Friday November 10th 2006

A cold bright morn and the condensation of Edna sat heavy until 9.00 am. We reached Napton in no time and swung a little late necessitating and swift reverse and plenty of thrust back and forth to avoid contact with bridge 17. A fisherman failed to return our cheery waves as he sat contemplating the churned water left in our wake. We parked up for a hearty breakfast before attempting the first of the days 19 locks on the Grand Union. Only met one other boat, a lone chap passing in the other direction through Stockton which saved us both a bit of bumping and grinding. At last through the all too familiar Itchingbottom and relief was provided by the Two Boats; a pint of Abbot and a ginger wine later we were tempted to stay put for lunch whilst admiring the beautiful Edna Marie through the bay window as she waited faithfully outside for us. We finally emerged from the pub and stepped across into our cosy cabin where Dave slept off his faggots. A melancholy afternoon, the sun did not appear and thoughts of our return hung heavy upon us. I ambled alongside while Dave paused Edna to enquire of a hardy fisherman how many he'd caught, "I've caught four" he said, "but I've been here three weeks!" The staircase lock at Bascote brought on Dave's palpitations as the wall of water flooded over the doors as he was passing in, quite a drop it is and he saluted from the bridge and stuck to the tiller as she went down. We tried to moor after Welsh Road lock but the hard core towpath would not take a pin, so we had to carry on through the 4.30 darkness through the next lock where we were without one panel, eventually resting Edna on the brink of Wood Lock Woods.