The day started off sunny, but still cold and windy. 6° outside but cosy inside with the fire ticking over nicely. We arrived at Buckby top lock in time to see 2 boats going through and 2 more waiting. Of course, when it came to our turn, not another boat in sight. Mind you, we found it quicker on our own and were bowling along nicely until the very last lock. An unfortunate tale. A hire boat pulled into the side waiting to go backwards through the lock. They had only collected the boat the day before and the bottom lock was their first lock of the holiday. Unfortunately, the father-in-law had a fall and broke two of his ribs and had to be treated in hospital. Luckily, Daventry hospital is not very far away and the ambulance arrived quickly.
We offered to help by breasting up alongside and towing them about 100 yards to the marina entrance where they could turn the boat round. Believe me, trying to go backwards down a canal is not easy at the best of times and the wind today would not have helped. Did our good deed for the day, waved farewell, hoping that their holiday wasn't totally ruined.
I read somewhere that the above building at Weedon used to be a factory and still has the original windows. Can't remember where I saw that, just one of those little facts hidden away in the recesses of what I call a brain.
I think that the farmer may be planting winter wheat or something like that, whatever it is, he keeps overtaking us as he goes backwards and forwards. Making me quite dizzy!
A fitting end to the trip, a red kite circling over the boat.
Thumped our way into the marina, well, it is a narrow entrance and the wind was doing what wind always does and, alright, I got the approach all wrong. Frantic hand waving from the captain at the front of the boat, so, naturally, I waved back! Don't think she was too impressed. In these situations I always quote Timothy West: "It's a contact sport!"
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