Another hot, muggy and damp day

Thursday 17^th July; Houlton to Braunston approaches

It was a bit drizzly as I took Jess out first thing.  We were only walking her in the Rugby direction as there are two boats with cats on the moorings, so better to avoid them completely. 

This was waiting beside the boat when we returned 10 minutes later!

Somebody must be having an early round over the hedge.  I don’t think it hit the boat, but we might think twice next time about mooring at this end of the Armco!  You can’t really see the golf course as the hedge is quite thick now, but I could hear a groundskeeper working.  We left for Hillmorton at about 9.15.  The boats that had come down the flight yesterday all passed us as we cruised and the extensive moorings below the flight were almost empty.  We topped up the water tank (this tap is notoriously slow) and were ready for the locks as a boat came out of the towpath side one.  With volunteers on hand to work the lock, I could leave a book in in the book swap and have a quick browse, though because of the weather there were only a few out on the little shelves where there is shelter from the weather.

Hillmorton bottom lock in gloomy weather

The second and third locks were ready for us, or nearly.  These locks are fairly far apart, and are paired.  Savvy boaters will tell each other which side should be ready for them and we were on the towpath side all the way up.  Boats were waiting for us to leave at each lock, so work was minimised.  A queue was starting to develop at the top, and as the morning wore on more and more boats were coming towards us. 

Had this boat been clobbered?  No-one seemed to be on board.

 

We passed Barby moorings and started to look for somewhere to stop for lunch as the rain got heavier, and pulled in at bridge 79.  Before we left, after sitting out another heavy shower, we went through a big gap in the hedge to see what was there.  There was the opportunity for a quick game of ball on the wide track between hedge and crop – which was wheat, looking rather sorry for itself.  I hope the rain has been enough to perk it up a bit.  Rain continued for a while, even though the weather appeared to be brightening up, but as we wanted to be closer to Braunston we carried on.  

Dave spotted it first

There are lots of good spots along the way, but once past bridge 89 the moorings are usually very busy and we wanted somewhere quieter, so we stopped about half-way between bridges 87 and 88.  The rain had now gone and it was hot and muggy.  The dog needed walking so we set off towards Braunston.  We crossed the canal at bridge 89 and followed the footpath across the field to the church, then went down the road to Midland Chandlers.  They didn’t have what Dave needed, so we returned to the canal from the road bridge nearby and walked back in the intense heat.  Luckily we had taken water for us and there are several places where dogs can drink from the canal.  Once we got back, out came the hopper windows again to cool the boat, as a stream of Braunston hire boats passed, returning to base.  

The towpath is very narrow with nowhere to sit in the shade - other boats had already nabbed the best spots.

At least the neighbours are quiet!

7 miles, 3 locks