It was gone 8.15 when we set off this morning, with Adrian going down to set Cape Top Lock. There was a boat coming up the bottom one, so we could swap in the middle.
The crew of that boat had useful info to impart: the moorings right outside Warwick Tesco were full, but there was a gap between two boats just before the bridge. Before getting there, though, we passed the now closed Kate Boats base, where there’s massive building going on, both sides of the canal. The new places opposite have been given features matching the Kate building, such as grey bricks over the windows and a circle of grey bricks in the gable end.
We stopped before the Tesco bridge and walked down to the supermarket to do a decent sized shop, including fresh stuff and more wine. Just before we set off again, the boat that was moored in front of us went past, and we followed them all the way to Radford Bottom Lock. We also passed Momentous, who’ve done just slightly fewer miles and locks than us, since we saw them on the bank holiday weekend! We teamed up with Atlast at the locks, and gradually worked our way up. I walked the whole way. Before Welsh Road Lock, the conveyor that was over the canal at the HS2 works has been taken down, and is now in bits in the field.
Adrian, being on the boat and more able to see over the hedges, could see tunnel portals. We’d caught up with another boat, who had waited at the lock for his locking partner who must have stopped without telling them. We then followed up.
At Bascote, the single boat was going up and two were coming down so we waited again. Then the single boat said we should do the staircase ahead of him.
The wind was beginning to get up (there’s a weather warning for a storm much further west). We carried on to the rings just before Bridge 26 at Long Itchington. It was gone 2pm so we had a late lunch and then did a circular walk down to Long Itchington village, and back via the cycle path and the canal. I’m about to make the batter for a toad in the hole, and a crumble. The blackberries on our route have been a real disappointment; most of the hedges we’ve stopped by have had no brambles and all (but loads of rose hips and hawthorn berries). So today we actually bought some blackberries to go with our apples.
9 miles, 12 locks. (349 miles, 281 locks)
2 comments:
Cheeky! Was good to see you again today, albeit briefly. Need to tie you down to a bit longer next time. Enjoy the last bit of your trip, the dogs say hi. Take care both
I gave up hanging on to some apples for a crumble and made them into flapjack instead. If I'd not been hobbling everywhere when we were at Hazelford Lock on the Trent we'd have been swimming in them, buts the only place we've been with an abundance this year sadly.
Enjoy your last few days.
Pip NB Oleanna
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