There was another inch or so of snow outside overnight. Our personal picnic spot outside our window looked very wintry.
After breakfast we set off. Well, we tried to but the ignition lock to start the engine was frozen up and I couldn't get the key in. I warmed the key up with a lighter and this did the trick. Co-owners of WD will recognise this photo:
Then we found that our ropes were frozen solid and we couldn't untie them. Eventually we got them untied and set off. Within a few yards we turned right onto the Grand Union Main Line and headed southwards in the direction of Warwick. It was very cold and windy with snow blowing in strongly from the east. Fairly soon we noticed that we were being followed by another boat. We thought this was a good thing as it meant we would have someone to share the upcoming Hatton Flight of 21 broad locks with. Fairly soon after that we noticed another boat behind that one. These two boats seemed to be having a "see who can use the horn the most" match. This match continued for most of the way, especially so in Shrewley Tunnel. It was still very cold and windy and when we got just short of the Hatton locks we pulled over and tied up. We had already decided that we didn't want to share 21 locks with the lads behind. The two boats behind were both from the same hire company and were full of young lads who obviously knew each other and were having a good time involving beer. We let them pass and they brested up together and set off down the locks. It was still snowing and still blowing a strong wind. In the absence of another boat to share the locks with we decided to call it a day even though it was only 1PM. We had a cup of tea and a sit down. Later we went for a walk to look at the locks.
And here is Pip looking forward to tomorrow:
Then we went back to the boat and settled down by the fire and watched the first Harry Potter film. They all looked very young.
Meatballs for tea.
Five miles. Zero locks.
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