Winwick

Boy what a night, we just couldn’t keep that wind out, thank goodness for portholes and not opening windows. This morning it was all change, light wind and sunshine. We untied to leave at 10am but unfortunately the boat moored ahead of us was right across the cut,  he soon sorted himself out and reversed to the bridge where he waited while another boat entered the marina. I guess they thought it too windy to attempt yester.
Just past bridge 5 there is a 17 Mts winding hole, its been unusable for years, but recently its been

dredged and you can get a 57foot round with ease, probably a 60 footer if you used a rope to pull the stern round. It turned out that have dredged all the winding holes along here.
We were first boat of the day on the Watford flight, I tucked into the mouth of the first lock while Diana went to find the Volockie. He came back with Diana and helped us up the first two locks where his partner took over for the staircase. By the time we were up the staircase there were two boats following and one waiting at the top to go down, so we timed it well. The boat waiting to go down advised a brolly for the tunnel, and she wasn’t wrong, boy it was wet.
We pulled over to fill with water at Crick Wharf and on the hard standing between the cottage and what use to be Edwards restaurant stand a newish narrowboat hull, what I would call a tiny prop but also stern and bow thrusters. The first time I have seen this set up.

As we slowly passed Crick Marina due to a moored boat we passed a kingfisher sitting motionless in the bushes, I didn’t spot it until we were almost passed so a rushed shot , not really worth the effort.

This is always sad to see, no matter how unloved the boat is, CRT know as it has an envelope in the back, who knows if the owner will ever come back.

By now we were getting light rain, not enough for a coat or brolly as we continued round the bends only to have a boat reverse out in front of us while winding at Yelvertoft marina so we were following him for the rest of the trip. We got to meet two members of the CIBC at bridge bridge 20. they had to stop for the boat ahead of us beside an ex- working boat right by the bridge, so we didn’t get much of a chat. Just Merry Christmas etc. We carried on for another mile or so before mooring for the night between bridges 22 an23.

Today’s journey

7¾ miles with 7 locks in 3¾ hours