Back home

Change of plan this morning and we decided we would come home today and not tomorrow. So at 9 am we cast off, chugged round the marina and headed off to Dunchurch pools, in that short journey we met 8 Narrowboats heading towards Hillmorton. Our reason for visiting Dunchurch was to fill with diesel and I was a bit disappointed to find the domestic rate was £1-30 I was hoping for better. It was nice to go there when it wasn’t too windy. Anyway diesel bought we headed back to our marina only meeting one boat coming towards us. Passing a moored boat near Dunchurch , he told us 10 boats had left there this morning heading for Hillmorton.
I rather cocked up turning into the marina, I blame it on the water level down a bit and the bow catching the silt, that sorted it was through the bridge and backwards into our berth, a bit easier than yesterday as the boat on the next finger pontoon was out giving me a good 16 foot to play with.

Today’s Journey

 

3¾ miles with no locks in 1¾ hours

Home moorings

The first couple of boat came by quite early to join the queue for the ten o’clock flight opening so we were away about half nine. Three hire boats who looked to be one big family traveling together asked if the had to go down the locks to wind and then come back up. That should be fun with the boats queuing below the flight and them trying to wind. They are putting yet another floating chalet in the basin that was once full of boats at Blue Haven. Since we have been out the land at Barby Straight has been sold and lots of the other plots with no boats have private signs up. I wonder if the stuff left on the towpath opposite has anything to do with it, including an outboard and a generator. The past two days we have seen lots of small plastic cruisers in varying states of decay. Once back at our mooring we went for a ride round in the car, ending at The Wharf Inn on the N Stratford for lunch.

Today’s Journey

2 miles with no locks in 1 hour

Hillmorton

We were away earlier today as we decided we would head through Hillmorton in case they reviewed the opening hours on Monday, so off at 9am.Crossing the second aqueduct coming into Rugby the off side railing have rotted away, it will probably be put down to vandalism.As we approached bridge 58 it all looked a bit strange, not a boat in sight, the first one was round the corner, even all the moorings offside weren't taken.

It looks as if most of Clifton Cruisers are out, with a couple getting ready to go as we passed. Thankfully we met this beautiful craft on a straight section. It may look like she is built with wooden planks and

over 100 years old, but she is brand new and made of steel, fitted with a Kelvin engine and looks absolutely splendid.

We carried on to Hillmorton where I accidently jumped the queue when the boat I was following pulled in at the water point rather than carrying on to the lock moorings where two boats were waiting. We gave our apologies and explained out thought to which the steerer said well we could do with a fill up so carry on. One of the bottom locks is broken so they have locked off one of the top locks to save water, with a Volockie at the top and bottom controlling the flow. The water above the flight is probably down 100mm. Once at the top we passed these young Belted Galloways not only in the shade but also the canal. You have to look hard to see them.

Rather than mooring on the first vacant mooring above the flight we slipped into a gap half way to the first bridge to leave room for people arriving to queue for the morning. 
There are two things in the flight a bit unusual, a boat abandoned on the lock moorings of the second Lock and this chap between the bottom and middle lock towpath side

 

  
Today’s Journey

7½ miles with 3 locks in 3½ hours

All Oaks Wood

Away just before 10 and went over something hard just before bridge 15, that’s a little less 2 pack on the base plate. Round passed Charity Dock and there looked to be a few boats missing so this old wooden hulk was on display.

About half a mile further on out in mid channel we scraped on something else. As I turned at Hawkesbury Junction I didn’t expect to meet a Coaster and a Gun Boat, so I didn’t get round in one.

Hawkesbury Lock was like a real lock today with the Coventry being so low,just a bit more difference in level.

When we last came under this bridge at Ansty it was being repainted to cover the graffiti, it looks as if it may have worked.

This wouldn’t be my chosen spot for a mooring for the night but maybe they like trains.

It looks as if work is finally complete at the two breaches in the narrows between All Oaks and Rose Narrowboat, unlike the one further north hat has had nothing done and the towpath closure fences put to one side . We will see what happens when it rains, if it ever does. Floating in the narrows was a flower arrangement complete with miniature solar panel. I may walk back and see it it illuminates tonight.

We moored on pins at All Oaks Wood until the boat ahead who was moored to the piling left, then with great difficulty we moved down a boats length once we were clear of the mud.

Today’s Journey 10½ miles with 1 lock in 4 hours