Good news... twice.

Our barometer dropped alarmingly last night. Is there a storm coming? Found out this morning from the Beep that Brian is the culprit. High winds, torrential rain and all due to arrive in the UK by Saturday. With this in mind, we set off early, around 8.15am and stopped briefly at the facilities to do both loos just in case we have to hunker down for a few days.

Drizzle and wind combination made for an unpleasant cruise. Must have been feeling chilled because by the time we reached Rugby I was wearing a vest, long johns, T-shirt, jumper and fleece. On top of the fleece I wore my very warm winter fishing coat, and on my head, a woolly hat. Leather gloves completed the outfit and yes, chilled to the bone I was. As for Ian....T shirt and jumper and mac was all he needed. Sooo wish I was more like him and didn't feel the cold.

Not much happening on the journey to Rugby although trying to squeeze past boats at Cliffton cruisers was ridiculous. Warned by an oncoming boater coming through the bridge 'ole, we reduced speed to tickover hoping not to meet another boat. One private boater had breasted up on the hire boats right on a bend and seeing him I said how bad this was situation was, he said he had only stopped to get a £15 refund. Hmmm...stopping before the breasted boats and towpath side surely that would have been more appropriate. It was a definite case of 'breath in' as we couldn't avoid scrapping the towpath cladding and his boat as we came past.

All the hire boats in.

which doesn't leave you much room.

I'm getting ahead of myself as before all this we made Hillmorton. Good news as we approached the top lock. C&RT contractors have finally started work on the offside vegetation.

And such a relief to find at the top lock no one waiting. Didnt want to repeat those horrendous queues we had on our journey south.

 In fact some good news from the volunteer Lockie. Lock 6 the one with the balance beam snapped, is to be fixed on Monday! Hooray, at last...but the slight fly in the ointment, The crane sitting in the yard at Hillmorton needs some TLC and is in for repair now. Will that be fixed in time to replace the beam? Be interested if anyone going through next week could say one way or another.

Lock 4

Middle locks

Must be Vince.

Bottom locks and that's Maurice.

 Also on one of the bottom locks was a C&RT work boat. In it two of the workforce, one of which was power washing the gates. So, nice clean gates to look forward to once these locks are up and running again as well.

 Moorings in Rugby can be hard to find and spying one on a bend we decided to pull in and see if anything was available around the bend. Nothing could be seen so with the bow and arse end both sticking out this will have to do for a couple of days. With storm Brian coming tomorrow moving may not be an option.

Oh and just before we set off for Tesco a familiar sound was heard. The engine of Hadar with good friends Keith and Jo. Sadly a very fleeting wave and hello before they disappeared towards Hillmorton. You can see Keith's blog here and Jo's here  Maybe next time we can catch up with all the gossip.

 And wildlife (not today's as the weather was abysmal)