Wootton Wawen to Bottom of Wilmcote Flight of Locks (Stratford Canal)

Us filling up on Aqueduct

We are chugging off today and Pat and Patrick are accompanying us.   We all needed to get water, get rid of rubbish, get diesel, etc. so stopped at the Anglo Welsh boat yard just through the bridge.

Patrick filling up on Aqueduct

There is an aqueduct running alongside the boat yard with the towpath running along the level of the bottom of the tank, very unusual and to use the services you moor in the aqueduct as the water tap is actually in the middle of the aqueduct, so you block the canal, but the boat yard said it was fine, boats wanting to go through just have to wait.  

Going over Edstone Aqueduct

Edstone Aqueduct

Looking down from Edstone Aqueduct

We filled up, then chugged on along the canal to the first of 12 locks we have to do today. Through that lock and then a little way along the canal is Edstone Aqueduct.  This magnificent aqueduct is approaching 200 yards in length and consists of a narrow cast iron trough carried on brick piers across a shallow valley and the towpath runs along the level of the bottom of the tank.  It was a bit scary for both of us as we are not that good with heights!  Mind you, we had better get used to it, we have to do it again on the way back!

Coming into Wilmcote Top Lock

Safely over there, past Wilmcote, looked really pleasant there, so will probably stop there on the way back.  Soon we were at the top of the Wilmcote flight of locks, there are 11 of them and we worked our way down.  Pat and Patrick were in front and Patrick was really good as he set the lock for us once Pat had taken the boat out so that helped immensely.  

Working through the Wilmcote Flight

It was very warm and sunny so working through the locks was hard work,  but they are a really nice flight as they are in lovely countryside.  On one of the locks there was a volunteer, so that helped a bit.

Soon we were going through the last lock and moored up just after in some nice sunny moorings.  Kev looked on Google and there was an Aldi fairly near, so we decided to see if we could find it.  Patrick came with us and we set off along the towpath to the bridge, then up on the road, through some houses, out onto a main road and not far down there was the Aldi.  We got some supplies then walked back to the boats.

Just chilling out tonight as I need a rest after all those locks and walking!  We are chugging down into Stratford tomorrow, so looking forward to that.

Moored at Bottom of Wilmcote Flight