The Great Escape.

Here is a lady who has something to dance about. It`s raining and the wind is a blowing and that boat does not usually move in lousy weather so perhaps it`s  a sun dance.

Here`s a clue. Ok just a lock but not just any lock. This is Radford lock a boundary of the Five Mile Prison. You guessed it we are on the move following Jaq`s discharge from the Physio classes.

Quite a few of the locks had these cill protectors fitted during the winter stoppages.

Some canal art by a winter moorer who was here for a few months.

First stop for a couple of days at Long Itchington after 10 locks and 4 miles, should be far enough to escape any prison search parties.

On past the Two Boats pub.

Going up the Stockton flight of 8 locks some Lime Kilns can still be seen by the lower locks.

 Another sign of work completed during the winter are the lock chamber ladders.


Some are new but the big improvement is the cutting back of the stonework enabling more of your foot to cover each rung.


In the very rare times I have used these ladders I always felt unsafe as mostly it was the ball of your foot on the rung now it`s the arch giving a more secure feel.

Having spent many years single handing a boat I never used the ladders. Being on your own perhaps in a very remote area climbing a ladder is just another risk. So much safer to step off the boat with a centre rope as you enter the lock.
The extra depth between the rung and the wall is an excellent safety improvement.

Settled in for another couple of days. This is a good place for a Tesco delivery as there is a small car park just behind the trees with access just by the notice board at our bow.

In case you thought the boat behind had an odd looking paint job I can reveal it is in fact the Wool boat. It travels around selling wool and inviting clubs aboard for knitting sessions. The site does mention stays on board of up to seven days but the site is not clear about what this is all about.

Across from our mooring the Boat Inn pub now has a Deli stall with a range of spices.

Last year the pub was up for sale and the price of £349k  for the freehold caught my eye. Seemed cheap but reading the details it seems to not include furniture and any commercial fixtures and fittings.
 I wonder what the final sale price was.