Brass Monkey Weather.

Friday, 23rd September, 2011.
Nuneaton to Hillmorton.
21.25 Miles 4 Locks.

Yes it was cold, I started off at 7 o'clock and didn't think it was to bad but an hour later the wind had picked up and it was bitter.

We had a fairly trouble free journey, British Waterways are repairing the towpath at Ansty and had 2 work boats almost blocking the Cut but we squeezed through.

You always know when you are approaching Sutton Stop (Hawksbury Junction) the locals glow.

Why do people do this to their garden ?.

Is it a toy lorry or a real one?.

Bridge 15 on the North Oxford Canal which was  demolished in May is being tidied up nicely,

just needs a bit of graffiti to finish the job.

This was it in May when we went past.

Not that many boats around until we reached the outskirts of Rugby then it increased, we past Paul off nb Piston Broke, looked like he was walking back from the shops, Lynne must be away for the weekend.

We arrived at Hillmorton Locks at 3.10 and were second in a queue, as I waited on the lock moorings at the second lock while a boat descended, a "Canal Break" hire boat came out of Grantham Boat Services, the steerer had obviously received next to no training or instructions and started heading for the lock even though a boat was about to emerge, I shouted to the crew that there was a queue for the lock which seemed to surprise the steerer who selected neutral, I then told him that if he wished to slow down or stop then reverse would be good, eventually he got the idea and reversed back allowing the other boat to leave the lock and we went in.

Due to water shortages (they are back pumping at Hillmorton) only the towpath side of the dual locks were open, there was a British Waterways lock keeper there but he didn't seem very interested as he had taken his life jacket off and was eating a yogurt, perhaps he had finished for the day.

We are now moored on the visitor moorings above the top lock, after we had tied up 2 "Willow Wren" hire boats went past full of male twenty somethings, half of them standing on the roof with bottles of Lager. (Lager, a beer like substance, credit to Jim on Starcross for that description)

Tomorrow we hope to moor at Braunston amongst the brass polishing rivet counters for the weekend.