So, we got up Claydon flight in record time, considering. We anticpated, being the
15th in the queue, to not even enter the first lock by 1pm. As it was, we left the flight just before 1. Brilliant.
In the next pound, the summit pound, is where we could really see the results of the non rain. In this picture, the white line is the usual waterline...all that dark below usually in water. Though it may not look much, 8-10 inches is quite a loss when most places are 3 feet deep at best. It makes the difference between travelling afloat and cornering in silt.
We moored at the end of the summit, the top of the Napton flight and had a peaceful evening watching the beautiful Chestnut stallion and his friend, the Brindle stallion, in the field opposite. We were 5th in the queue this time.
We set out this morning after the flight opened at 10 and were in the flight just before 11. We enjoyed the journey past harvested fields and burgeoning berries to moor up at our usual spot in Braunston around 4:30pm. Tomorrow, we turn around and make our way to Hillmorton - to do laundry! We expected to be out a weekend and ended up out three weeks. The drawers are empty and the bags are full!
And just a note - whilst travelling, Elizabeth made some raspberry cordial feom fruit brought by a dear friend (who collected Pete from Hillmorton after dropping off Reg on Monday). And made our usual spreadable butter. Oh! And the bread Pete made whilst we travelled to the water point in Cropredy on Saturday was utterly demolished by our 5 additional crew. So we made more on Sunday afternoon whilst Elizabeth was sanding down her tapestry wools box. Now sanded and refinished. Which is a good thing, because the stool we bought in Cropredy needs to be reupholstered. No end, eh? We love it.
