From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Wed Sep 10 14:18:22 1997 id AA23495; Wed, 10 Sep 97 14:17:54 EDT by svr-a-01.core.theplanet.net with esmtp (Exim 1.70 #1) id 0x8rFR-0003tS-00; Wed, 10 Sep 1997 19:12:20 +0100 From: "Terry Waldron" To: Subject: A TALE OF 3 BOATS (TRIP REPORT PART 1) Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2097 19:09:11 +0100 Friday 29/8/97 Sue & I met up with Peter and Marilyn on MIDAMA (1986 Hancock & Lane, 60 foot cruiser style nb with Lister SR3) at Napton Top Lock, both of our cars parked in layby beside bridge appeared to be safe. Saturday 30/8/97 During the morning we took both cars to Calcutt Boats, left one there and drove the other back to Napton top Lock via Southam to get provisions. Set off for Calcutt, weather overcast, light wind but looking promising for later. Met Gill and Peter on Midnight Diamond coming out of second lock. Wind picking up in places down the locks, a few boats on their way up. Every time I see the windmill I wonder if it is open to visitors and if it is in a working state - must walk up there for a visit. Met Mike and Krystyna on Wa Na Nee Chee at the bottom lock, thought I recognised Krystyna but had to have a look at the boat before I was sure, had a natter about Hopwas. Whilst approaching Napton Narrowboats one of their hire boats came out directly in front of us with no one on the front end looking out. Spotted Willy No Name moored there bu no sign of life onboard. By the time we reached Calcutt (1630) the sun was shining brightly and made us wish we could go on further, but we had another boat to pick up. Sunday 31/8/97 Drove our car back to Napton Top Lock to get Sues car, back to Calcutt with both cars. 1200 Our friends Brenda & Dave (novice boaters) arrived to take over ANDREW (Calcutt Boats, 60 foot cruiser style with CB Marine engine and owned by the Royal Navy). Peter from Midama left with one of the cars after we had loaded Andrew, leaving Marilyn on Midama. 1400 both boats set off heading down the Calcutt locks, weather very drab and looking like rain. By 1430 light rain set in, one very heavy shower lasting about 5 minutes. Water level fairly good. Towpath around Calcutt locks very muddy as they have just installed back pumping system. Had a good run through Stockton Locks and through Bascot, sun out by 1640, not a lot of boats around today in either direction. Moored between Bridges 30 & 31, very quiet mooring. Very interesting to see all of the different modes of transport ready for preservation at Kayes Arm, a variance of old narrow boats along with a diesel roller, busses and land rovers. Monday 1 September. Midama would not start, pulled Andrew back and used jump leads, started straight away, then Marilyn admitted fridge left on and must of drained battery. Had a good run through to Bridge 40, Leamington, Ladies went shopping and came back 3 hours later, I had a nose around a couple of the 'junk' shops in the hopes of picking up some copper or brass or other items that could be painted up, could only find one small copper pan, but good value at £2. Kwik Save close to this bridge. Got talking to a young man who was working on his wooden cruiser who reported this was a bad place to moor, he had been hit by a 'Rose' boat which came through the bridge too fast, we had previously seen 4 of them, all of which were going much too fast. Moored top of Cape locks for water and finally moored just past Saltisford Arm for the night. Water level good, 3 boys fishing had just caught a nice Common Carp and a good Bream. Fibreway putting in cabling all along this area. Tuesday 2 September Left mooring at 0930 straight into hatton locks. 3 Ladies on the two boats and Dave and I lock wheeling. All of the first set of locks set against us, some paddle gear showing signs of wear as the spindles were rocking, gates also showing their age but not as heavy as some we have come across. Took 3 1/2 hours to get through, only met two other pairs coming down. Had a well deserved ice cream at the top lock. A considerate lone boat sat at the top waiting for another to come along to go down with. Water level good. Moored Bridge 70 and walked to the Craft Centre, well worth a visit but a lot of the shops were very pricey, good antique shop, found a brass lamp for the front of boat but considered the price of £68 to be too much for the state it was in, and it was only a replica - soldering not too good but would have been a reasonable buy if I could have got the price to below £50 - no such luck.Set off again aiming for Kingswood Jn, but moored at Bridge 70, the pub/hotel has no draught beer so walked back to the Black Boy, for a midweek evening we were surprised to see so many eating, there was hardly a table empty. Wednesday 3 September Although the plan was to go down to Stratford it was decided to carry on up Knowle aiming for Tysley (Dave & I are also interested in railways) - ladies somewhat upset as we had not consulted them, Brenda wanted to get onto a narrow canal to see what they were like. Shrewley tunnel very wet the futher north you get into it. Due to the idea to get onto a narrow canal we decided to wind at bridge 77, much to the disgust of an angler who was fishing there, he was very upset and questioned why we couldnt go on to the next one to wind as we were disturbing his days fishing. Moored after winding to go into Catherine De Barnes for papers. Back down through Knowle, although lock gates new they were very heavy, so is the paddle gear, probably not settled in yet after the fitting of new gates etc..Wind quite strong and throwing the boat all over the place between locks. Moored Kingswood Jn. Walked up to The Boat Inn beside lock 14, decided to eat after looking at the menu - pub run by Australians, food excellent, well presented and not expensive, reported in the God Pub Guide as 'clients arrive either by horse or helicopter', all we could see on leaving were porches, merc's and BMW's. If you do decide to stop to eat it is recommended you book a table, this pub very popular. Thursday 4 September Left Midama at Kingswood, change of plan yet again, aiming to get to The Drawbridge before winding and to moor above Lapworth Locks for the night, but by the time we got to the top of the locks the ladies decided they wanted to get back to Midama so they could stop all Saturday Morning to watch the funeral. That only left one option, wind at Bridge 77 - not a good idea when we got there we found a private boat moored inside the winding hole, not easy to get this 60 footer round but managed without touching the moored boat - do not think a 70 footer would get round, took number of boat to get BW to get it moved. On the way up we followed one boat and only met two coming down, on the way down we met about 8 coming up and could not see any others going down. Moored behind Midama, Marilyn had been baking and provided us with a cream tea (we had brought the cream from Cornwall). Decided it was a nice night so carried on down to moor close to Tom of the Wood - had a couple of very nice pints of Old Speckled Hen there followed by a fairly hot curry on the boat - a good mixture for the stomach!!! Weather today very mixed but no rain. Friday 5 September Good run down through Hatton, the sight of the locks is much more impressive on the way up, despite there being two locks (32 & 33) where the bottom paddles had been opened, pounds above these low, so dropped a lock of water down from above these otherwise there may be some difficulty for other boats getting through. We suspected an angler fishing in one of the locks that was very full, brimming over the towpath, had opened these paddles, he looked a bit sheepish and looked away from us every time we looked at him. Lower down met a couple of boats coming through. Got through in 2 3/4 hours, moored Bridge 41 to get shopping at Kwik Save. Not happy to moor for the night so moved to just below Bridge 35, a nice quiet mooring. Saturday 6 September A lazy morning, watched TV on Midama till 1230, kept 1 minute silence. As we were about to get ready to move could hear a boat coming very fast and giving no signs of slowing, was being aimed directly at Andrew, noted as Wild Cherville, the lady at the helm had obviously lost control and the gentleman took over, missing us by less than a foot and had only managed to slow down just after passing. After moving off met quite a lot of traffic coming towards us, more than any other day. Weather again mixed, not hot but hot enough for shorts. Set off through Bascott locks and onwards to Stockton locks. It seemed that about every 3 locks we met a single boat coming through, finally moored after Bridge 21 and went to The Boat to eat, meal good and very reasonable prices. Water level the lowest I have seen in this area, back pumping not working. Sunday 7 September Aiming to set off early to get to Calcutt by 0900 to hand back boat, as we were preparing to leave a Viking boat came through the bridge too fast and was a bit close to us, pulled out behind it and folowed to Calcutt, by the time we got to the bottom lock they were in on their own and were half way up. I managed to stop them at the second lock so we could go up with them. As we were putting the boat back into its moorings about 4 from the Viking boat were looking at the top lock and could not understand why the gates would not open (both bottom paddles closed and water coming in through top gates), I opened a paddle and then the gates for them - they seemed amazed - I am amazed they had got through any locks. Packed cars and Sue and I returned to Bridge 21 to Midama. Total Trip 61.5 miles 149 locks 2 tunnels Sue staying with Marilyn for the rest of the week on Midama - Trip report Part 2 to follow of their exploits. Trip Report Part 3 will be Peter and Marilyn on Midama and Sue and I on Stella where we intend going to Market Harborough from Bridge 21 Grand Union (and return). Cut web has been flying throughout the trip (excluding first day) and will be flying on Stella - give us a wave if you see us next week.