Several long term deferred maintenance problems for British Waterways were demonstrated today. Firstly the landslip at Brunston Tunnel, worse this week than a year ago. Secondly and thirdly,two accommodation bridges on the North Oxford, on of which was looking bad a year ago but today looked far worse. Or perhaps are the bridges the reponsibility of the farmer?
We set ff at 7.30. Pat mostly works ahead and so comes into more contact with other boaters, either pposite directionor ones that we catch up with or are following. Todays batch, she reported, were both inexperienced and ignorant. Opening bottom paddles with top paddles up and gates still open for example. We took on some water at Braunston Toll House, then onwards to Rugby. Lots of traffic on the N Oxford, though we were fortunate at Hillmorton. We wanted to visit the supermarket at Rgby, but there was nowhere to moor suitable for our disabled passenger. In the end we backed up to the footings of the footbridge by the water point. We are trying to gain a day in our plan, so went on the Hawkesbury Junction. Amost no moorings left there either!
Comments