Retirement with No Problem

Fosse to Cape, Grand Union Canal, 3 miles 6 locks

We have had a quiet couple of days enjoying this lovely weather.  Yesterday we moored for the day and caught up with the post that had arrived from the south, and with that done off I went with Lucy and Meg.

These locks are interesting, in fact from the bottom of this set of locks, well Radford Bottom Lock all the way up through the Fosse Locks which are in the picture above they have used the now redundant narrow lock as a pump device which takes the water back up to the pound (a stretch of water between two locks) above.  Each of these locks take 56,000 gallons of water each time they are filled, and the pump takes 20 minutes to put it back in the pound above after the boat has left!

Today on the move, and just as we pulled the pins NB India approached from behind.. great stuff, some lock buddies for our 6 locks today.  These wide locks are so much easier if there are two boats, and the skipper of India was well experienced so both boats lined up and entered the lock together.. no ropes needed to hold one boat over while the other is brought in afterwards..

This is a recent looking lock cottage, not the normal type you see covered in flowers and ivy at this time of year..

Nonetheless, very nice right by Welsh Road Lock..

We were soon up the first two Bascote Locks and quickly through the staircase thanking the crew of India as they made their way onward to Braunston to the Historical Boat Show being held there this weekend..

Wonder if they will find a mooring anywhere near..   But not for us, and we put the pins in just short of Cuttle out in the country with lovely views over towards the Southam area.

And a fantastic walk this afternoon with the girls, it was a bit hot though, but we found some ‘cooling facilities for dogs’ as we wandered over towards the village of Long Itchington..

The little River Itchen provided some fun for both of them for 10 minutes or so.. Walking took us through the village and it was good to see the village shop and post office still thriving as well as the pub, although those down on the canal at Cuttle bridge were really busy, I was tempted to stop for a cool pint.. ho hum how did I not succumb!

It’s cooler now, I think I will go find a geocache or two and enjoy some late evening sunshine..