The Tump and Pumpkins.

 Tuesday 22nd September 2020 at Rugby.

A mist lingered over the fields again this morning. The weather forecast had indicated that it would be cloudy but we woke to a clear blue sky...

... and another lovely sunrise.

It is supposed to get colder and wet over the next couple of days so we wanted to enjoy the sunshine while it lasted.

Brinklow is a pretty village with only one small convenience shop, but it does have an excellent café called "Pumpkins" and the prospect of breakfast there was irresistible. M had called yesterday to check their opening times, so we set off at 9:00am to the village half a mile away across the fields.

The mediaeval strip farming method of "ridge and furrow" is much in evidence hereabouts. The "hill" in the background is the motte and bailey castle, known affectionately by the locals as the "Tump".

Rush Hour in Brinklow! The road is actually the old Roman Fosse Way, which ran from Exeter to Lincoln.

Pumpkins! The staff were as cheery and welcoming as ever and breakfast was yummy. 

M said afterwards that she was glad that she had only asked for the small version - which was more than enough! The sausage was gigantic!! We look forward to another breakfast on our return journey next week.

We always like to walk over the top of the Tump on our way back as the views are spectacular, although it was a bit too hazy to see Coventry clearly. From this aspect the unusual double bailey is very apparent.

Back on board, happily fed and watered, we "let go" and headed towards Rugby. To our surprise, there was a queue of boats to get through Newbold Tunnel. It turned out that there was a C&RT boat in the tunnel doing a survey.

Two men were walking along the towpath tapping hammers on to the bricks . If the bricks "rang" they were good but if they made a dull thump then they were loose and needed to be replaced or reinforced.

Moorings in Rugby are much in demand with a water point and large shops close by. We were lucky to find a lovely mooring next to the park.

R went off to Homebase to get some items to restore a couple of MM's external woodwork bits that need sprucing up, while M busied herself polishing the brass!

By mid afternoon, the sky had clouded over and the barometer had dropped considerably, heralding the end of the Indian summer and the approach of autumn.

Today: 5 miles, 0 locks and 1.6 hours.

Trip: 111 miles, 30 locks and 58.0 hours.