To Radford

It took two tries to get out of the marina in the wind this morning after filling with diesel, because the first time we just ended up square across the entrance having been caught by a gust.  Right turn, and we shared Stockton Locks under grey clouds, with occasional spots of rain, before lunch at the Two Boats.  Arriving at Bascote Locks, there was a short torrential shower, but by the time we were through the staircase it was sunny, and we could see the cloud that had just passed over us.

After that an uneventful run down to Radford on our own, turning all but one lock, with the two boats behind not quite catching us before we moored.

Flags in the sunset

Lots of Irises about by the waterside on our evening walk at the moment.  We had planned do do some work touching up the paint this weekend, until we saw the weather forecast.  Occasional showers to come throughout the weekend, apparently, so painting not really on the agenda.  Guess we'll just have to go cruising, probably Leamington this time.

Rapture

An awful lot of people on that balance beam at Napton Adkins lock!  Our quick trip up and back down the flight came to a sudden pause when we came upon a paddle on the bottom gates that wouldn't fully close.  That meant the lock wouldn't completely fill, so the top gate wouldn't open.  After trying various things the first couple of boat crews to arrive gave up and phoned BW to come fix it.  However, as more time passed, more people arrived and there were sufficient to push the gate open without the water being completely level.  Most of those helped through moored up and came back to assist the next boats through so that there were enough on the gates to force them open.  Just as the last of the queue was dealt with, the BW guys arrived and were able to get the paddle down and mark it with hazard tape so that people didn't try to reopen it.  I wish I knew how - I suppose all of the bits of hazard tape around the network have a little drama like this behind them.   

Oh, and the Folly Inn is open again, having had a bit of a makeover, and seems to be doing well.  Quite a good looking menu, and the fish we had was fresh and well cooked.  Also a choice of beers on hand pump, and dogs welcome - what more could you ask?

Nature Notes (2)

 

No boating again this weekend, so more from the archive...

Most people are familiar with the way herons wait until you are close then take off and land a hundred yards on, only to repeat it when you get there soon after.  This one waited until we were nearly alongside to take off, and seemed to want to race us through the bridge hole.

Radford to Ventnor Farm

After an evening spent at a selection of unexpected angles, as the water level was varying so much, I eventually loosened the ropes so that we were afloat about two feet away from the bank.  Passing boats were not a problem, as we grounded and stuck in position each time something passed.  Levels were low all the way, as we moved south with NB Coromandel, apparently due to a failure in the back pumping at Radford Lock.  The forecast had been for winds of more than 20 mph, and the gusts were a lot stronger than that as we made our many attempts to get back to our pontoon without demolishing it.

Going downhill slowly

After a night when the temperature dropped way down, we set off for the top of the Hatton flight around 8 am.  The day soon warmed up, and a fairly slow passage meeting only three boats saw us at the Cape in time for lunch.  Ended the day in glorious sunshine moored in the pound above Radford bottom lock, having secured a drifting boat in the pound below.

Nice day for a white wedding

Nature notes:

We travelled today from Catherine de Barnes to Hatton, via lunch at the Boot in Lapworth.  Lots of herons around this morning.  I tend to think of them as a rural sight, but this one had chosen the M42 viaduct as a suitable place to go fishing.  This afternoon we spotted this fox gazing out at us from the security of the cutting just south of Shrewley tunnel.  I tried to get a little closer for a better picture, but suddenly there was a flash of fur and he was gone.