We're back in Saltisford Canal Centre in Warwick. Wonderful.We set out this morning from Lapworth at 8am. Pete was bright and breezy, excited about the day and up just after 6:30am (!!!!!). Elizabeth was less enthusiastic and though should have been pleased with the cup of tea in bed at 7:15, felt it was a little early for a SATURDAY. By the time she'd surfaced and washed, she was watching the scenery go past as she put on make-up on (yes, even on a boat). Pete had untied and set out by 8. He was looking forward to the Hatton flight of 21 locks!
We made it to the top lock by 9:45 and moored up for breakfast at the 1080 cafe. We last had brekkie there with James when he came to visit before his USA trip. It was good to fill up with bacon butties in prep. On the way to Hatton from Lapworth, we went throught the Shrewley tunnel (Pete seen just outside it, then a look back to its eastern entrance) and enjoyed seeing the sheep with their lambs.
Finished breakfast, we set to the locks at 10:30. A number of them down, we caught up with Andy, the boat engineer, taking Betty Blue to Wilton Marina for a new owner. As a single hander, he was delighted to find our double team working at speed. Blossom was out for the day as well, and as we cycled back and forth from upper locks to lower ones to set the lower lock, back to upper to open and close gates then down again, we ended up being quite an efficient team of three. Excellent. It turns out that Andy knows Blue Haven, has a boat of his own moored up at the Barby straight and knows an engineer who can help us with our Levi and potential replacement. Elizabeth picked some daffodils from the towpath and got a little periwinkle from a resident cutting back hers. So, all in all, 21 locks down and it was a happy team! Tired, it has to be said, but happy.
We are very pleased to enjoy Saltisford again. The welcome on the signage is true indeed and this time we are moored across the winding hole instead of alongside the canal centre. That means we are right out in the water, have a lovely view each side and are mostly out in the open. Which also means we have FAT band!!! And the Satellite dish contact! Last time, we had no TV and slow band. Just shows what a few metres and open siting can do. We completed the arrival by Elizabeth and Blossom catching the train back to Lapworth to collect Reg. As ever, Blossom was folded into the boot for the return journey. Now we're all in one place again.
