Gutless Kayaking

The circus now met the crew of the Pisces, a 75 year old narrowboat that had seen service as a fire-boat on the Thames during WII, its distinctive thumping two pot Lister diesel would be a constant companion for the rest of the trip.  Another flight of locks meant that the kayaks remained on the narrow-boats as the circus climbed to the Braunston tunnel.  This mile and a half two-way tunnel was a serious challenge as Richard handed over to his first mate Stevo, who promptley bottled out when the first boat approached from the south. This turned out to be a wise move as the approaching boat bounced off the tunnel walls and crunched into the mother-ship. Not as bad as the Harecastle tunnel  last week when we lost the rudder, but enough to make our kayakers almost as suspicious of tunnels as they are of swans.
The day ended at the Wharf pub in Bugbrooke where Jane chatted up the barman and organised for the crew to shower in the chef’s lodgings and scored a free round of drinks to boot.

Our intrepid threesome continued south through the countryside south of Rugby, making good time until JP and Stevo noticed that they hadn’t sighted Justin for some time and, remembering their support role in the enterprise, pulled over to await his arrival.  After minutes dragged into minutes, Stevo hauled himself out of the kayak and retrieved his mobile from the boot to call the lad to enquire of his whereabouts.  Turned out that media commitments (Daily Mail) had delayed Justin from several bends back and after a short commercial break the crew were reunited.  Arrived in the canal-boat hub of Braunston and after climbing a very steep hill to the Old Plough Inn found the doors closing for 2:30 closing….Back down to the Boathouse for debriefing before a salute to Richard on Elysium as he passed by.

The day started with Richard handing out his three walkie-talkies so that the two narrow-boats and Justin could stay in contact when the kayakers reached the Newbold tunnel at the end of the day’s paddle.  The lads walked around the stop lock at the beginning of the Oxford canal and set off on a beautiful late summer’s day for a fairly uneventful 11 ½ mile stretch to Newbold. Such was the heat of the sun beating down on the lads that the stock of Juice Doctor isotonic drinks took a fair battering. The tunnel when reached turned out to have a disco theme as it is lit along it’s short length by coloured spotlights shining up the walls.  The kayakers paddled through as this is the one tunnel on the route that allows non-powered craft through.  Justin had a slight technical problem at the end as, when he was pulling his kayak on to the bank, his walkie-talkie slipped from his buoyancy vest, bounced on his kayak and disappeared under the surface of the canal…..

After a three mile run south of Polesworth the lies a set of 11 locks where the kayaks went back on top of Elysium and Stevo took up Mitch’s mantle as Richard’s first mate.  Richard talked him through the first lock before striding off down the towpath to set up the next set of lock gates, but after a couple of bumpy entries he was sliding the boat into the locks like a hand into a bespoke glove.
The lads set off rather late for the remaining 12 miles or so to Hawkesbury Junction (including the halfway point of the trip at bridge 19a) where they arrived at around 4 o’clock to meet up with the fourth of their auxiliary narrow-boats organised by Richard from the various community boat groups up and down the canals.  These groups encourage inner-city disadvantaged youth to enjoy life on the canal boats.  The Junction is where the Oxford canal starts off from the Coventry so next day will see the adventurers on a new waterway.