17th June - Grindley Bank Staircase Locks

I had no internet connectivity last night so here is yesterday's blog:

Quoiseley Lock - another strong by-wash

Instructions for Grindley Bank Staircase Locks

Ascending Grindley Bank Staircase Locks

The weather is finally improving - barring a couple of very short showers today's was a very enjoyable cruise through quiet but pleasant countryside with a range of different canal experiences.  Soon after leaving our mooring we ascended three isolated locks as yesterday each with strong by wash currents.  In the late morning we reached the Grindley Bank Locks which consist of three individual locks followed by a staircase of 3 further locks. Fortunately the staircase locks were operated by two lock keepers ensuring quick passage and preventing mistakes by  inexperienced canal users.  Staircase Locks require some care and thought - see the photo of the list of instructions.

At the top of Grindley Bank we turned the boat around and reversed to the sanitary station to put our pumpout fixtures adjacent to the bank.  Having emptied our waste tank we turned the boat around again and moored up to the water taps to refill our domestic water tank.  With the first tank empty and the second full we were able to continue a bit further along the bank and stopped again for lunch - bacon sandwiches using up the spare bacon from yesterdays pan fried duck dinner.  Then on again through 3 lift bridges at Whitchurch and another a couple of miles further.  We moored for the night a mile beyond the final lift bridge having cruised for 7 miles through 9 locks and 4 lift bridges in about 5 hours travelling.  Having stopped we are now in sunshine and the sky is largely blue with a few wispy clouds.  A good day's work.