Autumn Cruise: Day 25

There was a very atmospheric scene outside the boat this morning, with mist rising off the water and the sun trying to burn through the cloud.

We set off into the mist at 8.30 and soon reached the first lock of the day, Radford Bottom Lock, to begin our climb off the sump pound.  At the middle of the three Fosse Locks, we joined a hire boat which had just set off, and as they had plenty of crew I walked up to set the next lock.  They promptly stopped for water at Fosse Wharf, so we were on our own again.  On the approach to Wood Lock we passed a boat which appeared to be about to set off, so we waited for them in the lock.  It turned out to be a good move, as Linda and Steve on board Hydeaway were excellent locking companions.  We did the Bascote Locks, including the staircase pair.

Above Bascote Locks there’s a field where workers were harvesting hundreds of pumpkins.  There were huge crates of them at the top of the field, with many more to go.  We did the bottom two locks of the Stockton flight, which are a bit separated, then were into the main part of the flight.  A couple of times we met single boats coming down.

We completed the eight locks in the main part of the Stockton flight in an hour, which is pretty good going, thanks to having a system where someone would set ahead, while someone else would close up behind the boats.

We had lunch on the move above the Stockton Locks, on the way to Calcutt.  Our new friends had decided to come with us as we had such a good system going, even though they don’t usually do so much in a day.  They have just got a roving trader licence, as Steve is making fenders and Linda is doing crochet and embroidery.  They gave us one of the key rings Steve is making; there was a big bag of different colours to choose from.  It’s been put on our handcuff key.

We did the bottom two Calcutt Locks together, even though someone who came flying out of the marina did their best to get between us, then Hydeaway stopped on the wharf for diesel.  We went up the top lock and reversed onto the water point to fill the tank and get some washing going.  Adrian also went to the shop to get some milk and a bag of logs.  Setting off again we made our way to Napton Junction.  The countryside here really emphasises that we’ve climbed out of a valley.

We turned left at the junction towards Braunston, and moored up before Bridge 102, where there’s a nice view and it’s pretty quiet.

12 miles, 23 locks.  (255 miles, 281 locks)