UK Canals - Journey reports

The Harefield Run

I left Paddington at 07:00 and then realised that I hadn't had the usual mug of coffee.  I had also forgotten to check the weed hatch, but some judicial use of reverse occasionally seemed to clear some plastic and things improved, however, nearing Alperton I had already nearly fallen asleep twice, so stopped outside Sainsburys for a mug of strong coffee.   Pressing on, the vibration from the tiller was getting unbearable, so I stopped mid stream to clear the weed hatch and had the satisfaction of a  good harvest of plastic.   After that the boat ran very smoothly and seemed faster. No other boats were moving until I passed a convoy just after Northolt and then one of those curious canal phenomena whereby never having seen sight of a boat in front for hours, you turn a corner and there one is, admittedly still some way in front.   Clearly, this boat was travelling very slowly and I was closing on it.   Fortunately, I came right up behind just at Bulls Bridge and it turned left.   I turned right and had a clear road again until the long straight past the gravel wharf when the same thing happened again.   This boat was so slow that when I caught up at West Drayton, tickover was still too fast.  So I overtook the boat at the first opportunity.  At Cowley this boat has disappeared and waiting for a gravel barge to emerge I was joined by Arundel, a 3 year old new working narrowboat boat also doing the Denham Gravel run.   Great to see a real working single handed boatman at work, quite put me to shame.  I asked if the gravel boats would prefer the exit gates left open.  "Of Course", he replied.  "Then you have a 50% chance of them being open when you arrive", looking at me as if questioning why I should ask such a stupid thing.  He was ahead of me at Uxbridge and the lock was full.   He just put the nose of the boat in the gates, left the boat in gear, and climbed forward through the bridge hole and worked the lock, opening just one gate and then moving over for me to enter.  Apart from shutting the gate I had nothing to do.   Again, he keeps the engine in gear with the boat just nudging the top gate.   After that, Denham Deep lock was no problem and arrival at the marina was at 14:15, 7-1/4 hours.

Next departure will be for the Beale Park IWA Festival leaving on 17th August.

Back to Paddington

Expecting guests for the return to Paddington this morning, we set about cleaning up after the night before, only to find the toilet blocked.  The macerator pump was jammed.  This is generally expected if some prohibited material has been dropped in, but nothing for it but to remove the toilet and dismantle the pump until the offending material can be removed.   This is a messy job.  First the toilet bowl has to be emptied for which purpose I managed to find a short length of tubing to act as a syphon, and No! I didn't suck on it.   The stack of "dog towels" usually reserved for wet dogs came in very handy and the offending material was a ball of toilet paper.   Clearly there must be suitable paper and unsuitable paper for electric macerator toilets.   More research required!

The trip back went very smoothly.   The weather was fine, Camden was as usual heaving with bodies and gongoozlers and once again I found the last vacant mooring at Paddington.  Here we properly met up with our fellow Braidbar boat "Sanity".   The guests left and I enjoyed some hospitality aboard Sanity before retiring to make the single handed journey back to Harefield tomorrow.

Limehouse (single handed)

Saturday 5th August

As I needed to be at Limehouse as early as possible (a) to help prepare for the evening party and (b) to get a mooring on the wall as near to the Cruising Association as possible, I left the Paddington mooring at 6:55.  Rather than disturb fellow moorers, I did a "stealth" departure, pushing the boat out into the basin by hand before starting the engine.  (What if it didn't start?!!!)  On arrival at the first lock - the paired Hampstead Road Lock - both gates were against me, so I selected the lock on the towpath side as this is potentially easier for running down to set the next lock.  However, the gates were sporting a BW notice with a red text highlighting the fact that as a single boat I MUST wait for another boat to share the lock with to avoid wasting water.  This was a little bizare because both a top and bottom paddle on the alternative lock were raised and water was gushing down the flight.   I decided to ignore the notice and continue and started to fill the lock.   At this point two other boats arrived to go down, and after helping the lock crew to close the bottom paddle with some difficulty (I remember this problem from before) suggested that they close both paddles on exit to conserve water as we had no indication as to who had opened them.    Now I had helpers to close gates behind me passage speeded up through the remaining two locks.  One was empty, the other full.   St Pancras was full and the bywash was massive here.   Entering Islington tunnel I found to my concern that the headlight was u/s.  Fortunately I found it was possible to line up the TV aerial with the light at the end of the tunnel rather like a gun sight and this proved perfectly effective in keeping me in the centre.   My worry was that a boat would attempt to enter the tunnel from the other end, because the slope of the roof tend to strike the handrail before the gunwale strikes the side and I doubt that two boats could pass even if they tried.   City Road Lock was empty with bottom paddles up and the self opening bottom gates I remembered still self open.   The towpath side ground paddle was faulty.   Proceeding on, a pattern was emerging.  Bottom gates open and paddles up.   My worry about a slow trip was put to rest when a up-coming boat announced itself and I was told that the next top gate was open for me.  Still water was rushing down the canal over the by-washes.  At Jonsons Lock, the bottom paddles were up again and so it remained until LImehouse, but the pound above Salmon Lane Lock was 9 inches down.   Was this the reason for the strong flows higher up the canal?

I found my mooring OK, right under the Cruising Association.   The boat was decorated with bunting and lights, the guests arrived, and the party was a great success.  You couldn't find a better venue if you tried - a balmy warm evening, great setting, excellent food provided - the staff couldn't have been more helpful, and finally a bed for the night just yards from the bar.

Paddington Basin (single handed)

Nuggler is on the move again, this time to Limehouse for the Nuggler's Lock Supervisor's 21 birthday party.  So this means leaving home early to beat the traffic, then to Little Venice or Paddington as a staging for the final leg to Limehouse.   There was much more canal traffic about than that we usually meet to the extent that I was lucky enough to find a boat just entering Denham Lock and so was able to join in.  Both of the locks below had the top gates open, so passage was fast.  As a single hander paired with a dual crewed boat I prefer to work my side just as if I was alone - so it worked out that although I allowed the other boat to leave first, I was first out of Cowley Lock because the other needed to stop to pick up crew, whereas I work from the lockside, rope the boat out and join it while moving having closed the gate. So I led down on to Bull's Bridge.  I turned off there in time to save having to follow a slower boat that I had caught up, and had no delays then on to Little Venice.   Mooring was a potential problem.  Nothing on the rings at Little Venice, and all the pontoons full at Paddington bar one which I took.   The mooring cleats on the pontoons are very badly positioned, so it is necessary to tie back and the boat is, in consequence not very secure.

Once moored, a quick visit to the TESCO local and then household chores.   Tomorrow I leave for Limehouse early.

Return to Harefield Marina

Needing to be home today, and bearing in mind the likelyhood of extra weekend traffic we left our mooring at 6:30 and were immediately joined by another boat off the Winkwell Visitor Moorings.  The relationship worked well enough until Hemel Hempstead when another boat moved out in front, effectively forcing us to join this boat in the first of the Apsley Lock.  This man & wife team looked highly organised immediately with the bike for the lock wheeling Annie and Dave at the helm.  With our luxury of an organised four man/woman crew we fairly shot down the cut and I was beginning to enviseage a 3 pm arrival at Harefield.  However, at Cassio Lock we found ourselves behing two single handers and upcoming boats, so quite a long wait there but time for lunch.  Annie was excellent at cycling on ahead and helping the single handers through with the aid of our lock-running crew, but a burst of opposite direction traffic really slowed things down.  After Rickmansworth we were in the clear again and gave us an arrival time of 16:00.   Once again, the car battery was absolutely flat, in spite of the extra large 1 foot square solar panel which is supposed to eliminate such problems.   There was nothing for it but to attach it to the boat batteries with jump leads and run the engine for 45 minutes.  Tomorrow will be maintenance and boat cleaning day.

Bourne End

A late start.  Off blocks at 08:00.  Approaching our first lock we were met by the outrider of a flotilla of 3 narrowboats, the crew of which were all on a corporate team exercise - to get to Leighton Buzzard in the fastest time possible.  By filling the lock and locking down we did not delay the first boat, but the remaining two were waiting for us below the next lock.   I wonder what their time will be in the end.   Being weekend, other traffic is likely to be heavier and will seriously impede their progress, so they might not make it in the 7 hours that we took.  Having an active crew of four is a serious luxury for us, so we made excellent time, first more more shopping at Waitrose in Berhamsted, then a leisurely lunch canalside before Bourne End.  Exactly while mooring up for the promised barbecue, the rain started.

Cowroast and Cow Roast

We heard last night that Gemma and Sam will be able to join us for the weekend.  The nearest railhead to our route will be Tring, so we needed to be sure to reach the top of the Marsworth flight of locks.  We were aware that Friday morning is a big turnround day at Wyvern Shipping in Leighton Buzzard and the boats were likely to be gathering below Leighton Lock for the final push this morning, so we left extra early at 6 am.   Sure enough we were at the lock first, joined by the first of the hirers also anxious to beat the rush and get a better spot on the hire base moorings.  So by 7:35 we were in TESCOs doing last minute shopping for our extra guests.   Moving off we soon reached Grove Lock and were joined by "Lazy Days" who had been lying in wait a way back until a boat passed, because it "is much easier doing broad locks when can be shared".   There are 17 locks to the top from Grove and a good working relationship soon developed with Pat ahead preparing the gates and the other boat's crew closing behind and walking on.   So in spite of following another boat ahead we reached Tring bridge by 15:10.   Our original intention had been to return to Bulbourne for the night to avail ourselves of the Junction Arms.  However, first mate on Lazy Days suggested  Cow Roast pub across the main road from the Cowroast lock.  It is now run as a pub and restaurant serving the "best Tai food in the county".   Indeed, it lived up to our expectations - another chance finding to put in the log book.  This will definitely be on our list of mandatory stops in the future.

Soulbury Three

This time the planner puts us at Stoke Hammond Lock for the night, but one lock further on is "the Three Locks" pub, so we aimed there.   Pat had some shopping to do at the large TESCO in Wolverton, so that accounts for one hour.   Then we had the long run through Milton Keynes, coming up behind slower boats always a risk - and sure enough.   Funny really, because the speed difference is usually only a fraction of a mile/hour, yet it is always frustrating.   The best way of handling this is to find some excuse to stop, so we pulled in for fuel at Willowbridge Marina (50p self service).  Continuing on we came up behind a Wyvern hire boat that had passed us on the wharf and joined them up to the top of the three locks.   The pub looked run down and not well looked after, though clearly a popular spot in the day with gongoozlers. 

Return to Stoke Bruerne

We have a CIBC barbecue invitation for Saturday at Bourne End.  Nick Atty's Canal Planner indicates a timing of about 7 hours per day to get there and breaking this up into useful overnight moorings puts us in Stoke Bruerne tonight.   We left at 6:40 and arrived at 14:00 after a 1/2 hour water stop at Gayton Junction.  Weather stiflingly hot again.  The cool air in thte tunnel and occasional roof "showers" were very welcome.   Lucky too to find some shade in the tunnel cutting.  Eating out again in "The Boat" Inn.

Rugby - a little further on!

On arrival at Rugby we had moored for the supermarket.  The better morrings, limited to about 5 boats are on the other side of the canal where a small park has been created, ideal for getting the table and chairs out and indeed for a barbeque.   So when the opportunity presented itself yesterday, I moved across.  Pat set off for London for an overnight stop and will be returning later today.  Last night was spent nattering to a very talkative local and to the owners of nb Ratae, Len & Marlene.   Between these three the world was put to rights and various items of knowledge exchanges as well as narrowboating stories.  Ratae is the latin for Leicester I learned. 

As these are 24 hour moorings I am duty bound to move, so I took the boat nearer to the aqueduct over the River Avon which gives good access to the railway station.  I has been a roasting hot day again, unhappily for the dogs who really suffer, so by moving I also managed to find some shade.  A number of minor maintenance chores were undertaken.

Rugby

Again, just cruising on the level today.  We arrived at Rugby at about midday.   The North Oxford is a well engineered canal with deep cuttings and embankments giving it a straight course.  Sadly in many ways it seems neglected.   There are shallows, and the deep cutting side near Brinklow has slumped.  The towpath in many places is just a jungle, pretty well impassable for a cyclist.  Vegetation also obscures many bridge approaches.   Rugby boasts a useful supermarket by bridge 58.

The Greyhound - Sutton Stop

Just as we were about to leave a hedgehog trotted up along the towpath.  It seemed quite unconcerned by our interest.  Today's cruise is just clocking miles to Hawkesbury Junction - Coventry Canal with North Oxford.  The weather cold at first became brighter, then sunnier, then hot.  All the exitement of the day was at the junction where the two canals run parallel for a short distance requiring a 180 degree turn into a stop lock.  It was very busy.  A hire boat appeared to be attempting the turn from the opposite direction, but then it wasn't.  This spoiled my turn.  There was no opportunity for dallying as the wind was in control. Eventually it all got sorted out and eventually we found a mooring, although on the curve which is always difficult for us with the dogs.  They don't like jumping the gap, so we have to leave the stern sticking out and that requires three mooring pins.  Once all sorted we repaired to the Greyhound pub for the afternoon and when rehydrated back to the boat to dress for dinner in the restaurant.   As on our last visit the meal was excellent - three courses and wine for £50.

Atherstone

Mike S is a yacht skipper more used to ocean racing than narrowboating, so taking the helm came naturally until the quirks of shallow canal navigating manifested themselves, like bank effect and lack of control in reverse.  Much of the Coventry Canal is in large pounds and our planned day today would have involved no locks at all, so we decided to go on to Atherstone which would then include the two locks at Glascote as well as the 11 at Atherstone itself.  Mike soon got the hang of sterring through narrow locks, so Pat and I were able to enjoy the luxury of working the locks.  Glascote, always a bottleneck, involved a wait of three boats including two single handers who were helping each other.   Then the long pound through Tamworth which brought no surprises.  Finally, approaching Atherstone bottom lock we found ourselves first, so set up our usual team but with the luxury of a "full time" helmsman, Mike.  Pat ahead soon radioed back that there were boats ahead and soon enough, even with an opposite direction boat to slow us down, we were up behind a pair of small boats working the locks together.  With a crew of four they should have been able to leave us in the dust, but were not employing labour saving techniques.  At the marina, a boat shot out in front and this held both teams up, so at the top we found that we had taken 3 hours for 11 single locks compared with 3 hours for the 21 double locks of Hatton.  Mike's journey back to Rugeley would be problematic possibly.   There is only one train a day it seems from Atherstone to Rugeley.  He will need three buses to get back.   Tomorrow we hope to be at Hawkesbury Junction for a great meal at the Greyhound (table booking made this time!).

Fradley

We wern't the first to leave our moorings this morning, but the earlier boat was obviously on a mission because we didn't catch up until very much later when we passed it moored.  Favourable opposite direction traffic helped us through Colwich Lock and before long we were at Rugeley on a very convenient mooring just next to bridge 66 for the shops.  We were expecting Mike S, guest crew for two days, so needed shopping and a launderette.  There is a good Morrisons nearby, but the lauderette was more difficult.  Neither "yell.co.uk" nor "upmystreet.com" had any reference, but a chance conversation in one of the shops proved to the contrary and with the help of a street cleaner we found the said launderette with Barbara, its very welcoming and helpful attendant.  Mike arrived on a folding bike at around midday, so bike duly stowed, we set off for Fradley.  It was a loveley sunny day, so lunch was enjoyed bankside at a site just before the narrows at Armitage.  Fradley Locks, beginning with Woodend Lock were not congested and we made a straight descent.  Unusually there seemed to be plenty of moorings available on the Coventry.   So we enjoyed a pub meal and some beers at the Swan and had an early night.

Radford Bridge, Stafford

Our lock problem solved, we set off early expecting to do a long day as Grannie needs to get a train home on Monday and Stafford seems the best bet.   The nearest the canal gets to Stafford is Radford Bridge and this will extend our planned cruising day, especially as we were delayed yesterday.   All went well, in fact we arrived at Gailey by 11:30.  Then our troubles started.  There was a long queue for the lock, the first downhill lock after the long top pound.   We should have expected it really, especially being a Sunday.   So that was an hour delay.  Then the boat in front of us was a single hander.  This in itself should present no problem except that the boat in front was helping him.   This is madness, because normally, once started on a flight, boats sequence themselves so that there is no delay.  But with the boat in front of him waiting to see him through there was always a delay at the next lock because there were two boats arriving at once and not one.   Ideally, it is the boat behind that should help if help is needed, and the best help is someone to close the gates behind the single hander on exit.  The boat in front would have been more useful telling opposite direction traffic to leave the top gates open for him.   With this cumulative delay it was 6 pm before we reached our destination and our friends on ADA who had been waiting for us.  An excellent meal and a few beers were enjoyed that evening in the "Radford Bank" pub and carvery.

Vandalism at Whitwick

We did a routine early 7:15 start as we were technically behind schedule.  Our last night should have been at Rocky Lock.  The canal is shallow overall, so progress was slow.  Later in the day evidence of dredging was seen, so BW is on to it.  I had forgotten the extent of the red sandstone cliffs that mark the eastern side of this canal, pretty well from Austcliffe to Rocky Lock.  At Botherham staircase Pat had a short "discussion" with boaters coming the otherway as to why she had to drain the upper staircase chamber without letting them enter the lock.   In fairness, from above the lock, there is nothing to show that this is in fact a staircase.  The bridge between the chambers completely obstructs the view to the lower chamber.   I would imagine that flooding is commonplace.   Bratch locks were impressive and we were lucky to be able to tag onto the end of the queue of two other boats going up.   The attendant lock keepers admitted that they were only there really to stop fisticuffs.    Our luck gave out at Whitwick.   A queue of seven boats foretold trouble ahead.   It seems that vandals had removed the pins holding the bottom gate retaining straps and when the lock was drained the gates fell in.   A picture is better than a thousand words!  It would seem that we are here for the night! 

PS.  16:30 hrs.   Gates back on now and traffic disipating.

Stewponey

Wilsons delivered the repaired cratch cover just before our 24 hour mooring deadline, so we moved on to the water point and then the two more locks to Stewponey for the night.

Upton upon Severn

We were very disappointed with Upton on Severn.  Sure, the pubs looked very picturesque and the church is clearly a landmark with its copper cupula dome.   However we needed diesel, so I tried telephoning the marina, but each time got an answerphone "Sorry there is no one to take your call at the moment.  Please leave a message.." etc.   Now we all know that this means that the only person on duty is busy and that they will never have time to ring back within any meaningful time interval if at all.  So we carried on and entered the marina, found the signs to the refuelling pontoon, always of course in the farthest corner.  Only when we moored up did we see the words in small type at the bottom of the opening hours notice "Closed on Tuesdays".   Nothing in the answerphone message, nothing on the marina sign at the entrance which suggested that all services were available.  Our verdict:  Zero marks for customer service. Moving on, the dogs needed a comfort stop.  Thumbs down for the much vaunted visitor moorings.  Only room there for two boats ( 4 if two moor on the wong side).   The moorings by the pub were full, one boat having great difficulty getting off, clearly well aground.  After a short wait a space on the steep stepped wall became available, although one would need rock climbing gear to get off there.   Not a hope for dogs and certainly not grannie.   So we carried on to the racecourse public moorings at Worcester.

Gloucester Docks again

With the Saul festival over, it is time to start the journey home - the long way round.   Our first port of call is Gloucester Docks again, mainly to avail ourselves of the shops for provisions, especially dog food.   Weather still hot, but the breeze travelling at Warp Factor 5 along this broad canal (speed limit 6 mph) was very refreshing.   The new works for the bypass bridge where the canal is diverted are progressing and the new bridge control tower and sections of the bridge itself are taking shape.  The original line of the canal has been dammed off and is being pumped out.  The canal narrows for the "bridge hole" and visibility restricted round the corner.   If any bridge needs lights, then this one does now.   We were having to wait for bridges that need to be swung, mainly because of the amount of traffic.  Clearly the bridge keepers would prefer boats to pass in groups.  I did feel sorry for the Hempsted Road Bridge keeper who has to wind this busy road bridge manually.   He says it is affected by the heat.

Gloucester Docks

The lock keeper opened up a bit early this morning, so we were entering the automated lock some minutes before the official 9.am opening time in company with nb Claro who would be turning upstream at the junction with the River Severn.  As we joined the Severn, I called Upper Load Lock to advise the keeper of our intentions.  The lock lies on a bend in the river and the keeper thus has no visibility for any distance upstream. Moreover, the lock is vast and takes ages to fill, so even though the traffic light was flashing red, we still had a 10 minute wait before the gates opened and we got the green.  The lock has wall bars, so securing the boat is easy.  After a while, the water level had dropped about 4 feet, and with an initial creaking sound, the bottom gates opened and we were on our way.  There isn't much to say about the 3 hour run down the Severn at what must be the widest part of the generally navigable river.  Haw bridge is one landmark and the slowly eroding Wainlode Hill another.   At the Upper Parting, 3 miles out from Gloucester Lock, we take the East Channel and call the lock.  We were told that the lock would be readied for us, but as we approached it was evident from the R/T traffic that we were going to have to wait.   Running down river, the GPS was registering 5.0 mph at our usual canal cruising engine settings, and in the East Channel this went up to 5.2 mph. Evidently quite a current running, but running towards the lock mooring wall, it seemed low.  We caught a wall chain to the stern of the boat well back from the lock and tied up the boat.   The true level of the current running then became easily visible.  Even so, when the lock emptied, the surge was such as to push the boat backwards, hence the warning to keep well clear of the lock in this manoeuvre.   The picture shows a boat exiting from the lock with the bridge lifted.   The historic Gloucester warehouses can be seen, now converted to commercial and residential premises.   We were asked to wait in the lock for 5 other boats to join us, so all in all we were waiting an hour before we found our mooring.   Tomorrow, we have a rest day before moving on to Saul.

Tewkesbury

After leaving our moorings, we reached the deep Pershore Lock with its ground paddle, the only one on the River.  After that, the frequency of locks decreases and the cruises in between become more lengthy.  It was about midday before we reached Tewkesbury, its proximity marked from miles away by the Abbey tower.   We found moorings easily on the lock-keepers side (£3.00 per night).  Shopping trips followed including several visits to the Berkeley Arms, a traditional 16th century pub.  The picture shows the moorings.  The lock entrance is behind the second boat.

Pershore

Much cooler today, more wind and overcast with threats of showers.  Whilst thinking about getting going a boat came up the lock, so there was no choice really but to take advantage.  We cruised straight through, arriving at the keeper operated lock at Evesham just before 9:00 when he opens up.  We took the opportunity to moor briefly on the other side while Pat went off to get a newspaper and some bread.  Once through the lock we continued on.  There are ample moorings for the town below the lock, we noticed.  Round the bend in the river we were reminded on the rope operated ferry and gave the suggested three blasts on the horn.   We saw no sign of the ferry last year, but this time the ferry operator was waiting for us to pass before crossing the river to pick up a passenger.  He actually winds the rope up on a winch to use it, so that it is stretched across the river at about neck height!   A little further on there is a free pump out facility, just before the railway bridge.  The control box consisting of a rotary time switch only is at the top of the bank and the pipework on the quayside (obviously).  So simple.  Just turn it on and use it.   If it times out before you have finished, you just dial in another 5 minutes.  Whilst turning to moor up we caught a gimpse of fellow Braidbar Boat 'Farne' on their way to Saul where we had planned to meet up.   They were ahead of us on the locks further on and seem not to have stopped here in Pershore.  The moorings here certainly are very pleasant and definitely worth scheduling in.  There is a grass recreation area betweeen the river and the football ground with a supermarket very close by.   Pat has gone off to recce the pubs for dining out tonight.

River Avon

A street market was setting up in Stratford by the basin at 6 am and we were in no hurry to leave, perhaps misguidedly.  So we waited for the morning papers and strolled around the market.  At 10:00 we entered the river lock watched by only a small group of gongoozlers and set off down river.  It took a while to remind ourselves of the heavy steel gated locks with their neat French winding gear.  At Stan Glover lock we stopped for lunch and water.  Setting our table up on the beautifully kept riverside lawn we did things in style – canapés and Pimms.  The plan was to stop at Bidford, but here we had to pay for our late start.  All the moorings were taken, so we moved on and settled at Robert Aickman Lock.   The wind is getting up and rain is forecast.

Stratford upon Avon

Stratford

It had rained heavily overnight and was continuing this morning.  So it would be the blue deck shoes (that stain my feet blue) and the Gortex coat with hood.  I got the bike ready for the Wilmcote flight.  On a lock flight single handed, without the luxury of crew going forward, it makes life much easier to be able to go straight from one lock to the next.  So I use the bike.  Once in the lock (going down) I extract the bike from the front well deck, and prepare locks according to lock +2: wind one top paddle.  Lock +1 open the gate.  Lock –1 : close bottom gate, then replace bike, drop the lock and shoot straight from one to the next.   Then start all over again.   If the locks are really close then I leave the bike out, but this means one walk.  Doing this I found the first two bottom gates closed themselves which made getting the boat out of the lock difficult as the gate wouldn't stay open long enough for me to get on the boat and drive it out.   So I had to use the rope to get the boat moving, then rush to open the gate before the boat hit it, then wait until the boat had jammed the gate open.   Nearing the bottom of the flight I waited for an upcoming which helped.  The rain had stopped.  The bottom pound was very low.  Apparently a piece of galvanised iron had jammed a paddle open overnight.  One of the boats below was aground and the skipper asked if I could help with a pull from the waterside so as to speak.   Thus I met Peter of  nb Tardebigge, Sheila and Norma who followed me down into Stratford and very helpfully closing gates as I went.   At the first bridge hole the boat was scraping the bottom and almost stopped, so I leapt off and helped the boat through.   Tardebigge following got totally stuck on the bottom.   Finding the nearby next lock empty I debated whether or not to fill it.   I decided in favour of doing so hoping that it might help draw them through.   They did appear shortly after.

 

Turning into Bancroft Basin is such a contrast. From the solitude of the canal one suddenly encounters hundreds of tourists, the colourful basin itself, street performers rousing the crowds and the beautiful gardens with the River Avon backdrop and the Shakespeare Theatre all make for a special scene.   Us boaters also provide a bit of the action. We found good moorings on the pontoons.  Off now to buy my 14 day Avon Licence (£44) and maybe an ice cream.

Wilmcote

The plan today was to go to Preston Bagot.  However, this seemed too short a day given that we are planning to meet Pat in Stratford tomorrow and there are some 15 or so locks to negotiate.   So we left our overnight moorings at 7:25 and after a few minutes cruising,turned left at Kingswood Junction and then on down the Stratford Canal.  Compared with our experience last year the canal was empty of boats.  In fact we met our first opposite direction at the bottom of the Lapworth Flight, and nothing appeared to be going our way.  So, most of the locks were in our favour, and once the traffic picked up, most of the boats were there to help us with bottom gates etc.  This was particularly helpful with the few locks associated with bridges where it would otherwise be necessary to exit, moor up and return on foot to close the bottom gates.   As a routine, I rope the boat out and close the gate before stepping down onto the roof to regain the boat.   None of the locks here are particularly deep.   We lunched at Preston Bagot and I was not very impressed with the general ambience.  At Wooten Warwen we stopped again to visit the farm and craft shop - actually, more of a country department store operating from the various converted stables.  There are antiques, boutiques, garden centres and the food shop with a marvellous selection of cheeses   Continuing on over the famour and slightly scary Edstone aqueduct where, because the towpath is at the level of the bottom of the trough and the sides of the trough cannot be seen looking forwards from the centre of the steering position, the boat appears to be floating in mid air. 

We reached Wilmcote moorings at 16:30.   Shortly after, I found out why the canal had been so quiet.  The Anglowelsh fleet passed us full of jolly hire boaters on their first day out.

Hatton

Left at 6:30, started Hatton at 6:50 and reached the top at 9:50.  (just for the record)    Pat leaves me today to return home once more nad will rejoin the boat in Stratford on Saturday.

Cape of Good Hope

Got back from London in good time and rejoined the boat.  It is only a short ride and two locks to the pub of the title.   Found a mooring OK and enjoyed a traditional pub meal.

Warwick

Needing to return home to collect Grannie and the two labradors we had arranged with Kate Boats at Warwick for overnight moorings.   We had in mind the 12:21 train, so an early start was necessary.  So we did a stealth departure at 6:30 and pottered along the lines of moored boats at tickover.  Soon we arrived at the Bascote staircase and then set about the descent down to Radford bottom lock.   All the locks were against us bar two, so Pat went ahead for the first few, but after Bascote they are spaced too far apart for practical walking.   Halfway down we came across a BW crew having their early morning cuppa.  They were waiting management instructions to close the lock to repair paddle gear.   They explained that in the old days they would just have got on with it, but now they have to have a Health & Safety assessment including working down holes, working behind dams etc, environmental assessment, lifting assessment, and more besides.  Failure for BW staff to wear a life jacket and pee-ing in the hedge are both disciplinary offences, so obviously, before they can work on the lock they need a lot of equipment including toilets.   No wonder our licence fees go up inexorably.   For our part ( with eyes closed so we couldn't see because we had not carried out the above procedures except for a job appraisal and that in our heads) we ferried one of the guys across the canal halfway down the next pound to drop a plank in a weir.

Two locks from the end opposite direction traffic had set the locks in our favour, but at the bottom lock some lock wheeler had got there first and drained the lock.   We had to wait ages for his boats to appear, easily enough time for us to have been down and gone saving him the work and BW the water.

Needing provisions we made for TESCO Warick.  To our surprise we found them occupied by what looked like residential boats with washing lines in the trees and other furniture on the bank side.   This inspite of a BW 24 hour max stay notice.   Considering the convenience of the mooring site for TESCO and its popularilty with boaters it is really surprising that there are no mooring rings or more ujpgrading of the site.  This should be a 4 hour max shopping mooring .  In the picture (click to enlarge) a Wyvern boat has to breast up to a long stayer.

Kate Boats were very helpful, and we even got an earlier train than planned.

Long Itchington

A leisurely start – 7:30.  A narrowboat called Bijou joined us and Terry offered to help us as well, so we shot down to Braunston.   Changing our plans, as we do, we decided to carry on to Calcutt Boats for a pump out and refuel as Braunston was still asleep.  Then on again down the rest of the Calcutt Locks and on to Stockton Top Lock were a single boat (Thomas) had just started descending.  So they offered to wait for us and we shot down there as well, mob handed for crew, but not perfectly organised nonetheless.   We are now seriously ahead of schedule.    Our plan was to shoot home on Wednesday, pick up the dogs and Grannie and return, but now we can afford the time to do an overnight.   Leaving a boat overnight in Leamington is not recommended, so we have been doing some research and can probably use a boatyard in Warwick.

Very poor signals for the last few days, so communication has been difficult. No 3G on the Vodafone card since leaving home, so the pictures I have been saving will have to wait. It just takes too long on GPRS. (Since updated at home on broadband)

Braunston Top Lock

An early start again, first the tunnel, then the long drag to the bottom of Buckby.  Elinor of Rickmansworth which we had passed moored near Blisworth came up behind at a rate of knots, so we let them pass.  However, there they were waiting at the bottom of the flight so be joined Dave & Pauline for the climb.  They moor at Aylesbury and were on their way to Braunston to pick up a new boat.   Time went very quickly as it does in good company.   Our plan was to spend the night at the top, but there were no moorings available, so the best thing seemed to be to do the Braunston Tunnel and moor at the top of the Braunston flight.  In spite of the fact that there is an historic boat rally next weekend, the moorings were empty apart from a Canaltime.   I did some roof painting and Pat did some cleaning.  After supper of spicy sycilian sausage and pasta, salad, garlic bread with a bottle of Negroamaro followed by strawberries & cream we set off down the flight to try and get a mobile phone signal.  On the way we met the Canaltime crew who were wondering about the matter of where to turn their 45 foot boat.  Our advice was that they should go down to the next pound where there was plenty of room.  At the bottom, our mobiles leaped into life and I learned that I am a grandfather – Lee my first daughter had sprogged.   A celebratory pint and return to the boat.  Terry and Doris, our Canaltime folks had decided to turn the boat, so we gave a hand and spent a very enjoyable rest of the evening chatting over a bottle of wine.