Greasy Hatton

We left Kingswood Junction at around 1000 having made use of the Elsan disposal facility. I didn't mention yesterday that we saw a steam train cross the bridge over the Lapworth Link. It was about 1640 and comprised four old coaches pulled by a black locomotive heading north. No photo, sadly.

Just before Shrewley Tunnel was the first widebeam we've seen for a while.

About three locks down the Hatton flight we caught up with Passing Shot. They waited for us and we progressed efficiently down the locks. Our passage was made even quicker by a volunteer lockie on a bicycle setting ahead for us. Result!

We immediately got into a routine: the boats would usually leave a lock side-by-side, move along the pound and enter the next lock still together. I would cycle between the locks and work the offside gates.

One paddle mechanism my side had been rather over-enthusiastically greased.

With three locks to go there was a loud bang underneath me as I cycled along. It was my back tyre getting a puncture. Oh well - better there than at the top of the flight. Time to complete the flight: 2 hours 45 minutes.

Our locking partners stopped at the bottom of the flight; we carried on down Cape Locks and to Leamington Spa. At Cape Bottom Lock a CRT man was checking the condition of the gates, making notes on an electronic device.

We tied up outside Lidl having stopped briefly at Tesco. We had a few drops of rain at about 1630: the first rain (such as it was) of the trip.