We Started about an hour away from the famous Hatton locks – A 21 lock flight
Once through the locks we found the first good mooring and stopped for the night!
Day 23
Here is the map of the day
A fairly short day, all started well until we got the the outskirts of Leamington Spa when all the batter charge warning lights came on, we found the first place to moor and stopped – one problem – the engine wouldn’t stop!
A quick SOS to my chap that services the boat and he told me where the manual leaver was to stop the engine, so once stopped it wouldn.t start – no ignition lights are any sound when moving the key.
So this was me at the side of the canal – all the tools out!
I eventually found the culprit a broken wire that supplies power to the ignition key and panel, here are the remains
I didn’t have any heavy duty wire, lucky enough Halfords was only 30 minutes away, so I went for a walk.
I managed to get some bit to fix it and within an hour or so we were off. While stopped, as we were close to a Tesco superstore Wendy stocked up with some essentials, including caramel ice cream
So today we completed the Stratford on Avon canal and rejoined the grand union, the completes the loop of
Stratford on Avon Canal – River Servern – River Avon – Stratford on Avaon canal!
Here is the video of the boat turning from Stratford on Avon canal to the “lapworth link”, Its a tight turn for a 68′ boat into a very narrow bridge
Shortly after another turn required from the lapwork link to the Grand Union.
So now we just retrace our steps home. We are about an hour away from Hatton locks again – Wendy is looking forward to that tomorrow. Our holiday is now officially extended due to the various hold ups, unfortunately we both have some commitments tomorrow so will be on “teams” calls in the morning.
Quite a short distance but we had some interesting times
We started the day outside the RSC at Stratford on Avon, there are a few swans there on the river so we gave them a feed, we then popped into town for a bit of shopping and while there popped into a 1940’s themed tea shop for a coffe for Wendy and a Cream tea for me!
From there we took a left turn into the lock that gets you on the the Stratford upon Avon canal, the lock is covered with people watching so a good one to get right!
Here is the video – speeded up!
You then turn right and go through some of the narrowest bridges I have ever seen as you make your way out of the town.
Narrow bridge
A few locks up and we were confronted – just after this maconalds – almost a drive through!
– with a boat 90 degrees across the canal. No one was doing anything so we moored up and sorted it. Turns out it was an unoccupied boat that someone had moored up badly, the mooring pins had pulled out and it was drifting!
We carried on and soon met the Wilmcote lock flight of 10 locks. Wendy was feeling brave so decided to drive the boat up the flight while I did the locking. A top job she did as well – more walking for me in the future!
All was going well until we got the the top lock, the bottom gate wouldn;t shut, we called Canal and River trusts and were waiting when another boat came up the flight – clearly more seasoned that us he contructed a tool from a long pole and a garden tool to scrape the lock cill (the concreate ledge the gates sit on) It took a few goes but he did clear it the gate closed and we could move on.
It was getting late so the first mooring we could find we have stopped for the night, so just about covered 5 miles today!.
Due to it being the weekend we found all the marinas closed and we were getting short of Diesel, as we were punching up river against the flow we were using more that usual. We therefore felt it better we stay wherer we were until we could be sure of refuelling soon!
We were stopped at a lovely location. Here are a few pictures
Day 18
Here is the map of the day
Yes, we have meandered up the river Avon right to Stratford upon Avon
We had to navigate quite a few locks, all double with very heavy metal gates, we had to do a few on our own but then met a couple on a hire boat called Steve and Natalie and we then were able to get through the next few lock much quicker.
The views on the Avon are quite lovely, here is a sample
We have then moored right outside the RSC, here is the view
In the town centre there is a great signpost
As we had a long day we decided to go out for dinner. We found a great restaurant called Lamb, out waitress was called Charlotte who was lovely but made a couple of mistakes, really didn’t matter to us but they offered us a free Irish coffee which I have to say was lovely.
Tomorrow we head off the river and back onto the canals, then a short trip until we arrive back at Hatton locks – going down this time.
Checking “ANT’s” status page the tree is still an issue.
Today is a very wet and rainy day so wouldn’t be a great day for moving anyway! We are now a bit short of time to get home on time so we have both made plans. Wendy’s Mum is coming anyway so will bring her work iPad, I have warned the office I may need to take extra holiday!
