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

Bedworth Arbruy Park Bridge

Last night we moored opposite the old hat factory, some years ago there were plans to convert it into housing but nothing ever happened.

We pushed off about 1030 and again the canal was very quiet only meeting two boats all day.
Again we saw a boat with an interesting stack cap. anything to keep the rain out.

At Mamcetter the Rother Group have this crawly thing for going through very weedy water, they also have sola powered alarm systems for site security. We saw them take one to a CRT work site the other trip

At the winding hole this cruiser stern is getting further out into the navigation channel. most of it under the surface.

On the way up we moored at Hartshill and as we left I saw what I thought was a car in the field, it looks as if I was right. It’s right in the ploughed bit.The registration number is PJ05 YJR in case you recognise it

Yet another sunk cruiser a bit further along, more expense for CRT to remove at some point. Boat with a grab and then disposal of the remains.

We chugged on through Nuneaton and past the big offside distributing to the south of Nuneaton and the large new housing estate on the tow path side where we found a nice bit of piling to moor to for the night.

Today’s Journey

 

8 miles with no locks in 2¾ hours

Atherstone top lock

We woke this morning moored in the middle of a fishing match. The match ran from 10am until 2 pm.. The chap pegged right by our bow who we got chatting to asked if we could stay until 2pm as the fish tend to gather under the boats and it would give him a better chance of wining. We thought that a bit unfair so rushed around and slid away just as they were starting, I must say they were a friendly bunch, every one of them.
Just passed Grendon Bridge 49 the overhanging offside trees have been cut back which is good, as people tend to moor opposite.

We stopped at Grendon services to dump the rubbish and also fill with water, its a good fast tap with lots of pressure.
As expected Atherstone locks were against us as Neil had gone up a little earlier although some were half empty an a couple completely down.At lock five we met someone I knew from the internet coming down (its good to actually meet) so from there on they were completely empty. I have never noticed it before but the top gate paddle gear has the date cast into it, well on most of them, some are just blank. They range from 1902 to 1919.

  All the ones that use to control the side pounds that I saw were unmarked. At Atherstone the Primulas are coming out into flower by the top lock.

We cleared the flight and just went beyond the first bridge to moor for the night. The TV signal is zero and the internet not much better.

Today’s Journey

4½ miles with 11 locks in 3¾ hours

Polesworth

Over Christmas we were in contact with friend who were not only on their boat but traveling in the same direction as us, we haven’t seen them in years, that’s how it goes with boaters. We decided to have a meal together on Boxing day, so I went on line and booked a table for 1845 on  line. Roll on until Boxing day morning and the Landlord rings to say the kitchen is closing at 1800, was that ok.
When we arrived at Hopwas our friends had already moored up and a little after 1730 we walked over to the pub. The dining room was empty, the Landlord had kept the kitchen open specifically for us. Now that is service above and beyond.

This morning it was warmer than yesterday and we set off about 1030 in almost still conditions, about half way to Fazeley we met a boat, I moved close to the off side and so did he, eventually he swung to his right while I did a dead stop. As he passed he asked me which sides boats should pass each other, he thought it the same as the road. Not meeting any moor boats and Neil about an hour ahead I felt sure that Glascote locks would be against us, then passing Tamworth Cruising Club we met Monarch, the ex steam Narrowboat coming towards us. Result. The bottom lock was empty, Moored below the lock was Minnow and as we worked the bottom lock, the top one turned and a couple walked down. It was Matt and Rebeca from Northwich Dry Dock so we had both locks with as and a few minuets chat.
Its surprising, well to me, how early the pussy willow is out.

As we approach Alvecote it started very fine rain and this continued quite lightly until we moored up at Polesworth, when we arrived we were the only boat in the town, but we have now been joined by a second.

Today’s Journey

8½ miles with 2 locks in 3¼ hours.

Hopwas

Woke to a lovely sunny morning, not a cloud in the sky, very little wind and a frost. around 10 am Neil and Linda came by and gave us a wave, we shall see them later.
We set off about half ten and have seen a lot more boats on the move. Most of the time the sun was right into my eyes so only a couple of photos today. At Brookhay bridge the sign for the up coming moorings is more to my liking than the other end. Please goes a long way in my book.

Not only were there more boats on the move but there was also a lot of walkers. We passed a boat we have seen many times before with some kind of attachment on its chimney, the owner told me this is the Mk6 and he gets 20 watts of power from his chimney, probably quite helpful this time of the year. It works on the same principal as the stove fans you can buy but many times bigger

We have had a slight problem with both leaves and the silt of many of the bridge holes on section of canal, when they dredged the reeds they didn’t dredge the bed. WE passed a couple of boats we know, but no sign of life maybe taking a Boxing Day walk.
We have moored for the night opposite The Red Lion at Hopwas where we will be having dinner tonight, I hope. Directly in front of us is Nb Ernest who will be joining us.

Today’s Journey

 

7 miles with no locks in 2½ hours

Fradley Village

Merry Christmas to all my readers

The plan for today was to just sit and chill, but by half ten we had an itchy tiller so set off for Fradley Junction, the weather was actually sunny and clear but only a few degrees above freezing. As we approached the new offside mooring just before Brookhay Bridge, please would have been nice.

It looks a bit different to last time we passed, now that they have felled lots of the trees and put in a concrete base and a wooden chalet.

We stopped for water just before the junction before heading through the swing bridge. I took that must have shot of the Swan public house but this

shot captured 52+ pigeons in it sitting on the wire suspended across the junction. The reminded me of a string of Christmas lights. In the junction I winded, watched by those sitting outside the pub drinking, before head back along the Coventry canal. We carried on for about half an hour before mooring in Fradley Village by bridge 90. To our surprise we are the only boat here.
Tonight we will have our Christmas dinner but we have started on the cake and Baileys.

 

Today’s Journey

4¾ miles with no locks in 2¼ hours

Huddlesford

Much brighter but cooler this morning with lots of blue in the sky and a bit of sunshine. A late start because we overslept a bit for some reason. Again just as we were about to set off 2 boats went by and we soon caught them up. The lead boat pulled over by the new housing estate and we were both able to pass, the other boat stopped at the Tame Otter so after that we were on our own.
I know its a bit chilly and damp now but I really wouldn’t advise this on the roof vents.

I am not sure what the crop was growing on the off side on a very wet field but it looks as if they are in the process of strawing it up. You can see the blue in the sky today much nicer

I thought I would take this view of the pylons all in line, for once it worked and I pressed the trigger at the right moment.

Yet another interesting chimney cover, a shiny brass saucepan. Like the chimney, well polished.

We did meet one or two boats but not many and all in easy places.
It was nice to see that CRT have dredger the reeds up at last a short way before Whittington, its been single file through here for years.

The footbridge at the Litchfield Cruising Club is still waiting repairs to the wall on the access ramp, I wonder who is responsible for doing it, CRT, the club or the local council? I feel sure it was like this last time we were this way. At least all the bricks are there neatly stacked and ready to go.
 

We had considered stopping near the Huddlesford Plough pub but went on a little further mooring about 250 yard before Orchard Marina’s entrance.
This is the spot where we will spend Christmas Day.

 

Today’s Journey

 

7¾ miles with no locks in 2¾ hours

Fazeley Junction

Another murky day, we could plainly see the trains passing but didn’t hear them at all, it shows what a difference wind direction makes. It was very slightly cooler but felt quite a bit colder, strange.
This week I have posted a couple of photos of unusual chimney caps, well here is another.

The flooding on the fields at Grendon was nowhere as bad as I have seen after other wet spells, maybe they have improved the drainage.

We had a good run as far as the weir just before Polesworth when we caught up with a motor and pair, so from here to Alvecote it was a steady 2.7MPH. where Malcom moored them up by the Samuel Barlow.

We chugged on meeting another boat just by the entrance to Alvecote Marina and then a clear run to the top of the Glascote pair of locks where there was a boat about to come out of the top lock, not only that they had weft the top gate of the second lock open as well. A Christmas present to us. We moored by the aqueduct about half a mile before Fazeley Junction, but as soon as were were off the boat we were aware of a very noisy generator on the boat a good 100 yards ahead, so we moved on, through the junction and moored at the far end of the visitor moorings for the night.

Today’s Journey 8¾  miles with 2 locks in 3½ hours