Friday 27th May 2005
Stockton Top - Bascote Bridge (2 miles, 10 locks)
It was a very hot day in spite of the lack of sunshine. We left home at 11:30am and arrived at Stockton Top Marina (Birdingbury Wharf on the GU) at 2:30pm. As this was our first time on Hawksmoor, we had a 1½ hour run-through of the equipment on board. We were already aware that the bow-thrusters were not working and the replacement hydraulic pump would be fitted on our return. This was of no consequence since we have never had bow-thrusters before, so wouldn’t miss them. Slightly more serious was that the boat keys, which are supposed to be left on board, were missing. Ownerships eventually managed to put a spare set together, having received an apology from the previous users and told that the keys were in the post.
We finally got underway at around 4.30pm and turned west towards Long Itchington, passing quickly down Stockton Locks, sharing the work with a hire boat. We moored for the night before Bascote Wharf.