RE: Lochs and Locks
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Wonderful! You were lucky with the weather and the timing. That is a very pretty boat. My boat fund went into a caravan, although with some of the storms this past year I have wondered if I'm going to float away. One of the questions on the insurance form is are you more than five miles from the sea ... yes, and uphill. I'm wondering what kind of weather we would need to have for sea flooding at five miles.
I did have to go and check Foxton Locks as I thought they were longer than Neptune's staircase, but it appears there are two sets of five locks (although it just looks like "lots" when you're at the top or the bottom of it). There is a cafe in the old lock-keeper's cottage (with his vegetable garden at the side) - open at weekends I think in the winter). There's a spooky life-size model of ye olden-days lock-keeper just inside the cottage at one of the windows which never fails to make me jump. At one end of the lock is a pub overlooking the canal, with the usual pub grub menu. Much more interesting is a tiny bar in one of the canal side buildings. It has an open fire in winter and sells pork pies and other snacks, nice with a glass of beer after a brisk walk canalside. Although you have to resist the urge to have a nap.
That answers a question. I'd been wondering if you'd ever bought your boat :-) Caravans are less hassle and can be shared with family so probably a good choice although worrying when there's big weather.
I've not been to Foxton Locks but sounds wonderful. Bingley Five Rise used to be a lovely place to hang out for a couple of hours in the summer but compared to Foxton Locks, is severely lacking in the availability of vittals!
I love wandering the towpaths in the UK as they give you access to a whole new part of the countryside, often well away from roads and access that one would never normally see. And very few people!
I trust you've had a lovely weekend and thank you, Shani :-)