Two flights in one day!

We set off early today, being up at 6:30 and casting off at 8:03. 

The generator got another run this morning and powering the fan heater we managed to get everything dry. 

First up it was the Lapworth flight. 

The Stratford canal is well known for its split bridges where the horse rope could go down the gap in the middle. We were more concerned with whether it would split our chimney from its mounting. There were several near misses. 

The helpers tended to need more rests today, again the camera never lies. 

It also took a little persuasive encouragement and the threat of docked pay to get them to keep up. 

Through Lapworth and onto the Grand Union. A new canal for us. 

We passed these, which incredibly had a For Sale sign at the far side. 

Then there was Shrewley Tunnel which as you can see has its own horse tunnel. 

Unfortunately I'm the dark of the tunnel we hit the side several times and unbelievably trapped the same fender as two days ago and now the hand rail is bent much more. Not a happy skipper. 

We stopped for thirty minutes to repair damage and paint over all the new scraped areas, most of which were down to bare metal. 

Then it was on to the Hatton flight. 

Our first real experience of wide locks, and 21 of them to do. 

They are very big. This is a view inside the lock that we visited on the open day in February. 

We were really lucky to share the entire flight with NB Kestrel. They were brilliant and as well as superb locking techniques they also passed on lots of other advice, including ideas on how to fix the hand rail. Hopefully we will meet again. 

 

We have moored by another Camra GBG

pub and are meeting a former work colleague tonight. 

It's beginning to feel like a holiday.