Broken Bridges and hill tops around Barby as the rain falls

Moored Barby, Oxford Canal

They found a WW2 bomb no less at the south portal of Harecastle Tunnel, now that will cause some disruption tomorrow when it is dealt with.  Hope they don’t blow the place up!

The cut (canal) is getting busy, but I am staying put, and smile smugly as narrowboats pass with crews dressed more like they are in the round the world yacht race.  I guess they are enjoying themselves in this crazy weather.

I enjoyed yesterday.. out walking for most of the day I was.  But the wind really got up today so Vic and I caught the bus to Rugby from outside the prison just across the field here.. a five minute walk to the bus stop by the way.  He fetched home some new shirts at a bargain price at the Peacocks Store in the town.  I asked for the hangers, well we are getting a bit short “I will have to cut them down a bit though” I said to her as she packed the bag “My wardrobes are a bit narrower than normal because I live on a narrowboat”

“I know you do” says she… Up went my eyebrows in amazement “Yes we had a conversation when you were here last time, I was asking you how you keep warm in the boat”.. “But the last time I came in here was years ago” Says I,  “Yep” says she “I might be as blind as a bat, but I have a good memory!”..

Blimey how about that then.. It’s funny really I never usually say much about where I live to people.. odd I should say to her twice about the very same thing!  I just looked to see when I did meet this lady for the first time and it was October 2004 would you believe.

I was saying the other day about how the towpath hedges have been beautifully laid, and the towpath itself mowed and tidy.. but this is a view on top of one of the bridges that has been waiting for a repair for as long as I can remember.  There must be some reason why they are not mending it.  In fact I am hoping that someone reading this will know why.  Here is the same bridge when we passed underneath it last year…

They can’t just let if fall down surely?  Hey it is a footpath!  Anyway, over this bridge this afternoon with the girls (collies Lucy and Meg) on a walk to the top of Barby Hill.. thank goodness the wind was behind us, I don’t think I would of made it up there otherwise!  I just kept thinking “This must burn calories, this must burn calories”!!.. then at the top and looking back there was rain looming in the next county…

Just to the left in the centre if you look carefully you can see the canal and No Problem moored there.  Over to the right is the large complex of the Young Offenders Prison at Rye Hill.  It is huge, I was amazed at the number of cars parked in the various car parks all around the place, there must be hundreds of people working there.. scarey really when you can actually see what it takes to keep people in prison..

I think I will wait to see what the weather is like tomorrow before planning any more walks.. might be a day inside to catch up on paperwork.. let’s hope not.

Many thanks to those who have warned me about the River Nene being in flood and the lock gates put into reverse mode.  I sure am glad we didn’t go down before Easter as was our first plan.. maybe now we will have to wait a little longer than we expect!  Rain, rain go away!