Today started off rather damply. In fact as we pulled on to the waterpoint just round the corner from our mooring it pissed down! This was uncalled for especially as we had just seen the forecast in which Charlie said it would be dull but wouldn’t rain until later in the day.
As we had set off we decided to continue with plan A which was to do the Lapworth Locks. Starting from Kingswood Junction and going up the flight we had 19 of the locks to do. Things began well with the first 6 locks being in our favour but soon it all went tits up as someone had come off the moorings at lock 14 and we were now following them.
We soon got into a routine and it eventually stopped raining too. We managed to complete the flight in 3 hours which was pretty good. Because of the positioning of the ground paddles these locks are not conducive to stepping over the bottom gates when one is open so I had to go round to open and shut them. Also having to empty them before we could go in took a bit of time.
We arrived at Hockley Heath and although we had been here before it was 10 years ago when we did the Avon Ring on Dabchick with Alan, we couldn’t remember what it was like. As it happens it is a very nice area which is reflected in the type of shops in the high street.
Apart from the usual convenience store and post office there is a fish and chip shop, Chinese and Indian takeaways, hairdressers, rather posh dry cleaners, executive cycle shop, designer bathroom showroom, swimming pool showroom and a Rolls Royce and Mclaren showroom!
The Wharf Tavern is a very nice pub too although they didn’t have any beer we liked so we had to have lager and Guinness. We looked at the menu but didn’t find it very inspiring so I made a minced beef patty tonight which was lovley.
Tomorrow we have no locks to do but there are 3 tunnels, one of which is nearly 2 miles long.
