Date - 31 12 06 Day - Sunday Start - Fosse Locks End - Radford Semele Last night we all ate on "Black Swan" and as the evening progressed the weather improved as the atmospheric pressure climbed rapidly, by 11 pm the moon and stars were out in a half clear sky.
We set off at 9 AM this morning, Harnser drawing up the rear. The weather was calm and fine and the forecast reasonable. As we cleared Lemington Spa for some reason I was unable to get Harnser past Tesco. It stuck hard to the bank until Diana had been in to buy some odds and ends. As John came though the bridge just after Tesco a single hander piled with pallets and stuff pulled away in front of him and stayed there all the way to Cape locks where he pulled onto the lock mooring ready to go up with John, Unfortunately both John and Charles stopped for water so the single hander just went below. No attempt to set the locks. There were still like this when we arrived and we didn't see the chap until after Diana and Chard had the bottom gates open. he then appeared and followed me in and just stood on his boat. Diana and Chard worked us up and off he went without a word of thanks. Chard walked to the next lock and opened the near side gate but the single hander just decided to ram the closed gate open. as I came in beside him he attempted to close the gate his side with a branch, without success so he just stood there unit Chard walked round and closed it for him and worked us up, again no word of thanks and no sign of a windlass. We followed him out and up to Budbrooke Junction. I think he thought he was on to a free ride all the way up the Hatton flight, but we winded in the junction to start our journey back. We pulled onto the visitor moorings above Cape locks and all had lunch on Harnser. When we set off again it was definitely getting overcast and the wind was picking up, again we were to be tail end Charlie. Not long after clearing Cape locks it started to rain and by Tesco's bend it was blowing hard as well. We all moored for the evening at 4 PM at Radford Semele overlooking a very brown, fast moving River Leam just as the rain started to get heavy again. I wouldn't fancy the Warwick to Stratford link this weekend. -- Brian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit this site and help save our waterways http://www.savethewaterways.org.uk/
