Back out into the country

Friday 24^th April; Cape to Offchurch

The mornings are still very cold in spite of the lovely sunshine.  But there was only a gentle breeze this morning and I got quite warm working Cape locks.  They were very heavy, not ideal when you have only just had breakfast and your knee is sore from all the exertion yesterday.  But there was no more work for a while.  The extensive new mooring below Cape locks looked very peaceful in the morning sun, quieter than back above the locks, and a good place to moor with a dog as there are grassy areas behind the towpath hedge all the way back to the Cape.  After a while we moored on the offside to go to Tesco on the edge of Warwick, then again at Lidl as we prefer their bread and that is where we get the laundry liquid we use for the pump-out tank.  The Burrito Boat was there too but we are not fans of burritos so we moved on to Leamington for lunch.  Two more reasons – one, we were blocking the mooring for Lidl, and two, there was a very poor signal at Cape last night and we both had stuff that needed doing online.  We weren’t sure we’d be in a suitable spot this evening.

Not the prettiest mooring but the signal was good!

We were right beside a building site but the footfall here is a lot less than by the student accommodation after the next bridge.  After lunch we moved on to get out of the built-up area.

I liked this property's interesting upper windows

We decided to start the long climb up to Napton junction rather than stop at Radford Semele.  Radford Bottom lock marks the start of the ascent and we just went up the one lock.

The local school has a raised bed at the lock

Not much further on is the Offchurch Greenway cycle route and footpath, and the mooring is peaceful, very pretty, with plenty of sun to keep the batteries topped up, and an internet signal to boot.

Dave and Jess went off for a lovely walk along the Greenway.  Jess found a stinking muddy puddle and needed a wash down when they came back, then she kept disappearing into the woods on the hunt for squirrels.  But look!

How amazing to be able to have the side hatch open at last!

And to be able to sit out on the towpath with a drink as dinner cooked!

5¼ miles, 3 locks, aqueduct over the river Avon and the railway.