Halfway Sutton Stop to Ansty

Last night we ate at Turmeric Gold in Spon Street, somewhere we will definitely visit again. Well worth the walk.
After last nights dinner I couldn’t do a full English at Playwrights justice this morning so we had breakfast onboard as usual. Gorety is much more of a café than a shop now but thankfully they still sell cakes to take away. Next time we come we will arrive early enough for lunch there.
There is major work going on at the boaters services in Coventry basin and they have dug a trench out to the pump out point with safety barriers all around it.

A short way up the canal there is a whole yard of Unimogs, they have been there sometime as some are turning green.

Last time we came down here I noticed that like Birmingham some of the bridges had ports for fire hoses to be lowered into the canal, unlike Birmingham, Coventry’s have been bricked up.

Some time last year we passed under this bridge and the length of PVC guttering supporting cables had slipped down. I fixed it back but didn’t rehang the cables, this lead to CRT issuing a navigation warning and months of wrangling who’s responsibility the cable was. This trip the guttering was down again, so we stopped and I refitted it and also put the cables back on. Must have saved the five grand.

This has changed since we came down the arm yesterday, much greener today, the season is definitely changing now and it 15°C this afternoon.

At bridge 6 we shopped for Diana to visit Lidl, it gave me the opportunity to recalibrate our water tank gauge, this can only be done with an empty tank and this morning while it still indicated a quarter we ran out.While I was waiting I also reported the shopping trollies to CRT as they are right by the bridge. Too much for me to pull out and take to the bins.

As soon as she returned we were on our way, opposite Exhall Basin we spotted some wild life, a couple of Brown Rats, not surprising with the amount of food people are throwing down for the birds.

At Hawkesbury Junction we turned onto the Oxford Canal passing through the lock and stopping for water, I pas please to see that gauge was near enough correct when the tank filled, so that little job looks a success. On our way again and the offside field under the powerline pylons is flooded as usual, the only time I have seen it dry was last summer.

We carried on, meeting the firs boat  coming towards us for two days and moored for the night on a shorth stretch of piling about half a mile before Ansty. This is probably the furthest spot from the motorway along here.

Today’s Journey

 

8 miles with one lock in 3¾ hours.

Coventry Basin

A little late setting off as I had to ring Nation Express to rearrange our travel to London in June as they have altered the timetable since we booked it. Through to their call centre with 5 options, music and we are busy message, Hung on heart in mouth and a few moments later a lady answered and she couldn’t have been more helpful. Great service.  
We only did about half an hour before before stopping at Christine and Terry’s for a cupper, slice of home made chocolate cake (highly recommended) and a chat. hour and a half later we were on our way again heading for Coventry Basin. Exhall Wharf looks a lot more open now under the

new management, but it may be tricky getting in and out with the boats moored opposite the entrance against the “No Mooring” signs, in fact they are moored all the way back to the service building across all the waterpoints.
We made our way down to the basin avoiding the half dozen shopping trollies by bridge 6, they had all been pushed in as a single unit so I would have had no chance in retrieving them. We arrived at the basin to find only 4 other boats moored here and our favourite spot vacant. Just as we arrived the rains started  with very fine drizzle, the stuff that soaks you through without you noticing. Once moored a quick trip to Rudens Latvian food store for biscuits and pickled fish then into Gorety's Portuguese shop for cakes.

Today’s Journey

8¼ miles with no locks in 2¾ hours

Marston Junction

First job this morning was into the café at 9-30am for a full English, well almost. One full, one veggie and share the meaty bits abut. This meant we were

a bit late getting away on what seamed more like an early summer morning than early spring. The canal was surprisingly quiet after how busy yesterday was, but from the moorings it was obvious that lots of people had moved in yesterdays nice weather. At Dadlington Wharf I just happened to glance across the towpath side and saw this, I had to back up clear of the trees for the photo. Normally I would have hopped off and walked back, but the towpath is just a sea of mud. Now I have never noticed these

before and when I did an online search I found they had only been there since August last year. Full information about them at Richard III Country.  The water level through Hinkley is actually higher than when we went up a couple of days ago and I had to swiftly remove the stove chimney at the bridge by the marina.
Throughout the day the wind freshened  and also the cloud increased but it stayed dry. At the very end of the Ashby canal near Marston Junction someone has been using the stack of bricks to build a seat and a fire pit.

We crept out of the junction and turned left onto the Coventry Canal passed just under the bridge and moored for the night.

Today’s journey

 

11½ miles with no locks in 4¼ hours

Sutton Wharf

Last night was the quietest overnight mooring we have had in a long time, not even a dawn chorus.
We woke to a lovely spring like sunny day and shortly before we were ready to leave, first a boat came by that had been moored beyond the stop lock and a second arrived, winded and moored at the services.
We the nice weather we have seen several boats on the move today. Leaving at our normal 10am we had a clean run through the tunnel. I estimate that the roof is about a foot lower ¾ of the way to the north portal than it is at both ends, we left the stove chimney up and it was a hold your breath moment part way through. Looking out the views are the green fields of England, but its not grass pasture but sterile wheat.

Going past this little beauty was bit of a surprise, no time to pick the camera up, but we stopped and reversed up to get this shot, thanks for sitting still for a photo shoot .

We stopped at the visitor moorings at Shackerstone just before the aqueduct to visit the new farm shop at Wharf Farm, they are open Thursday, Friday,Saturday and Sunday at the moment, they also have a café with loads of fattening cakes and outside undercover seating at the end of the lambing shed, home for 50 mothers and babies at the moment. They were quite busy today.

Just before we moored to visit the shop we met a canoe at the bridge hole thankfully he pulled well to one side and let me thorough, we also met the narrowboat that had left the end of the canal earlier, obviously returning that way.
As we continued on our way the sky’s darkened and after lunch we did have just a couple of spots of rain but nothing more. Or plan (you have heard that word before) was to moor at Sutton Wharf for the night for a full English in the morning. Thankfully when we arrived, despite the number of boats on the move in the break in the weather there was still only one boat moored there.

Today’s Journey

10½ miles with no locks in 3½ hours

Snarestone Wharf

It was a bit warmer this morning but it actually felt cooler than yesterday. The day started quite pleasant with light winds and looking bright, however it didn’t last and we had a very heavy , squally shower. The canal is weiring well today and the towpath is only just above water in Market Bosworth.

As we came into Market Bosworth opposite the new housing estate this memorial has appeared since we were last this way. I couldn’t seethe details as we passed but I expect someone will tell me soon.

I had planned to reverse to the end of the restored section of the Ashby canal, but as I started to wind the wind picked up to 35 KPH and I had problems getting the bows round so decided it would be better not to try backing down between boats moored on ether side of the canal, so we moored up and visited Mike in the Ashby Canal Association shop.

Today’s Journey

8¼ miles with no locks in3 hours

Bosworth

Boy what a night 10mm rain and sleet with loads of gusty wind. The forecast constantly changing with the latest saying saying things would clear by 11am. At 10-30 it was fine and we set off, again I timed it such we had to wait for a boat coming towards us.It actually felt much warmer today and we even saw a few boats on the move. The snowdrops and tulips look a bit behind along here but this catkin tree was well out.

As expected, with all the rain we have had lately the canal is right on weir, even so it was the normal slow going after the Stoke Golding moorings even with the good level, but in other places we managed 4MPH with no wash.

We decided to moor before reaching Bosworth Wharf as since the marina opened and with two waterpoints moorings are a bit limited, so we stopped between bridges 36 and 37.

Today’s Journey

 

7¾ miles with no locks in 2½ hours

Hinkley

Last night we ate at The Greyhound Pub, this is the third meal we have had since it changed ownership and they have all been very good. At half seven the restaurant was just about full on a Tuesday.

We left about eight pm and the temperature was down to 0.5°C as we walked back to the boat, I couldn’t resist a quick shot of the junction and bridge.

This morning we woke to a fine morning, as we needed water we slipped across the cut and filled the tank while we were having breakfast. The forecast had changed from last night, it was now rain at two, not all day as it said yesterday. Tank full and we were away, disturbing the fishermen under the bridge and on to the Coventry canal, picking up Diana in the narrows then passed this sunken cruiser with attached enforcement notice.

Be cruised along the Coventry Canal as far as Marston Junction where we turned  very sharp right down the Ashby canal. The temperature was just below 6°C but it felt a lot colder.
The moorings by the fishing lakes are almost empty

now, only 4 boats there and a CRT van, but there is now a cruiser on the lake, it may have always been there but not visible from the canal when the moorings were full.

The first boat we met all day, well the only one was just before The Lime Kilns, the long term moorings here were half empty as well.
We had planned (note that word again) juts past the Hinkley Boat Club arm but there were full so we pushed on passing CRT cutting offside vegetation. just ahead of them are some quite large fallen tree limbs, I wonder if they can tackle them. The moorings opposite Trinity Marina were also full so we pushed on past the industrial units as we have found them noisy at night, to moor just before bridge 19. It is still dry bet the wind has freshened.

Today’s Journey

 

9½ Miles with 1 lock in 3¼ hours

Hawkesbury Junction- Suttons Stop

Last night was no as quiet as we had experienced moored there in the past, probably due to road works in the area and traffic using different routes.
This morning we woke to a nice still, sunny morning and were ready for the off a little earlier than normal, needles to say a boat came along from behind just as were were about to go, so we gave him a few minuets before following, however he had only gone as far as the offside water point.
Although it was still and sunny it still felt quite cool. Diana spotted a deer on the offside on the way out of Rugby but no time for a photo.
As we approached Newbold Diana jumped ship at the bridge to visit the Coop and re-joined me by the pub. The boater just before the tunnel still has his washing out in the trees, I am not sure if its a long term mooring.

Through the tunnel one of the houses just before Amada Boat Hire has a nice show of Snowdrops in

their garden, spring must be coming as we have also seen Pussy Willow and Gorse coming out.

As short way before All Oaks Wood by the old Boat Inn pub someone has made a nice job of layering the hedge behind the towpath.Only one boat moored just beyond the wood and it looks as if CRT have completed piling in front of the concrete edging so that will be a nice mooring for another boat.

The Towpath has finally opened following the land slide in Easenhall cutting, I don’t think all work is complete at the first slip and the path is very wet.

The second slip looks much more stable and is grassing over which will probably bind the surface.

We arrived in Ansty with only one boat moored there which is unusual, we were going to stop there but as the weather was good we pushed on to Suttons Stop with a view to eating in the Greyhound this evening, I just hope its as good as last time.

Today’s Journey

12¾ miles with no locks in 4¼ hours.

Rugby

We really shouldn’t plan, We were due to come to the boat yesterday but when we got up it was blowing a gale, raining with a yellow snow warning for half the rout so we decided to replan for today. That was a good move, next to no wind and the sun shining but after 2 hours it started chucking it down, TomTom took us past our normal turnoff to the M6 and into Rugby. Thankfully as we left the motorway the rain stopped so we could unload the car in the dry. I refilled the fresh water system, thankfully no problems and got the heating on, well it was on 6°C inside the boat.

Change of plan number two. We had planned to go to Foxton but yesterday a tree fell and blocked the canal by Braunston tunnel, we expected it to be clear by this afternoon, but CRT are estimating Friday, so no point going that way, latest plan is Ashby and Coventry Basin, watch this space.
When we returned to the marina last time, I reversed into our berth, I normally moor bow in. It’s definitely easier getting out forward and then going all the way round the island, rather than back out and then drive under the bridge.

As we made our wat to Hillmorton it started chucking it down again so it was brolly out time but passing The Waterside Inn/Hungry horse/Royal Oak thankfully it stopped so a dry run down the flight. We found one of the bottom paddles on the top lock inoperable so bit of a slow fall but plenty of water in the pound, Passing Clifton Narrowboats one of there hire boats was about to set off and we have seen three others out, well it is half term. We carried on to moor for the night on the approaches to Rugby.

Todays Journey

 

5 miles with 3 locks in 2 hours

Home mooring

We woke this morning to find the boat surrounded by ice yet again so we were more than happy to hear Nb Minnow, Monarch, Comet and another boat breaking their way through the ice towards us. I gave Dunchurch pools Marina a ring to make sure they were open for diesel, I thought they may have been frozen over. When we arrived there was no a single piece of ice to be seen on the water and unlike the boat, no snow. 160lts of diesel later and we on our way back to our moorings, I gave them a ring to make sure the pumpout station was operational with the frost, answer, yes all good. So I reversed into the marina and onto the service and we pumped out the loo tank, then through the bridge and on to our moorings.  After packing up with the exception of the cold water tank the domestic water system was drained down and after de-icing the car we set off for home. Diner was taken at the Wheatsheaf in Crick before an easy  drive home.

Today’s Journey

2 Miles with no locks in 1½ hours

Dunchurch pool marina

Apart from the fireworks last night was surprisingly quiet. I went out about 8pm and there was ice on  the top of the boats and the ropes were stiff, but as the evening progressed the temperature kept slowly rising and was about 3°C this morning. As we were rather late to bed last night and not far to go today we were a bit late getting away.
It actually felt much cooler than yesterday and we were soon passing the Waterside Pub and this sign always amuses me, there have been boats permanently moored her for at least a year.

We chugged straight past the entrance to our marina to moor just before the entrance to Dunchurch Pool Marina for the night.By now the temperature was pushing 6°C and by 3PM it was raining, well after we had moored up.

As its the end of year a few statistics, our lowest ever excluding Covid.
Miles 888   Locks 301    Nights on board 121
Lts of Diesel 971   Engine Hours 439

Today’s Journey

3½ miles with no locks in 1¼ hours.

Hillmorton top lock

We woke this morning to find the canal frozen edge to edge,with a clear bright sky and bright sunshine. thankfully before we set off a boat came by cutting a nice channel for us to follow. We set off and at the first bridge met a boat coming the other way. This bridge is close to a bend and there was a plastic cruiser moored as close as he could to the bridge. He didn’t look impressed as I came very close to his stern breaking ice. After the bridge the u=ice was smashed to next to nothing and as we headed south the ice disappeared completely but the towpath remained frosty.
With the chances of getting iced in looked quite possible we felt it best to fill with water, we decided to do this at Newbold which turned out to be a good choice, as when we got to Rugby there was a boat locked up on the waterpoint, to rub it in they were a waterway trader. By the moorings just before the Newbold water point one boat has taken over the woodland as their laundry.

Also close to the anti cycling gates we found this little memorial to someone's son. Unfortunately the frost has spoilt the flowers. I know no further details.

The moorings in both Newbold and Rugby were a lot busier than when we came out, maybe people wand hospitality for the new year. This trip I have posted a few photos of unusual chimney rain caps, well here is yet another on an exhaust stack .

 

  As we have a date early in the New Year that we have to be home fore we really can’t afford to get caught in the forecast freeze which may or may not happen so we carried on and worked up the three Hillmorton locks to moor for the night.

Todays Journey

9½ miles with 3 locks in 4½

Stretton Grimes Bridge 26

Nice quiet mooring last night and when we set off about 1030 Am the weather felt warm without a breath of wind. We met several boats today including one as we left Suttons Stop lock which was nice and one on the bends, by the moored boats at Ansty, which was not so nice.
We chugged past Marston Junction having just met the first pair of boats of the day, thankfully the first told me there was a second behind him.

At Suttons stop I didn’t take it wide enough so had to take two bites. I would have just made it if the boat had not been in front of the pub, but it wasn’t their fault, I got it wrong.
At the moment CRT have a notice out for a land slip between Nettle hill Bridge and the aqueduct. This has actually been ongoing for months or years but when we passed a couple of weeks ago the temporary towpath was under water, today the level is normal and it looks as if the towpath has actually been built around the slip.

We carried on in the rain, did I mention it had started to rain soon after Ansty and moored for the night just before Grimes Bridge, we have never stopped here before and I didn’t expect to hear the motorway here due to the hill.

Today’s Journey 9¼ miles with 1 lock in 3¼ hours