Wednesday 28th March 2007
Kicklewell Spinney Bridge - Crick (14¾ miles, 0 locks)
After Husbands Bosworth tunnel, we stopped at Kilworth Wharf boatyard. I was not impressed by the state of our chimney. The coolie hat had disappeared about a year ago and the rest of it had subsequently lost the will to live.
So out with the old and in with the new. We wanted a double skin version to limit the amount of tar that runs down the roof and were recommended a twelve inch high model as being more suitable for use while cruising. Is that why the coolie went missing on our old fifteen inch chimney?
I also replaced one of the mooring spikes that had been bent through 45 degrees. I can only imagine that it had been driven half-way into very hard ground and then the rope tied through the loop at the top. I always prefer to tie down at ground level, using a clove hitch to make sure that the pin stays with the rope if it pulls out of the ground.
We carried on towards Crick, stopping for lunch in the middle of nowhere.
Back at Crick, we called back at ABNB and were shown round Barling. It was an interesting layout, but even though we are both of slim build, we were put off by the extremely narrow corridor past the bathroom and the lack of headroom in the raised lounge. However, Jen has now changed her opinion of cratches, the one on Barling being particularly attractive.
Returning to Hawksmoor, I finished polishing the remaining two brass mushrooms and the tiller arm while Tess played with her two new friends, a couple of other Jack Russells.
We treated ourselves to another takeaway from The Royal Oak and the landlord welcomed Tess into the pub so we could have a quick pint while our food was being prepared.