Norton junction and Crick

Thursday 9^th July; before Norton Junction to beyond Crick

It’s a very good spot here if you want to be in the shade.  The widebeam booked to use the tunnel hadn't yet appeared (unless it was the boat that passed us at 6am, we didn't get up to look), and we were away at about 8.30, soon passing the local swan family having breakfast. 

If you look closely you will see ten cygnets

It wasn’t long before we were rounding Norton Junction.  There would have been plenty of space to moor had we come this far yesterday but we thought it would have been in too much sun for comfort.

Early morning shade

The pretty cottage at the junction is almost obscured by trees.  But what a lovely spot for a cup of coffee in the shade.

You could sit here all day watching the boats

Although the sun was already hot we found the cruising mostly shady and cool under the tree canopy as the M1 draws closer to the canal.  We passed Watford Gap motorway services, where years ago you could moor and walk across the lorry parking to the shop to get milk as we did once.  But it has been surrounded by high security fencing for years.  We wanted water – would we have time to fill up at the tap below the Watford flight?  No – I went up to find the lockies who said we could start up as soon as the boat in the bottom lock was out of the way.  We waited in that lock for last of the descending boats to come out of the second lock, crossed over in the pound and we were on our way up.

In the staircase

The paddles (red before white, you’ll be all right) were in the sun but the lock chambers and towpath were in the shade so I was the only one getting hot!  After rising up the top lock we moved onto the water point, leaving the lockies to start taking the first waiting boat down.

The Watford flight is known for the colourful flower displays.

By the time we had filled with water, dealt with the rubbish and swapped a book in the book exchange, the last of the waiting boats was entering the top lock.  Eight down today so far and only us coming up.

The book exchange.  Donations here help to fund the flower displays

The sun was very hot by now and I got the big brolly out to shade us as we cruised.  That worked well, as it wasn’t too windy, and it came in useful in Crick tunnel, which is rather wet at the Crick end.

South portal, Crick tunnel

Another opportunity to cool down before we emerged into baking heat of Crick where we nabbed the first patch of shade we came to after the tunnel.  We moored, I changed into my dress which is more comfortable in the heat for walking than shorts and t-shirt, and set off for the village, even though it was nearly lunchtime.  We urgently needed some supplies and my first stop was the Post Office shop which has locally grown veg in season.  Perfect timing – not only could I get eggs and our paper of choice, there were local runner beans, new potatoes just dug, and lettuce.  And the shop had air-con.  I went on to the Co-op for the rest of the shopping.  That was also nice and cool so emerging into the heat again was a shock!  But at least most of the return journey was partly shaded.  We had lunch and I realised we were running out of cheese and yogurt, so as the PO is dog-friendly Jess and I went up again.  Jess was a great hit with two workmen and the lady who runs it who has a box of treats for canine visitors.

Just outside the door as we left was this pussy cat, entirely unconcerned that people had to step over her.  Jess didn’t know what to make of the situation and sneaked round behind me in case of claws.

Meanwhile Dave had made the boat ready, and picked us up at the road bridge.  We knew the moorings in Crick would be in the sun for a while so went on further, hoping that the space next to the Crack’s Hill winding hole would be free.  It wasn’t, but we found a shady spot further on past bridge 16 before enjoying the Magnums I had bought in the post office and shoved in the freezer while we cruised.  The heat was intense even in the shade, the steel hot to the touch even at 6 pm – not surprising, as the shade temperature was 32.9.  Wetting the steel and laying wet cloths on the hottest bits might have cooled the steelwork, but it was still the same temperature inside and out when we went to bed – about 28 degrees.  There was no air movement and in spite of hoppers being out and the sliding hatch open it was too hot to sleep till about 2 am.

7 miles, 7 locks (the Watford flight), Crick tunnel