We have managed to get out for a couple of weeks as our plan for a 3 month trip has been put on hold. My brother had a serious operation in March and was in ICU for 4 days- the NHS have been wonderfull, in a crisis they cannot be beaten. He is now home and making good progress but Anne and I both feel we need to be able to get down to Somerset if we need to.The other issue that I need to resolve is my right eye. Its still not right (sorry) in that there is some scarring following the cataract operation that needs to be lasered away.Hopefully this can be resolved in the next few months as it has gone on since May 2008 and is part of the detached retina saga.
Well thats our woe at the moment but it was lovely to get out boating today in the sunshine although a bit chilly in the wind- but that is the pleasure of spring boating and seeing everything coming alive.Had planned to leave yesterday but the engine battery gave up the ghost.I had planned to change it anyway and managed to rearrange the engineer to come to the marina this moring to do it and we were on our way by noon.
We are heading to the Ashby Canal to meet with our friends Pip and Richrd on their boat and have managed to get to Hillmorton locks near Rugby ( a long day tomorrow of 9 hours should get us to them). The locks are interesting in that they are the first set of working paired single locks to come across going north.The Trent & Mersey canal north of Stoke on Trent has some as you drop down onto the Cheshire Plain.
The canal from Napton to Hillmorton is about 5 inches lower than normal with volunter lock keepers on hand to ensure best practise at the locks with one set closed overnight. Its going to be a long hard summer.
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| The double Hillmorton locks |
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| A new Barn Owl nest box which has a good view over the surrounding fields |
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| Bridge 80 on the North Oxford canal which needs some much needed tlc from the new Canal & River Trust |
