Monday 18th July / Tuesday 19th July - Stratford
We are sitting out the heatwave in Stratford beside the river under a number of trees. The shade helps to keep the boat cool inside and we are camping under the trees in the shade as well.
We have everything open hoping to catch the breeze, our pigeon box is propped open with pegs!!! Toby is keeping cool with frequent visits to the stream which flows into the Avon, so long as his paws are cool he seems quite happy!
Wednesday 20th July - Stratford to Wilmcote
Today it is much cooler, so we made a move from Stratford. We stopped to put on water before turning off the river and heading up the first few locks in Stratford. The water levels are quite low and it was difficult to get through the silt below some of the locks. We had to make sure we stayed in the centre of the canal.
This is one of the most difficult locks to work on the canal, the beam is at right angles because of the position of the bridge. Dave had to ask for help to open and close the gate!
We worked our way up the Wilmcote flight of locks ably assisted by Mike, by the time we got to the last two locks he told us we had to stop as there was a boat stuck under the next bridge along. We waited almost two hours for the boat to be floated off the object it was wedged against and we were able to continue.
The boat has finally been released and is making its way up the canal towards us, past the jam of boats heading the same way as us, as we passed under the same bridge we came to halt and eventually got through using a pole to push our way through. We moored for the night at Wilmcote and spent a quiet evening aboard recovering from all the excitement.
3.5 miles, 17 locks, 5 hrs 54 mins
Thursday 21st July - Wilmcote to Lowsonford
Today we are meeting up with our friends Di and Mark just outside Preston Bagot and they are going to help us up through the locks to Lowsonford. This is one of the bridges where the rope is passed through the centre of the bridge to avoid unharnessing the horse, they are generally peculiar to the Stratford canal.
Di and Mark are waiting for us on the bridge before the first lock, there are two day boats ahead of us so we could be waiting a while!
Having a lovely chat with Di as we are waiting for the lock to fill.
We were lucky to get a mooring opposite the Fleur de Lys, the whole stretch of canal was full of narrowboats and we were able to secure a space after a man returned from the pub with his lost glasses! Excellent hovering from Dave so we didn’t lose the space! We enjoyed a lovely lunch in the garden with Di and Mark and look forward to meeting up again with them on Saturday on our descent of the Hatton Locks.
7.5 miles, 9 locks, 5 hrs 36 mins
Friday 22nd July - Lowsonford to Tom o’ the Wood
Much cooler day and still very overcast. We set off up the last 9 locks to Kingswood Junction, all very gentle and Toby and I enjoyed the walk and doing the locks.
Toby has been an excellent companion during the walk between the locks and sits beautifully beside the lock whilst I am working it. He really is a star!
One of the barrel roofed lock cottages only found on the Stratford Canal. Barrel-roofed cottages are a very rare feature on Britain's canals and the South Stratford canal has one of the best sets to survive. Six were built originally, between Lapworth and Preston Bagot. Landmark's cottage at Lock 31, now known as Lengthsman's Cottage, is the least altered from its original form.
We stopped at Kingswood Junction to fill up with water and met Di and Fraser on nb Ange de l’Eau, we are going to buddy up with them to go down the Hatton Locks.
We turned right at the junction and right again onto the Grand Union Canal. I was intrigued by the algae covering the canal and the swathe we cut through it as we went along. Algae is a natural occurrence that often appears in canals, particularly in the summer months and after a period of warm weather and reduced rainfall, such as the one we are currently experiencing. The algae is not a cause for concern as it is a natural process and will eventually disappear naturally. We moored up at Tom o’ the Wood and had lunch in the pub. When we got back to the boat, nbBilly with Clare and Pete arrived and moored up just ahead of us. We haven’t seen them since they left our Marina at the beginning of the season.
3.25 miles, 9 locks, 2 hours 24 mins.
Saturday 23rd July - Tom o’ the Wood to The Cape Locks
We left bright and early, 9am, to get to the top of the Hatton Locks and meet up with Di and Mark. This is Fraser following us on nbAnge de l’Eau, we are going to share the locks with them and will make a team of 6, 4 working locks and 2 driving, Dave and Di.
Pretty little goats below the pub, love the way they like to sit on platforms above the ground.
We have passed these boats several times over the years and the degree of deterioration has changed each time, now the butty on the outside is almost completely overgrown with vegetation and the engine boat remaining intact on the inside.
Both boats coming into the lock, side by side, most impressive. This is the first time Dave has driven these locks and to accomplish such impressive driving is brilliant! We completed the locks in 3 hours and moored up above the Cape Locks and had a celebratory drink all together at the Cape of Good Hope. Many thanks to Di and Mark for giving up their day to helping us down these locks, an excellent day and very much appreciated!
7.25 miles, 21 locks, 5hrs 30mins.
Sunday 24th July - Cape Locks to Radford Semele
We set off from our mooring and descended the two Cape Locks and then cruised gently through Warwick and Leamington. This is the new access walkway for boaters to cross the road to the large Morrisons on the other side of the road, plenty of mooring available.
An example of the new signage for canal and river trust, there are large amounts of these signs all around this area, gone are signs with the little swan on it!
We passed these two boats, beautifully presented, a motor and a butty, look back at the photo of the two boats lying in the canal, and compare what can be done to lovingly restore these boats! Well done to this couple.
Several examples of street graffiti alongside the canal in Leamington Spa, beautifully done.
An old favourite.
And two artists at work on a piece further down the canal.
These two are new to us, both striking in their different ways. We moored up just passed bridge 41 to get a few staples from the Coop but unfortunately the shop was closed and we couldn’t be bothered to go back to the large supermarkets we had already passed by! We shall survive! We carried on to Radford Semele and moored below the church in another of our favourite places for a quiet afternoon.
4.5 miles, 2 locks, 2hrs 24mins.
No comments:
Post a Comment