Unlike yesterday, we were promised a fine, sunny day and yet again so it proved. The early morning was still quite hazy and it definitely felt sharper in the air as if the climate knew that the clocks had changed last night! However, by late morning more of the sun emerged and we had excellent cruising weather right until well after sunset. (More of that later)
We did manage a prompt start - at least by today's clocks - with over an hour's level run before the first locks.
When we passed the boatyard at Wootten Wawen they were still closed, although a hire boat was using the water point very close to the aqueduct. This is not a problem today but we must not forget that we changed a gas bottle at the start of the trip and we are also now around half empty on the fuel tank (we do not like to go below a third as then any gunge at the bottom can be sucked up into the engine.
Although we have been this way several times in recent years we have not really noticed the mile markers. However, they do not seem to have been designed with visibility in mind!
Apart from showing the wonderful autumn colours, this picture also is a reminder that many of the original bridges along this section were built with split cantilevers and now towpath underneath, no doubt to save costs.
We had quite a problem for most of the remainder of the Stratford - leaves. especially through the narrow bridge holes and locks they collected around the propeller, sometimes to the extent that the boat would hardly move forward. It is a simple task to put the engine into reverse and almost always clears the prop but it needs to be a routine to avoid being aught unawares. This did happen below one lock where, in combination with a very shallow water level, we needed both a rope and a pole to move the boat the last few metres into the lock!
At Lowsonford we could hardly fail to spot the new Anthony Gormley statue which have not seen before. It is not quite a tall as some of the press photos seemed to suggest but its shape is intriguing. Sadly the better direction to appreciate the shape was the wrong way for the sun today.
It looks as if the Fleur-de-Lys pub is intending quite some bonfire. let's hope it burns or there is a lot of scrap to take away!
This unusual garden shed caught our attention.
The lock cottages were originally built to distinctive design (there are stories about the original engineer who could only design this shape roof) but this one shows how much many of them have been extended in modern times to produce quite a substantial home.
We arrived at Kingswood Junction in time for lunch -rather quicker than we had estimated but we made excellent progress with three crew. Our plan after this had been deliberately vague - perhaps we might reach as far as Hatton Top before nightfall. After filling the water tank - slow tap, so slow that a notice in the shower block warns that the shower will not work if the water point is in use!
So, we turned right onto the short link and then out onto the Grand Union. We immediately felt the difference between the very narrow Stratford and the main line of the widened principal route from London to Birmingham, a motorway of its day. Only infrequently did we now have to clear the prop from leaves.
We arrived at Hatton Top at 3:15 and debated what to do. It certainly felt as if we could not possible to clear the whole 21 locks today but could we get as far as Lock 31 where there is a longer pound and where we have moored before? With some trepidation we set off, not helped by finding that the locks were all empty - at least at first. With Christine steering, Mike setting and Andrew working the lock, we made excellent progress (even if we say it ourselves!). There were plenty of people out enjoying the afternoon sunshine and the small cafe just down from the top lock was doing a good trade with most people sitting outside.
As a reminder for those who have not been this way , these locks are not only wide but have the distinctive paddle gear which takes 21 or 22 turns. The good news is that unless in a hurry it does not make a lot of difference if one uses only one paddle at each end. They do empty very quickly.
After five locks we encountered traffic. Several of them seemed to be a party of scouts and were a bit of a menace! Christine found herself, much to her alarm (and no doubt embarrassment!) out of control below one lock. The two coming up were very slow exiting the lock and whilst waiting in the pound (they would not even open the top gates until she had came out of the upper lock!) she was caught in a giant eddy that sometimes happens in short pounds with these large ground paddles.
Once clear of the traffic we continued apace so much so that we opted to carry on as far as we could.
One section of the flight looks very impressive - it is much photographed but here is another!
This canal-side house is for sale and a passing walked told Mike that the asking price is £400,000. It is as narrow as can be seen and has very little garden.
We passed more boats further down but without incident until we reached Lock 31. In the pound below we found a spot to moor with a possible view of the tv satellite.
A few minutes later we were safely tied up, the chimney on, the fire lit and yes, with a tv signal! And still a few last minutes of daylight. All that is left is for Mike to finish cooking the roast beef dinner which he started to prepare in the long pound above Hatton.
13.3 Miles - 34 Locks
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