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Tuesday 13^th October; Hanbury junction to the marina

The weather was lovely today, in fact perfect for cruising apart from the wind.  Apart from yesterday it has been so dry that I wore trainers to take Jess along the towpath for her early walk – normally at this time of year it is muddy with some sections becoming waterlogged.  Last year there was a burnt-out cruiser along here with some loose bits shoved into the hedge – most of it has now been recovered and it is hard to see what's left.  And last year there was much less vegetation – soon the last vestiges will have disappeared into the reeds.

Not a lot left now 

We started packing up but didn’t want to move off too early as the marina office doesn’t open till 10 and we needed fuel.

It’s the start of the leaf soup season

It could have taken us a fair time to get down the three Hanbury locks if the locks had been empty as they usually are first thing in the morning, and we knew we would be the first using them.  But to our delight,

The volunteers were arriving!

Before the first lock was full two more vollies had arrived.  As we opened the bottom gates of the first lock the middle one was already set for us, so the first volunteer went back to their hut to put the kettle on.  I was invited to get aboard at the last lock which I was happy to do as there were still two vollies to do the work.

Waiting for the side pond to fill

I’m not usually on board in these locks as I get back on from the steps below the bottom gates.  They do feel very deep when the lock is empty.

Ten feet nine inches

We took on diesel to ensure the tank is completely full before winter and were soon berthed up in spite of the tricky wind.  Going in bow first – which we do as it makes loading and unloading much easier – means the side of the boat spends less time exposed to the wind than if you go in stern-first.  The first job for Dave was to sort out the headlamp while he waited for the engine to cool a little.  The problem was a loose earth connection, which was of course the last connection he tested.  Then he did the stern gland and all the engine checks ready for winter.  The last important thing to do was clear all the channels round the engine board and poke out the leaves and cobwebs from the channel that takes rainwater overboard.  By that time I had finished most of the cleaning, so we had lunch and then carted everything out to the car in glorious sunshine, t-shirt weather – if only it had been like this yesterday! 

We will return at some point during the winter to take Bonjour along to Crafted Boats as, if all goes to plan, they will be repainting above the gunwales in February.  Fingers crossed there will not be an unexpected problem or a big freeze – we will be keeping a beady eye on the CRT stoppage alerts as well as the long range weather forecast.

1 mile, 3 locks

Trip stats; 19 miles narrow canal, 34 narrow locks, Dunhampstead tunnel (twice); 2 furlongs underground.  Droitwich Junction canal and the Worcester and Birmingham.