Left at 09:20
arrived at 16:20.
Up to a cool greyish
morning, off for 925 ish heading for Curdworth, a couple of hours no locks (two
pages on my trusty companion booklet showing me the way) then 3 hrs with 11
locks. So suck it and see, hope its not too warm by time we start the lock but
what will be will be. Leaving
Whittington, passing some lovely gardens leading down to the canal and its
getting warmer. Coming through
Whittington Bridge spotted a large field of Asparagus, it had grown its lovely
ferny topgrowth on top of the spears, I think that means the spears cannot be
cut any more, they did have poly tunnels further on so maybe that’s the forcing
sheds. 10 20 getting very warm, opened
the side panels in the cratch and the hatch near the sink to create a draught.
I mad a coffee and walked down side of boat to tidy and water the planters, the
pansies are going over now but the other plants and coming into their own,
their is a flower coming out on the Geraniums which I grew at home. Passing through Hopwas there were lovely
moorings at the side with a garden leading down to them. Then a beautiful cottage emerged it was called
Otters Holt, it had lots of interesting things in the garden which lead down to
the canal. There was a playhouse on
stilts with a sandy play area underneath and a pergola for the grown ups with a
lid on it, Indian hangings, lights and bunting on it, gorgeous especially with
the sun on it. The lady of the house was
out having coffee in the garden. There
was a fantastic Rhododendron which was massive and covered in flowers. We keep passing ducks splashing about doing
their morning ablutions. I took us exactly 1 hour to do the 1st page
of my companion booklet. As we approached
Fazeley Junction there were lots of waterside properties and narrowboats of
course, we turned right towards Birmingham, a large barge was entering the
bridge, so we had to reverse to let him through, he was considerably bigger
than us too. It was beautifully renovated
and carrying large blue plastic tubs, so it was delivering something somewhere,
it turned right to go towards Hawkesbury. We are now on new territory, Derek
says its better here, more water so not as much danger of dragging on the
bottom and we can go a bit faster.
Fazeley Hill Marina was on the left hand side, or should I say
port? It looked nice and tidy through
the entrance bridge. Passing Drayton
Boat Hire, they have lovely livery for their boats, their day boat Nessie was
titchy and very cute. I think I saw
purple wild orchids (not looked them up yet) see what you think from the
pictures.??? 12:43 we are approaching
bottom lock, No 1 to us, we are doing a few and then stopping to fill up with
water and have a snack. 12:59 done the 1st
lock, it would have been easier if a visitor to the cottages hadn’t parked her
car right next to the gate!! Its really
hot now nearly 30 in the cratch again although we have had a few raindrops,
weird or what. The fairies have landed again, the water is covered in feathery
seeds. There is a water wildlife park on
the port side of the boat. The next lock was set for us, the 1st
boat after the lock was originally from Stanley Ferry, there were lots of boats
moored along this bit of canal, unfortunately they were mostly very tatty, poor
things, we found the water point after the moorings just before the next
bridge, it took some finding. Filled up
with water. The next lock was next to the pub, I hate audiences, never mind it
went like clockwork, there was now someone waiting to come down, 1st
we had seen since starting up the flight.
At the next lock a couple did half of it for us, they were on a hire
boat and were now about to get in the queue to go down the rest of the locks. It was still very warm with a bit of a breeze
but will be glad when weve done. At locks 4 3 and 2 there was someone coming
down so we filled it and left gate open for them, we went up the next, another
coming down, they helped us up and then at lock 2 a lady on NB Moonwind, helped
us through again, she was really funny and a little bossy, I asked her where
she was heading, answer “The Pub” where were they mooring? “The Pub”, she had
had enough of today. They had done 35
locks today and ours was the 1st
that would be set for them, she told me to get on the boat and bid us a very
good farewell, we wished her a good evening at “The Pub” 1 lock to go, finished
by 3:52 yippee, moored by 4:25, Derek takes ages to find a spot!!! Had our tea,
getting set for the evening and Derek went for a walk? He came back and decided
that round the corner under the bridge the mooring would be better and there
were already 2 other boats there, swarming again ! re-moored for 7:20.
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