Hatton

A mixed weather day - a 'single drop' of rain was promised but we started off cooler but dry. Mike popped back to tesco for some milk and a newspaper and then used our little electric pump to remove most of the water from the sections in the engine bay that the bilge pump does not drain. Most of this water comes in as rain water that is not caught by the drain channels around the decking.

Emscote Road Bridge

Not long after we set off we arrived at the two Cape Locks - as we arrived at the second another boat was just setting off (we later discovered that they had stayed overnight just there)

Cape Top Lock

The section between Cape of Good Hope and the bottom of the Hatton flight is strikingly wide, a sign of the canal's ambitions, perhaps from the extensive improvements made in the 1930's.

Hatton Bottom Lock

At Hatton Bottom Lock we joined forces with the boat ahead of us and stayed together for the whole flight. They were new to the boat having bought it at Rugby Boat Sales at Stowe Hill and were just finding out its characteristics. Although they had a little bit of boating experience through hiring, they had recently been on an RYA Helmsman Course and reported that it was very helpful, especially in what to do when things go awry. Some lock sharing experiences are good.

oking
After a few locks the clouds became ever greyer and finally several quite sharp showers arrived. In between it was bright and sunny.

The flight was surprisingly quiet, especially as this is a bank holiday weekend. We only met two boats coming down, one of which was a widebeam.



Looking down Hatton flight

Further up the flight and the locks are much closer together. In some cases the short pounds add interest when having to pass boats coming the other way. Back down the main part of the flight is directly in line with the tower of the church in the centre of Warwick which provides a significant landmark.

This shower missed us

Some of the showers missed us but they must have deterred visitors - one family helped us through a couple of locks but the crowds of gongoozlers we might have expected were nowhere to be seen.

Hatton Top Lock

Three and a half hours after starting the flight we emerged from the top lock - a welcome sight for any boater ascending the flight! Immediately after the lock we stopped to use the services and fill up with water. This gave us a chance also to have lunch - much needed.

Just a pretty picture

Setting off again, it is now a long level pound to Kingswood Junction. The sun came out and although there was a fresh breeze when on the more exposed sections it was really pleasant cruising.

Shrewley Tunnel North Portal

Shrewley Tunnel, around 400 metres, does not take long to pass through, double width and quite high. Nevertheless in places it is also very wet! At the northern end there is the popular scene with the extra horse tunnel entrance above the main tunnel.



Shrewley Tunnel South Portal

What most canal books fail to show is the other end - where has that tunnel gone to? One day we will stop off and find out!

It must be a good year for dandelions (at least our small lawn at home suggests so!) But this picture also shows the canal on a quite large embankment with the road running past a country pub (The Cock Horse) down below. It is hard to realise the effort involved in constructing such a section when the only earth moving device available at the time was a wheelbarrow!

Our trip plan suggested that we would be here at this time tomorrow and that we could go to evensong at Rowington Church (which does not have a service in the morning). Despite much Googling we could not find anywhere that looked feasible for the morning as the next churches involved completing all or most of the Lapworth flight. As it was now fast approaching four o'clock and we did not fancy another 15 or 16 locks, as soon as we saw some good moorings (Tom O' the Moor) near Turners Green we opted for an early finish instead.

7.9 miles - 23 locks