Non stop Locking

hot weather before 9.30

beautiful reflections

We cast off at 8.55 after filling with water with no idea of the gruelling trek ahead. A Viking Afloat hire boat followed close behind but stopped for water before the first tunnel.  

The sun was blazing but clouds gave occasional relief from the sun. The barometer dipped to stormy then moved back to rain.

Lower Bittell moorings

 Because it takes at least 4 hours to descend the 29 Tardebigge locks we carried on when we reached the top of the flight at 11-00 as torrential rain and storms had been predicted for the afternoon. Although  there were some impressive clouds around we had no rain. Had we known that we would have taken a break at a lovely mooring below the first Tardebigge lock.

the lake at Lower Bittell

water lilies

Instead we locked down and down. The Viking hire boat with four lock hands soon caught us up on the flight. One of the crew came forward to prepare the lock for his boat while his friends worked it through the lock behind. He was a great help, opening one bottom gate and winding down the paddles for us. He did this for about five locks then they tied up for lunch.

nearing the locks

Lottie enjoyed the locks by the reservoir and found a place to bathe and cool off. Unfortunately she was almost run over by a cyclist which scared both of them. We kept her on a lead after that as the cyclists arrive without warning. 

Once we passed the reservoir she struggled to keep cool as most of the by washes were dry or slippery. She disobeyed me and jumped into one weir stream and slipped over. She tried to get out but her paws couldn’t grip on the slimy surface. I hauled on her collar and she plopped our no worse for her adventure. 

Tardebigge Tunnel

no time to stop

She later entered another weir stream which was not running as quickly. I wouldn’t let go of her lead preventing her going into deep water so she lay down in the shallows to cool off.

me preparing our third lock

 On the middle section of the flight a single hander coming up left 3 sets of top gates open for us, which sped us on our way. After that we had to fill the locks before we could enter them which slowed us right down. After a while a refreshing breeze built, it was most welcome.

The Viking Afloat caught us up again with the crew refreshed from their lunch and our old friend helped again with the bottom gates. We took it in turns to eat at the tiller while the lock emptied.

Near the bottom Lottie tried to drink from the canal and fell in. the Captain pulled her out but she seemed happy to be wet as she stopped panting.

Lottie waiting with the boat

Wales in the distance?

At last we passed through Tardebigge Bottom Lock where rest awaited. Perhaps the flight was named Tardebigge because the old working boats could be late or tardy in a BIG way because of that flight.

There was one space left... but the pub was heaving with people, the smell of food was strong and heavy machinery was roaring in the woods nearby. The Captain shook his head and kept the boat moving straight past another Viking Afloat boat whose crew were preparing to cast off. 

Lottie cooling off in a weir stream

We rounded a corner and Stoke Top Lock was ready with its gate open.

As we approached I guessed the lock slave was waiting for his boat. The Captain slowed down but the lock slave waved him in. As the gate closed behind us his Viking Afloat boat came round the corner.

more locks

“I feel like a pirate for stealing your lock,” I said but the lock slave laughed. He was surprised however that we hadn’t stopped at the pub. “The thought of a pint at the bottom kept us going,” he confessed. 

As we descended the rest of the six Stoke locks he came forward to close one gate for us like our other Viking helper. How long would it have taken us without those Vikings? As it was it took us just under five hours to descend 35 locks.

rest is near at last