Some rain around breakfast time, but it was dry when we set off at about 9.30. It was ten or fifteen minutes to Radford Bottom Lock which is in a wooded setting and has a big former railway bridge immediately after it. It’s now a foot and cycle path. Adrian then walked up to the bottom Fosse Lock, and we did those on our own. But at the water point just beyond, a boat we’ve seen for the past couple of days, Obsession, was filling up and said they’d join us. It’s generally easier with two boats in the locks; and time you lose getting two boats in is made up for by getting both paddles wound. At Wood Lock, Adrian and I swapped over so he steered and I walked on to Welsh Road Lock. On the way, we went under the new HS2 bridge for the first time. At either side of the canal, the bridge just stops — there’s quite a lot more bridge or embankment to go.
We’d passed a boat going the other way so expected Welsh Road Lock to be empty — but two single handed boats were just coming in to go down. Audrey from Obsession and I worked them through, then it was our turn.
The final four locks of the day were the Bascote ones. The bottom one was full, and emptying the water almost brought Adrian to a halt as he came through the pretty bridge.
The second lock looked empty so I walked up to get it ready, so the two boats could come between locks together.
I’d seen a boat going up the staircase pair, so the top one was full (and it needed to be) but I was surprised that the bottom one was empty. It must leak like anything. Again the boats came in together.
The paddle that lets water out of the top lock into the bottom one was the toughest of all the candlestick paddles we’ve done. It was even hard work to lower. It was about 12.15 when we got to the top. Our locking partners carried on, while we pulled it at Bascote Wharf to use the water point and the bins. With the tank full we also headed for Long Itchington. The canal goes under another old railway line that’s now a footpath.
We moored up behind Obsession, and because the moorings are full we have the bow on a ring and the stern on stakes. The water level is also a bit low. Chatting to Audrey again, we’ve agreed we’ll do the Stockton Locks together tomorrow. After lunch, we walked with Macc down to the old railway line, partly to see what the bridge looked like up top.
It was safe enough up there to let Macc off, and he enjoyed running about even if he never went very far away.
He does get very over excited though, so by the time we were heading back down to the towpath he was doing zoomies up and down the slope and needed to be picked up for a calm down! The good thing is that after only a few treatments, his eyes are much better. It’s been nice and sunny all afternoon, and the solar panels have put back almost everything we used on today’s journey, and in using the washer dryer.
5 miles, 10 locks. (46 miles, 102 locks)