We came up to the boat last Wednesday after the Jubilee but the bad weather kept us tied to the pontoon for a few days.During this time we went to the Bicester Shopping Village, the GWR Society at Didcot and by car to Warwick to meet some friends-it took 30 minutes.We finally left on Saturday and managed a few fine days to get us as far as the Saltisford Arm at Warwick-this took us 2 days!-an excellent place to stay close to the centre. With the help of nb Friendship we went up the Hatton flight of 21 wide locks in the pouring rain on Monday. Tuesday was much improved and we then went our own way up the Lapworth flight towards our destination-Birmingham for the first time.
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| An interesting piece of history in the GWR museum at Didcot- as they did own the Kennet & Avon Canal |
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| Looking back up the Stockton flight of wide locks with the old narrow lock on the right hand side acting as an over spill now. The large white cylinders are the hydraulics for the paddles which do take some effort - but were originally going to be automatic but they ran out of money in the mid 1930's |
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| Working boats at the Warwickshire Fly Boat yard near the Kays Arm |
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| Our mooring for Saturday evening at Long Itchington |
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| A lovely lock cottage as you approach bridge 32/lock 7 on the Lapworth flight |
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| Mid way up the middle section of the Lapworth flight with two boats coming down |
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| Now it takes all sorts- this is different perhaps a stealth boat |
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| We stopped last night -Tuesday at Hockley Heath-one canal guide described it as featureless-its claim to fame now is that it has a Rolls Royce/McLaren cars garage. |
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| Another one of my pet theories is that caravans are taking over the canals-but the plants do look nice. |
