News
Droitwich for 2013
Well time does fly ! Chelonian has been at its new berth in Droitwich for 6 months now, and being more than happy with the marina and its location I have just paid for the next years mooring, so Droitwich is home until March 2014 at least. Plenty of places to explore in the West Midlands and South West for the next year. The Worcester and Birmingham even has its own pub guide
Every 4 years the boat safety scheme (BSS) exam comes up, and its mid April so have booked an exam before we set off in April. The scheme does get updated occasionally and this year there are a number of new inclusions, including changes to the section for electrically propelled craft. Way back when the hybrid was fitted we actually had a visit from the BSS and we discssed with them the item requiring batteries with a charging rate of over 2KW to have forced ventilation. With the sealed vent system used on the batteries supplied by pB this is unnecessary as all the charging gases are vented overboard. I highlighted this issue with the examiner so he can check up before the examination, we will await the outcome with interest. With the exam booked I now need to get the minor items left over from the last exam sorted, replacing temporary battery isolator labels with brass ones and installing the ventilation warning labels on some of the fixed vents mainly on the doors.
Stratford and beyond
We finished the Wilmcote flight in to Stratford on Friday arriving at around 6pm. With no moorings left in Bancroft basin we moored on the last bit of canal immediatly before the basin. Friday night, on the recomendation of a friend who lives localy we visited the excellent Grants of Sheep Street where we had an excellent, and extremly well priced meal, highly recomended.
Saturday a lazy morning with late breakfast, then an afternoon spent doing chores on the boat, including managing to finish polishing one side, plus the usual selection of minor repairs. also a visit to the floating River Information Centre to buy an Avon License for £50.
Saturday evening to the RSC Coutyard theatre to see a performance of Much Ado about Nothing, in an Indian setting and an entirly Indian cast. It worked extreemly well and an entertaining evening was had by all. A late curry in the Thespian to follow.
Sunday another late start while we waited for crew to arrive then set off through the hoards of gongoozlers through Bancroft Basin and out on to the River Avon mooring for the night at Pilgrim Lock in splendid isolation.
Monday morning a gentle day saw is in Evesham mid afternoon where we say goodby to another member of crew before finally mooring for the night at Craycombe Turn, nicely rural but unfortunatly adjacent to a busy main road and a railway line not too far away.
On to the Lower Stratford Canal
A gentle start today stopping for Water before the short trip to Kingswood Junction. Turning left at Kingswood we join the Lower Stratford Canal for the descent in to Stratford-upon-Avon. After 17 Locks we moor up on the bank and spend the afternoon polishing the boat, one of those "semi" annual jobs that never gets finished. Tomorrow Wooten Wawen and a planned stop at the top of the Wilmcote flight.
From the depths to the Summit
Today the 21 locks of the Hatton flight to the highest summit on this trip. From here its downhill to Stratford and then Tweksbury.
This morning we waited for the forcast break in the rain and when it stopped at about 11:00 we set off, but after a couple of locks the rain started again getting heavier as time went on. We finished the flight cold and wet.
The depths of Leamington
From the Blue Lias down the last 12 locks, including Bascote staircase 
to the bottom level of this section of the GU to Leamington where we stopped for shopping and to pick up the Editor of Towpath Talk who is doing an article on the Hybrid drive.
Through Leamington to Cape Locks mooring at the top for dinner in the Cape of Good Hope.
