To Crick: Day 13

A funny thing happened just as we were getting ready to set off.  I was trying to take a side fender up, when a man walking along the towpath checked I was who he thought I was.  It was Richard Parry, the chief exec of CRT, on his way to a meeting at Hatton.  We had a chat about various things before he continued along the towpath.  I followed a couple of minutes later with a windlass, while Adrian brought the boat.  I had set the top lock by the time he arrived.

The second lock was full with a gate open, but the next two were empty.  

As I filled the fourth lock a volunteer lockie on a bike turned up, and offered to go down and set ahead for us — which is the sort of offer that makes a huge difference.  We were soon going past the CRT building, and then into the thick of the flight, with the tower of Warwick church in the distance.

The volunteer kept a couple of locks ahead, and was later joined by another.  Then, more than half way down, we swapped with a boat going up.  The lockie with the bike joined them on the way up, while the other one, who’s based at the bottom of the flight, continued to set ahead for us.  I asked him if he’d thought about getting a bike too, and he said the other guy used to be an RAF pilot so needed a mechanism for everything, while he’d been in the infantry!  They’ve worked on the flight together for nine years.  The bottom half of the flight has the locks much further apart, so having them set makes even more of a difference.  

We were soon at the bottom, and had done all 21 big locks in two and a half hours — which we thought was pretty good going.  We continued round the corner to the Cape moorings, where you often wonder if you’ll get a space.  Today, there was just one boat immediately beyond the bridge, but the rest of the length was completely empty.  We chose a sunny spot, with a bit of grass beside the boat rather than concrete.  It was only a little past 11 o’clock.

After lunch we decided we’d have a walk into Warwick, as it’s a long time since we’ve been to the town.  We had a good look around at some of the buildings, including the Lord Leycester Hospital.

The Market Place was full of people enjoying a drink in the sunshine.

At St Mary’s Church, we paid £5 to go up the tower, for great views in all directions, including across Leamington, towards the Cotswolds, and of course Warwick Castle.  Having paid, they take you out to the porch and unlock a secret door where the stairs start.

We spent quite a lot of time trying to work out where Hatton Locks were, and we might have identified the general area!  The 160 steep spiral stairs seemed worse on the way down than the way up.

We walked a slightly different route back to the boat.  Another couple of boats have joined us on the moorings, but it’s still very quiet.

3 miles, 21 locks.  (83 miles, 94 locks)

Wending to Wales: Day 30

We thoroughly enjoyed seeing Bob and June last night, and catching up on various news from the past year.  The food at The Boat was good, but the pub was too dark, the music was too loud, and the service was shockingly slow.  We had to go and ask for someone a couple of times.

We had a tentative agreement with the boat from yesterday that we’d team up today for Knowle and Hatton Locks.  They also knew we needed to water up.  So we set off at 7.30 on a very calm, still morning.    We’d only been going a few minutes, though, before it started to rain; then it turned heavy, with thunder and lightning.  I resorted to putting on my waterproof trousers.  We got to the top of Knowle in about an hour and stopped on the water point.  There’s a full range of services there, and we got the washing machine going.  At about 9, two boats arrived, our friends on on Conqueror, preceded by another that had been moored at Catherine de Barnes, Firefly.  We let Firefly go down first, and teamed up behind them.  It rained pretty much the whole time.

Shortly after leaving the bottom lock, there was a dramatic change in the weather.  Suddenly the sun was out and the temperature rising.

It’s a while since we’ve done the stretch between Knowle and Kingswood, and I didn’t remember much of it at all.  Then we passed Kingswood Junction, and were on to more familiar waters, including crossing Rowington Embankment, and going through the very wet Shrewley Tunnel, the one with the foot tunnel alongside.

We had lunch on the move, and always had Conqueror in sight in front of us.  At the top of the locks, Firefly was waiting for the water point to become free, so our two boats headed down.  It was about 12.45.

As we approached the volunteer lockie station about four locks down, a few volunteers popped out and lent a hand.  One of them joined us for a few locks.  We were also getting on very well with Richard and Sharon; Richard was buzzing back and forth on his Brompton setting ahead.  There was a brief pause while we waited for a single boat coming up.

They had a lockie with them and had been leaving a gate open, so Richard cycled down and opened the second gate of the next few locks, but once we were out of the thick and the locks were further apart we were left to our own devices.

About four locks from the bottom we caught up with a single hire boat going down, so we had a bit of a wait at each one.  Even so, we completed the 21 locks in the flight in 2hrs and 45 mins, which isn’t too bad.  In the bottom lock, Richard cracked open a keg of beer bought from the pub last night!  They were heading to the Saltisford Arm, and we continued round the corner to moor on the Cape moorings.  We hadn’t been tied up long when the rain came back with a pretty sharp shower.

14 miles, 26 locks.  (340 miles, 269 locks)

Autumn Cruise: Day 9

We had a great evening yesterday with Bob and June.  Bob picked us up at the bridge near where we were moored, and took us back to their house, where June had cooked a lovely dinner.  We had plenty to catch up on over the past year, and then we were delivered back to the boat.

This morning we were up early, on a nice sunny day.  We were on the move at 7.40, starting down the remaining 15 Lapworth Locks.  It’s a very pretty flight, one of our favourites.

In the thick of the flight we met two boats coming up, but at least they were in pounds where passing each other wasn’t too tricky.

At the bottom, we met a volunteer lock keeper who lives on a boat there, and has a Braidbar on order, so we had a good chat about that.  A boat was coming up the bottom lock, so that was one of the few we didn’t have to turn.

We got to the Lapworth Link in just under two hours, which we thought was pretty good going.  We turned right out of Kingswood Junction, with bright sunshine in our eyes.  The scene as we crossed the Rowington Embankment was glorious.

The sunshine also made some great reflections at the far end of Shrewley Tunnel, which was extremely drippy inside.

We got to the top of Hatton locks just before 11.30, and Adrian set the top lock.  While the boat was going down, he went to set the second lock, and then a volunteer lock keeper who’d gone to get a coffee from the cafe came up and offered to help.  He started setting ahead, which was great as each lock was ready by the time we got there.  About six locks down we had a few minutes pause, as a boat was on the way up and the lockie with them had set ahead perhaps slightly too many locks.  We made use of the time by having lunch, which Adrian had prepared in the lock-free section, and admiring the view down the hill to Warwick Church.

Our lock keep stuck with us all the way down to two locks from the bottom, but because he was setting ahead we hardly saw him.  His help was really useful, though, and he really knew what he was doing.  It also helped that the weather was beautiful.

We completed all 21 big locks in two and three-quarter hours, which again was good going.  We moored up along at the Cape, where there was only one other boat; a couple more have arrived since.  Adrian had a call at 4pm, so while he did that I walked up to Sainsbury’s for some shopping, so we don’t need to stop tomorrow.  It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable day’s boating, and with 36 locks in the day we know we’ve done some work!

9 miles, 36 locks.  (124 miles, 117 locks)

Autumn Cruise: Day 6

Another bright and sunny morning.  We left our very quiet moorings at about 8.15 and headed to the water point at Bascote Wharf, a couple of bridges away.  There we topped up the tank while starting a wash load.  Once that was done we continued to Bascote Locks.  The first two are a staircase pair.

A single hander was ahead of us, and waited at the third lock while filling the one below.  He had two Jack Russells who knew exactly what was going on and kept a beady eye on everything.  After the four locks at Bascote is Splash Bridge; I’d like to know how it got its name.

At Welsh Road Lock the lock cottage had a cool box outside offering eggs at £2 for a half dozen.  Not cheap, but we splashed out.  Four of the six are blue.

Our single handed lock partner was mooring up below this lock, but we carried on.  We passed a boat at the next lock, one of the very few moving boats we’ve seen today.  The subsequent locks all needed filling, suggesting they’d only just set off.  Radford Bottom Lock brings you down into the sump pound, and we continued through Leamington Spa, where there are lots of new houses being built, and there is some quality graffiti.  Or it might be actual art.

We paused opposite the Morrison’s on the edge of Leamington, as Adrian needed to pick up an order from an Amazon locker there.  While he was there, he also did a quick shop.  We set off again, had lunch on the move, and moved almost seamlessly from Leamington to Warwick.  Kate Boat’s was busy with hire boaters loading their boats and being shown what to do.  At the Cape Locks, the first uphill ones this side of the valley, the bottom lock was empty and a boat was coming down the top one, so it couldn’t have worked out better.  There was loads of space above the locks, so we moored up at about 2pm.  Shortly afterwards, the boat behind us moved up a bit to fill in the gap between them and another boat, so we did the same, putting our solar panel into better sunshine.  Adrian has been working and I’ve been writing a boat test.  In the middle of the afternoon, I took a couple of our plastic festival pint glasses over to the pub for a couple of pints.

9 miles, 12 locks.  (65 miles, 51 locks)

North West Passage: Day 31

A day of changing plans and good company today. We'd arranged to meet people at about midday at the top of the Hatton Flight; but there was rain overnight and this morning was very drizzly.

We nearly changed plans at that point, but decided to set off at about 8.15 as the rain wasn't heavy at all. We got the five Knowle Locks done in just a light drizzle.

At the bottom of the locks we continued for a few miles and the rain became heavier and heavier -- not good weather for the Hatton flight. When we got to Kingswood Junction we decided to stop, and contacted our visitors to ask them to divert to our new location. My father's cousin, Horace, arrived first, then an hour or so later Bob and June who used to have Autumn Myst arrived; they'd been planning to lend a hand down the Hatton Locks. We had lunch together, by which time the weather had brightened up considerably, so a new plan was hatched. Bob and June would pop home to get their dog, then go to Hatton; we'd go by boat. Horace came for a bit of boating, then jumped ship to walk back to his car to go home.

En route to Hatton we passed another Braidbar boat, Burnt Oak, who were just about to moor up. However, the news that we were going down the locks with extra hands convinced them to change their minds and come with us. We got to the top of the locks just after 3pm, and a good rhythm was set up. Bob and June were setting ahead, the helmsmen closed the top gates, and the lock crew worked the bottom paddles and gates. With every lock set, there wasn't a moment when the boats weren't either going forward or down. Martina and John from Burnt Oak were excellent locking companions.

We got to the bottom in almost exactly two hours -- remarkable for 21 big locks. We stopped at the bottom for much needed tea and cake. It had been a great to see Bob and June, and their help was incredible. When they had set off back to their car, we moved around the corner away from the road to the Cape, where there was a suitable space. As it was gone 6.30pm we couldn't be bothered to cook, and went to the Cape of Good Hope pub for dinner.

12 miles, 26 locks. (366 miles, 249 locks)

Going West: Day 1

We're off! But yesterday, Adrian spent mostly working, sometimes in his company's office in Warwick. He also paid our bill at Calcutt Marina, which we'd happily use again. When I'd finished work, I drove up the M1 and we were both on board around midnight.

It rained in the night, and again at breakfast time. When we were ready to set off, the first problem was getting out of the mooring. Calcutt's visitor moorings are just a space, with everyone rafted up -- and we were in the middle.

One of the wharf guys came to help us. He moved a boat moored on the other side, we untied the various centre lines keeping the raft together, and we edged forward. The wharf guy then took our bow rope and pulled us round, while I pushed the boats outside us over a bit. By about 8.45 we were free, and leaving the marina.

When we got to Stockton Locks about half an hour later, two boats were just going down. But there was a single boat ahead of them who was also single handed. So the Kate hire boat with plenty of crew joined up with him, and the other boat waited for us. Ginger Bear turned out to be excellent locking partners, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time sharing with them. We met quite a few boats coming up, which was good because we'd certainly have kept catching up with the pair in front otherwise.

We last did this section four years ago, but as Debdale used to be based at Stockton Top, it feels a bit like coming home. As the morning wore on the weather improved considerably, meaning we went from waterproofs, to fleeces, to T-shirts. At the Bascote staircase pair, we caught up with the boats in front, but at least it meant the bottom chamber was empty. There's a wasps nest in the side paddle gear, with warning signs alongside.

We carried on through several more locks, until Ginger Bear stopped at Fosse Wharf. Some of the pounds along this stretch were very low, making for slow going. Last downhill lock of the day was Radford Bottom, preceded by a high old railway bridge.

Below the lock we passed Valerie moored up, and had a quick chat with Jaq. Les was away having a scan -- we hope it produces good news. It was 2pm by then, so we had lunch on the move. The section through Leamington Spa isn't very interesting, apart from aqueducts over the railway and the River Avon -- Warwick Castle is about a mile and a half further down.

At the blind bridge near the Warwick Tesco, the was a small incident. I was virtually through the bridge, but an Ashby hire boat was coming the other way. We were both going slowly, and if he'd just carried on with his course, we'd have danced round each other perfectly. Unfortunately he instead went hard astern, meaning he slewed across my bows, and reversed into the towpath quite hard. This left me with nowhere to go -- but we didn't actually touch each other.

Shortly afterwards, the sky on one side was blue and sunny, but the other side was dark and threatening. It began to rain a little while later, but not as hard as I'd feared.

We went up the two Cape Lock in light rain (another Kate hire boat ahead apparently didn't see us coming up the bottom lock), and we moored at the top. Then the sun came back out. We were tied by 4.30 -- so quite a long day. But as this section is very familiar, our thinking is to put some extra hours in now, so we have more time on the parts which are new to us.

13 miles, 22 locks.

 

June Cruise - Day Two

We knew a lot of rain was on its way today, so when we woke up early and it was lovely and sunny we decided to get up and go.  Consequently, we set off at 7am heading towards darker skies.  In fact, you could see the weather front advancing.

At Napton Junction we made the turn onto the Grand Union proper.  A boat was just going into the top lock at Calcutt, and with a bit of hooting of the horn and waving, they waited for us to join them.  As it happened, they were doing just the one lock as it was based at Calcutt and was returning to the wharf.  The pound below was a bit chaotic, as Calcutt were moving boats about.

Below the locks we'd spotted a Viking Afloat hire boat some way ahead, and hoped we could time it right to share the Stockton Locks.  As it happened, they'd moored up just above the locks and said they'd be there for a bit of a break, so we did the top lock alone.  But as we were leaving the lock they set off behind us, so we waited for them in the second lock.  They turned out to be excellent locking partners -- three generations of a family from the local area.  We cross with a boat in the next pound, but then had the flight to ourselves.  We were able to lock ahead, so I suggested that we do a bit of "synchronised boating", where the two boats leave the lock together, stay just inches apart across the pound, and go into the next lock together.  It always saves a lot of faffing about, and worked very well.

Consequently we flew down the locks.  It was raining, but not heavily, and a bit cold, so between Itchington Bottom Lock and the Bascote Locks I lit the fire.  The Bascote staircase pair is the only one of its kind on the Grand Union.

As we were making such rapid progress we all agreed to carry on, finally stopping for lunch below the bottom Fosse Lock at 1pm.  This was actually our planned overnight stop, but we decided that as we were doing so well time-wise, we'd do another couple of hours this afternoon.  We're not pushed for time on this trip, but we've done this section lots of times, and it's nice to have the flexibility to spend a bit more time on the parts of the trip that are new to us.

In hindsight, this was something of a mistake, as the rain this afternoon has been much heavier than this morning.  We finally moored up at 4.15 above the Cape Locks, both soaked in spite of our waterproofs.  Still, thanks to the fire we've warmed up, and there's a roast going in the oven.

16 miles, 25 locks.  (28 miles, 28 locks)