0930 start this morning in bright sun following a light frost in the early hours. The Glascote Locks were of course against us and I don’t think we met any boats all morning. An hour and a half later we were swinging into the marina. The Swan now has three eggs in her nest, but she is making no effort to cover them. Someone has kindly put up a fence to keep dogs etc. away from the nest site, but it wouldn’t stop a Fox.
Today’s journey 3.56 Miles 2 Locks 1.75 hours.
Thankfully the geese slept late but the moorhens came for breakfast on the hull. We pushed off at 1030 back to Fazeley Junction where I made a better job of the turn, before stopping to fill with water. Once that was done we headed up the Coventry Canal for a few miles. CRT have cut back some of the offside vegetation but not done such a thorough job as they have elsewhere, so in places there are still things sticking out. The down side is they cut the overhanging branches from the Damson tree in Hopwas.
Just through Hopwas village a sight you don’t see very often, two horses being ridden up the towpath, they then crossed the bridge into Hopwas wood.
A little further on and a steam train with just one coach went north, by the time I had the camera ready the line was obscured by the bushes.
We winded at Tamhorn Farm Bridge and made our way back to Fazeley for the night. The woods in Hopwas are carpeted with small white flowers.
Todays Journey 13.3 Miles in 4.45 hours.
last night we had an Indian Takeaway from Ratna. Their prices have gone up a bit since last time we had a meal from there and we are not sure their adding up is spot on. However the food was great.
This morning was a late start at 11 am. as I attempted to make a few Phone calls, Our holiday to Ireland has been cancelled so I had to organise a refund and also order heating oil for home. Just passed the Polesworth mining centre we past a Kingfisher sitting on a twig over the canal, didn’t see him until we were level so no chance of a photo. Passing the marina at Alvecote we saw that there are now two eggs in the Swans nest and both Swans were on site. We continued on to the top of Glascote Locks where we stopped for lunch, left over Indian and home made soup. As we arrived we could see a boat going down the locks ahead of us, so we had that to look forward to this afternoon. I also noticed that the Ipad had not been plotting our route so no marked from Polesworth to Glascote.
After lunch we set off down the two Glascote locks and carried on to Fazeley Junction where I made a real pigs ear of the turn up the Birmingham and Fazeley canal. Thankfully I didn’t hit the glass wall.
We were delayed slightly at Fazeley Mill Marina, I could see well in advance that a boat was reversing out and having trouble turning so we waited for him to get sorted then when level with the marina entrance a boat came backwards through Coleshill Road Bridge and then passed a moored boat, so we held well back and waited for him. It was then a straight run to the winding hole just before Curdworth Bottom Lock where we winded before mooring for the night.
Todays Journey 10.2 miles in 4 hours with 2 locks
This is my first attempt at Blogging since I loaded Windows 10 so we will se how it goes.
We had a good run to the marina with fewer holdups on the A14 than in past trips, for some reason the M6 had a 60 MPH speed limit for miles for no apparent reason in very light traffic. Needles to say it started raining on the way and we still doing it lightly when we arrived at the boat.
I was a bit worried as we hadn’t visited the boat since of Christmas Trip and we have had several storms since then, at some point our stern rope had rubbed through where it passed through the mooring chain, but someone had kindly remoored us which was appreciated. Everything else was fine.
Once onboard the water system was refilled, the two solar panels had done a good job keeping the domestic batteries full and the engine started first shot. Buy the time we had eaten a bit of lunch and were ready to go the rain had stopped, so at 1415 we were away. A swan has made a nest right at the marina entrance, there was just a singe egg in the nest when we passed, I wonder if there will be more when we return.
Leaving the marina we turned right and had a steady run to Grendon where we winded and returned to Polesworth for the night. We saw a few boats on the move including friends of our being towed which was a surprise, but passing by we were unable to get any details.
We only did 8 miles which took us 2 hours and 20 minute, enough to warm the boat for tonight as we will be having an Indian Takeway onboard.
Day : Saturday
Date : 4 January 2020
Start : 0930
Finish : 1330 Back at the moorings
Last night we made the decision we would go home today, so today's plan was a trip to Fazeley to fill with diesel and than back to the marina, this would also recharge the batteries to leave the boat.
0930 this morning saw us on our way, When I went out on the back deck it looked as if we have had a small visitor overnight.
The weather was surprisingly warm and we were soon at the two Glascote locks and a boater had just come out of the top gate which was a bonus. Down to Fazeley Junction and sharp left to Fazeley Mill marina to top up with diesel, only after 50 lts their tank ran dry.
We retraced our step stopping at Fazeley Junction to fill with water, just beyond the junction this boat had a very nice piece of wood carving on its bows.
Out luck at the locks going back wasn't so good as yet again a boat was just leaving the top lock gate, so both against us this time. A little further on one of the houses has had a very nice Christmas display, last time we passed it was only partly completed.
Back at the marina we slid into our mooring slot and made ready to go home, this time of the year this includes draining the domestic water system. Just a hour later we were in the car and on our way home.
Today's Journey10 Miles 4 Locks in 4 hours.
A map of our total journey taken from Canal Plan AC
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Day : Friday
Date : 3 January 2020
Start : 1045
Finish : 1500 Alvecote
First task yesterday evening was to find somewhere to eat, looking on the internet first choice was The Chapel House, not what we would normally chose but looked rather nice for a one off, but no table available, so we walked to the Red Lion but found it unfriendly and uninviting so walked out again, maybe the Indian further down Long St. Steaming Billy's didn't sound like us and the Indian was empty and looked moor Take away, however next door almost was the Black Horse, a much friendlier establishment. We ate in the bar as there was already another couple eating there and after a nice meal got into conversation with a couple of local gents who came in for a drink. A very friendly atmosphere all round.
This morning we set off a little later than usual, stopping at the water point to fill with water and dump the rubbish before setting off down the flight, 2 boats had already gone down so we expected to locks to be against us. We did meet one boat at lock 4 but he had only come up a couple of locks, likewise we met another at 7 but after a couple of locks they were all empty again. By now the sun was out but it still wasn't as warm as it was last night, 10.5°C at midnight in early January. Once clear of the locks we had a steady run through to Alvecote where we have moored for the night just north of the marina.
Today's Journey8 Miles 11 Locks in 4¼ hours.
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Day : Thursday
Date : 2 January 2020
Start : 1030
Finish : 1330 Atherstone visitor moorings
Oil and Filter changed, Batteries topped up.
It was a nice quiet mooring last night opposite the school playing field. The wind picked up overnight which made the centre lines slap on the rear bulkhead, surprising how loud that can be inside the boat in the quiet of the night.
This morning was reasonable warm with a bit of breeze. The scrap pile at Charity Dock looks to be getting bigger with 2 Morris 1000s and a van on there now.
The pussy willows now have their catkins on them so we have the spring to look forward to. I am always amused how some people decorate their gardens, this one has a Buddha temple, a couple of skeletons and other odds and ends.
There is so much water entering the canal opposite The Anchor at Hartshill that the canal is a milky grey for several yards under the road bridge, I suspect its old mine or quarry pumpings.
It wasn't long before we were approaching Atherstone and Rothen's new base. Rothen now do most of CRT boat related bank work and supply boats to CRT, I think they probably bought most of the from CRT a few years back, but they also have new stuff.
Once moored at Atherstone and after a cup of tea Diana went for a wonder round town to find somewhere to eat tonight while I did the oil etc.
Today's Journey9¼ Miles 0 Locks in 3 hours.
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