Day Sunday
Date : 25 August 2019
Start :1100hrs
Finish :1450 Hrs Tardebigge top lock
I have uploaded our proposed route to CanalPlanAC if anyone wants to see where we are likely to be. It gets updated with actual position each night.
This morning the first boat passed us going up the flight at 6-30am. then about 9am a CRT work boat went up. My policy if I am not in a rush is to wait for at least one boat to come down, at least that way one lock will be with us. While I waited I decided to change the diesel pre filter, the changing went OK but the bleeding left something to be desired as 5 minutes later the engine stopped. As I now needed to bleed the injectors I decided I may as well change the on engine filter as well. I am pleased to say that there was no signs of water of the dreaded bug but the pre filter was a bit mucky well its probably had over 4000 lts of diesel through it as that how much I have bought since it was last changed. The engine hour were 3236. Once the system was fully bled we were ready for the off and lo and behold a boat had come down the fight. What we didn't expect to see was the CRT work boat just leaving the second lock going up, it turned out they were cleaning and doing lock maintenance, they even drew a paddle for us. As we passed they informed us there were another 7 boats coming down the flight. As we came up in the lock I spotted these giant puff balls in a field of sheep. After this things got better with the locks in our favour and spotting a hire boat coming down we could also leave the top gates open. Once we crossed with the hire boat it was obvious that they had been leaving the bottom gates open all the way. we carried on, always meeting oncoming boats at convenient times all the way to Tardebigge reservoir, after that the locks were of varying fullness, from a foot to full. At the lost bridge we passed under the old telephone insulators can still be seen where the telephone wires ran
under the bridge In all honesty I couldn't have wished for a better run, just two full locks to turn out of 30, especially welcome in this heat. We completed the flight in 3 hours 50 minutes but it was too hot to chase about.
You get a very good view of the village church from the top lock with its interesting spire. Once clear of the flight we moored on the first bit of towpath beyond the lock moorings.
Today's Journey
3¾ Miles 30 Locks in 3¾ hours
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