The forecast promised us a day with 0% rain and lots of sunny spells. As previous promises in the past week had not been fulfilled, we were very pleased that when we set off there was already more blueness than we have had for a while.
Although we have been deluged at times with falling leaves there is still a lot of green in the trees and shrubs. Even so, the sense of an imminent autumn is gradually growing on us.
We stopped after the first bridge to fill with water and to dispose of rubbish. The boater facilities along this stretch are spread out with no one place having everything.
Once we were underway yet again, it was not long before we arrived at the top of Bascote Locks. As a boat had just left we had hopes that at least some of the flight might be set for us. The staircase puzzled us a bit as the top lock was full (a boat had just left) but the bottom one was empty. The only reasonable way this would occur in normal operation is if the up boat had passed a down boat (one did pass us before we set off this morning) in the locks. Although the instruction panel says to check that NO boats have already started to ascend, this is one way, when there is only one boat it at least one direction, to save a bit of time, effort and water.
The instructions also ask that a down boater checks that the bottom lock is empty before opening the paddles between the two locks of the staircase. The water from the top lock drains into the bottom lock, thus bringing it up to the correct intermediate level. If there is already water in the lower lock then there is a flood. Don't Do It! we are asked. However, we noticed that this flooding must have happened all too often as a channel has been built around the bottom gate structure to take the water away from the towpath! (yes, that looks like water in the channel but it was dry - we did NOT flood!)
So much blue!
There are two more single locks in the Bascote flight - we noticed a couple of contractors vans at the top and as we worked down we saw the crew of three carrying various heavy items of tools and equipment down to the bottom. They explained that they were due to conduct a routine inspection of the back pump which transfers water up to the pound above Bascote. Different aspects of the inspection required different skillsets.
After Welsh Road Lock we reached the site of an HS2 crossing.
A large viaduct is needed and the track will be ramped up on either side. In the past we have spotted some of the huge amount of earth moving that is needed and now the two supporting pillars either side of the canal are gradually emerging from below ground. We did not see any activity on the site at all so perhaps it is a 'working from home day' . . .
After Wood Lock we reached the three Fosse Locks. Below the first we paused briefly at the Fosse Way road bridge to avail ourselves of the outdoor elsan disposal point.
Three more locks to go. Alongside Radford Bottom, the last one, the towpath had a pretty carpet of leaves.
So, Radford Bottom marks the end of the descent from Napton Junction and we are on the Leamington level. This is a 'sump' as on the other side the canal commences its climb towards Birmingham, much with the Hatton 21 flight - which, thankfully, we do not need to do this trip as we will be turning around in Leamington after Andrew joins us.
Just after the bridge below the lock we could see the sunken boat about which we had been warned. A boater who came through a few days ago also advised that we keep as close as is sensible to the wreck as others had given it a wide berth and run aground on some submerged objects on the offside of the canal. It is always sad to see a distressed boat such as this but even more so when it is one with some of the heritage bound up in it.
About 15 minutes later we arrived at Radford Semele and found a good mooring just before the main road bridge into Leamington.
5.0 Miles - 10 Locks
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