Wednesday 5th June 2019 near Barby.
Good to wake up to brilliant morning sunshine after yesterday's rain.
We set off after breakfast through the rather uninspiring outskirts of Rugby. We passed huge earthworks that had either been reclaimed by nature or, more likely, had been reseeded - either way, it was lovely to see the mounds covered with white mayweed and poppies.
Hillmorton locks are duplicated with two narrow locks side by side. This must have been a very welcome sight to the old working boatmen, when trade was brisk on this canal and they had the motor and a butty to get separately through the locks.
There were C&RT volunteers helping us through the bottom lock and M got into conversation with one of them about this notice on the spur of land between the two adjacent locks. It tells people to "Keep Off, Orchids Growing".
The lady volunteer said rather sadly that she didn't think that any orchids were coming up this year but, to her joy, M showed her dozens that were just emerging. One was even beginning to flower. It was a "Marsh" orchid and, although they grow in most parts of Britain, they vary in depth of colour by region.
M was delighted as she had never seen one before in the "wild".
As MM sails up towards the top set of locks, you can see how they are set up side by side. Last year, only one of each pair of locks was actually working but this year all six locks were functioning, even if some of the paddles were out of order.
Two contrasting bridges soon followed. The first carries the roar of the M45 across the canal and can be heard for a mile each side.
The second was a charming old farm accommodation bridge that carries a much quieter footpath, and the occasional sheep, across the canal. No prizes for guessing which one we prefer!
Our evening mooring was delightful and certainly ranks up amongst our favourites. It is deep in the countryside, close to Barby Hill, with hay meadows either side.
The only sound was birdsong and the occasional bleating of sheep in the field opposite. Bliss.
The evening sunlight and the dramatic cloudscape made a magical image.
Today: 6 miles, 3 locks and 2.7 hours.
Trip: 67 miles, 25 locks and 29.0 hours.
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