We went shopping
in Tesco to stock up for a few days ahead. We phoned Kate Boats and established
that their Elsan point was available, but they no longer sell diesel.
We set off
before Kairos, as we had three cassettes to empty. Happiness is an empty loo!
We then stopped
by Lock 24 to fill the water tank. The pressure was poor, and it took 25
minutes, but we achieved it just as Kairos was approaching.
The two Cape
Locks were next, followed by the junction with the Saltisford Arm, where the
Grand Junction Canal used to finish. Around the corner was the Hatton flight,
complete with blue-shirted CRT volunteer. He helped us up the four locks, where
we moored just above lock 29.
We enjoyed a
very pleasant BBQ later, crossing the lock gates to find a place out of the
wind.
6 locks, 3
miles. Dep 1115, arr 1340
Tue 23rd
June Lock 29 to
Hatton Top Lock.
Our alarm was
set for 0730, as we had agreed a departure time of 0830. John and Gill Speight
came to help us up the remaining 17 locks of the Hatton flight.
After each lock,
we opened a bottom paddle to empty the lock for Shirley and Colin, who were
following behind on Brace Yourself.
Having the extra crew meant that we could have the next lock ready each
time, and we only had to work alternate locks. There was one place where a
moored boat set off down after we had emerged, but otherwise we met no other
boats. At the top there were two volunteers who operated the paddles on the top
lock.
It was very
warm, and we were pleased that we had started early before day became even
hotter. We all went to the café for ice cream and coffee. It was a very
pleasant time.
17 locks, 1½
miles. Dep 0835, arr 1040.
Wed 24th
June Hatton Top
Lock
Chris went to
Worcester by car for the day. Sally and Hazel both did some clothes washing,
and then went for a coffee at the café.
Meanwhile James prepared something for tonight’s Zoom meeting with the
Canal Ministries team.
The sunlight on
the leaves was beautiful, and we saw baby perch swimming near the boat.
James, Sally and
Hazel went for a walk to Hatton Green, and on footpaths across cornfields,
returning past the Hatton Arms (once known as the Waterman). At one point we
saw a large building complex, which we have not been able to identify from
Google Maps.
James was
finally able to host a Zoom meeting for Canal Ministries, having sorted out
internet through Vodafone. Somehow, being a technomoron, he issued two
different sets of meeting numbers and passwords. It’s a steep learning curve.
No boating today
Thu 25th
June Hatton Top
Lock to Rowington
Chris took his
car to Kingswood Junction and returned on his bike, looking out for suitable moorings
with BBQ space as he went.
We left our
moorings in the shady cutting, and set off past the mid Warwickshire Yacht
Club, where John and Gill Speight keep their boat Faithful.
A little further
on is Shrewley Tunnel, which we have noted in the past as being wet. This time
we have had a lot of dry weather so we wondered whether the tunnel would be OK
on this occasion. We followed Kairos into the darkness of this short tunnel,
and we could see through to the sunshine the other end.
As we suspected,
it was dry inside. Then. halfway through, there were a few drips from the roof.
Then, in the last quarter, there were several unavoidable curtains of water
coming down, ensuring a good soaking for all who venture through. Steam came from
the hot boat roof.
Between bridges
61 and 62, Chris had identified a suitable mooring on a high embankment, so we
pulled in and moored up, using our mooring spikes and heavy hammer for the first
time this year.
There was space
for the barbecue, and some shade under a tree, near some rosebay willow herb.
We enjoyed sitting and looking at the view, and watching some buzzards circling
around over the valley.
0 locks, 3 miles. Dep 1100, arr 1205
Next: Through Kingswood Junction to the Stratford
Canal, and up the Lapworth Locks.
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