18th July 2010
Lapworth to Cambrian Wharf. Grand Union and BCN canals.
Just about make it off by around 10am, to head off for a rendezvous with the First Mate at the
Herons Nest [sic]* to
get C_ taken off as he needs to be home for tea. Get there almost on time and we make our tearful
farewells. Mainly due to the foul emanations from the slurry tank vent. That biomagic just isn't
coping today. The remainder of us press on through Knowle locks which are, as had been explained
to me prior to this trip, a right set of b******s. Thank the lord I wasn't single handing. We stop
off at The Boat at Catherine des
Barnes for our next rendezvous with the Mate, as this time we are relieved of S_. But not before
I help myself to a couple of faggots, as is a Kaptain's duty and privilege. The First Mate now
makes the suggestion that perhaps we should leave the boat here and continue tomorrow rather than
attempting to moor in Yardley. This will haunt me later.
After having dropped S_ off at New Street, and rescued R_'s car from Hockley the two of us then
set off on our next stage. But as we moor up a group of well meaning young chappies advise us strongly
and unambiguously not to moor there for the night. No sir. It is now 7pm and our chances of getting
to the next safe mooring (which is the centre of town, basically) whilst the calendar is still on
the same page are slim. Still, R_ is game, probably due to a complete ignorance of the proposed
route. After pausing briefly to take on a cargo of curry, off we go again straight down the mainline
into town. We take Camp Hill in turns, but the next flight (Ashted) I do alone, as I'm beginning to
feel a bit guilty about getting R_ into this by now. Although thankfully the Ashted flight were not
chained up as reported to us by a chap moored before the Typhoo basin. That had us worried for a bit,
there. On the way up Ashted I have a jolly conversation with a chap who's english has not been
improved by imbibing the greater part of the bottle of JD he is brandishing. "Yes, my good fellow,
I share your pain. Whatever it is. etc". He appears to follow us for a while, but leaves before the
eerily dark and low Ashted tunnel. Only the 13 locks of Farmer's Bridge to go, now! There are a few
more dubious characters dotted about at the lower end, but no-one engages me in a conversation about
"Joy" this time. Good, because I'm very busy. Finally get to Cambrian Wharf at half past midnight,
and I must say R_ did extremely well piloting the Cat in the dark. Just time for a last beer before
bedtime. As R_ remarks, I think I've earned it.
*Before the grammar police complain about the lack of an apostrophe, as I remarked to R_ at the time, this could be a statement.
|
|
|
This |
Total |
| Miles |
17.1 |
300.86 |
| Locks |
30 |
249 |
| |
| Height Gain | |
157'11" |
| Height Loss | |
41'8" |
| Height | |
453'0" |
|
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