Shrewley to Warwick

Phew, what a scorcher! Though it was a bit chilly at 6.15am when we left our overnight spot just south of Shrewley & headed for the Hatton flight. 

 The very damp & drippy Shrewley Tunnel we went through yesterday.

The sun coming up as we get underway this morning

A dig at BW on this notice on a lock beam

 Dragonfly sculpture in the misty morning

 A quiet Hatton Works at 7.15am, staff were just arriving as we exited the lock

Looking back up the flight as we work our way down, 

a pic taken by my phone as my camera battery had failed - again.

We had most of the locks in our favour & didn't meet another boat until the 19th lock when as working the 18th we spotted a couple standing by a small cruiser waiting on the lock landing above lock 19. They got aboard & started to move towards us so we left the gate open for them, as you do but I noted that they hadn't reciprocated by leaving the gate open for us. As they past me as I walked along I shouted good morning, as you do & got a sullen reply, maybe not morning people! When I got to the lock it was only 1/2 full so obviously they hadn't just exited it which is why the hadn't opened a gate, fair enough, they'd probably overnighted after the lock but would it have been too much to have wound a paddle up whilst they waited for us to exit the lock? As Mark said, very poor...

We met a narrow boat at the next lock, just on their way up, on hearing about the cruiser just 1 lock ahead the lock wheeler shot off to catch them up so they could share the locks. 

They seemed a nice couple with a sense of humour so lets hope they managed to cheer up the other 2 in the cruiser !

We exited the bottom lock at 10.15am so not bad going really & found a mooring at the Cape before the locks. This afternoon we had a walk to the post office at Woodloes & then into town for coffee & cake, we felt we'd earned it after this mornings efforts. I managed to get a haircut which was long overdue & did quick shop for tea stuff in M&S food before back to Poppy  to relax.

It's been quite busy this afternoon, lots of boats on the move & the moorings are now pretty full. Tomorrow we will go through Cape Locks, do a Tesco shop then find another mooring,we shall probably spend the rest of the day enjoying this glorious weather pottering around Warwick. 

Up & down the Grand Union

We finally dragged ourselves away from Wootton Wawen on Monday morning driven by the need for the services at Kingswood Junction. Setting off at 7am it was cold & grey, we were well wrapped up but a combination of hard lock gear, heavy gates ( I do like the Stratford but some of the locks....) & the sun making an appearance had us shedding layers. 

A quaint barrel roofed lock cottage

 

A quaint 'barrel' roofed shed!

Old welly boot put to good use

Poppy coming under the bridge at Kingswood Junction, 

after stopping at the services we turned left at the junction & moored on the visitor moorings.

On Wednesday we moved up to bridge 68, Bakers lane as we were due a Tesco delivery in the afternoon, by the time it was delivered  & stowed it was cool with a few spots of rain  so we decided to stay put overnight.  Thursday morning  we went up to the winding hole, winded & headed back to moor near the junction.

 I was in need of a new rucksack so on Thursday afternoon I got the train from Lapworth to Birmingham, it only takes 20 mins & reasonable at £3.65 return ( with senior railcard!) I had a pleasant couple of hours pottering round the shops & as my phone was due for an upgrade I called in to the 3 shop & left with a smart phone . I have therefore spent quite a bit of the last couple of days getting used to it, my goodness  is there nothing it can't do!

 But then I'm easily impressed......

The train from Lapworth to Brum  goes to Moor Street station & it's like a film set for a 40's film, it's even got a steam engine. You could imagine Trevor Howard & Celia Johnson on the platform...

Then you spot  the new Bullring Centre in the background...

On Friday I painted the bedroom & kitchen ceilings, I'd been thinking about it for a while as the wood has darkened & after seeing how Geoff & Mags had worked out on Seyella  it got put on the 'to do' list. It has certainly lightened things up, just the saloon left to do, unless we do the walls as well...

This morning we woke to a clear blue sky & after Mark had watched F1 qualifying & we'd  been to the village shop for the paper we set off. we didn't go very far, just a couple of miles or so & we're moored between bridge 62 & 61 on the embankment overlooking Rowington. 

Not so much a bluebell wood as a bluebell bank, but delightful nevertheless

View from the hatch

We've been sat out soaking up some sunshine & Sid & Soona have enjoyed being outside.

Sid has even been halfway up a tree but as I was holding the lead I wasn't too worried.