Trip to Stratford - Week 3

15:32 21/05/2011 3 miles 1 lock
Getting organised now, went and collected the paper I ordered last night! I'll get it delivered next. Only a short journey today so we sat and read the paper ran the washing machine and generally had a lazy start, eventually moving off following two hire boats. Acroos the long aquaduct again, crew hiding inside as usual. The only lock on this section held us all up with something stuck behind the lock gate, a BW man appeared with a long rake like tool and hooked something out, promptly vanishing again. Pity he didn't stop as the gate stuck for the next boat as well, luckily he had a long pole of his own and raked around in the mirk for a bit clearing the gate. Moored at Wooten Wawen, just below the next aquaduct watching tennis.

17:18 22/05/2011 1 mile 0 locks
Gales today, so we moved up to just below the next flight of locks but put off going up them till tomorrow. No point in fighting the wind, it may be calmer tomorrow! But looking at the forecast I'm not too sure.

20:48 23/05/2011 1.9 miles 8 locks
Well today was suppossed to be calmer, but we battled on through gale force winds - luckily we were the only foolish boat going out way, so boats coming down the locks had set all the locks for us which made the journey much easier. Moored safely at Lowsonford, then the heavens opened, the Sky dish blew away and we hunkered down! By late afternoon all was peace and light and now we have a clear blue sky and no wind.

18:56 24/05/2011 4.32 miles 9 locks
Weather much improved today, so we set off for the next 9 locks (disputed number this, some maps show 10). Going up the locks with no one in front of us meant many of them were empty and waiting, or only needed a little water let out. Then a boat got in front of us, it must have been moored between locks overnight, but traffic started coming down at about the same time, so all was well. Soon we were at the Junction of the GU and Stratford, so it was round the hairpin to change our journey from mainly North, to South-East. Interesting watching a hire boat negotiate the tight bend, straight in to the bank! Nice sunny evening now although no warm enough to sit out. I wonder how Crick Boat show preparations survived the high winds.

17:27 25/05/2011 4.81 miles 21 locks
Didn't we do well today, moved from our mooring to just above the Hatton flight to wait for company down the wide locks to find a boat already there, the crew had gone to the Cafe for breakfast, turned out to be 3 men, deserted by their wives who refused to go boating any more! So we fairly sailed down the 21 locks soon working out a good routine with someone going on ahead to set the next lock, we met no boats coming the other way, and were sat at our mooring below the bottom lock for a good 2 hours before anyone else came down. Hazy sun all day just right for boating, we celebrated with a bacon and egg lunch.

19:59 26/05/2011 1.12 miles 2 locks
Short spin in the showers, round the top of Royal Leamington Spa, not very inspiring, the only mooring appear to be in the more industrial areas, the rest is narrow tow paths with concrete edges. We returned to the mooring we found on the way out, river below us and farm above.

20:05 27/05/2011 day of rest.
A day of rest, but we did the laundry, hoovered and did the house cleaning, quite a pleasant spot to moor for a day, Bella cannot relax on the towpath however as it is plaqued with fast moving (but polite) cyclists.

Trip to Stratford - Week 2

12:02 15/05/2011 Day of rest!!

19:58 16/05/2011 4.29 miles 9 (narrow) locks

Left our nice mooring early for a brisk run up to Kingswood Junction, where the Grand Union meets the Stratford on Avon Canal, interesting junction, blind turn(s) around a hairpin to leave the GU going North and get across to the Strattford going south, lucky it was quiet and not windy. The boat is wearing out on us however, the bow-thruster has failed which makes some operations more difficult, and the fridge refuses to light on the gas, so is running of the batteries, which flats them! The narrow locks are quite light to operate, but are showing signs of age, with some of the lock winding gear very worn.

20:31 17/05/2011 4.37 miles 8 locks

Down through a lock with a really nasty offset bridge, designed to remove boat chimneys, luckily I saw it coming and removed ours! Took on water and plugged on through the Warwickshire countryside, taking in another 7 locks, we got it down to a good routine by the end, unfortunately we were following another boat so right until the last couple we had to fill the locks before we could go in. Never mind the weather stayed fine although windy and warm. We passed overf a fascinating cast iron aquaduct, and then at Wootton Warwen, called in at the marina for a pump-out, on the aquaduct he said, and unbelievably the do the deed whilst you are moored on another one way aquaduct, thus stopping all canal traffic.

16:01 18/05/2011 3 miles 1 lock

Really in to Shakespeare Country now, after a gentle cruise through only one lock we are moored at Wilmcote the (alleged) home of the Bard's mother. We spent an interesting hour or so looking Mary Arden's hose/farm and took oodles of photos. We stopped for lunch, and were amused by a class of primary aged children in period costumes, on an 'educational' day out. We walked home (well back to our mobile base) in the first real rain of this trip. Nearly forgot the best view of the day, another Aquaduct! Or actually 2, one very short but the other Bearley a good 200 feet long, with a good drop down to the road and path beneath.

20:08 19/05/2011 4.13 miles 13 locks

Said Goodbye to Wilmcote and Shakespeare's Mother, and off down the 12 locks to Stratford. More traffic than we have seen for all the time we have been out. Some of these locks are really hard work with very worn lock gear. However after 3.5 hours we reached the outskirts of Stratford and filled the diesel tank before winding (turning round) before the bottom locks. No where to moor and rather industrial so we went back up a lock to where it is more peaceful and we could sit out and enjoy the sun on the canalside. Shopping tomorrow.

17:07 20/05/2011 1.29 miles 11 locks

Peaceful mooring is a relative term - nearly under the A46 cannot said to be quite, although it did seem to calm down late at night. A kind Fairy (thanks Carol) took us shopping to Tesco's, so the larder is full again. We then tackled the 11 locks up to Wilmcote, not a single boat came the other way, so every
lock was full and had to be emptied before we could fill it up again with us in it. What I don't understand is why some lock paddles wind up and down we no real effort whilst others (same design) require brute force. And where has all the traffic gone? No boat has come by (possible 1) since we moored 2 hours ago. Just purchased a clever windlass, with 4 holes all in a line which allows you to use it as a 'short' handle required by some locks, or a 'long' handle when leverage is required. Full report later.

Trip to Stratford - week one

09:36 09/05/2011 Norton Junction 3.57 miles 7 locks
Left Crick two days ago! Weather not looking too bright, so we moored above Watford locks, away from the motorway and spent our first night out being serenaded by sheep - aren't they noisy things! Luckily they seem to be quiet in the morning so we had a lazy start to the day before tackling the Watford flight.Moored in our usual spot at Norton, and celebrated by having a BBQ, the first boating BBQ of the season.
We should be off to Braunston today, but the crew are sleeping still.

17:18 10/05/2011 Flecknoe 3.28 miles 0 locks

Stocked up the larder and found some new elastic straps to hold the cratch cover in place, after 8 years they were sagging a bit - like parts of us. We had a leisurely cruise through flat farming land, Rape giving way to cows and sheep after a while. One load of clothes washed and dried as we ambled along. The canal here follws the 330 foot contour, and so wanders around quite a lot, luckily there is not much traffic so no suprises around the bends.

19:10 11/05/2011 Long Itchington 6.77 miles 13 Locks
Overcast morning as we cruised up to Napton Junction, turning right to follow the Grand Union north west. Arived at the first three locks, typical of our luck, a wide canal with double locks, but no one else around, so we went through by ourselves, then on to the bottom of the Stockton flight, 8 in short space and then 2 more around the corner. Learning from past mustakes we moored up, polished the brass and had lunch, two hours later another boat turned up, and we sailed through the 8 locks in record time (1 hour).

19:33 12/05/2011 Royal Leamington Spa 4.75 miles 10 locks
Bascote locks dropped us down to just over 210 feet from the 330 feet of a few days ago, heavy work some of these locks, but we teamed up with a hire boat of enthusiastic Germans, who appreciated our 'organised ways'. Luckily that meant they didn't notice who did most of the work!Sat in the glorious sunshine now outside RLS, we aim to traverse that gentle tomorrow whilst I open prezzies (wishful thinking) and look for a Supermarket to restock on essentials. River Leam is meandering away below us, not muck wildlife around here, although the birds all seem to think we want waking up with the first rays of light.

19:24 13/05/2011 Bottom of Hatton Locks 5.39 miles 32 locks
 (Tesco's, Water and Hoovering)Well what a day, my birthday for a start, and secreted prezzies were un earthed, thanks to all concerned. Bella helped unwrap them, she does so like a good parcel. We then went in to 'clean the boat mode' after a week out, washing maching going, vacuuming - not concurrently the power drain is too high and a big red light starts to flash. Cruised off to find a supermarket after that and replenished the larder (cellar). Then took on water and went up through the next two locks. Now esconced below the Hatton 21 flight, luckily with a boat behind us to go up with in the morning.


18:39 14/05/2011 Bridge 61/2 after Shrewley tunnel 5.06 miles 21 locks (Hatton flight)
Well what a day, perfect blue sky to start the day when I walked Bella, up and ready to go by 7.30. Cruising partners from the night before had a long lie in instead. Eventually another boat we had travelled with a few days earlier arrived and off we set (Hatton is not to be tackled by single boats). We soon go a rythmn sorted out and fairly flew up the locks, top to bottom including a tea( coffee, dog walking) break in 3.5 hours, pretty good going. We cruised on for a mile or so and found a nice open mooring to spend the rest of the day. We may stay here tomorrow.

Summer 2011

Bags are being packed, t-shirts at the ready, it's time for the off!
This year we hope travel (slowly) to Stratford on Avon, if it starts to pour in a week or so you know we are part way through the Hatton flight.

And in case you ever wondered, this is what Enigma looks like out of the water. The big hole is the tube of the bow thruster.