Retirement with No Problem

Hillmorton to Clifton Upon Dunsmore, Oxford Canal, 1.5 miles 0 locks

It’s chilly again this evening and we have lit the fire.  That is a first for July for sure!

Although there are two waterpoints at Hillmorton, from about 9.30 this morning ‘til past lunchtime there was a steady stream of boats coming past and using the two taps.  We also needed water, but we would have to back up about 60 yards to do that.  We planned to move on up the canal afterwards.

Very soon after lunch, a gap of passing boats, so we pulled the pins and started to reverse not helped by a side wind.  Of course as soon as I started reversing …. yep a narrowboat heading the same way as us.  I though he would wait a minute till I had gone back the short way, but nope, he was determined to pass me although No Problem was struggling to hold a straight line in the wind.  I suppose hoping that someone would be patient for 5 minutes while I backed up was a bit much to ask!

Before that though.. I spy!!..

Hey, Hey.. It was Debbie and Allan with NB Keeping Up.  We had met very briefly in Banbury earlier, but only shouted a quick hello in passing, so it was nice when Allan stopped mid canal, and we chatted a while.   Poor Debbie was recovering from a broken and dislocated toe after stubbing it in the boat at Thrupp.. *Ouch!* that must have hurt soooooooo much, but as you can see she was cheery once more today.  Nice to have met you both properly this time, and hope to see you again this winter on the GU South

I did take a pic today while I was waiting for water.  This is what £50,000 has bought at Hillmorton (see yesterdays blog).  These, believe it or not, are the picnic tables..

Well the tables are in the middle and the seats round the outside.. Although Ann and Vic look as if they are waiting for a bbq to be served (heh no chance ), I don’t think even Fred Flintstone of Bedrock would be impressed much by these!… This then the whole area that has cost that huge amount, the picnic area is the other side of ‘the mound’ On the mound is chucked old lock gates!..

I liked this bit from the Committee Papers on the planned works..

“There had been some worries that the site might attract some unruly elements but it is believed these have now been addressed through the communications undertaken.”

I wondered what unruly elements would want to visit this place, I mean it would be very difficult to vandalise this lot!..

To me such a waste of money, they could have done a whole lot better.. I wonder too how on earth they could justify £50 grand on such a small area..

Anyway after filling with water we went north a bit to Clifton passing a narrowboat that we had remembered seeing somewhere.. NB Mallard.  “Seen you somewhere before haven’t I?” I asked.. “Hi Sue, Yep The Nene” came back the reply.. Yes of course, I remembered then .. so two blog readers in one day today!

Once on the move it started to rain.. Well it would I suppose.. so settled here this evening.  I just looked up buses in the area, and see there is one from the bridge here to the centre of Rugby tomorrow morning.. that will do, ’tis market day in Rugby tomorrow.. time for a half day away from No Problem to browse round and do a bit of window shopping too!