Good samaritans

 

Radford Bottom Lock

HS2  will cross the canal

Much better weather today, dry and sunny though a little chilly at first.  We set off at 9:25 and stopped for lunch at 12:05 after ascending 6 locks.

We were ready to set off in the afternoon but we saw a moored boat (A) ahead of us had come adrift and was blocking the canal.  Another boat (B) coming down the canal was waiting to get past.  As there was no-one aboard we climbed onto boat A and returned it to the bank with the help of a passing walker.  However by this time boat B had become stuck aground on the far side of the canal.  So we took Densie alongside and were able to tie a rope and pull him back into deeper water. 

Bascote staircase

Passing in the m iddle of thr staircase

And then onto Bascote locks, first the two separate ones and then the 2-lock staircase.  As there was also a boat wanting to come down the staircase after a bit of discussion we agreed to pass each other in the middle.  It seemed the sensible thing to do and worked fine.  This was the first time we had done this, mainly because double width staircases are rare, I think the Bascote example is the only one south of Yorkshire.

The next job was to fill up with water just beyond Bascote and shortly after moored for the night.  A good days cruising!

4.43 miles, 10 locks, 4.25 hours