Went out to put the tiller on this morning and the boat behind was just pulling away so we waited until he cleared the first lock, number 6 and then followed him down, we only turned the first two locks when we saw two boats coming up, the first a 70 footer I met on the bendy pound just below lock 7, I don’t think the Volockie was too impressed when I wouldn’t go into the by wash and waited against the towpath. Any way the young lady on the 70 footer slid past with no problem and when her bows were in the mouth of the next lock i slid forward clear of her stern. I then waited in lock 8 as the next boat was single handing and this time I did move out so he could rub against the towpath to the next lock. after that we met a couple moor boats coming up until we were below lock 14, after that we had to turn a couple. As we needed water we stopped below 18 while three boats came up 19, they were very slow as a swan was sitting by the offside paddle and no one would go near to use it. Once full with water and the third boat had exited the lock we dropped down through both 21 and 22 before turning through the link onto the Grand Union to moor for the night.
One of the locks with steel girder beams as had wooden blocks set into the ends so that you can close them with a shaft from the back of the boat as you leave, some locks on the Shropshire Union have similar blocks.
I think the owner of this boat has a DIY fuel polishing system with an external filter stood out on the deck, it didn’t look to be running when we passed, I am not sure how its sealed into the diesel tank, maybe its not connected at the moment.
I am not sure the do not use me tape was really required here.
At the junction there are two plaques, one national Trust and the other the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal Society
Today’s Journey
1¼ miles, 16 locks in 3¼ hours
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