Monday 8th April Day 261
A long cruising day today as we leave Fazeley and what a lovely place. Before we set off I wander to Tesco to get some essentials as Chris takes down the covers. Along the towpath to the shop it takes me past a school and the kids are mostly looking very solemn as it’s their first day back after the Easter holidays. I’ve mostly worked in education ((since the beginning of time… and Peachy uses the word ‘work’ loosely)) and it feels strange but wonderful not to have to structure my life around term times.
Provisions bought we set off and are soon moored at the marina for the usual boat facilities and another boat turns up as we set off – so that was good timing. It’s a lovely stretch of canal with lots of countryside, lambs, ducks and birds going about their day. It cloudy but not raining so that will do as we reach the first lock of 11 which forms the Curdworth flight. There is the fabulous sight of a couple of lockies on; I of course stand and have a right good old chinwag with them as they help us through the lock.
Some of the lock gates are heavy and the paddles difficult to turn but I deploy the last of my Yorkshire strength to get them open and by the time we’ve finished the locks I’m ready to moor up once we get through the Curdworth tunnel as my hip is feeling the strain.
We are well protected when we find a mooring and so that’s us staying put until Wednesday as it’s going to rain for most of the day tomorrow and windy. I daren’t look how many locks are coming up as I spoke to a boater yesterday and it took him 13 hours to get through the locks; although he was on his own and all the locks were set against him so he had to fill them all. We were lucky on the Curdworth flight as baring 2 locks, they were all set in our favour or we met a boat at the right time to leave gates open for each other.
The next stretch goes through area which boaters don’t advice mooring in; apparently they are not very safe and lots of rubbish etc so we want to get through the other side so it could be a long day on Wednesday! ((Oh it’s going to worse than that Peachy!!)) Day done. Until tomorrow. x
Cruising : 6 miles / 11 locks / 1 tunnel
London bound totals: Cruising: 42/198 Locks: 24/174 tunnels : 2 (not sure how many!)
C.L. Peache 