Black Boy Bridge 69 to Lowsonford Top Lock 31, Fleur de Lys, South Stratford Canal

Another wet start to the day, at least we’d not had a disturbed nights sleep. We actually managed to get ourselves up and ready to cruise pretty early for us, well we’d a touch of making up to do from yesterday and had a destination to make today.

Push off was around 9:30, in the rain! We had about 2.5 miles to do to reach Kingswood Junction where the Grand Union Canal joins the Stratford Upon Avon. Just before the junction we passed Heidi’s old boat The Rum Wench. An old work boat sped towards the junction from the south, turning in. Which way would they be going? North or South on the Stratford. As we turned in at the junction I could see them going through the link, a straight on modern channel which saves going up one lock and down another to start the descent down towards Stratford. One person climbed off the roof, then the stern of their boat gradually moved towards their port side, they were north bound.

Through the link for us too but turning towards the south. Damn a boat was on the water point, a chap popped his head out saying the tap was slow, sorry! There’d be another tap tomorrow so we weren’t too bothered, just the mountain of washing to work through before panto.

Now back to narrow locks with single gates top and bottom, far easier than the beasts at Knowle yesterday. The rain became intermittent, our soggy waterproofs nearly having time to dry before the next rain gave us another soaking!

Now which way to turn my windlass? The top paddles all wanted to go Anti-clockwise, so I ended up muttering to myself Aunty Locks to fill each and just about every chamber. The top gates on the Stratford have a thinner edge by the offside upright, making for a less than confident step to the far bank to be able to lift the paddle that side. I managed, but Mick later suggested that maybe tomorrow we try just lifting one paddle.

The locks are fairly evenly spaced, not close enough to walk ahead to set the next one, but close enough to walk between them. The towpath was mostly okay, patches of mud to avoid. At one lock I’d closed the bottom gate and stepped off the brick surround, here the grass was muddy and I skidded down only a foot or so to the towpath, narrowly avoiding getting a seriously muddy bum! Only thing was I’d twisted my left knee, the knee I’d had problems with a couple of years ago. It felt ok, but it would be wanting a rest soon.

The barrel roofed lock cottages that the Stratford Canal is known for are all slightly different. The first one down the flight has a rather elaborate criss cross pattern, quite gingerbread like, maybe I should paint them some candy canes for around their front door. Another looks worn and weathered, possibly someone doing some work inside.

After Lock 29 I walked on ahead to check on mooring possibilities. Above lock 30 there was space, I phoned Mick to tell him I was going to look below too. I could hear everything he said, but I was pure darlek to him. There was space below, so we’d be going down the lock. Just after I’d lifted a paddle on the lock my phone rang, an unfamiliar number. It was a discharge nurse at the hospital informing me that Hospital Transport was there to move Frank to his new home, he should arrive there within the next half hour! Time for another happy dance, not just at the news, but also that my phone had found signal for the call. Messages were sent on to others who needed to know and then to wait for news of his arrival.

Stopping at a reasonable time for lunch was a bit good, we’ve not managed that for a while. Tilly was given four hours shore leave. She checked the stern, then the bow, but decided that it looked good enough to risk getting wet.

The internet was rubbish, bad TV signal and our phones had an intermittent signal. Then the hinge on my laptop broke! This is the third time it’s done this and is most probably the last time too! Oh well just as well we’d be heading to the pub later.

With Tilly home, us both dried out and some washing done we put on some none boaty clothes and walked down to the next lock and across to the pub, the Fleur de Lys. Here we were meeting up with Chris and Jennie who used to own NB Tentatrice. We once managed a cuppa with them and Monty their woofer at Radford Smelly and our paths have crossed a few more times briefly. We’ve been trying to meet up for a proper chat now for the last few years and today we finally managed it.

Mick and I both chose to try one of the pub’s legendary pies. Mick had steak and ale and I had a gf steak and red wine, both very nice. My gf crumble was very hot and the topping had only been scattered on top of the filling, not baked with it, but it was pleasant enough.

We had a very lovely evening with Jennie and Chris, sharing boating stories and tales of Monty. We were so busy talking that we forgot to take a photo of us all together! This seems to be a recurring omission! Thank you Jennie for the cards, they are stowed away safely on some shelves awaiting December and more importantly the 25th!

9 locks, 4.6 miles, 1 right, 1 straight, 1 left, 2nd soggy day in a row, 1 slip, 1 twist, 1 gate each end, 4 hours shore leave, 4 beers, 2 pies, 1 burger, 1 gammon 2 eggs, 2 brulee, 1 brownie, 1 crumbled crumble, 2 cards, 2 months early, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.