Dash to Hillmorton

 12th October

 Gosh, it was foggy this morning, I had hoped it would lift after our scheduled Teams call with my Brother and his partner in Australia. Just one hour is allowed by Teams, unless of course you pay a monthly subscription of £3.10p. When it was Skype, we could chat away for hours. Anyway, mid-morning we set off in almost impossible to see conditions. Had we not been in a hurry, waiting for the fog to lift would have been better. So with the headlight on to warn other boaters, it was slow-going to Hawkesbury Junction, which is also known Sutton Stop.

Moored at Hawkesbury

At the Greyhound we had lunch; Ian's birthday after all and it was my treat. Sunday roast with all the trimmings...loverrly.

By the time we were on the go again, the fog had lifted and doing the turn onto the Oxford was straight forward, Ian had the lock ready, a very small rise of about 7 inches from the Coventry to the Oxford canal

A stop lock was constructed to manage the water level difference between the two canals, as the Oxford Canal was built about seven inches higher than the Coventry Canal. This lock, known as Britain's shallowest, is only 7 inches high and primarily served to prevent water loss. 

The Northern part of the Oxford canal has slopping sides, making it very difficult to moor. At the visitor moorings at Ansty we decided to stop even though it had only just gone 2 pm. We knew from our many cruises along this stretch, moorings were few and far between. In some respects I wish we had continued on because later in the afternoon we were hit hard on the side by the bow of a boat. Crikey, the books flew off the shelf and photo frames ended up on the floor. We rushed out to witness a private boater trying to get his stern off the mud. Now, we understand that these things can happen, especially as the canal narrowed a bit further along, and it was shallow.  A hire boat was coming past keeping well over toward us and what I can deduce was the private boater had gone a little too far over to the offside, got stuck and  the water movement of the hire boater going past caused his bow to come across and hit us. We fully expected an apology, as you do if another boat is hit, but no, he ranted a raved that it was the hire boat at fault causing him to get stuck in the mud which made the bow swing around straight into FS's side. Quite where he thought that hire boat would go seeing as it was passing us at the time is unclear! Not a word of apology so we told him we had his boat number and if there was any damage he would be informed. This was the only photo I got as he poled the stern off the mud.

  October 13th

Lovely and peaceful was this mooring until a tad after 6 am, when Swans and Cygnets decided to have an algae breakfast along our gunnel. Awake and two cups of tea later, we set off toward Rugby. On the move for about 10 minutes when Ian came from below and said there is a boat up our backside! Good, God, it's not as if we are slow coaches and the devil in me decided if he was in that much of a hurry, he probably wouldn't slow down passing moored boats. And sure enough, every time I went into tickover past a boat, he was at my stern. 

 

It nearly came to no good when we reached Old Oaks Wood visitor moorings. Lots of moored boats and on a slight bend came an oncoming boat. I went into reverse and almost got hit again. I frantically waved for that boater behind to stop, and he shouted back he was trying! Being that close to another boat was always going to cause a problem. Anyway he didn't hit FS, the oncoming boat passed, and as I pulled out was met by CRT's workboat with pans almost across the canal. 

Putting in a piled edge.

 

I tell you I breathed in as I slowly negotiated the gap, it was that tight. Ian was at the bow to warn me of anything sticking out of the offside, plenty of bushes but none with any branches, thank goodness. 

The gap was where the pan was and slightly smaller than a single lock.

 

Ian wanted to stop to top up the diesel tank at Armanda near Newbold but decided that £1.08 ltr was too much to pay.

At Rugby, a space near to the Tesco walkway was free, so pulled in for a very quick shop. The plan was to make Hillmorton Locks before they closed at 2 pm. We knew it would be tight as the time when we alighted FS to go shopping was just after midday.

Rugby, its usual busy self.

 

Having spent an hour in Tesco, wow, it was close when we arrived at Hillmorton, and the time was 1.56pm when we entered the bottom lock.

Bottom lock

 

One of the volunteers ready with the chains to lock both gates.

 

Middle pair

 

Top pair

At the top lock, no sooner had FS ascended when the volunteer dropped the paddles, and the padlocks went on! 

The back pump was running as FS exited, not sure how effective that will because it's a long, long pound!  The levels were down by a good 6 inches. No wonder,CRT have limited the length of lock opening times.

 

 

A mooring was found between bridge 80 and 81. Internet not good and no TV signal when I tuned in the TV. Luckily, we have satellite and no trees to stop the line of sight, so at least I can watch telly. 

And on route near Brinklow

Progress made since the bank slippage in 2024. To view and read what happened, click HERE