Gold in the water

Hilmorton

Engraved balance beams

After walking Lottie around Hilmorton and exploring the old side arm we set off for Rugby. Soon after we set off it started to rain but stopped before we reached Rugby. For the first time the banks were crammed with boats could not moor to go shopping. I guess people stayed moored up because of the rain. Around the corner there was room to squeeze in between the last boat and the bridge. The Captain went shopping, had a cup of tea then pulled the pins out. As soon as he cruised through the bridge it started to rain. However it stopped by the time we reached Newbold tunnel. A boater approaching had his spotlight on so we expected to meet in the middle of the250 yard long tunnel but we emerged the other side to find him inching nervously towards the portal with three boats queuing behind him.

old paddle gear

short side arm at Hilmorton

At the end of a long straight we looked back and the boats were still in sight – how would he manage in Braunston Tunnel. Though the rain threatened it was a pleasant cruise to Essenhall woods where there was just enough room for us to moor.

boats and crane on the side arm

As I held the bow rope waiting for the Captain to secure the rear a new exotic creature appeared in the canal – something I have never seen in the wild before. The gold fish swam in a tight circle just below the surface of the water his bright scales shining. He circled several times then straightened out and dived into the depths only to return to the surface and circle again. Had someone been exercising their goldfish and it slipped its leash or had they freed their pet when it outgrew its goldfish bowl? It certainly seemed obsessed with circles. However after several expanding loops it wriggled away. I hope it stays away from the surface when the herons are about or its freedom will be short lived. I turned away from the water to read a sign pinned to a nearby tree.

It read: LOST ONE TORTOISE – LAST SEEN ON THE TOWPATH.

How do you lose a tortoise; they don’t move that fast? Did someone take it for a walk and it slipped its leash? If not how did it reach that rural stretch of towpath in the first place? Perhaps it was a closet turtle and cast off its inhibitions to join the goldfish in the muddy waters!

restored workshop

After lunch we moved off without spotting the lost tortoise. Grey skies hung over us but we only suffered occasional showers. A kingfisher livened up the cruise but its bright blue seemed muted under the leaden sky.

We moored at Hawksbury junction at the end of the Oxford canal near two tethered ponies. All we have to do now is cruise the Coventry canal up to Fradley junction to complete the Leicester ring.