Birmingham

 A bit of rain this morning, but it stopped by 10am and we were away at 1030hrs to blue sky's and sunshine, what we didn't expect was the amount of aircraft movement before we were up this morning, it seemed continuous, one after the other for about an hour. The three Minworth locks were against us with a broken Paddle on the bottom one which I will report. We decided to fill with water just below the top lock but the tap was so slow we gave up once we had turned the lock, this is a slow lock to empty as no water comes out of the bottom near side paddle, it lifts OK but must be blocked, its been like it for at least 4 years now and I have reported it several times, maybe I will do it again.
I do like it when canal side properties make bit of a feature of the bank, I don't know how often the bus passes.A little further on and the canal was green with duck weed, nothing to cause us a problem, after this we started meeting a few boat which was good as one of the locals thought the canal was derelict and unused.  As we arrived at Salford Junction Diana indicated there was a boat coming down the narrow so I had to draw back and let them out, this did mean that hopefully the Aston locks would be with us. I have moored at Cuckoo wharf in the past but I still can't work out which bit is visitor moorings.All the locks were with us until we reached the top two which were full, as you can see the lock beam has got a good twist in it. We did the complete flight in just under a hour and a half, a nice trouble free run.

It seems that C&RT are having quite a bit of trouble with walls that run alongside towpaths these days, there have been a few towpath closures this year for them falling over. I wonder who actually owns them and picks up the bill?Once we cleared the top lock we turned hard left for a few hundred yards before winding and mooring for the night on the visitor moorings outside the university building. We are saving Farmers Bridge flight for tomorrow.

Todays Journey 7 miles, 14 locks in 4¼ hours.

Curdworth

 We had rather a large Chinese takeaway last night, there is more than enough for tonight as well. It came from Peninsular Cantonise and the meat was out of this world.

This morning it was very fine drizzle at about half nine but when we set off just after ten the sun was out and it continued to just get warmer and warmer.  I wouldn't want to be the person driving whatever machine left these tracks along the towpath, they were lucky not to slip in on more than one occasion.

We arrived at the bottom lock which was full and no boats coming down, As we were leaving the lock I could just see a boat leaving the lock ahead, we would follow them all the way up the flight, thankfully these ones didn't leave gates open when they left. We did meet a couple of boats coming down but in both cases we had to wait for them so not much help really other than winding a paddle or two. At lock 6 ether the ground survey equipment has been removed or someone has pinched it since we were last this way in July https://nbharnser.blogspot.com/2021/07/fisher-mill-bridge-b.html Work is ongoing on the HS2 bridge between the canal and the motorway but nothing yet the other side of the canal.
It took us 2½ to complete the flight of 11 locks and about 2¼ miles. The off side of the lock has been designated a wild flower area, these have all now been cut short with the exception of lock one.
There was only one paddle out on the whole flight, but I think it may have been the same one as last time we came this way. It says this structure is undergoing repair when really it should say it waiting to be repaired.

I also spotted a rather large terrapin sitting in the bushes, a poor photo as I thought it was a punchured football until we were level with it and then had to scrambled to get the camera. Its the largest I have seen for sometime, I wonder how big they will grow out in the wild.

We carried on just passed the The Cuttle Bridge Inn, lots of people moor here because there are rings but we find the road noisy so go another couple of hundred yards through Wiggins Hill Bridge to moor, it just a bit further from the road as can be seen on the map.

Todays Journey 7¼ miles, 11 locks in 4¼ hours.

Fazeley

 Well we are out for another little chug, luckily before I left home I switched Tomtom on and it suggested I went round the back of Beccles, wondering if it was a shorter/quicker route I followed it, good move, it seems the way we normally go was blocked for several hours with an accident. We were at the boat by 1pm and had lunch before leaving the marina at 3 pm. We met a few boats on the way including friends Simon and Jeanette in the top lock at Glascote. They had been stuck for 4 days at Kidderminster. The boat ahead of us decided that they would not only leave the bottom gates of the bottom lock open when they left but also one paddle half up, still worse things can happen and the sun is shining.
We carried on to Fazeley Junction where we turned hard left up the B&F and then moored at 5pm right in front of Tolsons Mill.    https://www.crosbygrangerarchitects.co.uk/tolson-mill/.

Todays Journey 3¾ miles, 2 locks in 2 hours

Home mooring

 This morning I decided to wander down to the lock at 8-30am. The CRT chap was back and he had two cruisers coming up in the lock and said he would get as many boats down as he could before the rest of the team arrived with stop planks etc. There were only a couple of boats coming up and then it was all down hill traffic, We had just cleared toe lock when the other team arrived with the stop planks all balanced on square plastic floats. One chap pulling and one onboard steering.It turned out as there were only a few behind us they let everyone down before putting the stop planks in. We stopped just below the lock to have Breakfast before continuing on to our marina. At Polesworth there is a spill weir that feeds into what could be called a small stream. It seems that CRT have found it necessary to put these danger notices on anything that can be called a weir.

We were back on the moorings about half twelve and set to packing up to come home . 
Todays Journey 5½ miles, 2 locks in 4 hours

The total for the trip was a little over 200 miles and 76 locks traveling for 93 hours spending 20 nights onboard.

Atherstone flight

 We planned to set off at 10am but that didn't quite happen. We untied at 10am but then a boat appeared from ahead so I just floated a short way from the bank to let them pass, but then a boat came from behind us and passed between me and the oncoming boat, unfortunately the oncoming boat went to wide and ended up aground. So we spent the next 15 minutes helping them get free before heading towards the top of the Atherstone flight. There were two boats waiting to go down so we went to the services and topped up with water while we waited, The tank filling coincided with our turn for the locks, so that worked well. Somewhere on the beginning of the flight we picked up another stowaway who was put ashore at the first opportunity.

It was pretty much one up one down until we left lock 5 and ten we met nothing. When we got to the pound below lock nine the reason for the lack of traffic  was that lock ten had damaged top gate and CRT were on their way, It seems that the gate had lifted and its possible the cill has been damaged. CRT had the lock open again about 4pm but were working boats through but were unable to leave it open overnight, so at 5pm the padlocks went on until tomorrow morning when they will put the stop planks in and look closer, so I expect we will be hear until at least lunch time, still the view from the back hatches isn't too bad.

Today's Journey 3¼ miles 9 locks in 4 hours.

Mancetter

 A little late getting away this morning at 10-30am, again we met quite a few boats 12 in the first four miles. We were following a boat at tickover but they pulled over and let me pass, I think the boat was new to them. I also had the pleasure of seeing two more Water Vole swimming across the canal, they were too far ahead to photograph. Due to the lack of rain the flooded field beside the canal about half a mile from Hawkesbury is almost dried up so you can imagine what is happening with reservoirs.

We arrived at the stop lock just as a boat was leaving and there was another waiting to enter, so as I worked the lock assisted by the waiting boater Diana was able to dump the rubbish. She was able to rejoin me just as I left the lock and before negotiating  the

 bridge in front of The Greyhound. I didn't do it in one as the boat waiting come into the lock was floating about mid channel in front of the pub.

As we made our way along the Coventry Canal and passing under bridge 17 I tried to take a better photo of the row of beer cans laying along the ledge between the two bridges, definitely some dedicated drinkers going there.

I can't help looking at this house evert time we pass, it always looks to me as if the balcony runs under the eaves and into the end on extension when all it is, is a mirror on the wall at the end of the 

balcony.  It really plays with your mind and what you are really looking at.

We carried on finally mooring for the night at Mancetter Bridge. Since we have been here there have been several boats going by in both direction,

Today's Journey 15 miles, 1 lock in 5 hours

 

Ansty

Last nights mooring was just great, a spot I will aim for again. we were away about 10am but the canal was no where near so busy, we only met 25 boats in the 10 miles to Newbold we did howeverhave a stowaway. It must have hopped on over night.

One of the long term moorings just north of Grimes Bridge 26 has this display to brighten your day as you pass.

We had the pleasure of seeing a Water Vole crossing the canal, it swam out from the offside to about mid way down the boat and then along side the hull and round the stern to the towpath side, it was a bit turbulent for him near the stern as I didn't see him in time to knock the power off. We have moored for the night in Ansty on rings, these are all on the bend but I have avoided the sharpest bit to save the paint.

Today's Journey 10 miles, no locks in 3½ hours.

Rugby

 As we walked back from the Nelson yesterday evening it was looking to be a lovely night, a huge orange moon low in the sky and a few stars about, however once in bed we had a thunder storm, thankfully it was all gone this morning. As we were only a short way from the water point we tucked in there to fill the tank before winding in the marina entrance. In that short distance we saw two signets with "Angle Wing" I have seen it in ducks and geese before but never swans.  The gongoozler rest was doing a good trade selling breakfasts with quite a queue building up. They haven't opened their onboard seating but using tables in the Stop House garden.
The North Oxford is now designated a narrow canal, it doesn't stop wide beam boats using it but they are supposed to book their journey with CRT, but they will be hard pushed to read the notice on the GU informing them of that.
I have often tried to get this photo of Braunston steeple framed by bridge 88 but its never worked, normally its the sun in the wrong place, but this morning there was no sun to worry about. Not quite the angle I wanted but best so far.
At the remains of bridge 88 I met a 3 kamikaze canoeists all with a little flag on the back who were determined to come through the bridge hole towards me before I went through. Yes I can stop in my own length in a straight line, sometimes. The last of the three did thank me, I did wonder if they are one of these sponsored canoe groups doing a charity run.
The canal was quite busy and I estimate we met one boat every quarter of a mile between Braunston and Hillmorton locks, we only caught up with a boat just before Barby Straight and thankfully they winded at the next winding hole. There were two Volockies on the Hillmorton flight, one at the top and one at the bottom, when you would like to meet a few boats there are none around but as soon as we cleared the bottom lock loads turned up. We carried on to moor on the outskirts of Rugby at the furthest point from the railway line. 

Todays Journey 10miles, 3 Locks in 4¼ hours

Braunston stop house

 As we wanted to be in Braunston tonight we left a little earlier than usual to be there for lunch time. So by  9am we were on the move, by quarter past it had started to rain and continued until we put the first mooring rope out. Going round the Napton hill there is only one spot now where you get a good view of the mill with the trees all growing up. It is said there use to be two, but there wasn't enough wind, so they took one down.

 Napton Narrowboats looked a lot different to when we passed last Sunday when their moorings were completely empty.
We met a few boats on the way, a couple in awkward spots, one going round the wrong side of us but we didn't catch up with anyone until we reached Braunston Turn. We were pleased to find lots of spaces running into Braunston and settled on one of the two between the long term moorings and the Stop House water point, taking the first to be further away from the bend.

As I sit here typing this I have zero signal on my phone which is expected in Braunston, but this is my mobile signal on 3 and I don't have an external aerial. That is almost as fast as the boats go through Braunston past the moorings.

Today's Journey 8½ miles, no locks in 2¾ hours

Napton

 We set off around 10am, as soon as I got the bows out a boat came the other way, so I started to pull back in, but for some reason the other boat decided to drive through a willow tree and were lucky not to lose their cratch board. This "work of art" made from empty plastic drinks bottles caught my eye as we passed the offside residential moorings.We hadn't gone much further when on the bend just before Boundary Lift Bridge there was a boat hard aground, he had tried to get free using his plank as a leaver but was getting nowhere fast. We ran a line bow to bow and a bit of power in reverse soon had her sliding off. Round the corner you can see where someone has hung a couple of 25lt drums on the bridge to hold it down when closed.We found the canal much quieter today seeing a lot less boat. Someone much cleverer than me has done this to an old lump of tree trunk.It seems that the HS2 people don't work on a Friday afternoon and all the plant was parked with no one left about.For some reason the top gate of the Marston Doles top lock was wide open so we were straight in. Looking to the offside the car collection looks to have grown a bit since we were moored in the area.For 10 years we moored just above Napton top lock by the engine arm. This boat was moored here then but under different ownership as Peter sadly passed away. There are  a few other boats that were here when we were but this is the only one we saw with a lodger with their own apartment.

The Napton flight was all against us until the bottom lock, we caught up with the boat ahead as they left the last but one lock where they moored up and the Volockie had the bottom lock set ready for us. A quick chat with Stephen the area CRT supervisor, that may be the wrong title, but he is the boss on the ground. we then went just round the corner to moor for the night.

Today's Journey 14 miles, 9 Locks in 6½ hours 

Claydon Top Lock

 Last night unfortunately my daughter and grand daughter couldn't meet us for dinner so we ended up at the Thai Orchid where we had a very nice meal, it wasn't our first choice but as we had not booked a table we were somewhat limited.

The building work in Banbury didn't start until 7-30am this morning and then it wasn't that noisy even when we left at 9-15am. If anyone is looking for a piece of land with room to moor two, possibly three narrowboats there is a piece on the outskirts of Banbury between the canal and the road, its only £100,000Adjacent to this is the house that Malc and Dink owned, Malc died recently but there was always a friendly greeting to boaters if he was about. They had a large photo of themselves high on the wall of their cottage with a protective covering over it. Looking closely it appeared to be cracked, I wonder if someone hit it with an airgun pellet.

When you come into Banbury from the north the first thing you see is a CRT notice welcoming you to Banbury, the next thing you see is a fence topped with razor wire and big red notices on it.

As we approached Hardwick Lock the gates slowly opened for me, a hire boat coming down had obviously taken the trouble to look before turning the lock but I didn't see them. That was our only good lock of the day, most of the rest were against us. Passing through Bourton lock I hope the cottage doesn't end up like the one at Grants Lock, again its remote and un lived in. Approaching Cropredy there were some young canoeists in the cut, luckily right by the reed island so they took refuge behind it while we passed and then appeared like young ducks behind us, this is less than half of them. When I saw this water flow I guessed there was a boat entering from above, one we wouldn't need to turn, it was Broadmoor Lock the one with the broken cill bumper.Just above the locks is this very smart travellers van, but can you imagine living in it all year with a family. looks lovely for a weekend for 2 in the summer months, but think of it with 3 kids covered in snow and surrounded by mud in the winter.Although we had been meeting boats all the locks were against us and when you consider some are only 300 yards apart I was beginning to think we were following a ghost ship, it wasn't until after the first lock of the Claydon Flight that we spotted them. The bottom lock is unusual as it has cast iron gates, there were a set at Hillmorton locks until about 20 years ago when they cracked and British Waterways decided they were beyond repair and replaced them with wooden gates.

This boat was moored below the flight, I think the flowers look great but how do you see to steer with all that in front of you.

Once at  the top of the locks we decided to moor for the night as there are no other decent spots between here and Fenny Compton.

 Today's Journey 7¾ miles, 12 locks  in 4¾ hours