May 26th - 27th 2008 Rugby Marina, Rugby
Day One – Rugby Wharf to Hillmorton
Distance travelled = 4 miles
Total distance travelled = 4 miles
Number of Locks = 3
Total number of Locks = 3
As this wasn’t our first time holidaying on a narrow boat we had a good idea what to expect. After a short briefing on all the boats major features (pointy end is the front, round end is the back, drinking water goes here, gas bottles are here) all we needed to do was pick which way to go.
We decided to do what’s known as the Windmill route, so having purchased an appropriate map and after Kev had embarrassed himself by asking why “its called the Windmill route” (Anyone want to guess?) we set off from Rugby Wharf.
Click on the map for a larger image
First obstacle was actually getting out the Marina. At 57ft long our boat was too long to make the sharp right turn out of the wharf onto the Oxford Canal. To go right we actually had to turn left and then do a full 180 degrees in a “Winding Hole” (Nautical Term No. 1 – Wide bit in the canal where you can turn round) to face the right way.
Having turned round and now facing the right way we were off, chugging along the Oxford Canal.
A guidebook found on the boat told us that the Windmill Route usually takes 3 days to complete. We actually had the boat for 4 days so we had plenty of time to amble along in no great rush to go anywhere.
Plan for day one was to go from the marina, through the three Hillmorton locks (Nautical Term No. 2 – Canal equivalent of a staircase allowing you to go up or down depending on whether you let the water in or out) then moor up (Nautical Term No. 3 – Park the boat) for the night near the Old Royal Oak pub, as recommended by the man at Rugby Marina, and go for something to eat. Which is exactly what we did. By the time we had finished our meal and left the pub it had started to rain.
Day Two – Hillmorton to Napton On The Hill
Distance travelled = 13 miles
Total distance travelled = 17 miles
Number of Locks = 0
Total number of Locks = 3
The rain had continued all night and at times was quite heavy. The wind was strong too so the boat was rocked around a fair bit and kept bashing into the bank (Nautical Term No. 4 – Side of the canal. If your feet are dry you are standing on the bank, if your feet are wet you are in the canal). It was still raining, though not as bad, when we set off.
Today’s plan was to travel to Braunston Junction, staying on the Oxford Canal. Then go to Napton Junction, where again we would stay on the Oxford Canal eventually stopping at Napton on the Hill. There we would turn round in the winding hole and moor up for the night near to the very windmill that gives this route its name.
As the day went on the weather got better and better eventually turning into quite a nice day. We got to the winding hole at Napton, turned round, moored up and went for a walk round the village.
Having stocked up on vital supplies (wine and beer) at the worlds most expensive village shop we headed back to the boat and spent a very nice evening having a BBQ and watching the nearby sheep, cows, ducks and swans do what they do.
Its well known that swans can be quite aggressive and the ones near us confirmed it. They kept hissing and snapping at us, attacking each other (and the other ducks) and at one point biting Kev's trainer.