3rd August 2011 - And back to base

I pass through Hillmorton locks at 0700 this morning. The 'closed' locks look very open, not a chain or padlock in sight! I a bit shocked on coming out of the top lock to notice the water level is 5 inches or so below normal, they're (BW) not kidding that we're running out. I head on towards Braunston and again a whole load of boats are going the other way. At Braunston I turn right towards Napton and notice that the toll house at the junction is up for auction. I immediately phone Penny and tell her to buy it. Boats continue to come the other way and I'm in a line of three myself. I'm on very familiar ground now and put the guidebook away. As I approach Napton a boat comes out of Wigrams and heads straight for Calcutt, I make the right turn and follow it down. At Calcutt another shock! I've worked these locks many times and it's the first time I can remember queuing for them. In fact I'm fourth in line, sharing with the Wigrams boat. Our turn comes soon enough and down we go. I suspect a lot of people are avoiding the South Oxford due to the lock restrictions and are heading to Warwick instead. At the bottom I notice that this pound, the one the marina is connected to is low by about the same amount. I make the short cruise and a further right turn into Ventnor Farm, nearly 2 Months since I left! I pump-out and fill the diesel then wash the whole of the outside of the boat. I'm knackered.

Today 14 miles -     6 locks -     7 hours
Final: 657 miles - 493 locks - 337 hours

2nd August 2011 - And now restrictions

I've travelled a few miles today and just stopped to discover that Hillmorton Locks have water saving restrictions on them starting today. They're only a mile away, so I'll get away sharpish in the morning to avoid any potential delays. The North Oxford canal has been incredible today! I don't think I've seen as many boats on the move in the whole of the trip to date!! At one point there were 4 in a row (me included) and 3 or 4 coming the other way! Still not far to go now. Nothing really of note, a small wait at Hawkebury as a BW boat was winding in front of me as a boat was coming through the lock. A bit of chaos at Sutton Stop as the above mentioned lots of boats were trying to pass through, doesn't help too much when somebody closes the swingbridge as a boat is passing through!! I'm just South of Rugby now and it's been another fine day!

Hawkesbury Junction:

Today:   23 miles -     1 lock -       9 hours
So Far: 643 miles - 487 locks - 325 hours

1st August 2011 - The way back home

I wake up and it's daylight, without looking at the time I get up and put the kettle on. It's 0500 and I'm going to get away. Very grey this morning and some short spells of light drizzle, but all alone along the Coventry canal I go. I do meet another boat at a bridge coming the other way, so I'm not the only nutter around. I pass Fazeley junction and can see people beginning to wake up, but I'm on my way out of the first Glascote lock before I see another boat on the move, and that's following me. I shut the gate and raise a paddle for the boat behind and carry on through the second, then by Tamworth, then by Alvecote with all those really nice working boats tied up there. Uneventful morning really, the weather improves to warm and sticky, a boat out of control at a water point, then I arrive, second in line at the Atherstone flight of 11 locks. Two more boats arrive so it's getting busy. The chap on the boat behind thanks me for the Glascote paddle, and I'm rewarded by him helping me up a lot of the flight. There's a lot of boats coming down as well, so progress is easy and slow, but not excessively so. Two and a half hours to the top and I feel very tired, I tie up a mile or so later, my batteries needing to be recharged as well as the boats!! I top my cells up with the remaining lager. It's good to be up the Atherstone flight, I'm sure it's going to be very busy over the next few days with boats returning from the festival. Andrew Phasey on 'Doris Katcher' went by, he was running the St Pancras cruising club trip up the Thames tideway last year which introduced me to cruising through London. So R&R for the remains of the day!

Oh, here's the trophy:

And what I keep:

You're only allowed to win two years in succession, so now to plot retention in 2013!

Today:   18 miles -   13 locks -  9.5 hours
So Far: 620 miles - 486 locks - 316 hours