Day 2 - Rowington Embankment to Radford Semele

Wednesday 4th August

11 miles, 23 locks

A beautiful morning on the embankment

A bright, sunny morning. Me and my fitbit did a quick 1000 steps along the towpath before breakfast.

Working the Hatton flight

After a big slimming world cooked breakfast we set off just after 9 am arriving at the top lock of Hatton at 10.00. A narrowboat waved us straight into the lock. What a joy to go down with a crew of 6 experienced boaters. We flew down the flight in less than 3 hours, the hirers making me a cup of tea and offering Pims at lunchtime.

Stopped for lunch and as we set off down the final two locks of the day the hirers were enjoying a drink in the Cape of Good Hope as were the occupants of two further hire boats dressed as pirates.

Sheltering from the shower

A dark cloud appeared above us as we cruised along and just as Paul said we were on the edge of it the heavens opened. Paul got soaked. We pulled up to take cover under a bridge and secure the cratch cover sitting it out nicely until a boat appeared round the bend and we were forced to move on only to find it was our friendly hirers. We let them pass as we were just sauntering.

Radford Semele church

Moored opposite the church at Radford Semele - nice rural mooring. Walked up into the village, the church of St Nicholas having recently been rebuilt following a fire. Enjoying a quiet drink in the White Lion when who should walk in but the hirers with their three boisterous retrievers who were all shattered by their earlier activities.

Able to sit out to eat on return to the boat watching aeroplanes approaching Birmingham airport.