Hillmorton

Today's Canals - Leicester Arm, Grand Union Main Line, Oxford Canal

We drove back to the boat from home yesterday. Almost all of the way we had thin rain or mist and often quite mucky conditions. However, apart from a couple of occasions where there were traffic delays (in one case because of problems on the road just off the motorway which caused traffic to backup down the exit slip road) we had a straightforward run, arriving at Weltonfield just after 2 o'clock.

We found that our boat had been moved to a different location from where we had left it - in between two boats on pontoons but we were not -  and initially we had to climb over another boat to get onto Alchemy. However, we soon deployed the ladder/gangplank to make it easier.

Whilst Mike unloaded the car - we did not have a lot to bring this time as we plan a food shop in Rugby and we are only out for a week - Christine went to the marina office to settle our account for the mooring and the engine service (which was the main reason why we were here).

We had brought our evening meal with us so we had a reasonably relaxed evening. However, the remnants of Storm Ali were still making the presence known with high winds so we did not feel we could put up the satellite dish in case it suffered in the process. Because we could not be moored very firmly in the intermediate position - and were dependent on an adjacent boat, we did bump around a bit but fortunately it did not disturb us too much overnight.

We woke today to find that the winds were still with us but otherwise it was a day with plenty of sunny spells, even if we did quickly discover that extra layers of clothing were called for! As we did not have any servicing to do for the boat this morning (apart from moving the car to the back of the car park) we were able to make a prompt start.

The  marina is only a short distance from Norton Junction, where we turned right onto the main line towards Braunston.

We reported on the repairs to the towpath that are just after the junction. Soon after we returned home after the last trip we heard that a boater had been allowed to use the first section - it is clearly going to be a popular place to stay.

The piling is now complete and the gang are finishing off the back fill and reinstatement of the path.

As we neared the tunnel entrance we could see a boat ahead of just entering. It was immediately obvious that they were travelling quite slowly and for much of the time we had to drift in neutral to avoid running into their stern. It took nearly twice as long as usual but not as bad as the hour that someone recently reported on their blog!

When we were about a third of the way through another boat came behind and caught up with us before we eventually emerged back into day light. It turned out to be a fuel boat so we were able to obtain a bag of solid fuel in case we need to light the stove this trip - we did bring a couple of nets of logs with us from home.

Going down the six Braunston locks with the boat we had followed through the tunnel we soon discovered that it was a couple who had just bought the boat yesterday at Wilton. They have a mooring at Clifton, on the outskirts of Rugby, and plan to live on the boat instead of the small flat that they have previously used. The marina had helped them steer out onto the canal but left them, to suss out for themselves how to use the locks which immediately followed! Their only previous expedience was some time ago and a week on the Ashby - which has no locks! However, they were quick learners, just as well as the flight was rather busy today.

Once down the locks we moored as we planned to walk up to the village but first, it was time for lunch. The main aim was to pick up a paper from the village shop and a pork pie from the butcher opposite. However, we spotted that they still had Victoria plums so bought a kilo of those as well!

Back to the boat and we immediately set off - we were allowing plenty of time in case the wind picked up too much and we had to moor up in a hurry. (Our schedule for the week is quite slack anyway so no real concern unless prolonged forced stops are required)

An unusual number of traditional boats passed us to day - here is a pair just mooring up at Braunston. Perhaps they are all on their way back from a gathering of historic boats at Bumblehole last weekend, but we did not get a chance to ask any of them.

The fuel boat that followed us down the locks was also now tied up for a break.

The route from Braunston is up the Oxford to Hawkesbury but we only planned to get just before Hillmorton today - we think that those locks are still being closed at 4.30 as a water saving measure.

Just after the junction, at the spot where we moored last time to visit the church, a soft bank repair is underway to a shirt section (don't expect a properly posed photo taken whilst on the move!)

In between a couple of showers and some black clouds, much of the afternoon was very pleasant - at least to look at! It was till very windy, especially when there were no trees or hedges along the bank to protect us.

Another section of piling that was only just being worked on last time has now attracted a number of longer stay visitors, some of whom have already started to off load their belongings onto the towpath - presumably not just staying overnight!

This end of garden mooring must surely take the prize for the one that stakes up the most room but is unlikely to win any for good looks.

We have purchased a copy of all of Waterway Routes maps (just printing out the few pages we need for this trip). These maps, unlike Nicholsons, show the original route of the Oxford as well as its present form. The canal was initially built very much as a contour canal but a century later the northern half was very much improved, cutting a considerable amount of mileage from the trip.

In some places, as we have shown before, the disused arms are marked by distinctive towpath bridges but there are none of those on today's section. The map did mean that there was more to look out for even though we came this way only a couple of weeks ago.

However, nature has frequently reclaimed the abandoned routes and only on some occasions was it possible to make out any indentation in the ground, even with the guidance of the map. The line in this photo in front of the ridged area is one former section of canal.

It is much easier to spot the straightened sections, even if one of the features is the sloping slab stones that line the towpath. Although some have fallen in, they have lasted well. When first installed, working boats rarely needed to stop en route - their schedules worked around common stopping places where pubs and other facilities enabled boaters and their families to keep in touch - it was often the only way in which young people managed to find their life partners!

Here, the canal once followed along the edge of the trees on the right.

But the sloping sides do make it much harder to find casual moorings - our first attempt just after Barby Moorings failed but fortunately there was a short stretch of piling at the place where we had hoped to stop and where there was enough width for other boast then to pass.

10.2 Miles - 6 Locks