Thursday 11th April Day 264
It’s a quick wander into Catherine De Barnes which is a lovely little place to get some supplies from the little shop as we prepare to crank it again today and what a difference a day makes as the weather is glorious as we make our way down a new canal for us which is onto the Grand Union.
After yesterday, this weather was well needed and even the radio comes out on the stern along with the shades. We arrive at Knowle locks and wow! What a view from the top of these beautiful flight of five locks and the start of the double locks again which we haven’t tackled for a while. It’s breathtaking from the top! We moor up to fill with water and use the facilities and an angel in the form of a lockie comes along for a chat. ((Check out Peachy’s Instagram or YouTube if want to see the pics!))
When we are ready another boat joins us – this is the guy we chat to about the dodgy entrance to the lock from yesterday and bless him he cruised until 11.30pm last night as he is a solo boater. He only bought his boat nine days ago and hurt his hand when the windlass flicked back and whacked his hand – it did look proper swollen so we tried to help him as much as we could and the lockie was great as he went ahead and opened the gates for us, so I emptied them and closed the gates after Chris and the guy cruised into the next lock and then they would shut the gates and start emptying the lock and then I would come down and finish and so on and so forth. We had a nice rhythm going. As much as I can film will be on YouTube, maybe by this weekend depending on if I get caught up.
I don’t know if it was the weather yesterday or the sunshine but I started with a headache in the morning and it got progressively worse throughout the day but I was determined to enjoy this wonderful cruise. I did succumb at one point as we were faffing about and couldn’t decide how far to go today and missing good mooring spots and coming to stretches with no good mooring that I ended up going into the boat with a cool flannel on my head to try and sort the headache out. Anyway, as a result we weren’t prepared for the tunnel – I’m not saying whose fault this was but it wasn’t mine and so we ended up going through a Shrewley tunnel which opened in 1799 and has a very interesting separate tunnel cut through for horses ((OH Interesting info Peachy)) There will be more of this in the canal book which will be out later in the year. I didn’t want to add too much more to this blog as it’s long enough ((You’re not wrong there!)) its 433 yards of us shrieking when lots of water from the high tunnel roof ends up soaking everything; including us as we are not prepared. Also we had no tunnel light so I ended up switching on all the lights in the boat and opening the curtains and then using a torch and phone. It was okay as it was a straight tunnel and you could see light for oncoming boaters and you can fit boats side by side in this one.
Anyway, finally we are through and find a mooring just before the last bridge at the top of the Hatton flight which is 21 locks we have to tackle tomorrow. Tired after the last few days we set up the bed in the dinette so we can chill properly and look out the window and watch the bats flitting around outside the window. Day done. Until tomorrow.
Cruising : 11 miles / 5 locks / 1 tunnel :
London bound totals: Cruising: 68/198 Locks: 53/174 tunnels : 4 (not sure how many to london!)
C.L. Peache 