Monday morning, coming out of the junction, we were met by 2 pairs of hotel boats; Duke and Duchess coming into the junction from Warwick direction and Oak and Ash moored after coming down from the Lapworth flight the previous day. And us! It was like a scene from the canal's heyday!
We moored around the corner on the Grand Union canal facing towards Birmingham in order that we could catch the train for Stratford again. I had a parcel to collect from the Post Office there and we fancied a proper look around.
When we returned, the owners of the aforementioned sunken butty (refloated and remoored at our new location the previous day), called down to see if she was still ok.
Unfortunately, overnight, some of the water had returned. This is a picture after she was refloated. Daz and Richard bailed her out for a while before Daz's partner Sam arrived with a bilge pump, which did the trick, but then leaks became evident in the wooden floor (composite hull). Luckily Sam was quite an expert, already owning 2 wooden boats and plugged the holes with blonde oakum (hemp soaked in linseed oil). These would then be coated with 'Charlie', a preparation of dried horse manure and tar, which would finally be covered in a patch of tin and nailed in place to compress the mixture. We learnt lots off Sam!
Next morning we set off towards Birmingham for a quick nosey and winded at the Heron pub about 4 miles up the canal. Coming back, Richard caught a few shots for the blog.
Some lovely, probably genuine 'tudor' style houses enroute (I am no expert!),
as well as this gorgeous property hidden behind lots of foliage..
Surprisingly pretty canal, considering it's original purpose.
Rambling tudor property in a village called Turner's Green.
Tranquil location on top of the high embankment just after the above village,for our overnight mooring. Panoramic views, large carp sunbathing in the canal, solar panels worked really well and lots of painting done.
People would pay a lot of money for the views we had that morning!
Shrewley Tunnel, 443 yards long, with a separate tunnel for the horses to get them over the hill! Although not a long tunnel, it leaked like a sieve in the middle, which was fine but very cold and I found myself reaching for the umbrella!
A cold shower for both of us! This was after a week of glorious sunshine, wonder what it must be like after a proper deluge!
Onward to moor at Hatton and a quick visit to Warwick on the train!
This morning, in the drizzle, but nice and cool weather, we set off to 'do' the Hatton flight (21 double locks yehay!).
Because the locks are double, we could breast up the boats and glide down the flight effortlessly!
Ok, I did more running between locks than anywhere else, I think, and Richard did lots of jumping on and off to close gates and slow the boats etc, so yes a good hard day's work, but we were moored by 2.30pm at Warwick, so I think we did quite well!
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