Sunday 31st March Day 253
The clocks changed last night, so of course we spend the day saying “well it would have been so and so time”. We desperately need water – you can tell the boat is sitting higher at the bow ((You could just sit in it to balance it out!)) and I cannot remember the last time we filled up. Our vague plan this morning is to fill with water and then get this spot back and finish painting the other side but after the short trip to the winding hole and then staring fill up, we end up having the standard towpath convo with another boater and I check the weather, which turns out looks decidedly spring like grim rain for the next two weeks so once filled with water we crank it! Not only that it ends up being our longest cruise yet at!
The powerpack has a mind of its own and decides to come on today so I put a wash on to clean the duvet sheets etc. I also manage to tie a washing line from the duck hatch in the middle of the boat to one of the coat hooks so basically across the whole of our living room. If you want to see what this looks like pop and look at this tour of the boat. It works really well with the windows open and the fan on to dry large items ((I’m saying nothing!)) like the duvet covers.
Another reason for getting to Hinckley today is that we need some kindling as well as usual milk, coffee etc. Also, we are kind of keen to crank it now we have a firm date for moorings and we have approx. 198 miles to cruise and 174 locks which according to the canal planner we use. ((You can barely manage to even move most days!)) exactly that’s why we need to crank it off the canal we have done, back up the Coventry, do all the Atherston flight and then turn onto the Frazeley junction towards Birmingham and the grand union canal. I think due to all this dodgy weather it wouldn’t surprise me if there are more details to the opening of the Oxford canal so we have decided to leave Coventry arm for another day ((I’m sure they will be devastated!)) Day done. Until tomorrow. x
Cruising miles: 9 /1 tunnel
C.L. Peache 