Started off at 9am, first passing through the Shrewley tunnel (500yds). As soon as we got out of the tunnel the Hatton flight appeared, rolling down the hill. This set of 21 double locks is quite daunting and used to be known as the 'stairway to heaven'.
As we arrived at the first lock we were joined by Nb Florence and her crew of 4. This was something of a Godsend as negotiating the flight with a single boat is very hard work! We were quite lucky with boats coming the other way and it took us about 4 hours to get down with one team locking through and others preparing the next lock ahead.
Going in to the last lock Florence's skipper tried to fish something out of the water, but missed. Being further back I was able to line up on what turned out to be a rucksack and managed to pull it out onto the deck. It was very heavy and attached to something underwater but separated as I pulled it aboard. It was only later that we had an opportunity to look in the bag - and the contents were quite worrying.... Someones phone, wallet, console, clothes, bible.... their life. Annie rang three numbers scribbled in a book and soon determined that the owner was a chap living rough, who had been helping boats up the locks for money. I got an overpowering feeling that the owner may well been have been down there with his bag.... it wouldn't have taken much to fall in and the bag would have taken him down. We moored near a road bridge and the Police came and collected the bag - and promised to let us know the outcome. That put a bit of a downer on the day.
 |
| Entering the Shrewley tunnel with its peculiar parallel towpath tunnel |
 |
| Pub. 'nuff said. |
 |
| One of the locks on the Hatton flight |
 |
| Looking down on our overnight mooring from the Radford railway viaduct |
No comments:
Post a Comment