Grand Union Northern section - Napton to the Stratford upon Avon canal 7.9.13

Napton to the Lapworth Link leading to the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal

Saturday 7th September 2013

Leaving the Oxford canal ......

We cruise on up the Grand Union once again, this time up the Northern section. 

Leaving the Oxford Canal at Napton, onto the wide Grand Union

This canal is much wider than the Oxford, deeper too. The boat glides through the water like a dream once again, more water underneath so less strain on the engine, means less revs too!

On the second of the three big locks, hire boats line up ready for the off

After only a short distance we get to Calcutt Locks, three wide, big, deep locks, one after the other. We went through with a very noisy (possibly drunk!) lot of people on a day hire boat, just out for a good time. But there was plenty of them, so we had lots of help! Paul says the locks were deceptively easy, not a sign of times to come!

We passed Calcutt hire boat centre below the locks and pulled over on the towpath opposite. We've done 3 miles and 9 locks today, time to stop for lunch I think. 

Our spot below the locks ready to meet up with Lyndz

It's a lovely grassy bit, wide, and more to the point my good buddy, Lyndsey can find us easily. She's coming to see us this evening and I can't wait!

Paul nets himself a huge perch

It's cloudy and cold, but occasionally the sun pops its little head out to say hello!

After a good old clean up of the boat, not me, and Jack walked we sit outside and wait for Lyndz to arrive. 6pm she turns up, right on time. Oh, how lovely to see her! Jack was so excited too, couldnt believe she was here! We have a great catch up, good food and a lovely evening chatting and getting all the latest news.

In the morning we all walked Jack round some lovely cow meadows and found some great walks for another day! After our goodbyes Lyndz was on her way by 11pm, and Paul went with her to pick up the car from Holt farm. We chilled out for the rest of the day, relaxing in the boat with the fire burning free wood we'd collected earlier.

We moved the boat down the canal a little bit just to get away from the locks and the marina

Monday 9th September was wet and rainy all day. Paul took the car back to Milton Keynes and after a bus and train journey his brother picked him up and bought him back to the boat, where we all had tea and cake, very civilised!

I lit the fire as it was really chilly again and we cosied up for the evening. The temperature had fallen by 10 degrees C today, only reaching 15C, so we got our winter duvet out and snuggled up in the boat.

On our way to Stockton Locks

On Tuesday 10th we moved down the canal 1.5 miles to the first of the 10 Stockton locks. We went in the first 3 on our own, meeting a couple of boats coming up the flight. 

The first few locks we were in on our own

Then we spotted a boat coming our way, so we waited for them to join us, they were so happy they were with another boat, and not doing them on their own! So were we!

Boats behind make their way through the locks

They were really lovely people, from Leicester. The boat was called Arwen, but I never did ask their names! Pity. We all chatted the whole way down, it made the huge heavy locks seem so much more enjoyable! Jack had a great time on the towpath, loving the walks between the locks, really having fun going from Paul to me and back to Paul! 

Arwen goes on their way, never to be seen again!

After the locks Arwen went on their way and we pulled over in a spot on the towpath to put some red oxide patches on the bits we've rubbed down.

Paul went off, petrol can in hand, in search of a petrol station that was marked in the book, only to find it had closed down! It started to rain, its turned windy and colder, so we had lunch.

By 2pm we set off again to find somewhere quieter to stop for the night. There's a busy road here, and a pub, there's loads of people about, not all friendly looking!

The pound is very low here, we try a couple of times to pull over but we ground out each time. So onwards we go, and come to our next set of locks, Bascote locks. 

We're in the top staircase lock, and straight away into the bottom of the staircase locks

A staircase lock, and then two more straight after. There's a boat coming in with us, a hotel boat with only one old lady passenger, but four crew!

Down we go, through the staircase lock and through the next two. at the bottom we pulled over in a lovely little spot, perfect for painting the other side of the boat.

The Hotel Boat goes on ahead while we look for somewhere to stop

It's a pretty bit of the canal, cute bridges and tree lined, theres a clearing in the reeds and we've done 14 locks today, quite enough!

We go and explore the fields and walks around us, Jack has an amazing time running around over the stubble fields!

It's cold and grey once again, so I light a fire and we cosy up in the boat.

Just below the locks and through a bridge we spot a lovely place to do some more painting

The next few days are all about painting! Its really peaceful here, a few walkers and joggers come past, most stopping for a chat. We rub down, undercoat and get one top coat on. We've got good weather for painting at the moment but the wasps are annoying us here and the weather is about to change back to rain.

So on Friday 13th September at 10am we move off our little spot here in the rain, onwards towards Leamington Spa. We need to stock up with food, and fill up with water. The painting's not finished yet, but the weather holds us up again! 

Paul winds the handle while Jack sits patiently in the rain for him

Chugging on slowly down the canal the first two locks are against us, Paul goes ahead and gets the locks ready, all huge and stiff gates and paddles. At the third lock there's a boat in the lock, waiting for us! Brill!

There's a water point just below the lock so we pull over to fill up.

I then get the oh so sad news my good friend Lyndz's dog Luca has finally given up on her long and amazing life and have a few moments to remember what a wonderful buddy she was for Lyndz, and recall some of my memories of her followed by lots of tears.

I give Jack an extra snuggly cuddle and wonder what on earth I'd be like if we lost him.

Jack up ahead while Paul follows on....

After our water break Jack and Paul head off to get the locks ready, Jack skipping and scurrying about, love him! 

... he's a bit of a soggy doggy right now!

It's still raining, but its a pretty part of the canal, both sides tree lined and looking idolistic. 

The canal is still beautiful even in this weather!

The locks are about every third of a mile now, they are all double locks but there used to be single locks beside the double ones. They are no longer in use, all have been blocked off but are still visible next to the huge locks (see the picture of Jack waiting in the rain, the single lock has been blocked off and is no longer in use). Would make life a lot easier if they were still operational!

The towpath is grassy, but is beginning to get muddy and puddles are everywhere.

We've done 6 locks and 4 miles today and after taking advise from a few people on the way we decide to moor just outside Leamington Spa. Theres a row of boats on a grassy bank and we join them, seems a good decision after we discover further into town is where the alcoholics all hang out, beer cans strewn around confirm we've made the right decision!

The rain has eased off now so after lunch we go off on our bikes and explore Leamington Spa.

We find this hollowed out tree in a well kept park

Its not a lovely place to be near the canal, but further on into town it changes to a modern town centre with lots of up market shops. Such a difference!

Theres a Co-op near the canal where we buy a few bits, apparently this is where all the drop outs buy their booze! On our way back to the boat the heavens open up again, but Jack needs walking.  Waterproofs on, brolly up and we trudge around trying to find somewhere to walk him. Theres not a lot around here for dog walkers but we manage to find an oak tree plantation full of rabbit smells! Jack has a scurry around and we head back to dry out in the warm cosy boat. We can't get a telly picture tonight so we plug in the Internet and watch iPad telly! 

There's a beautiful sunset tonight reflecting on the boats moored up, ducks hurry down the canal

The plan was to finish painting here but the weather is horrendous, gale force winds and continuous rain makes any painting impossible. So we stay in Saturday and Sunday, only going out to walk Jack.

On Monday 16th September it's still really windy but the rain has stopped and we decide to move on. Theres a Morrisons the other side of Leamington, thats where were heading!

Old bridges are all still in use as we go through the built up bit of Leamington Spa ...

... some more pretty than others! 

And this factory is still in use clunking and chugging away as we go past

It's a couple of miles through Leamington, pleasant enough. Factories line the canal, old and full of graffiti, but still in operation. We see Morrisons but miss the moorings, the next place we can moor up is full so we go on a bit further and moor up outside Lydl. It was well worth the walk back down the canal to Morrisons though, a huge supermarket thats only been open 6 months. Got some great bargains and filled our fridge and cupboards!

The rain has started again, when's it going to give us a break?

We leave the moorings outside Lydl, leaving behind Leamington Spa

After a yummy lunch (it always is after a trip shopping) we head off again out of Leamington and over the aqueduct over the River Leam, this is the boundary between Leamington and Warwick. 

Going over the River Leam, the boundry between Leamington and Warwick

Its nicer here, greener and friendlier place housing estates that line the canal are all tidy and gardens kept good.

Jack finds a bottle to chew on while we wait at the 24 hour moorings outside Tescos where we stop for petrol

There's a Tescos by the canal here so we stop on the 24 hr moorings and Paul goes off to fill up the petrol can, more generator juice!

On our way again and it's chucking it down with rain, the brolley comes out and were ok. We go past Kate's Boats, a really busy hire boat centre.

Empty dock outside Kates hire boats, all the boats are out and about

Surprisingly all their boats are out and it's the middle of September!

The rain is heavy and its really windy as we approach the first of the two locks we're doing today, Cape locks.

We go in with another boat, one of those 'brass rubber' types, knobs we call them! 

Worried I might nudge their boat! 

The Cape of Good Hope, at the top of Cape Locks, about a mile from the bottom of the Hatton 21!

But we go in and out quickly, going up now, and at the top they pull over and we carry on just around the corner opposite the Saltisford Arm. Theres a small marina there, and a launderette!

The Saltisford Arm, a marina and washing facilities we make use of

The towpaths ok here, it's a bit boggy because of all the rain we've had, but as its still raining were not bothered! We go off to explore, going down the Saltisford Arm to check out the washing machines and then heading across meadows, under the railway line (there's a bridge!) and into beautiful open fields.

Jack's happy, chasing smells that only he knows are there. Back at the boat we chill out, no telly here either so we settle in for the night with a film and pizza for tea.

Tuesday we go off again round the meadows of Warwick. We collect a ton and a half of blackberries and go back to the boat. With all the washing collected together we head off to the washing machines at the Marina. Getting there by 10.30am this shouldn't take long. But little did we know. Paul had bought coal from the marina, been home and bought back coffee and chocolate, gone back for waterproof coats as its raining again and I'd nearly read a book! The washing machines should have only taken 40 minutes but this woman told me to put the dial on to a setting that took an hour and 45 minutes, the tumblers took forever to dry the clothes. after a frustrating 4 and a half hours our clothes were washed and some were dry!

Back at the boat Jackwas excited to see us, Paul walked him in the rain and I made my very first blackberry and apple crumble, from scratch, not a single packet mix in sight!

We settled in from the continous rain, warm and cosy, washing hanging in the boat to dry.

Wednesday 18th September was Hatton Flight day. Its a flight of 21 huge tough locks, not one you want to do on your own! Rain wasn't forcast for today, but little did we know they would get it wrong again!

Our first of the 21 locks of Hatton flight, going in with Lady Esther

We set off as a boat came past, shouting out we'd join them at the lock. A short trip to the bottom of the flight and the lock was ready for us to go in. Paul set off on the bike, Jack running alongside him.

The boat was Lady Esther, Dave and Angie were the owners. We'd gone up a couple of locks, quite slowly and not very organised. Dave was cruising, Angie was working the locks, but she was quite poorly and couldn't manage to do much. 

So Dave was getting off the boat and doing his share of the lock work but Angie didn't like cruising the boat and couldn't do the lock work. 

Paul went ahead to set the locks, and came back to help with the one we were in, Jack close by!

Paul was setting the next lock for us and whizzing back to help with the lock we were in! Dave and I were shutting the gates behind us leaving the boats to hover in the lock exit. After 5 locks they pulled over, she was struggling now and felt she couldn't go on any further. And it was raining again! So we were on our own, not the plan! We went through another lock and pulled over to have a cup of tea and decide what we were going to do. 

We pulled over between lock 5 and 6.... we still had 16 more to do!

Paul whizzed down the locks with rubbish we'd forgotten to put in the bins and after about an hour Dave said they were ready to try again. Angie dosed up with pain killers we got ourselves organised. Paul, with Jack, had to empty every single lock ready for us, came back and helped us at the lock we were in, and Dave and I shut the gates and paddles as we left the locks. 

Back on track, and there's 10 in a row here, no stopping in between locks now

We'd finally got into a rhythm! We had a lot of laughs, it was fun but really hard work. 

Looking back and we were being followed up the flight

4 more to go from here, and a pause for a photo

The locks seemed never ending, went on and on up the steep hill until we finally saw the last lock, and a boat coming out of it! 

Only a few left now, and we're all weary and have had enough of the big locks!

One that Paul didn't have to empty before we got in! 

The last lock on the Hatton Flight, the Top Lock

We said our goodbyes to Angie and Dave at the top

At the top of the locks we said our goodbyes and Angie surprised me by giving us some mooring pin covers she'd crocheted herself from old carrier bags! What a lovely gift! I'll treasure them, it takes her two hours to make each one! Money can't buy these, she said its for all our help and patience with them! I hope we meet them again one day!

We fuelled up with chocolate and crisps and pop and carried on our way, no more locks to do on this canal! The canal is in a big cutting now, trees and very high banks make this a very dark section, wet and cold. 

We arrive at Shrewly Tunnel, not too long, but as we found out....

.... very wet!

A couple of miles on and we come to Shrewly Tunnel. Not very long, but extremely wet! Water pours in from all directions, we got wet and so did everything else on the back of the boat! We couldn't get our umbrella up quick enough!

Coming out of the tunnel and into the cutting, damp and dark

Out the other side of the tunnel after a couple more miles the dark damp cutting opens up to glorious rolling hills and beautiful countryside. 

We loved it here, quiet and peaceful, lovely fields surround us, high up on an embankment

We decide weve done enough for one day and find a lovely place to stop after bridge 61, not a village in sight, lovely grassy trimmed towpath and very quiet. The train line is only just in sight, we can hear the M40 from here but it's just a distant rumble.

Our view up ahead from our mooring spot

We've got telly too, but no Internet. There's pheasants everywhere so Jack scurries about in the overgrown banks. 

Jack has a lovely time here chasing around after all the smells

We relax after a hard days work, walking Jack over stubble fields and chilling out in the boat. It's chilly so we light a fire and settle in for the rest of the day.

On Thursday it's going to rain again, were staying here for the day to rest up, do a few jobs about the boat.

Paul goes off to find wood and comes back laden with thick branches and cuts them all up. The wood box is full once again, we'll be warm, that's a sure thing!

He also rescues our bilge pump, it's broken and in need of replacement, but he fixes it for the second time! At least we won't flood the engine just yet!

But this part of the walk wasn't the nicest part! It took us through a cow field, right by the M40

Another amazing walk across the fields and cow meadows with Jack and he's knackered, had the best time here ever! We walked around a fir tree plantation with pheasant roaming around, not for long, Jack had a fab time chasing them all up in the air! There were lovely lush cow meadows, some with cows and some not!

Our mooring on the embankment, how lovely is this!

The predicted rain came, along with strong winds but the sun came out again and he's out the front of the boat fishing. Big bream were caught today, pity they're no good to eat!

On Friday 20th September we woke up early and found a great stubble field for Jack to run around in, and he did! He ran and ran to his hearts content! 

Looking down over the embankment at the meadows all around us

We left our lovely little mooring spot about 9am, ready to do the couple of miles we had left to do on The Grand Union Canal. Just past the open hilly landscape we entered a huge deep cutting, high rocky sides with trees precariously held in by their shallow roots, landslide signs warning boaters to keep to the towpath side! 

High banks with loose dirt and tree roots were threatening to slip slide away!

I spotted this goat trying to get a better view of the canal!

It wasn't long before we saw the cute narrow bridge of our entrance to the Lapworth Link to the Stratford on Avon canal, a tight left turn from the Grand Union.

This sign sort of tells you where to turn off!

The sharp left turn onto the Lapworth Link route, towards the Stratford upon Avon Canal 

With Paul up the front of the boat ready to warn me of any boats approaching the blind corner bridge, I navigated with skill and precision, taking the boat round the tight left turn onto the link to the Stratford on Avon Canal.

Some people didn't have quite as much luck when turning into the bridge, obvious by the bashed up sides 

Looking back at the bridge on the junction 

The link canal is narrow but up ahead we can see our entrance to the Stratford on Avon canal. 

Leaving the Lapworth link and entering the long bricked entrance into Kings Norton junction 

Straight ahead we go, under a tiny bridge and along a long narrow bricked wall on either side.... 

Blind junction or what?! Entering the basin, nearly there now!

Paul points over to the water point, and its a huge wide sweep over to our left....

It's a huge wide sweep over to our left to the water point, just above the first lock. 

We stop at the water point before entering the canal, but we're here!

We were on the Stratford upon Avon canal, and it looked beautiful.

Stratford upon Avon canal coming soon....