Overnight weather was overcast and cool.
Morning: Had an extra early start and tiptoed past a few moored boats. As if by magic the majority of the 27 locks encountered were in our favour. In one place we were surprised to find the towpath drinkers were on parade by 07:30!!! There was room at Cuckoo Wharf if needed in an emergency.
Breakfast was eaten alfresco at the tiller. The problems as such started at the Aston Locks. The long Pound between 8-9 had dropped by 2ft. Someone had left two paddles open about 2". The rest of the flight was short of fluid. A call to CaRT to report the problem and we pressed on scraping the barnacles off the base plate. Near the top off the flight a couple of CaRT bank staff had started flushing water down the flight.
Afternoon: We headed for Farmers Bridge Flight, hoping that the locks would continue to favour us. Only to see a boat going in at the first lock. We then waited for a boat coming down before we could make the start uphill. Same again at the second lock. (Passed by Brian and Diana on NB Harnser another Cutwebber! ) At the third lock the paddles were up and the lock drained, as were the next six locks, we were on a roll again. Mags said 'I will thank the boater in front if we catch them up.' The last few locks we had to drain ourselves. On reaching the top lock we spotted a CaRT volunteer. He had been working the boat in front of us up the flight and then opening the paddles for us. Nice pleasant bod and full of enthusiasm. 7 hours after we started, we moored up between the ends of the Oozells Street Loop. We were advised by the volunteer Lockie to go to the Wellington for sampling the best hand pulled amber nectar. We were certainly ready!
Along the way we spotted a couple of off-side mooring spaces if needed for our return trip later. One was between Rocky Lane Bridge and lock 9 on the Aston flight. Mooring rings and covered by security cameras. The other was between Tyburn Bridge and Burwood Bridge a fenced off neat and tidy grassy area with a sluice overlooked by new housing.
Evening: Visit from Steph and some television watching.
Wildlife:
Birds: House Sparrow, Mallard, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Canadian Goose, Coot, Waterhen, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Herring Gull, Greater Black Backed Gull and Black Headed Gull.
Butterflies: Meadow Brown.
Bats: Pipistrelle.
Dragonflies: Banded Damselfly, Common Damselfly.
Today's Total.
Miles: 8.1
Locks: 27
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 1
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 6.7
Solar Panels: 19 Ah
Locks: 27
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 1
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 6.7
Solar Panels: 19 Ah
Accumulated Total.
Miles: 1930.2
Locks: 1197
Swing / Lift Bridges: 297
Tunnels: 28
Pump Outs: 20
Engine Hours: 2910.8
Solar Panels: 15992 Ah
Locks: 1197
Swing / Lift Bridges: 297
Tunnels: 28
Pump Outs: 20
Engine Hours: 2910.8
Solar Panels: 15992 Ah
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