Tuesday 28th April; Calcutt and home
Oh it was cold and wet this morning! Dave set off early to collect the car from Droitwich and so I had to give Jess her main morning walk. I couldn’t put it off for long. The ex-Kate boat was still tucked up beside us. It had ‘trade plates’ in the windows – we've not seen that before.
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| No need for a low loader if this was brought from Stockton Top – two miles and no locks. |
It was back to winter wear for the dog walk for me, lined trousers, thermal top and waterproofs. Jess didn’t care of course. We went to the fields adjoining the marina which have been classed as an SSSI, but with access enabled from the marina and mown paths to follow.
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| The bee swarm was long gone |
There’s not a lot to see this time of year although the cowslips are still in full bloom and there was bugle too, and with lots of different-shaped leaves amongst the grass there should be plenty to see later in the year. Maybe the orchids will be out when we return so we must make time to visit before we set off cruising again.
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| Bugle (purple) and cowslips |
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| Owl box |
It was freezing cold as we walked into the wind on our way back to our mooring and I started to think I would light the fire when we got back! But after I’d dried the dog off and made some coffee it was ok inside. Just as well really as the sun came out at lunchtime. Dave was back by 2 having had a straightforward trip to collect the car. There was time to pack up and go home this afternoon – I had defrosted the fridge this morning and Dave had done the necessary things in the engine hole yesterday – so we set to. We don’t much like spending the evening in a marina knowing we still have to pack up and clean through the next morning. The engineer who would be carrying out our service was busy in the engine hole of the ex-Kate boat so Dave was able to have a good chat with him about the work for ours.
Although it is bit awkward here as you have to moor stern-on, it is ideal for packing the car as you can reverse to within a metre of the stern.
Trip stats
33 miles narrow canals with 64 locks; 20 miles 5¼ furlongs broad canals with 43 locks. Total 53 miles 5¼ furlongs and 107 locks.
3 lift bridges – Shirley (with key of power) and two (manually raised) above Lapworth locks.
Aqueducts – river Avon and the railway in Leamington
Tunnels – Tardebigge, Shortwood, Wast Hill, Brandwood and Shrewley; a total of 2 miles 5½ furlongs underground (thanks Canalplan).
Waterways - Worcester and Birmingham, North Stratford, Grand Union.
