Slow Progress

 We've enjoyed a couple of beautiful, September cruising days if very short days. The cut is quite busy but we have had no problem mooring. Our biggest problem appears to be the state of some of the lock gear on various locks along the way. We got caught in a long queue today at Grants Lock - we were the fifth boat in the queue. Yet again only one sluice was working on the top gate, as has been the case on a couple of locks on the Clayden flight and of other locks on our trip. With this being a deep lock it was taken an age to fill. That's just the way it goes sometimes and just over an hour later our turn came to descend and continue on our way.

September Cru8se 2024

 At last we are off on our September Cruise. After arriving at the marina last weekend all ready to get off the weather took a turn for the worse and the strong winds and heavy rain did not appeal to Jenny and Sid as ideal travelling conditions.

So, lots of little jobs have been done together with lots of shopping and also plenty of rest have filled our time very nicely.

The temperatures dropped over the past two days with a nasty northerly airflow bringing near zero temperatures overnight. And yes, the stove has been lit and we have stayed cosy.
After all this very unseasonal weather for September it was so good to set sail at last on a beautiful Friday morning. The canal was not too busy and the locks were in our favour for much of the way as we made our way through the Claydon Flight and the further three locks taking us down to Cropredy.

So for our first night out we are moored on one of our favourite stretches, just above Slat Mill Lock. The evening sun is shining in a vast blue sky.
Sadly, no Internet here so this post will have to wait for another day.