Warwick

A 7am departure again, this time with the intention of reaching Warwick. We find working on our own through the large double locks is just as quick as doubled up with another boat, Pat working ahead setting locks and seeing the boat in and guarding the opposite gate with yours truly working the lock single handed from then on. So having cleared the three Calcutt Locks in 25 minutes we met Malestrom emerging from Ventnor Farm Marina and continued down to Leamington with them. Roy & Ann with two children made a good team so we whistled down the Stockton Flight only to come to a dead stop at Bascote staircase pair where there seemed to be a concentration of traffic all of a sudden. A lengthy wait ensured with quite a queue building up behind as well because effectively boats have to clear two locks at a time and even the use of the single lock below needs to be synchronized to keep traffic moving smoothly. Our intention was to moor up in the Saltisford Arm at Warwick, however, on investigating we would have been breasted up with the possibility of being unable to leave early. We were advised to moor up near the Hatton Flight itself, or within the flight between the second to fourth locks. We stopped before.
Cruise time 9hrs:05mins, 14.5 miles 26 locks.