Making our way down to Barby

 We set off from 100 Acre Wood with the forecast, once again, promising rain and all sorts throughout the day. 

All along the canal there are these side branches with the ornate cast-iron bridges. These are from the time when the old winding Oxford canal was straightened out. In Newbold, if you take a short walk away from the canal, you can find the entrance to one of the old tunnels. 

As you can see, the day turned out not nearly as bad as forecast. Even the cows are all standing up, surely that's a good sign. 

Many moorings are dotted along the, now unused, side arms to the canal. 

And here we are back at Hillmorton locks. The gates on this lock have words of a poem which you can follow as you go through the flight. 

Just a look back as we exit that same lock. I say we in the royal sense. The captain walked up to the next lock where one of the volunteers had everything ready for us. Straight in, gates closed and then he disappeared off for his tea. 

These two boats are owned by one of the artists on the waterways. We have seen her work before on a sunnier day when the side would be opened up for public display. 

Just looking around at all the clouds which, although spectacular, did not drown us during the afternoon. 

And finally our mooring for the night opposite Barby Hill. It's Sunday, so it's roast pork tonight. We do live well when we're on the boat.