Bartimaeus

On Tuesday night we lay outside and watched the Perseids. We caught quite a few. One wonders what people long ago made of these celestial happenings, an omen or a blessing. In Greek mythology the meteor shower represented tears of joy from the gods, celebrating the heroic deeds of Perseus. We just enjoyed the lights alongside the occasional satellite or bat.

In the morning we set off early to avoid travelling in the heat in the late afternoon. We had been going through some old small brick bridges for weeks on the Ashby, so I was impressed by the change in structure that seemed like a sign of the changing nature of the canal but we still had a lovely rural setting all around. This one had a touch of classical elegance all the same.

Even in the morning it was already "taps aff" time for some. We passed a couple of gents with deckchairs out. One was bringing a hand drill to the other and Shane made a quip to them:

"If someone says 'this is not a drill', you can say this IS a drill!" 

They laughed and agreed it was certainly a drill and waved cheerily. As we passed the boat I saw an illustrated sign on the front of the boat, a new one to me, saying 'Please slow down speed bumps.' It was a sign they liked a joke.

We were heading for Rugby to meet Bryn. The route was familiar. Signs are less frequent on canals than on roads, but then so are junctions. There were no junctions today. We passed the entrance to boat yards and marinas. We passed Brinklow marina that we went in and out of several times last month.

We had decided in advance of Bryn coming we could wash our bedding, since the bed would be stripped and remade to let him sleep there, having assumed that the current weather would have it all dried before he set foot aboard so it wouldn't be in the way. I had pegged it up in the front deck and was going to move it around every so often. Shane announced we were going into a tunnel but it wasn't one with a reputation for being very drippy and there hadn't been a lot of rain, but did I want to bring the washing in. I couldn't see any rushing torrents and decided that it wasn't worth the tricky manoeuvre as it would probably dry fast anyway, even if it did get dripped on. It was a short tunnel because I could clearly see the light at the end, always a good sign.

We escaped any drips and enjoyed a smooth trip into Rugby, arriving in time for lunch. Shane remembered the nice cafe in the park, so we decided we could have lunch there. We hoped there was room to moor. 

We passed some private moorings, which were no good for us. We spotted a doctored sign on the towpath when we were nearly there. We seemed to be missing the entertainment. Someone had a sense of humour here too.

As expected it was quite crowded but we just slotted in at the back of the moorings. The laundry was drying nicely so I did a shuffle then headed in to Rugby, and the the cafe was open. We enjoyed a spicy vegetarian lunch and an entertaining time, with jolly customers and children popping in from the park to ask for water or to use the toilet. The cafe owner was friendly and allowed the children to help themselves to water from the bottles at the entrance. They were obliging and friendly to paying and non paying customers. They had a system whereby people could offer to pay for a cafe item and they wrote it on a label and hung it up on display at the counter. Then, if a person who couldn't afford something came in, they could choose from the pre-paid items available, by looking at what was hanging up.

We returned to the dry washing and were able to get things tidied away and ready for Bryn's arrival. Shane went to collect him from the station. I put a seat in the shade and they joined me, when they arrived.

Bryn had a rest and a drink, before he and I went to get shopping in, while Shane topped up with water and moved the boat across to a better mooring. While at the shops, Bryn proposed a particular recipe he liked to make with lime, coconut milk, chickpeas and sweet potato in it, so we stocked up on all the ingredients and he cooked it that evening. In the morning he was immediately pressed into service as we set off, with Bryn driving.

Shane drove when we reached the Hillmorton locks. Bryn and I got off and went to see what was going on. There was a short queue and boats were waiting in the locks for the ones coming the other way, before leaving. A sign on the locks warned boaters who hadn't been getting CRT notifications about the time restriction.

At first there was little to do but wait. The man next in the queue was a lone boater so he would probably appreciate some help through. I showed Bryn the community plant beds where I had go herbs before. They had tomatoes ripening and runner beans flowering. I couldn't see a sign to help myself so I thought I would wait for a time to speak to the lock keeper and ask permission.

Meanwhile a painting on a shed drew my attention. I thought it must be new. There was also a little library and flowers, a very well appointed set of locks.

The lone boater was very thankful and complimentary to Bryn about getting help, telling me what a good lad he was. He would like his help at the next one, but we had Shane to get through next. I spoke to the volunteer lock keeper and she said I  could indeed help myself to the herbs so I got some parsley.

At the middle set, I felt like we must be already at the top, as I had worked quite a few already, we had bobbed back and forth helping at each of the pairs of locks. Added information I hadn't seen before was at the top lock, telling you who was on duty, so assuming they update it, thanks to Jane! I saw the other chap passing briefly, but didn't work any locks with him, but I am sure he was busy, as we had been, since they are allegedly the busiest in the country.

We stopped for lunch soon after. It was quite hard to get into the side and I could hear a bit of gravel grating. We were getting out to leave and the boat behind us, facing the other way was also preparing to leave, but it was well grounded and getting nowhere. The driver had tried forward and reverse and Shane called a bit more advice to him, which he followed but still they were wedged. They had a pole out to push the front end further out to get more of it afloat. Still no movement. Shane reversed and we tied the two sterns together. The other driver reversed while we pulled forward. Nothing doing. We untied. Shane got off and helped pushing with them. After several more attempts pushing the front well over with the barge pole and the back pushed from the bank by Shane and the other driver, it eventually moved. What a relief! The driver was so pleased and waved us off happily giving a thumbs up sign. They were free to enjoy their holiday.

I had kept our back end away from the bank and the front near so Shane could get back on and we didn't get stuck! As I drove on there was occasionally a breaking wash at normal speeds. A sign of shallow water. We also got lightly grounded passing other boats even staying a good distance from the bank. The unfenced sheep could still reach the water though it was getting lower, they had to stretch a bit more to get it.

Shane asked me to go ahead and spot for incoming boats at Braunston Junction. The way ahead was clear so I signalled he could go ahead. 

We moored up and decided we could have a celebration of having made good progress. The sun wasn't scorching us, but I had made a special excursion for strawberries in the morning and only two were left so I thought I had better get them in the Pimm's quick!

Drinks finished, Bryn suggested a walk and Shane had looked at the map and seen there were some pubs around. He proposed that if any looked suitable for eating we could go but otherwise we would just come back for our dinner. That plan suited us all. We walked along the towpath until Shane pointed out a sign on a gate.

We headed off to Flecknoe, feeling hopeful though sometimes bridges have signs for pubs that aren't there any more, but reaching the village a further notice was another good sign of what we were looking for.

At the pub the board said booking was essential. We thought we could ask and at least have a drink. Despite not booking and the lady having no kitchen help, and more people booked in soon, she took an order served us drinks and reappeared in a flash with three freshly cooked meals. Shane thought she had a time machine in her kitchen. The food was delicious. What a fantastic skill set she had, and she is about to move on a boat too, that's got to be a good sign.