The end of the road - or should that be the canal?

Sunday 6th

But it is just too nice a day not to be cruising.

I am tempted to spend another night here as it is so nice for James (and me) - he can jump straight off the boat into the playing fields.

The Oxford was one of the earliest and, for many years, the most important canal in England,   Building commenced in 1769 and it was a "contour" canal - as the name implies it followed the contours of the land, rather than going straighter, requiring more cuttings and embankments.  By the 1820's it faced competition and was looking outdated, so large works were undertaken to straighten the canal and cut 14 miles off the original 36 between Braunston Junction and the Coventry Canal.  Much of the old line became a series of loops and branches leading nowhere, such as this one, now used for private moorings and crossed by one of the many elegant bridges inscribed Horseley Ironworks 1828.  Due to this very expensive updating the Oxford remained profitable into the 20th century, managing to successfully compete with the railways.

It does mean much of the canal, although attractive, does not offer the extensive views of some others.

I moor Sunday night near Brinklow, again with Michele and Andrew.  I arrive just in time to help with getting one of his two dead batteries out - he was near to tearing his hair out as accessibility is a nightmare and virtually impossible on your own.

Monday  sees me moored at Newbold On Avon, just before Rugby. In the morning, I walk back through Newbold tunnel (250 yards) and climb up to the top in the hope of some good photos - the camera battery is flat, ah well.  Special coloured lighting was installed in the tunnel a few years ago but regretably has been neglected and most is not working.  Walking back through the tunnel  a screech echos through - some tunnels are reputed to be haunted!  Fortunately I have no belief in such things but could it be a wild animal coming up behind me? No, it is a cygnet travelling through the tunnel and, presumably, crying out for Mummy - I had not realised cygnets could make such a noise, though it was amplified by the tunnel.

I catch up with the Kiwis again at Rugby, where they have stopped to shop.  Andrew is on his way to Halfords and kindly agrees to get me some distilled water for my batteries. There is little to see or photograph in Rugby as trees line the canal for the majority of the way.  

I had thought of stopping at the flight of 3 locks at Hillmorton, which are very attractive.  There are two sets of locks, showing the canals importance.  However the forecast for the morrow is cold and windy so I decide to get nearer to the moorings I have booked.

Cafe half way up.

Lovely view from the top locks - the sun went behind a cloud at the wrong time!

There is nowhere very suitable for mooring so I turn into the marina and the moorings where I will leave the boat for the winter. Soon after, Michele and Andrew arrive and drop off my water - thank you.  We say our goodbyes - probably until next year, as they are heading for Reading.  I have booked a one-way car hire for Thursday to travel back to the house (the boat now feels more like "home" than the house!).  I will come back with my own car sometime next week to take the boat to the banter at Buckby so not the last cruise of the year.  No more posts for at least a week, though.

16 miles; 3 locks

TOTAL:  822 miles (289 miles broad, 127 miles river, 44 miles tidal); 435 locks (199 broad); 78 moveable bridges