Saturday 27^th October 2018

Just leaving Braunston yesterday, we passed onto the Oxford Canal and within a mile passed from Northamptonshire into Warwickshire.

Last night was a lovely full moon, clear star-lit night. But this morning the roof and everything on it was full of frost and ice, including the ropes. It was very cold and the prospect of handling frozen ropes, not a nice one.

We left at 8:30 and cruised over well-known ground. However, just beyond the M45 motorway we came across another new marina, another big one, at Barby. We then passed Hillmorton Marina where our Challenger boat was fitted out and based for her first 18 months.

Then followed Hillmorton Locks. A set of three, paired locks. And narrow locks at last, they are so much easier all round. Easy to steer into, the gates and paddles are generally easier and passage through them is quicker. 

Beyond Hillmorton is all lock-free apart from a stop lock at the junction with the Coventry Canal. The canal passed through Rugby with the short arm of a disused canal leaving at one end of the town, passing under a bridge the arm runs for about 100 yards, full of permanently moored boats. At the another end of the town is another arm, the Rugby Arm, still in use with a boatyard at the terminus.

The Oxford Canal was an early contour canal completed in 1790. The route followed along the contours of the land and so continuously meanders. The Grand Union Canal traverses a 5-mile section of the Oxford so splitting it into a northern and southern section. The northern section was straightened in 1820 reducing the distance by over 14 miles. Many of these short arms remain from the straightening with quite a number of the impressive Horsley Ironworks bridges still intact.

Newbold Tunnel was passed through. At just 250 yards, this tunnel is wide enough for two narrowboats to pass and has a towpath on both sides, all to speed passage times. There is a second, older, disused tunnel in Newbold churchyard, the newer one being built as part of the straightening process.

Passing through Rugby, it began to rain and became much colder. We had wanted to moor at All Oaks Wood 3 miles from Rugby, but the moorings were all taken, but with 6, 8 and 10 feet in between boats. Very annoying when you know you could easily get in if boats would moor next to each other. We continued in ever heavier rain with several attempts to moor but the boat could never get closer than 3 feet from the bank.

Again, at Stretton Stop a mile further on, all the moorings were taken either by private moorings or the hire fleet based here. The boatyard is located on both sides of the canal with a small swing bridge between the two. The swing bridge was blocking the canal so we had to stop to open it. We were not best pleased.

Continuing on, and getting ever colder, we managed to moor at bridge 26, ¾ mile beyond Stretton Stop at 2:30. Once moored up, the fire was stoked and we sat in front of the television. I had on four layers on top and two blankets over me and still couldn’t get warm. It was a miserable day outside.          

Hire boats were passing us for a number of hours. This is the worst part of hiring, you set targets and have to keep going no matter what the weather. One boat, a private one, passed after 7pm when it was dark outside, he had no lights on and couldn’t possibly have seen where he was going. He was heading towards Rugby so would have to travel along way to get moored.

Weather: very cold in the morning, brightening in the afternoon but remaining cold. Rain in the afternoon, turning much colder.

Day Total: 3 locks; 13 miles; 1 Tunnel; 1 Swing Bridge; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 5.3

Overall Total: 309 locks; 522 miles; 24 tunnels; 3 Swing Bridge; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 318.2