Keeping you all guessing !

Oops, I didn't realise I had left it quite so long since my last post, very lazy of me. After keeping you all guessing for a week I better update things.

We are now at Rugby, well Clifton-upon-Dunsmore to be exact because the canal doesn't actually go to Rugby. We left Wigram's Turn on Wednesday in rather wild and windy weather, it made it fun on the s-bends between there and Braunston. For once there was nothing coming in any direction at the junction at Braunston so we were straight onto the North Oxford heading for Rugby. As the afternoon progressed the wind got stronger and the sky got darker so we moored a little sooner than planned just short of Barby.

The weather on Thursday was forecast to be extremely windy so we stayed where we were until Friday then headed through Hillmorton Locks where we had a very easy passage. For those who don't know Hillmorton Locks are paired locks so although you only have to negotiate three locks there are actually six locks (three pairs). A kind CRT employee who was bringing a workboat up through the nearside lock opened the gate on the offside lock for us so we could cruise straight in, then there was a boat coming up through the next lock so we left the gates open for them and they did the same for us. One more lock to do and there were a group of three CRT volunteers at that one so I just let them do all the work, easy!

From Hillmorton it is about an hour to Clifton,we hoped to be able to moor by the park but there wasn't space so we just moored a little further along beside the retail park.

On Saturday Mandy, Tony, Mikey and Dani came to visit, it was a pity the weather wasn't better but we had a nice relaxing day. Sunday was a bit of a boat maintenance day and Ray discovered we needed a new oil filter so yesterday we walked down to Willow Wren Cruisers and they ordered one for us which Ray has just collected and is in the process of fitting. Hopefully we will move on from here tomorrow,the weather forecast is good although at the moment it looks as if it is about to chuck it down with rain. It feels a bit stormy too.

While we have been here the elderflowers have really started to bloom so I've made sure I have plenty of sugar and lemons ready to make elderflower champagne. The ginger beer tastes good but is a little bitter, I'll have to modify the recipe a bit next time.

In the past week we have travelled 15.8 miles and 3 locks

This year we have travelled 252.4 miles, 233 locks, 5 swing bridges, 13 lift bridges and 2 tunnels

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2331 miles, 1994 locks, 116 swing bridges, 74 lift bridges and 73 tunnels