Sunday October 21st October; Perdiswell Park to Hanbury Junction
I blame it on these dark mornings and that the sun takes a while to get above the houses and hedges. Anyway, we didn’t wake until a boat went by at 9.30! I strode out to get the Sunday paper, walking back to Bilford top lock and turning left to the convenience store a few hundred yards up the road. By the time I was back Dave was about to cast off for the short cruise to the first lock.
To start with everything was quiet, apart from a few fishermen and walkers. The sun was out and as long as we weren’t shaded by trees it was very pleasant cruising. As we approached the bottom of Offerton locks there was a lot of high-pitched yelling coming from the rugby club there – mini rugby, by the looks of things. A class had just finished so as we entered the lock there was a cacophonous trail of excited small children crossing the bridge, their adults laden with coats and jumpers. Gongoozler heaven? No, they didn’t hang about – perhaps they are used to seeing boats, or the parents were desperate for a coffee! But a large extended family were on hand so I had lots of help with the gates! Unfortunately they weren’t going our way.
At the next lock, we thought we’d have a wait as a hire boater was above the lock – but no, the lock was nearly empty and the lovely man raised a paddle and opened up for us. He seemed to be an experienced hirer, but this time had only booked a short break in case it didn’t work out with a toddler in the family!
The locks were all empty, or nearly so, and we had an easy time of it. There was a striking example of bad practice in the pound second from the top; CRT work boats were occupying BOTH lock landings. I understand they won’t want to leave them moored on pins over the weekend, but surely they can be supplied with piling hooks! It doesn’t affect boats with crew, as the locks are close enough to walk between, but it must be irritating for single-handers. I might email CRT and have a moan – how can they expect hirers not to use lock landings as a mooring spot if they see this?
Soon we were leaving the top lock, just by the M5 crossing. The barn conversion doesn’t seem to be progressing very quickly. It’s terribly noisy here as they are so close to the motorway embankment; we certainly wouldn’t be interested in living there, despite its proximity to the canal (even if we could afford such a big place!)
We stopped at Tibberton visitor moorings for lunch, where we realised that Meg must have abandoned her lovely blue ball somewhere down the flight. I got the bike out and buzzed down to see if I could spot it, but I suspect it now belongs to another dog. You win some, you lose some - we only picked it up yesterday at Gregory’s Mill locks!
There were several boats coming up the flight, and they were beginning to have depth problems. The lead boaters were running water down, but of course that caused worse problems further up.
I left them to it – without a windlass I couldn’t help. We didn’t stay at Tibberton but cruised on in lovely sunshine. At Oddingley we found ourselves being photographed by someone with some very expensive-looking equipment. I returned the favour with my little pocket Nikon.
The cloud was beginning to come over as we neared Dunhampstead tunnel, which was clear. This little boathouse on the way to Hanbury Junction gets reedier every time we pass – will the boat inside ever cruise again?
At the junction we winded and tied up on the visitor moorings. Although it was only mid-afternoon, light levels were very poor with heavy cloud and there were even a few drops of gentle rain. We went for a carvery at the Eagle and Sun and lit the fire when we got back. We bought some heatlogs at Aldi yesterday, but they are different from ones we have had before in spite of having the same name. The picture is a bit fuzzy but clearly shows the difference; the old sort is on the left, the new on the right. The weights are very similar.
The new one was put on the fire which was started with newspaper and kindling, and had been burning nicely with a few smallish logs. The heatlog caught ok, but didn’t burn well, after a while just charring and smouldering. Dave prodded it with the poker and it fell apart. Not impressed.
6½ miles, 8 locks, Dunhampstead tunnel
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