The day started looking as if it would be warm & sunny, but soon wind was evident which took the warmth out. We soon arrived at the bottom of Hillmorton and stopped for water. Rather a slow fill. Pat went ahead to set the first lock and we were joined shortly in the paired lock by a Kate Boats Hire, nb Robert. The crew were very helpful in closing up for me (Pat always being ahead) and we were able to reciprocate in a small way at the last lock doing a bottom gate for them. A cheerful experienced bunch of hire boaters. Lots of boats about, so caution at bridge holes. The towpath is in a very neglected state here on the N Oxford. The grass has been cut, but the waters edge is sprouting saplings and established bushes. The hedges are overgrown and overhanging. There was just one short section where an attempt at hedge trimming was evident. To be fair, the banks have never been in good enough condition to make mechanisation really safe, but in the end it all makes very poor economy because in the end something will have to be done and it will be very expensive. Further on, on the Braunston to Wigrams Turn section, much of the edge has been piled and motorised mowing is possible up to the waters edge. It all looked very tidy and the suddenly, at the worst corner on this section at Bridge 101 there is a very large bush extending over the waterway totally obscuring the sight line to the bridge and hiding an opposite direction boat. It almost seems as if this is deliberate, it is so bad. At Calcutt locks we teamed up with nb Robert again for the first. An excellent arrangement except that a single hander was waiting for an opposite direction movement at the second lock, and seemed reluctant to do anything for himself. Shortly after, we reached our mooring spot for the night, putting us at easy reach of the Blus Lias pub for the Cutweb Rally.
Comments