Wednesday 19th December 2007
Location: Just north of Braunston, Northamptonshire, Oxford Canal
Today: 7 miles, 3 locks. Total distance: 954 miles. Total locks: 620
Very cold day. Good t-mobile gprs reception here.
First update for a while as we have been hovering around Rugby. I believe all of the stoppages on the Oxford canal have now been lifted so we are starting our journey towards Banbury. It is nice to be on the move again.
We stopped just north of Hillmorton, got the bow saw out and picked up some nice big lengths of dry dead wood – the wood can be seen in one of the photos below. After mooring up, we got out the chain saw and a big axe that we bought last weekend and turned the bits of trees into some lovely split logs – see photo of current mooring. We now have enough logs to keep us going for another 6 weeks or so. The chain saw is worth it's weight in gold as we would never have been able to cut the wood without it.
We phoned nb Gosty Hill and have arranged to meet them near Braunston on Friday so that we can buy some more diesel and coal from them.
Stopped for water at the bottom of Hillmorton locks. The towpath has been covered by what appears to be just ordinary sand. What a mess it makes as it gets everywhere.
We passed Badsey’s resteraunt for what must be about the twentieth time. We have never eaten there but it has a very good reputation – one day.
We moored up early afternoon is it was getting very cold and we are in no hurry to be anywhere.
Thursday 20th
Woke up this morning to the coldest weather we have seen so far. At 08:00 it was minus 7 degrees outside so it was probably even colder during the night. The canal had iced over apart from a small area where two swans had managed to keep it clear – see photos.
We turned on the Alde gas boiler for a couple of hours to help re-heat the boat as the fire had burnt down fairly low over night and was not giving out enough heat. Had we known it was going to get so cold over night we would have stoked the fire up a bit more before going to bed. The forecast last night was for just a light frost - they got it a bit wrong.
Thursday PM.
Decided to move on down to Brauston just in case this cold weather continues. At least in Braunston we have access to the shops. The ice was a good half inch thick all the way down to Braunston. I doubt that it did the blacking much good but I am not going to loose much sleep over it.
Now moored up in Braunston – lots of boats here now, was very quiet when we were last here 10 days ago. Nice to have good 3g mobile reception again.
Current mooring - morning of the 20th. Note the nice pile of logs
Towpath at Hillmorton covered in sand - what a mess it makes.
Note the bits of trees!!
Badsey's at Hillmorton, never eaten here but they have a very good reputation
Dogs warming up by the fire after coming in from a walk, it's -7 outside
Early morning on 20th minus 7 degrees at 08:00
Early morning on 20th minus 7 degrees at 08:00
Early morning on 20th.
The swans are keeping a small area free of ice by breaking it with their feet.
Early morning on 20th
Early morning on 20th
Braunston junction - mid afternoon on the 20th
The log pile
Water point at Braunston - mid afternoon and still ice on the ground
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Material Copyright © 2007 Ernie Williams
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23 April, 2014 4:16 PM