Really!! A chainsaw as hedge trimmer!

Friday 17th December

It's been a lovely cruising day, no wind, or rain and quite warm. No boats on the move either, well not until we made Rugby anyway. And that was our first stop, lots of goodies to get for Christmas including the booze! In fact so much has been added to the shopping list that trying to get it all back to FS would be a challenge. We could make several trips, but there was another alternative. Buy half today and the other half at Wolverton. A Tesco is but a short walk from the Grand Union canal and maybe a couple of days from where we will leave the boat at Campbell Wharf Marina.

The grass cutting team was out and about. The last big push for the final cut of the year, another team passed us yesterday afternoon at Old Oaks wood.

 

Hedge trimming was also taking place. One of the guys was using a chainsaw to reach the top branches of the hedge. The other guy was carrying a long reach hedge cutter. This didn't make any sense. Seemed a bit dangerous swinging that chainsaw about. Found out the reason why after I asked the question. The hedge cutter had run out of petrol not 50 yds from where they were due to stop.

 Newbold tunnel without lights. Many many years ago lights of all colours lit up the walls. It was always a pleasure to steer through, today it's like any other tunnel.

Only two of the lights working in 2013

 Both of us were really pleased to see the offside growth cut back at bridge 58. A bend, a bridge, a water point with moored boat, trees and bushes overhanging the waterway, well one just hoped nothing was coming. The two photos below were taken during the summer. We were travelling toward Hawkesbury Junction that time so in the opposite direction.

A boat can just be seen on the water point which reduces the width even more..

And at the same place today.

Now we can see if anything is coming. Well done CRT. It's been a long time in coming.

 Rugby is always busy no matter what time of year. A space was free on the bend, not ideal but the closer we got to Tesco the better for us especially with all that booze to carry back!

Clifton's cruiser's hire base, always difficult to get past but in winter with all the fleet in, even more so.

 We could have gone on to stop below Hillmorton locks and that was the intention until another boater said the moorings were completely full. Must be because of the work going on although I thought it was now over. Never mind, cladding was seen on route so we pulled over. The towpath was very muddy again, I suppose it's inevitable, just have to put up with it at this time of year. I still prefer that to the racing cycle ways Sustrans has made of the towpaths!

And wildlife today,