Thursday 15th June 2017
Wilmcote to
Bancroft Basin, Stratford
3.5 miles,
16 locks
I guess we
never sprint on a narrow boat, but this was a fairly speedy trip considering
the number of locks ahead of us. We are
not ones to start early unless we feel there is a good reason and today was one
of those days that did require a quick getaway, particularly as we have spent
most of this trip following other boats down locks.
The alarm
went off at 07:00 and we pulled pins at 07:30 just a few moments ahead of two
cruisers who are travelling together.
They are both single handers and can fit in the lock together and
although they were very efficient we were still glad to be ahead of them
The first
lock was about a mile from our start, so time for a cuppa on the run. When we got there, lo and behold it was full
and ready for us! Sadly that was the
rare exception, but we got a good rhythm going, so made light work of the
locks, despite some very heavy gates and hard paddles.
As you
arrive at the Voluntary Lock Keepers comfort station you get your first views
of Stratford.
When we were talking to the VLK’s at Lapworth and mentioned we are also VLKs when we are home, they told us to ask at Wilmcote to have a look at the comfort station – sadly we were too early, so no one was about. Apparently, B&Q made a good fist of providing them with a kitchen. There is no electricity or water – the latter they get from the outside tap of a nearby house.
And joy of
joys – a boat coming up with their own Monty look alike supervisor
I rather
fear that we might be guilty of 'moorhenicide'.
I will spare you the image, but in this lock there was the body of a
mother moorhen. This little one was swimming frantically around and calling for
Mum.
And then to
the dreaded cantilevered gate – I had managed all the gates bar one of the top gates on
my own, but this I feared would defeat me and mean a journey up the lock ladder
for Chris to come and help be out.
Someone, however, was smiling down on us as a boat was coming up and
before I had had to try and open it a man appeared and saved the day.
And so after
the 16 locks you emerge from the bottom lock to go round the bend
To be greeted with your first sight of the RSC theatre.
Under the
road bridge and into Bancroft Basin where we had a choice of moorings. The early start was worth doing. It had been dry and mostly warm all the way
down, but thankfully not too hot.
Mind it was only when we got to the basin and had to reverse onto the pontoon that a strong sharp wind came out of nowhere making a tricky manoeuvre even trickier!
Postscript –
it occurred to me, when looking at Chris’ birthday cards, to wonder if our
children are trying to tell their father something!!
2 comments:
Hi Jennie, I wrote to CRT about that cantilevered gate two years ago. I managed it on my own (just the once) by padding it out with my coat and getting my feet up the wall to get a good push. I suggested they bolt a wooden or steel panel over the beam to make a larger flat surface to push against so it's less painful. They thanked me for the suggestion but obviously nothing was done. If you think it would make it easier to push perhaps a suggestion from a volunteer would carry more weight?
best wishes Debby
PS Enjoy Stratford - we are hoping to come up the Avon this summer but can't get away till July.
Hi Debby, As I did not have to try that gate on my own it is hard to know how tough it would have been. I will mention it to our manager and hope he passes it on! We had a great time in Stratford - a blog will follow in due course. Jennie
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