18th May. Day 16. Leicester => Birmingham Ring. Warwick to Stockton.

Canal Paddle Boarder

Daisy resting.



Bascote Staircase lock.

Stockton Top Lock

8.45 start. Did the 2 Cape locks. Several supermarkets right next to canal going out through Warwaick then Leamington Spa. Tescos, Lidl and finally Morrisons. We were still happy with our overnight mooring although we could have had less of a walk to a supermarket.

We passed several people on a 12 mile sponsored walk for a local Hospice.

Trying to manoevre into the first of 3 Fosse locks I suddenly lost all power. We moored and I checked the propeller. A hoody and a large piece of carpet was wrapped round it! Once removed power back to normal. A paddle boarder passed us while we did the first of these locks.

We moored for lunch at 13.10 after lock 20 (the top Fosse lock) and set off again at 14.00.

When we got to the Bascote Staircase lock (15-14) Rachel drove into the bottom lock immdeiately after 2 boats left. I went to look at the lock immediately above and it looked pretty empty. The intructions said to make sure it was full when going up. A boater about to come down said it was fine. Having emptied it into the lock Rachel was in and then opened gates between the locks Rachel proceeded slowly forward. I was not surprised when she stopped. She'd hit the bottom. Letting a small amount of water in via the top paddles sorted that out and then we proceeded as expected.

We moored for the night opposite the Blue Lias pub on long term moorings at 16.15. A man on one of these mooring said all the long term boats were already in so we could use the one space left. The bottom of the Stockton locks was straight after this mooring.

It was a lovely evening and I fancied a little walk but in flipflops to give my feet an airing. However Rachel decided that once we got to the bottom of the Stockton locks its a rule that you have to walk to the top. In flipflops! I walked most of the way in bare feet in the grass at the side of the tow path.

We had wine and spagetti bolognaise on the boat as when Rachel explored the pub menu she found it uninspiring for the price.

10 miles and 14 locks = 24 lock miles