Grand Union Canal, Radford Bottom Lock; Monday 6th July
Our customary early start saw us at Stockton top lock at 6.45am. A boat was just leaving the second lock, also going down. The crew waited at the next lock and we did the next 18 locks in their company; teamwork of the highest order – two top gates open on entering; Keith on Nb Pentargon was having throttle cable problems, he left the lock first and I followed him out of one bottom gate on leaving. In no time, we arrived at Radford bottom lock, where we tied up shortly before the first heavy shower (Netweather forecast accurate again).
Later on, a boat moored in front of us; accompanied by a lot of clanging and banging. When I looked out later, the reason was immediately apparent; they had hammered a mooring spike into the towpath and also, into the canal had dropped the anchor! Presumably they have received a considerably stormier overnight forecast than me.
2009 Totals: 339 Locks – 645.5 miles – 14 Bus pass uses
