Hockley Heath

Today's Canals - Grand Union and Stratford

Today's forecast indicated a wet morning before clearing later. Indeed, when we awoke there was a little rain on the windows but that very quickly cleared and we were left with a very pleasant day. Although there was a strong breeze keeping temperatures quite cool for the time of year, it was just right for working locks.

OK, so the title line does say Grand Union but, in reality, that was for about 200m until we returned from our overnight mooring - which did offer a satellite signal - and rejoined the Stratford Canal.

Lapworth Lock 20

 After a brief stop at the sani station (not that we really needed it but there is nowhere else on the north Stratford) we started up the northern part of the Lapworth flight, another 19 locks to reach the long summit pound. (Just in case it is apparent, we had a little difficulty with something on the camera lens today despite having cleaned it last night)

We did also speak to a CRT person who appeared as we arrived at the lock and reported the problem we had with Lock 25 yesterday. It is a known problem and has been all year but they do not know the cause. It is likely that it will have to wait until the stoppage season before they can take a proper look at what is causing the problem.

The locks in this half of the canal have a different design and, most significantly, have two rather than one bottom gate. Although this means that the gates are easier to work individually, it does mean a lot more walking - unless there are lock tail bridges or you are prepared to leap the gap between gates.

A seat at the second lock has an amusing inscription: Cyril Woods Gentleman. Not often that is used these days as a mark of esteem!

We began the flight at 9:51 and completed the top lock at 12:35. A respectable speed but we saw very few boats coming the other way and all but one of the locks was empty.

A volunteer lock keeper gave assistance for the first part of the flight but then went back down with another boat in the opposite direction. He was very friendly and provided just the right kind of help, setting locks and closing after we left - and definitely not one of the more officious types. If they were all like this one that we could do with plenty more!

The middle section of the flight is a straight line of locks, giving an impressive view from the bottom.

There was plenty of water coming down the flight, making it important to be able to judge the effect on the boat in order to avoid being swept sideways out of the line of the lock, just at the last minute.

We encountered rather a lot of duck weed today, quite extensive in places. Fortunately it was not enough to cause significant problems but if it grows much more then there will be.

Despite the camera problem, this picture still shows just how kind the weather was for us today.

Lapworth Top Lock

Lapworth Top Lock is quite hemmed in with hedges and walls screening the adjacent properties from prying eyes of canal users. No doubt, those which were built for lock keepers, lengthsmen and other canal workers, were happily built close to the place of work but now that they are no longer needed for those purposes, new owners seem to like being alongside a canal just so long as it does not intrude!

Just after the top lock we stopped for a long lunch break. Almost immediately after setting off once more we arrived at the first of two lift bridges this afternoon. It takes fifty turns of the hydraulic gear to raise the bridge and fifty to lower it. It is not an easy mechanism and thoroughly exhausting! We were quite glad when we were waved through the next one by the crew that had just opened it for themselves!

Even more duck weed!

The canal now is rather confined within trees on either side so we were not at all sure where best to moor for a satellite signal. In addition, at one point we passed a boat coming the other way and, despite being on the towpath side, ran aground more than a metre from the edge. Not wanting to be too close to the motorway we tied up where we could, able to get to the bank and with the (slim) prospect of tv tonight.

The reason we have stopped rather early in the afternoon is that when Christine and Andrew came this way (Mike was not with them) they found a rather good bakery at Bridge 20 - last time was a Sunday so not open. We hope to repeat the good experience in the morning.

Duck in duck weed

 4.1 miles - 19 locks