STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

THURSDAY 10th 2008
17 locks to Heaven, having done 4 of the 21 locks yesterday, that is what the Hatton Flight is called when you arrive at the top, a just reward for the effort of working all those locks. Fortunately the Waterman Pub welcomed, but walking towards the pub we say this duck and moorhen nesting on of the moored boats, aint nature cute! and spring on the way.

Found a farm craft centre were we aquired a pea cane for hoisting T mobile dongle, but still haven't managed to get sufficient speeds to upload pictures yet, but most importantly came back with some Stinking Bishop. Kim thought it was her feet smelling today, but remembered it was the cheese, delicious. Moored for the evening at Turners Green, with lots of little hairy goats for company on the other side of the cut, This is just before the junction with the Stratford Avon Canal at Kingswood Junction.

FRIDAY 11th 2008

A very squally showery start to the day as we turned onto the Stratford Avon Canal. We immediately stopped to do a hand operated pumpout, first time for John who was happy to do the pumping rather than being at the stinky end.

The Fleur de Lys provided a good sandwich lunch, we returned to the boat suitable fortified and to bright sunny weather but the wind had got up to an uncomfortable level, so we moored up after a couple of locks for a Siesta, before moving on when the wind had dropped.

This canal is very picturesque with it's unique barreled roofed lock side cottages and the centre split to the bridges so the line from the towing horses could be passed through so preventing the old bargees from having to unhitch the horses.

We had interesting encounter with a swan who wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, it had a nip at all of us as well trying to deflate, the bike tyres.