We are moving on today, so set off about 10am up the canal
which was a bit winky wonky in places and also rather shallow, we went up on
the side a couple of times when passing boats.
 |
| In bottom lock of the Watford Flight |
 |
| In Watford flight staircase |
We went past the Watford Gap Services, it backs onto the
canal and soon we were at the Watford locks.
These are 3 single locks and a staircase of four locks. You have to book in the with the lock keeper
when you get there, so I went off up the locks to find him, he said there were
two boats coming down and there was one going up in front of us, so when the
first boat came down, we could come up the first lock so that is what we did,
then into the second lock and the lock keeper came and explained how to work
the staircase. There are two sets of
paddles, one is coloured red and the other white, the boat goes into the first
lock, shut the gates then open the red paddles which fills the lock from the
pound at the side of the locks, then open the white paddles and that empties
the next lock back into the pound, very clever, then when both locks are the
same level, open the gate and the boat goes into the next lock on the staircase
and that’s how you go up and down, easy!
 |
| At the top of the Watford Flight |
We worked our way up the flight and soon we were in the top
lock. There was a boat that had come
through the first lock at the top but then had to wait to go down the staircase
till us and the other two boats behind us had come up, he wasn’t best pleased,
but the lock keeper is in charge and not him so you have to do as you are told!
 |
| Going into Crick Tunnel |
 |
| Approaching the end of Crick Tunnel |
 |
| Emerging into the sunshine |
The locks were really good to go up, it’s the first time we
have done this flight. We chugged on
along the canal under the M1 motorway and soon enough we were approaching Crick
tunnel. This tunnel is 1528 yds long and
was opened in 1814. It does not have a
towpath and so originally boats were “legged” through, but fortunately as we
have an engine and it didn’t break down, we didn’t have to leg it through! Two boats can pass in this tunnel, but today
we only met one coming through the other way.
Some tunnels are very drippy and wet but we didn’t think this was one of
them as the first part is very dry, but when we came to the last part of the
tunnel it got very wet, I was okay as I was inside but poor Kev was rather damp
when we came out!! Luckily the sun was shining
so he could soon dry out!
We were now in Crick so we looked out for a place to
moor. We came under Bridge 11 and there
was a space on the end, so we got in there.
I walked down the towpath to see if there were any moorings further
down, but it was rather full so we stayed where we were.
We chilled out for a bit, then we walked up into Crick
village where there is a village shop/post office and further down the street a
Co-op, there are also a couple of pubs.
Right on the canal is a pub/restaurant called The Moorings,
so we stopped by there on our way back and had a drink sitting by the canal.
We are staying here tomorrow, so will go and have a look
around Crick Marina and we saw a sign for a garden centre so will also have a
wander around there.
 |
| Moored at Crick |
No comments:
Post a Comment