A later than usual cast off as we wanted to ask in the canal shop if we could moor outside on handover day, as we can park the van really close.  It didn’t open until 10.15, so I had a slow mosey up the towpath,  and purchased two homemade cake slices (apple sponge and bakewell tart) to show good will before asking.  The owner was lovely, and happy to help.

We cast off just before 11am , to more glorious sunshine.

We took on the usual roles of Toby steering, and I was on lock duty, I felt like a bouncing tigger with these single locks, blimey they were hard work and took some force to open some of the paddles.

After 4 locks (we did 17 in total today), we swapped, this gave me plenty of practice at dropping Toby off (front or back – pot luck!), and picking him up.  I just got the hang of it and then the towpath changed sides – well that confused me!

The Stratford locks are narrow and we had to lift the fenders, we did get stuck in one lock as we couldn’t get the gate fully open.  After a bit of prodding and poking with the hook, and Toby opening and closing the gate, we made it through, although I did feel like a champagne cork out of a bottle.

 

We decided to moor up after the last lock, Toby didn’t like the look of the first mooring, so we motored on and Toby tried five times to come alongside but it was too shallow.  Lucky for him, there were some lovely visitor moorings just around the corner.