Day 3

Wide awake at 5.30am this morning, but decided to get out of bed at 6am.  The forecast was supposed to be better than yesterday (which was a day of heavy rain fall), but this morning was unexpected,  it was beautiful. 

 In fact, it was almost perfect. A very pink sunrise with only a few clouds in an otherwise clear sky, still air, and the morning mist rising randomly from the canal.  

We had left 'Angel' between Popes Bridge No.33 and the disused viaduct.  This was a great setting to leave a boat, near enough to a road bridge for access, but off the beaten track a little.  One of the things I enjoy about the canal is how the landscape around you changes and how boats cluster together.  It was nice to return and find that other boats had moored around 'Angel'.

After taking a few photos and walking Alfie, we set off at 7.10am, boys fast asleep. 

We set off quietly, gliding through the mist to a golden sunrise.  There’s something exciting about being up early, whistling kettles can be heard as we pass by sleepy barges and cooked breakfast smells waft through the air.

As we headed through Leamington Spa, we stopped at Tescos, as we need a mop & bucket (the decks are getting muddy).  Myself and Aaron set about cleaning the stern deck meticulously.  Shelley was gobsmacked as she has never seen a floor being cleaned at home by anyone else but her!

We left the Grand Union Canal at  Budbrooke junction and join the Warwick & Birmingham.  A beautiful day, thankfully as we had the infamous ‘Hatton’ locks to contend with.  The locks start with Bottom lock no.26 and ends with the top lock No. 46.  We shared this challenge with a friendly couple onboard  'Ariadne' and their dog Jess!  Alfie decided he wanted to bathe in the ‘lovely’ canal water and takes a dip, not by design, more by accident!  He is relieved to be hauled out, duck weed & all!

Hatton Locks TimeLapse Video

We made a relatively speedy ascent through the locks thanks to excellent team work and all the locks being in our favor, all in all taking about 3 hours.  We’ve seen the back of the most challenging part of today, so we moor up to enjoy lunch, and recharge. 

We prepare ourselves for the Shrewley Tunnel, remember last time we had a tunnel we lost a navigation light, well no need however, it’s only 433 yards, and all over before we know it!  You have to be a bit careful going through though as water was pouring out between the brickwork at one point.  Anyway, now all the tunnels are done, I really ought to fit the new navigation light.

We reach the planned destination by 3.35pm and decide to going as the forecast for tomorrow isn’t great and we would rather get as much done in the dry as possible.  

At Kingswood we join the Stratford canal, Kingswood, Lapworth and then South branches.  What a difference! it’s a smaller canal with one gated locks, low footbridges and the noise of the M40 in the distance!  It's a bit of a culture shock from all those broad canals and wide double locks.  Back to navigating into a lock with precious little space either side.

A couple of bridges were so low we had to take the chimney stack off (not just the hat!),  and was so low it meant the bike had to be lifted off the roof!  Also, these locks just work much slower than the GU ones and although the gates are smaller, they are harder to move!

This slowed us down, and with dusk rapidly descending, on goes the front light to help the lock crew see what they were doing.  Thankfully we  moored just after Rowington Lock 30 at exactly 7.10pm, which is precisely 12 hours of travelling, which meant we have already shaved 3 hours off tomorrows journey.   That to me equals a Sunday morning lie in, Yeah!  Only 10 locks to do, which is much easier than the 32 locks we moved today, no wonder we ache!

It has been raining tonight, but it’s snug in here.  We haven’t needed to light the stove as it’s not cold enough...... nothing to do with the fact that the coal is in the aft cupboard outside of course!  So glad we lugged two sacks of coal from the car along the tow path last night, oh well, we'll be thankful for that some other time I'm sure!

Todays Travel Map