Wednesday 3rd August 2005
Kingswood Junction - Warwick (6½ miles, 18 locks)
We got up late, had a leisurely breakfast and walked to the Post Office Stores near Bridge 34 on the Stratford Canal for a newspaper, bread and cakes. It will be a problem for canal users if these local shops all disappear, swept aside by the supermarkets.
We made our way slowly towards Hatton. There was a hire boat in front of us as we left but they disappeared into the distance. We passed them later near Rowington, where they had obviously stopped for a while, but then cast themselves adrift just as we were approaching. They appeared to want to get away quickly in front of us but then realised they needed their engine running and struggled to start it as we crept slowly past.
We went through the tunnel at Shrewley and past the long line of moored boats at the Mid Warwickshire Yacht Club (not a single yacht in sight), and then stopped for an early lunch before we got too close to the top of the Hatton flight. It was also an excuse to let the impatient hire boat pass us.
As we ate our lunch, a passing boat, Harriet No 12 asked us if we were going down the flight, and they agreed to wait for us by the shop after the first lock. They had followed us up through the final locks to Kingswood the previous day and Lucy's impression was that the man was rather bossy.
Lucy's worries were unfounded. As we approached Hatton top lock, the wife got the lock ready for us and we waited for them to enter the next lock. After that, we agreed to travel as a pair, and they were good company. Far from being bossy, I think the husband picked up a couple of tips from the kids, and Lucy called it "the best day ever" by the time we reached the point where we were going to moor below Lock 29. We actually stopped above the lock to start with, but then realised that the traffic noise was better further down.
Mind you, there was still the railway nearby, but not as close as last night, and with the added bonus of being under the flight path of Birmingham Airport.