Lots of wet boaters…..

I didn’t post last night. We had such a stupendous thunderstorm with lightening and torrential rain that I thought it prudent to unplug my roof-mounted internet aerial.
No aerial, no internet, especially not in this area.

Yesterday started dry, but that soon changed, with showers moving in. Just down from where we’d moored there’s an odd looking boat called Orca. Not sure what the purpose behind the design is, there are small portholes in the waist, and a pretty rotten plywood “cabin” in the middle.

OrcaWe were about an hour from the bottom of the three locks at Calcutt, and arrived in a very heavy shower. We could see a boat just going up, so I shut up the back and of the boat and had a walk up to see if anyone was coming down. Looking for an excuse not to lock in heavy rain, really.

There was no-one in sight so I emptied the lock and the rain stopped! Mags came up and we were up the first before the next shower.

There was a boat coming down by this time, so we waited for them to come down the lock, emptying it ready for us.

Then we proceeded up the last two, still with only a bit of light rain to accompany us.

Calcutt Locks
Calcutt Marina
As soon as we cleared the locks Mags went back inside as another heavy shower passed over.

There were very few boats on the move on the Grand Union, just the odd hire-boat. But that all changed when we got to Napton Junction and turned left onto the Oxford Canal.

Napton Junction, Wigrams Turn Marina opposite.
We must have passed two or three dozen boats heading south in the 2½ miles before we stopped, and the procession continued till early evening, more so now because we could see boats going in both directions.

Wooden mushrooms, anyone?

The lengths of piling between bridges 103 and 102 are very popular. There was a whole row of boats along here last night, including our friends Bill and Ginny on NB Wilvir, 10 minutes away. I stopped to have a chat while out with Meg. They’ve had visitors today, but we’ll pull over on the way to Braunston tomorrow to see them.

After my long run and then a long walk with Meg, we had a blitz in the boat hoovering, cleaning floors and polishing, then crashed out for the rest of the day.
It’s been a fine day today, dry and sunny for the most part. Busy again on the water.

Don’t know what we’re doing tomorrow. Definitely going into Braunston, but whether we’ll stop there or push on we’re not sure. I need to visit the The Boat Shop to get an aerial adapter for my internet dongle. I’m using an office card plugged in the card slot on my old Toshiba, and this has an aerial connector. My USB dongle doesn’t, and I don’t like to dangle it out of a window. So being able to connect it to my existing roof aerial would be a big bonus. My laptop is getting more and more flaky, and most new ones don’t have a card slot, so I need to find a solution for when I bite the bullet and replace the old girl.

Locks 3, miles 5

A damp trip up Stockton

After all the rain yesterday afternoon I didn’t expect it, but was pleasantly surprised by clear skies at around 11 last night. I spent 10 minutes looking up into the night to the NE and was rewarded by a couple of streaks in the sky from the Perseid meteor shower. It was decidedly chilly though, so 10 minutes was enough!
I couldn't take any pictures, but there are some here.

The forecast today was for showers, or more persistent rain, and it wasn’t wrong. We hung on till gone 10, hoping for blue skies, but the best we got was a temporary reprieve from the drizzle.

Several boats had already motored past us, heading in the same direction as us, so I expected there to be a queue at the first lock, just 10 minutes away.
There was, but the pair that were just going up were following a solo, so one of them elected to catch up and share while the other waited for us at the second lock to share the rest of the flight with us.

This was NB Water something or other (sorry, I’ve forgotten again!), with Emily and Lisa on board.

Stockton Locks, Blue Lias Marina
Swapping locks at Bridge 22, about half way.
Although it was damp all the way up, we worked well together and reached the top of the ten locks in a couple of hours.

Near the top, cycling gongoozlers.
Stockton Top Lock, smiles from Lisa, Emily and MagsThanks ladies, it’s been an enjoyable morning.

We cruised on just another 10 minutes, pulling over on the straight between bridges 21 and 20.

A bit of congestion at Stockton Top Marina.
If the weather had behaved itself we’d have pushed on up the last three locks at Calcutt, and out onto the Oxford Canal. But the showers have got heavier and more frequent this afternoon, so we did the right thing.

Locks 10, miles 2

On the up

Warwick and Leamington Spa sit on the lowest point of this section of the Grand Union. We’d dropped down the Hatton flight the other day, so now we’ve to climb back up the other side.

We made a start today, the first lock only 15 minutes from our overnight near Radford Semele.
We caught up with a family on a hire boat out of Calcutt, so were able to share the first five locks.

Into Fosse Locks.
The locks today were never no more than 15 minutes apart, making it difficult to even get a brew.
We got seperated from our erstwhile locking partners at Welsh Road Lock, where we caught up with a solo boat and NB Sorrel II joined them, leaving us behind.

A bit of a queue at Welsh Road Lock
We just got up the lock on our own when a Viking Afloat boat turned up at the bottom, so we told them we’d wait for them at the next, the bottom of the Bascote Locks.

Bascote Bottom Lock
We shared the first of the single locks, but our previous lock partner was waiting at the second, so we sent the other hire boat up with them. We weren’t in any hurry, and the Viking Afloat boat wanted to get up the Stockton Flight today.

Unfortunately this meant that we were on our own for one single and the double staircase locks to the top of Bascote, but they are very well behaved and predictable, so it was easy to balance the flow to keep Seyella tight against the wall while filling.

In the Bascote Flight
We filled with water at Bascote Bridge, then moored near Long Itchingon. This took two attempts, our first try was frustrated by shallow water at the edges.
All the pounds on this side are lower than normal

Low pounds, shallow edges.
We held up our start this morning, waiting for a bit of rain to clear. We had a few drops around 13:30, a heavy shower while we were filling with water, then a dry bit to the mooring. It was saving itself for an impressive thunderstorm around half-past four. It really slung it down for 20 minutes, I’m glad we were snug against the bank.

Locks 10, miles 5

Two locks, Two towns, Two trips to Tesco.

We had a quiet night at Saltisford Wharf, a pleasant spot with friendly people. It’s popular, there were still boats coming in at 8 last night, and although Ian the manager had knocked off, one of the residents was on hand to sort them out.

Just a short walk along the road and you can take a footpath across a common onto Warwick Racecourse. A good place to play ball with Meg.

We said our goodbyes to George and Alison on NB Utopian this morning. They’re staying another night.
We motored out of the arm shortly after a hire boat from Gayton, and caught up with them at the top of the pair of locks at The Cape.
Unfortunately they wanted water, as did another boat we waited for, so we decided to go down on our own. There was a boat waiting to come up each of the locks, so at least I didn’t have to close the gates.

Leaving Cape bottom lock
Another 15 minutes and we arrived at the offside mooring at Bridge 45, next to the 24 hour Tesco. The moorings were all full, but a boat was ready to go so we hung around for the space.

“Tesco” moorings near Bridge 45It took two trips to fill up the cupboards after not doing a decent shop for ages. It’s a good job it’s not very far, my arms would have been considerably longer!
Both Warwick and Leamington Spa are well provided for with canal side supermarkets. More so Leamington Spa, There’s a Lidl, Co-op and a Sainsburys within 1½ miles.

You don’t get to see much of either town from the canal, a few factories and housing estates.

Bottoms Up. Swans synchronised foraging.
There are two boatyards in Warwick. Kate Boats, home of a hire fleet….

And Delta Marine ServicesThere’s a large barge under construction in the workshop here.

Between the two towns the canal crosses the River Avon on an aqueduct.

Avon Aqueduct
There is a proposal to make the rest of the Upper Avon above Stratford navigable again, to link up to the Grand Union here. The link would provide a shorter route to Stratford, and also a pleasant cruising ring. Opposition from riparian landowners on the river is likely to squash the idea though.

We left Leamington Spa and moored not much further on, near Radford Semele.

Moored near Bridge 35.Mags is pointing out where we are (she thinks)

I wonder how you pronounce Radford Semele? Semeel? Semelly? Semell? Semale?
Answers on a postcard, please.

Locks 2, miles 5

Down to Warwick

Just after we moored yesterday afternoon another boat pulled in behind us. I asked if they were going down the flight today, they said they were so we agreed to share the locks and the work.

This morning they needed to top up their water tanks at the top of the flight, so pulled off 10 minutes before us. Before we had a chance to follow, three more boats had inserted themselves between us.

I don’t think they were best pleased, but Alison and George had filled up and set the lock ready, and made it clear that we were the boat that they would share it with. So we casually cruised past the queue, joining NB Utopian in the top lock.
The Hatton flight consists of 21 broad locks, dropping the navigation 146’6” to Warwick

BW maintenance yard between L42 and L43.
The locks are numbered from Napton Junction up to Birmingham. These are the 4th and 5th going down the flight.

Dragonfly sculpture
We were nearly ½ way down the flight before we met a boat coming up. Before that all the locks had to be refilled as there was a hire boat going down in front of us.

In the flight.The unusual “candlestick” hydraulic ground paddles can be seen.

These locks are very efficient. Replacing an earlier flight of narrow locks, they were built in the 1930’s when the canal was modernised, in the vain hope of enticing more freight back from the railways. They fill and empty at an astonishing rate. With Alison looking after the lock the boats were in, I was walking down to the next to get it set up ready. I barely had time to get there and get the lock filled before the boats arrived.

In the flight, around the middle
Smiles all round, last lock of 21.Alison, George and Mags satisfied with a brisk three hour’s work.

We’d got the number of the manager of the moorings in the Saltisford Arm, and George gave him a ring to see if he could fit us in. No problem, so that is where we finished up.

Breasted up in the Saltisford Arm
This arm was originally the end of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal, opened in 1799. Shortly after, the Warwick and Napton Canal was completed, running across country to meet the North Oxford Canal at Napton Junction. The connection to the earlier canal was made outside Warwick, nearer the Hatton locks, so the original terminus became a spur, feeding wharves and basins not far from the town centre.

Fast forward 150 years and the Arm had become derelict, partially filled in and built upon. A group of local enthusiasts set up a Charitable Trust, restored what was left, and now manage it as a boaters amenity, with permanent and visitor moorings, facilities and a small shop, all within a few minutes walk of the town centre.
We were lucky to be able to get in, it’s a popular spot from which to explore the town.

We’re only going to be stopping the one night, town moorings are not our thing.
George and Alison are intending to stop a little longer.

Incidentally, if you’re looking for a sixty foot trad stern narrowboat, Utopian is for sale. Get in touch if you want details.

Locks 21, miles 2½

Happy Anniversary…..

It’s exactly four years since we embarked on our new watery lifestyle. We’d actually moved onto Seyella on the 5th, but she wasn’t ready to cruise, so we spent the first four nights in the marina. The blog entry is here.
We didn’t go so far that first day, just to Marbury Wood, all of four miles, so no change there, then!

There are some pleasant walks around Lowsonford, the South Warwickshire countryside is very reminiscent of the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire boundary area.

Around Lowsonford.
The Fleur De Lys has been popular this weekend. Formerly a row of cottages, this pub is the home of Fleur De Lys pies. The baking has now moved on to bigger premises, but the pub still has a good reputation for food.

Fleur De Lys in Lowsonford.
There’s been a few boats coming and going this weekend, mainly hire boats from Alvechurch and Wootton.


There’s a proposed marina development just to the south of the village. There seems to be a lot of local opposition, and I can’t say I blame them. It would be a shame to spoil this picturesque stretch with a boat park. Have a look at the action group website.









We were on our way at 9 o’clock this morning, in fine, warm, dry but breezy weather. Straight into the first of nine narrow locks today, still climbing up towards the Black Country plateau.

The peace and quiet is shattered by the M40 crossing just above Lock 27
There’s gongoozlers and then there’s goosegoozlers….

Lock 22 was our last one on the Stratford on Avon Canal before turning off through the Lapworth Link to the Grand Union.

Lock 22
This is also the last narrow lock we’ll see till we get to Watford on the Leicester Line.

The Stratford and Grand Union canals don’t actually meet, they pass with a couple of hundred yards of each other and are connected by a short waterway called the Lapworth Link.
I imagine a few first timers get a little lost, trying to decide which way to go.

Google maps view

View Larger Map

The connection is a hard right turn from our direction, and there’s a large turning basin to provide space.

NB Littleholme is just heading for the entrance.Then it was our turn
Past some moored boats and out onto the Grand Union.

Left to Birmingham, right to Warwick.
We turned right, onto an entirely different waterway. Gone are the reed fringes, mostly the banks are concrete piling. There is one similarity; they are both shallow at the edges!

On the GU
Shrewley Tunnel is a short but very wet passage through a ridge.

Shrewley Tunnel, North Portal
There’s no towpath, but there’s a horse tunnel just visible high up to the right of the main entrance.

Out of the tunnel to dry off again in the sunshine, and we had another 1½ miles to go to the top of the Hatton Flight, which drops the canal down through 21 locks to Warwick.
That’s the job for tomorrow.

Locks 9, miles 7

Don’t forget….
I’m running the Great North Run for Cancer Research UK. Please sponsor me!

What a great day….

I said yesterday that cruising this canal is a delight; well today’s trip has only reinforced that view. Despite grey skies and the odd spot of rain, it’s been a really enjoyable four miles.

First though, I had a walk up to the general store for a bit of shopping, taking a roundabout route.

Derelict Riley RM near Field FarmNot restorable, but may yield some good parts?

There’s also what looks like an Issetta bubble car, and an unidentifiable saloon from a lot earlier.

Around the corner a Morris Minor Traveller, stripped of roof and woodwork, slowly disintegrates.
The shop is opposite the entrance to St. Peter’s church

St. Peter’s

Reading yesterday’s post it struck me that I waffled on a bit, so today I’m just going to do a pictorial record of the day.

We left Wootton Wawen at around 11 this morning.

The hire boats were all lined up ready to go. Most of them will be out on the water this afternoon.

Anglo Welsh base at Wootton.
There are three locks at Preston Bagot, all in postcard settings.

Bottom Lock

Middle Lock
And Top Lock
We crossed paths with NB Serenity in these locks. They’ve been out and about, blogging for the last couple of months.

Another three locks follow, the middle one is Bucket Lock, with another of those iron trough aqueducts immediately above.

Yarningdale Aqueduct

The last lock of the day was Lowsonford, with one of the unique barrel-roofed lock cottages alongside.

Lowsonford Lock and cottage.
We pulled in above this lock, almost opposite the Fleur-De-Lys pub.

Locks 8, miles 4