Below Lock 32, Stratford canal, Saturday 11th July
A short day for us, just over 3 hours. It was eight years since we had travelled this stretch of the Ground Union canal; it is a lot shallower now; passing along the cutting known as Rowington tunnel, a little above tickover speed was all that I could do to avoid a very large wash. Turning into the Stratford canal, the water was a lot deeper. Turning left and heading south was new to Martlet, we have travelled this canal before whilst delivering boats.
By the second lock of the day, I was watching breakfast time for two moorhen chicks. The general state of this canal’s locks was good; much less leakage on the gates than the Ground Union and a better depth of water.
We had a small amount of drizzle, but mainly it was dry; the rain proper began after we had tied up for the day below lock 32, where we managed to get right into the edge for mooring. We seem to be missing most of the rain by starting early, as was the case last year.
2009 Totals: 374 Locks – 661 miles – 16 Bus pass uses.
