Lapworth, the upper Stratford Canal and Birmingham Worcester Canals

Saturday 4th May

From our lovely mooring overlooking Rowington we set out on a very cold and breezy morning with the Lapworth flight in our sights, another 19  locks!

After dealing with the basics of water, rubbish and Elsan we started our uphill journey. Then it was with a great big smile that Jenny greeted the lovely, Neil the CRT volunteer who appeared at the 3rd lock and helped us throughout the flight with his friendly chat and easy way. It was such a boost after other volunteers we have encountered so far on this trip. A great big thank you to Neil who made this leg of our journey most enjoyable.

Thanks for your help Neil

Hitching a lift

After a short stop to clear the prop of some plastic rope of some sort, that was causing  a nasty vibration and the disappointment of finding  Swallow Cruisers closed on a Saturday , where we hoped to take on fuel, we arrived at our overnight mooring at Warings Green.

Sunday 5th May

Another cold morning greets us as we slip our ropes and head off on a lock free section of canal for today. We are both wrapped up well as we make our way through this beautiful countryside.  We are hopeful that it will warm up a little later in the morning. As we turn onto the Birmingham and Worcester Canal at Norton Junction it is still cold and overcast. This section, although lock free, is a rather uninteresting stretch being the suburbs of Birmingham.  The highlight must be the Wast Hill Tunnel, which at 2726 yds is the 6th longest tunnel on the system. It was even colder in the darkness of the tunnel, which takes 30 minutes to travel through. However, once through we leave the outskirts of Birmingham and find ourselves, once again in beautiful open countryside.

The old guillotine lock at the top of the Stratford Lock

Our plan to moor at Alvechurch  was thwarted by all the authorised moorings being full so we ventured on hoping to moor just outside the town. However, the sides of the canal were too shallow and after many attempts at various locations we just had to continue on our way. We were both getting colder and colder and a bit fed up and although we knew we would moor somewhere we had not intended to have such a long day, and definitely not to go as far as Tardebigge, which is where we ended up after 2 more short tunnels.

The view from above the Top Lock, where we spent the night, was amazing so not such a bad end to the day!

Tardebigge  mooring

Our Sunday night view towards the Malvern Hills 

Tardebigge 18th century church

with 15 ft spire

The Tardebigge Flight tomorrow!

Leamington and the Hatten Flight

Wednesday 1st May

Feeling a little warmer today so one less layer at the start of our gradual decent into Leamington Spa. Once again despite lingering we have no company through the locks, which come at regular intervals along this stretch of the Grand Union. They are all set against us, no surprise, as we keep catching glimpses of a blue boat up ahead.
It was very disappointing to find the Elsan disposal facility out of use by bridge 32 so we just pressed on. However, Sid was more concerned as we reached Radford Bottom Lock when he noticed the header tank was empty! He nursed Hunters Moon through the lock then we moored to investigate. He found a small crack in the  engine water tank cap and as luck would have it he had a spare in his toolbox! A top up of water and off we go, after lunch, of course.

Two stops in Leamington followed. One at Morrisons for much needed provisions and one at Lidl for  other provisions! Then on to our planned overnight mooring at the top of the Cape locks. It is just a little way from Lidl but hampered by rain that decided to cime along  and at the end of a long day we were less than happy. Then, no TV signal! Never mind a cosy boat and a good book brought the  day to a close.
Tomorrow  The Hatton Flight!

More signs of spring

Who is this little chap hitching a ride?

Thursday 2nd May

An overcast morning greets us as we set out for our ascent of the 21 locks of the Hatton  Flight. Two boats had set out ahead of us a so we were guessing we might  have another lonely morning, since we hadn't  been aware of anything behind us a for days!

At the bottom lock we could see a narrowboat just exiting the lock ahead of us.  Where had the other boat gone? Possibly down the Saltisford Arm! Not our worry now, more important, has the boat ahead seen us? The answer was yes. Hooray! They  kindly waited at the next lock for us where we were to discover they had two friends coming to join them. With two crew setting the locks and two crew working the locks we made smooth and sociable progress up the 21 locks and covered bottom to top in 2 hours 40 minutes. It was a great help to Jenny's leg, she was not relishing the idea of working all the locks on her own. So, a big thank you to Barry and Jan on nb Narrow Escape and their friends Paul and  Sandra.  Oh, and not forgetting Ruby, their never tiring Spaniel (sorry not sure what type! - fairly small!).

Stairway to Heaven 

Sid holds on tight

And so to Hatten Top Lock

Our mooring for the night was one of our favourites overlooking Rowington, where we arrived just ahead of very heavy rain with hail and the odd rumble of thunder.

Underway at last

Monday 29th April

At  last we get underway after Storm Hannah kept us in the marina longer than expected and, we also had an unexpected invitation to a roast lamb lunch from our great 'old' friends, Jan and Tony, who are now living 15 minutes from Fenny Marina.

It is so good to be back cruising and signs of spring are all along the way with the hedgerows turning green and little clusters of blossom  appearing on the  bushes, cowslips are abundant,  frolicking lambs fill the fields and the little bird in the photo below welcomed us to our first  night mooring at Napton.

We head onto the Grand Union tomorrow .

Tuesday 30th April

We awake to a beautiful, sunny morning but very cold so head off onto the Grand Union with our winter layers on.  Yesterday the water was very busy with boats but today they all seem to have disappeared.  Despite waiting for a short while at Calcutt Locks for some company to share the double locks  we ventured down these three locks on our own, no problem but the heavy gates and hydraulic winding and the huge all amount of water used much nicer and more water friendly when shared with another boat and and her crew. However,  we took the decision to stop for an early lunch at the top of the Stockton  Locks , a flight of eight,  and to wait for someone to join us. After more than an hour and the canal seeming deserted we started down the flight.

On the Stockton Lock flight

 By this time the sun had warmed  things up so gradually our layers came  off. In fact it was a beautiful afternoon. At one point in the flight some CRT volunteers, complete with windlasses,  appeared and we thought we might have some help, Jenny was tiring and her leg was causing her some discomfort, but they just walked on by. Obviously not on lock duty today!

We got to the bottom lock and stopped to take on water. We seemed to have used a lot in just 2 days! ( Note to self: be more frugal with water usage!). Just as we were full a lady appeared round the  corner from the bottom lock carrying a windlass. Another boat!! We had 2 more locks to do before our mooring for the night, at the Two Boats, so it was good to share those. Should we have hung around at Stockton top lock for another half hour or so we would have had company all the way?

More signs of spring today with our first sighting of cygnets and also a little family of ducklings.

Our 2019 Season Begins

We have arrived back on board amid strong winds, cool temperatures, heavy rain  showers and bright sunny spells - typical April weather, after the hottest Easter on record .  However,  we are so grateful to be back on Hunters Moon after a winter of a mixture family events..
We are planning to head northward again this year covering familiar canals as well as ones new to us.  We are also hoping to visit some of the waterways that were restricted to us last year due to stoppages.

We are sure to encounter some adventures and some interesting folk along the way.

And so, off we go!

Hunters Moon ready to go cruising with her new solar panels

Finished and fitted

Thanks to Tooley's for our beautiful new chimney. We are thrilled with not only the appearance but also the performance. No more tar residue on the roof.

Pleased as punch with the finished product

Our new addition

We decided to treat Hunters Moon to a new chimney for the winter. Not just any old chimney but a beautiful handmade piece of history from Tooley's Boatyard in Banbury.

Work in Progress

Nearing the end of our 2018 season

Here we are at the end of September thinking back on another memorable season on the water. We have visited some interesting new places, met some lovely folk along the way, and had a a few adventures. The weather for the most part has been wonderful and at times, dare I say it, too hot, so we have been able to enjoy some tasty canalside bbqs, many long evenings sitting out and some pleasant walks.

Despite the strong winds and heavy rain last week the past few days have been a real treat with gentle breezes, warm, sometimes even hot , sunshine and warmer nights. We have been slowly making our way northward on the Oxford Canal playing leap frog with another boat,  WaterLilleys.  The owners Sharon and Terry have had an exciting summer. Terry has walked 600 miles on the SW coastal path while Sharon  has spent her time taking WaterLilleys down the Kennett and Avon to Bath single handed! Any boaters will know that is no mean feat and we take our hats off  to her. She was ably assisted by her four-legged companion Ziggy.

One of the delights of travelling on the canals  is these lockside encounters with  interesting people,  who you keep meeting as we all journey along the same route.

During our shopping stop at Banbury Sid had to make his usual visit to Tooley's Boatyard. This resulted in us ordering a new chimney. Not just any old chimney this time but a hand built,  made to measure 18 inch chimney. It is made from 4mm steel, has a double flue, fluted top, twin lifting handles and has brass plate with Tooley's (Hunters Moon beneath) embossed on it.

Photos will follow when it is delivered.

We were also asked to let everyone know about Banbury Canal Day on Sunday  14th October 10.30 - 4.30. Also a note for canal lovers, a book entitled ' Forging Ahead' ( a history of Tooley's Boatyard ), by Matthew Armitage will soon be available.