Our last bit of boating was actually quite a time ago.
n 29th June we headed to Warwick and boarded the boat just after lunchtime. With a "full crew" which included Sue-percrew and Alex we set off just before 2.00pm to ascend the Hatton Flight.
We are very familiar with these 21 broad locks. At that time of day it is very unusual to find a locking partner so we expected to be solo and working the near side of the locks. At the first lock we were met by a CRT volunteer who took our instruction not to open the off side paddle quite well, only opening it half way! He was full of information: only a widebeam in the flight and another single hander entering the locks at the top, he told us. Having done his not he left us to get in his car in the adjacent car park and drove away.
His information proved inaccurate. We were met by a widebeam and two narrowboats on the way up. These were a great help and we were soon into the swing of setting ahead and shutting behind. Our only delay was introduced by a boater who turned round our lock at lock 43 dismissing my renoinstrations that it was "our" lock. The Best mate was left waiting and stranded in lock 42 while we waited for their very posh faux rivetted craft to navigate down from lock 44. The skipper was very apologetic about the behaviour of his crew.
So by 5 pm we were at teh top and thinking about a mooring and dinner. The Best Mate swopped the tiller for the galley and Sue took the tiller for a while. The weather dulled but stayed dry and we decided to get as far as we could before stopping for the night.
We moored close to Rowington Hill Bridge 62 just afgter 6pm, very satisfied withthe afternoons work and settled down for dinner and bed.
5.1/2miles, 21 locks 4.25 hours
On the next day, 30th June we had boooked a table for dinner at The Drawbridge Inn, Shirley. So today was a dawdle! We did not set off until 7.45am and were very soon turning at Kingswauud Junction on the Lapworth Link. Joining the Stratford Canal we stopped below Lapworth Lock 19 to relenish the water tank. 
The lock flight was ascended in reasonably good time. Here the pounds are short and we had to wait in a couple of locks for boats to get out of the next lock so that an interchange could take place in an orderly fashion. We decided to forgo a breakfast stop for a brunch stop just after the top lock. Bacon and eggs always taste good after a lock flight!
A gentle cruise after brunch to a mooring just after the Shirley Drawbridge. We moored onteh visitor moorings and were then surprosed to find a hire boat come and moor onthe drwbridge latby. There was a good reason for it though- a shredded alternator belt that required then to be close to the road.
We checked out the pub abd decided to go to dinner a littel earlier than booked. No problem form the pub staff.
A wonderfull meal was had by all.
After dinner Sue and the yours truly went for walks. Sue did an canal/road circular whilst I walked to the shops near Shirley station for milk, bread and bargains at the Co-op.
8 miles, 19 locks, 3 lift Bridges 7 hours
On the 1st of July we completed the stage of the cruise to Birmingham, Cambrian Wharf. Only problem was a little veg obscuring the view at a bridge narrows.
Letting go at a little after 6 am we achived the target at 10.20 and moored on a vacant finger mooring. This I choise becasue Cambrian Wharf is a Waterside Mooring Long Term mooring site and as long term noorers ourselves we have permission to moor in accordance with the Mooring Terms and Conditions. Well that is what I thought! 10 miles, 1 open lock 4.1/4hours
We locked up the boat and headed for the Station to return to Warwick Parkway to pick up the car. Our only battle was with the ticket machine! No one there to ask to assist us old people.
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