Long journey to Warwick

Change of plans today.  Originally we had intended to  reach Warwick on Tuesday so we could ascend the 21 locks of the Hatton flight on Wednesday.  Unfortunately the weather forecast is showing heavy rain all that day  Working 21 wide locks is hard work, working them in pouring rain was an oiption we did not want to consider.  So we have had no choice but to combine today’s and tomorrow’s journey into one day.

In the Bascote staircase locks

We started early at 8:30.The first point of interest was the Bascote staircase lock where the bottom gate of the top lock forms the top gate of the second lock.  Operating such locks require some thought as before the boat enters the top lock the bottom lock must be empty so it can receive the water released when the top lock is emptied.

The new HS2 railway will cross the Grand Union

Radford Railway Bridge, now disused

Crossing the Avon

The staircase lock is immediately followed by two normal locks.   When we were setting the first one another boat, Otter, started descending the staircase.  We waited for them to arrive so we could descend all the following locks together speeding up our passage as we did yesterday. We quickly descended a further 6 locks together arriving in the large town of Royal Leamington Spa at lunchtime.

Here we split up as we needed to shop for groceries for the next 6 days. After shopping at Morrisons only 5 minute walk from the canal we set off again,  crossed over the River Avon on a high aqueduct and moored up in Warwick at 4pm.  It is a bit frustrating to realise that we will be ascending and descending160 feet before we meet the Avon again in Stratford.

Weather: some rain but mainly dry, cool and cloudy.

8.96 ,  10 locks, 4 hours 55 minutes cruising

 

Stockton Locks

 

Densie and Florence descending the second  Stockton flight

There was heavy rain overnight but by 9:00 when we set off the weather was sunny and dry. after a mile  we reached the top of the double width 8-lock, 54 foot,  Stockton flight. We had just entered the top lock when hireboat Florence arrived with a crew of 5 and entered the lock next to us.  It was great to see them as as not only would we have help working each lock, sbut omeone could go ahead and prepare the next one greatly speeding the descent.

Moored in the rain at Long Itchington

The 8 locks were quickly followed by 2 further locks. Thanks to the fast passage we were now ahead of plan so we stopped for the night half a mile further on at 11:50 near the village of Long Itchington. After lunch the weather deteriorated and it started to rain.

Weather: bright and sunny in the monrng with a slight breeze, wet and cool in the afternoon

2.93 miles, 10 locks, 2 hours 50 minutes cruising

Start of Summer 2023 Expedition

 

Our Summer 2023 trip will take us through Stratford upon Avon, down the Avon, up the Severn to Stouport and then into Birmingham for the IWA  Festival of Water. The nwe go back to our home marina as quickly as possible.

Many moored boats as we enter Braunston

Braunston Junction

Passing below the A425

After spending last night on the boat at our berth we filled up with diesel and left the marina at 11:15 turning south towards Braunston down the North Oxford Canal. Before the village there are clear signs of ridges and fsurrows in the fields presumably dating from medieval times. At Braunston Junction  the Oxford Canal joins the Grand Union Canal leaving it some 5 miles later at Napton Junction.  There our route continued on the Grand Union towards Birmingham.

Waiting below Calcutt top lock

Moored beyond Calcutt Locks

We had planned to stop for the night just above the three lock Calcutt flight.  However there was no satisfactory place to moor so we had to continue down the locks. Fortunately we were accompanied by another narrowboat, "Out of the Blue" which halved the work Denise would otherwise have done on her own. Not so furtunately we were delayed by a hireboat crew being trained on how to work locks and by a boat coming up the flight. We had hoped to then moor at the bottom, but again we could not find anywhere suitable and so had to carry on for anothe mile where we were able to tie up for the night, the whole journey taking 5 hours when we had only planned 3.

Weather: blustery showers and sunny intervals, fairly warm.

9.93 miles, 3 locks, 5 hours travelling.