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.