and work starting on 6000 homes, retail park, schools etc being built right on the land adjacent to the canal. I
blogged about this back in 2011 when it was still in the planning stage and I put a link to what was going to be built on the land on my side bar. Apparently the ground work was to be started yesterday so gone will be the peace and quite and lovely rural views. and in it's place a concrete jungle springing up around us.
We followed No Problem to Rugby and had 'no problem' finding a mooring. We only wanted bread from Tesco and Sue was already on her way to shop before we had even secured FS. By the time our shopping was done, no sign of No Problem, goodness she must have raced round Tesco grabbing the goods, payed and gone in double quick time. Is there still a program called Supermarket Sweep? Reckon Sue would manage to clock up a huge total running up and down the aisle. Anyway we saw them again in the distance as we went through Newbold tunnel. Not a single light was working in there now. I still remember how colourful the tunnel looked but I'm going back several years. In fact only last year one was still working. Such a shame this is now just like any other tunnel
 |
| How it was |
 |
| 2013 two were working |
 |
| Last year just the one |
 |
| And now none at all. The boat in the distance is No Problem |
We never did get to catch up with Sue and Vic. We stopped before All Oaks Wood and watched as they cruised round the bend, past the woods to a mooring at the other end. May see them tomorrow if we get up early enough but there is no beating that pair it seems.
Only the one photo on route. A Chaffinch.
1 comment:
Ha!!I don't like shopping I told you I didn't so I spend as little time as possible in supermarkets hence why I came round the corner a bit fast into your shopping aisle crashing into Ian's basket!!
In fact before All Oak Wood we met Paul Balmer of Waterway Routes who had walked back from Rose Narrowboats where his boat is being painted and had a catchup on the back of the boat before dropping him off there so we are not at All Oaks we went on to Hawkesbury!
No doubt see you tomorrow ;)
Post a Comment