Knowle Locks

Greg was busy train spotting again...we had an early start as we wanted to get through Knowle Locks..I was dreading it but Greg assured me it would be easy as there was no wind!!!

It was really misty to start with and very cold.

Through Shrewley Tunnel which isn't very long.

These 2 old boats have been here for ages its such a shame.

There's always one who has to stand higher than everyone else.

Start of the Stratford Canal.

This kingfisher kept flying and landing high in the trees- they usual stay low to the water.

Over in the distance whilst in Knowle Locks were some deer-Greg managed to see 2 kingfishers and a green woodpecker-which had disappeared by the time I had come up in the lock.

There are lots and lots of Toadstools around at the minute and Greg has been doing a bit of research...these were quite nasty ones which were right next to the boat when we moored up at Catherine-de-Barnes. We were lucky enough to see an enormous owl fly past the boat at dusk.

Next morning we had an early start as we wanted to get through Birmingham in 1 day. I'm glad Greg was doing the locks as this one had loose bolts holding the step onto the gate.

As we approached one of the locks a group of lads were 'tagging' an old factory wall-There's certainly some interesting art work around here.

These looked lovely by the side of an old factory-They are the toadstools which are well known from the Alice in Wonderland story  and are called Fly Agaric.

Today we've had a really lazy day as it rained all last night and has carried on today .Hopefully it will be dry again tomorrow.

Happy Days.

Through the Locks...

Back along the Oxford towards Napton and the sun was shining beautifully.

 

                                        I just managed to get a picture of this woodpecker before he took off up the field.

The Wedding Bridge...I've tried finding out why its called this but have had no luck so far.

This is where HS2 will be coming...we used to sit here for breakfast and watch the hares running around the field...

We made it through Napton in a couple of hours and started to head along the Grand Union towards Stockton and Long Itchington.

We met a lovely family on a hire boat who were from Norwich who had met up with family from Coventry- their daughter was dog mad and spent all the time going through the locks playing with Molly. Luckily with so many people doing the locks we managed to get through them in no time and all met up for a quick drink and bowl of chips at 'The two Boats'. 

Next morning we were on our own......

Some of the locks are really stiff to wind up....It didn't help when Greg got distracted by an apple tree and decided to throw his windlass up to get some apples to drop down.....and got his windlass stuck!!!

We carried on through Leamington, over the aquaduct into Warwick and stopped at Tesco's  for supplies.

This morning we were lucky....as we started up Hatton Locks the sun came out and it was like a summer day.....It did take us about 4 1/2 hours to get through the locks though...there were so many people about who wanted to chat. We even met the old head teacher of Exhall Grange and his wife!!

We re moored not far from the railway line near an old oak tree...I'm hoping to see some owls tonight..there are several small bats flying around over the boat .

Happy Days.