Saturday 13^th April 2019

We were facing the wrong way for Stratford and so cruised down the short arm to the Grand Union Canal where we faced briefly towards London, winded and returned to Lapworth Junction, turning left. Here we took on water, dumped rubbish, emptied the loo and were immediately faced with the first lock of the day.

We normally travel with our side fenders down to protect, to a degree, the paintwork, but we had been hearing how narrow the locks on the Stratford Canal are. However, so far only having been on the northern section we had encountered no problems. Entering the first lock there was enough room either side of the boat but decidedly less than most locks. But the lock walls slope inwards towards the bottom of the lock, and this, added to the fact the gate would not open fully, meant the boat was stuck in the lock. Luckily we managed to walk down the gunwhale with the boat hook and fish the fenders onto the gunwhale and so didn’t have to refill the lock. There were quite a few locks were the bottom gate would not fully open and the boat had to be powered out. Not good and hard on both the boat, engine and the lock gate.

At the second bridge, firstly the chimney had to be taken down because of the low height, and then the Red Ensign had to be removed. It all made for a slow, frustrating start.

The South Stratford Canal was built on a tight budget initially and so the locks are narrow and the bridges both low and very narrow, almost like entering a lock. The bridge holes have no towpath and all the cast iron bridge spans are left with gaps in between the two halves to allow a horse-pulled boats towrope to pass without having to uncouple the rope from the boat. Interesting, but it makes for delicate steering with the marks of many boats having hit the brickwork.

We passed quite a number of the lovely barrel-roofed cottages situated beside the locks. Although they are tiny dwellings, it must be a privilege to live in one. We were also seeing a lot more lambs capering about.

        

This section of canal is idyllic but was much intruded upon by the very busy M40 and the drone of the traffic. We actually had to shout at the lock beneath, to make ourselves heard. There was a long, narrow reservoir that ran alongside the canal for some distance until its outlet joined a lock sluice. The flow from this sluice below the lock was very strong.

After just 2 miles and 9 locks, we came to Lowsonford where we moored. A short day of just 3 hours, but the pace suits us and we wanted to visit the Fleur-de-Lys pub which is one of the better- known pubs in canal circles.

The pub is made up of a number of 13^th century cottages, one originally a bakehouse, and converted into a pub in the 15^th century. The place was very atmospheric with low ceilings and beams in both the roof and walls. With a number of open fires and stoves about the place, it must be very cosy in winter. A popular place, especially on a Saturday afternoon, it is home to Fleur-de-Lys pies that were once cooked here. We both ordered Steak and Ale pies but they totally cocked our order up and Brenda finished up with a Lamb pie and myself with a Chicken and Leek pie. We didn’t a make a fuss and both thoroughly enjoyed them.

We are seeing more and more evidence of the silly season arriving with a lot more boats about. All well and good, but very annoying when they go hurtling past with no consideration whatsoever, causing the boat to rock and surge.

Weather: cold but a lovely sunny day none-the-less.

Day Total: 9 locks; 2 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 3.2

Overall Total: 431 locks; 812 miles; 42 tunnels; 11 Swing Bridges; 3 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 526.4