Monday November 6th 2006

A misty morn and had the luxury of watching the sun rise and the hedgerows slipping past us whilst still languishing in bed with a hot cuppa. Emerged in time to hand-signal left at Braunston Junction where we parked up and ambled into the village where a rather surly butcher furnished us with his fine meats. Back to the Oxford where alas the floating cafe was shut so returned to trusty Edna for a big sausage in a soft bap. Thus fortified we pressed on doggedly, with the sun growing stronger, admiring the ancient ridged fields and rutting bullocks.

The singles locks at Hillmorton were navigated in a thrice, stopping only to quench Edna's thirst and amuse ourselves by sitting on the sunny bank and watching Larry's ejections from the shower. Fearful of missing a 4.30 rendezvous at Brinklow we pressed hard on the throttle, unfortunately nosing Edna up the rear end of an unimpressed putting narrow boat which made way hastily and ditched port-side.

The psychedelic lights in Newbold Tunnel set off Dave's twitch and no amount of shouting would abate it. Mary would have snapped him out of it, she was always great in a crisis, except of course her own sad incident. Eventually the passage through the tranquil woods calmed him and the thrill of Horseley's bridges diverted our attentions. After narrowly avoiding the swing bridge we pulled into our destination at Stretton Stop and sad fond farewell to our First Mate Roome who had to meet a driver from Castle Cars (Taxis on the Edge) who delivered her back to Kateboats to retrieve her more conventional mode of transport. And then there were three. A pleasant evening was spent by all, barking at the freight trains.

[Post written by Able Seawoman Jo Nash]