Today was going to be a day with maybe four or five locks.
A sort of slow day after the grind since leaving Birmingham on Monday.
The day did not turn exactly as planned.
It was an early start and Hallmark cruised out of Fazeley alone.
We skirted Tamworth crossing the impressive Tame Aquaduct and the extensive moorings of the Tamworth Cruising Club.
Next it was the two Glascote locks.
We were climbing for the first time since the Lapworth Flight on the Stratford Canal.
The first lock filled very very slowly and then I realised the short pound between the two locks was completely empty we has a water supply problem
With the help of another boater we began to fill the pound from the long seven mile pound above.
We also called Bitish Waterways to let them know the difficulties
Eventually the water came up and Hallmark slowly made here way to the second lock.
The seven mile lock free run to Atherston was uneventful.
The highlight was passing the Samuel Barstow pub at Alvecote which had a wonderful collection of traditional boats moored all around.
There was a steady stream of boats heading for Fazeley.
They had obviously come down the Atherston Eleven the previous evening.
My plan was to do three or four locks and then stop overnight.
Three boats were waiting for there turn to climb and I joined them
It made a good start and chugged time after time into an empty lock chamber with willing helper
Other than a really heavy shower mid-flight the 80 foot climb could not have been easier or quicker.
Hallmark was at the top in 2 hours and 50 minutes.
The small basin at the top of the flight has been lovingly restored and there is a coal wharf alongside but sadly no longer functioning.
I moored Hallmark up just past Bridge 41.
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