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.
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| 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.
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| The new HS2 railway will cross the Grand Union |
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| Radford Railway Bridge, now disused |
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| 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
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