8th August '15

No blog yesterday, mainly because when we moored John said there was no internet, by the time I realised he was wrong it was getting a bit late and in any case I took very few photos yesterday. This was mainly because I had a creative burst and wrote about 7,000 words on the book, no idea if they're any good, but I had a great time writing it!

As we left Rugby we went under the bridge with this rather good mural celebrating the game of Rugby, which is apparently quite popular!

That does actually seem to be the only photo I took! Anyway, while I was beavering away at my computer, John took us along the final stretch of the North Oxford and we moored at Hawkesbury just before the lock (anyone who knows this will know that it's barely a lock but you still have to work it). We were amazed at how quiet it was, we had a good mooring and apart from one boat that came in behind us later on, there were moorings almost right around to the lock, very surprising given the busyness of Rugby the day before.

Naturally this all changed when we wanted to leave this morning, boats everywhere! We had to wait for a boat filling with water, as we wanted some and in the meantime, 4 boats went through in our direction. When we were ready I called to the boat waiting that if they wanted to go through then we'd follow them, they replied that they were travelling  with the boat behind them, so cheekily I said that maybe we ought to go first. They agreed! Lovely people.

 

 

 

Hawkesbury Junction navigated safely! We still have nightmares about coming around here when we were first bringing the boat home and the wind caught us and we were stuck across the canal. No bow thruster and we lost our chimney cover in the canal, nearly lost me in fact, just wet up to a knee and

some impressive bruises!

 

 



No idea why this one shifted across!

Marston Junction, the entrance to the Ashby canal, as from 11.30 this morning we are in new territory, we bravely go where we haven't been before!

It's a dinky little canal, very rural (at least so far) and a cross between a small river and the Shroppie!

Nice clear mile markers along here, this is obviously the first and we are moored just along from the 5th.

Pylons marching along the side of the canal! They seem to go on forever, but we have lost them now, we must have turned a corner somewhere!

We have had a bit of a scare with Paddy, he's been limping again and worrying one of his paws, so for the last couple of nights I've given him doggy painkillers and soaked his foot. Last night I noticed that he had a bad tangle of fur in his paw and he let me cut it out and voila! today he's much better and just asked to go out for a walk. I was all ready to take him to the vets.

Talking of Paddy, the lovely couple who we towed to Fazeley right back at the start of this trip, have been in touch and have painted a wonderful portrait of him. When we get it I'll put a copy on here and give everyone their details. It looks brilliant, such a nice couple.

Well we're moored just before bridge 15 which coincidentally has a pub next to it, so we're booked in for a meal tonight. I've been good all week and need a treat (well apart from the chocolate in Rugby). We're just outside Hinkley, apparently next to Watling Street, so I shall look out for Romans marching later on.