Fradley Junction

We woke to a foggy morning, again a boat had been by much earlier. We waited until 11am until the weather cleared a bit before setting off, but we

didn’t go very far, about 150 yards before mooring up again and waited for it to improve. By about half one I could see through the bridge ahead , so we set off. We met a couple of boats, one with a light on which was handy, the other one was in probably the worst bridge hole on this canal, Brookhay Bridge where you are almost guaranteed to lose drive. After this the fog lifted very slightly and at Fradley Swing Bridge the gent who had just crossed it with his dog opened it for us. I winded in the junction and returned to the Coventry Canal to first fill with water and then moor for the night. Last time we were here in July we had to pull off because the moorings were closed to resurface the towpath. The work is still not complete with piles of gravel all over the place.

Today’s Journey

 

3½ miles with no locks in 2 hours

Entrance Orchard Marina

Last night we had a takeaway from Peninsular Cantonese and the fillet steak dishes are very good. This morning we had a few spots of rain that lasted minutes, but again it was overcast with no wind or sun. I had a closer look of the little doors fixed to the fence posts, they look to be made from some kind of modelling clay.Just as were were about to pull away at 10 am. a boat came by, but they stopped for water giving us a clear run. Things went well until Dunstall Farm Bridge where they are surfacing the towpath with what looks like compressed sand. Not only that but they were also repairing the edge in a way I have never seen before. Against the towpath wooden stakes with some kind of fabric, about 250 in front of this is another row of stakes with a solid wooden

 

rail facing the water. Between the two rows of piles they were installing net sausages filled with stone about 3m long, stacking on top of each other and topping them off with a coir sausage. They had all the sausages in a flat tied to the outside of a crane barge, completely blocking the canal and we waited while they installed about ten of them with the help of a chap standing in the water guiding them down.

Then then pulled the flat forward so that we and a boat who had arrived behind us could get through.
Off again things went well with nothing moored outside the Otter pub and only a couple on the long length of visitor moorings at the far end of the village. Here we caught up with a boat travelling slower than I like to go, but not slow enough to overtake. He had passed us when we were moored yesterday so I knew he would be passing moored boats much faster than I would.
The Litchfield Cruising Clun have put on quite a remembrance day display with poppies down and under the bridge leading to their club house.

We carried on and moored for the night by the entrance to Orchard Marina.

 

 

Today’s Journey

 

7½ miles with no locks in 3¼ hours

Fazeley Junction

The weather was fine but very dull today, the first boat went by at 7am.long before we were about. We set off around 1030 as usual.
Over the years we have watched Quarry Bridge Farm develop to where it is today.

On to Polesworth where the water was just running to weir, last time we were this way they had started building this bungalow, it looks as if the owners are living on site in caravans.

A steady run run to Glascote locks which were both against us, the top gates on these two are quite heavy. We carried on and moored just before Fazeley Junction. As we moored up I noticed these on the concrete fence posts.

They look like little doors, no idea who put them up or why.

 

 

Today’s journey

 

7 miles with 2 locks in 3 hours

Coventry Canal Bridge 50

Last night we ate at The Anchor, it was very quiet but looking at the number of outside tables and the marque they must host some big events. The food and beer were both good and a reasonable price.

This morning we were away a little before half ten and only met a couple of boats. It wasn’t long before we passed the abandoned, sunken cruiser, just by bridge 30. CRT have affixed an overstay notice to it, but I don’t see it moving any time soon and at the end of the day CRT are going to have to remove it, it would be easier and cheaper to do it now than when it starts to fall to bits.

It wasn’t long before we were approaching Atherstone top lock. the site of the old hat factory has been fully cleared and new foundations put in.

I do wonder how they will tie it all into the old buildings at the back of the site that are presently held up with timbers.

There was a boat leaving the top lock as we arrived so we sailed straight in, there was also a Volocky. now the strange thing, the the rest of the locks, apart from the last two were against us and no sign of a boat ahead. Today was a volunteer work party day at the locks so we had some paddles drawn and gates closed for us, this helped us on our way greatly. Just below lock 5 there is a canal side house, at one time it had something painted on the gable end, anyone knows what it use to say.

So far water levels were good with a good flow coming over lock 1 by-wash but from here on they  were getting a little lower. One of the moored boats in the pound had a nice wood carving in the bows.

Levels were low between 8 and 9 as usual but good enough for us to cross without letting any more water down. At lock 10 we met a boat so the last two were with us and at lock 11 the top gate was wide open. This is where we encounter a problem, we couldn’t fully close the top gate by about 50mm. I could just reach the cill with my cabin shaft and could feel something with give in it about half way along, maybe a fender or a tyre. Poking and turning the shaft it felt more like cloth, maybe a bad or sack but I couldn't hook it with the shaft so I slowly worked it along the cill to the offside of the lock, then slowly up the wall. What appeared at the surface was a deer’s head and I pulled a fully grown deer out that must have been under the gate. Once it was out the gate closed and we were on our way again. The flight had taken us just under 2 hours.
We carried on and at Grendon someone who paid more attention in their art class than they did biology.

We only did about another half mile before mooring for the night away from any trees.

 

Today’s Journey

6¼ miles with 11 locks in 3½ hours

Anchor Bridge Coventry Canal

Last night we ate at the greyhound and luckily I booked a table as by just after 7pm the restaurant was full. Again two nice meals.

This morning was again sunny but soon clouded over and I even had to use the brolly just after Springwood haven. The first job was to slip over and fill with water just before the lock, not the fastest tap but it gave Diana time to empty the waste bin. Once full Diana walked to set the lock, I pulled away and immediately fouled the prop. Down the weed hatch while in the lock and removed a piece of waterproof material complete with ties that probably some used it as a cover on a boat.

During last weeks stoppage CRT took the opportunity to repair the broken edging along the near side of the lock.

Leaving the lock I noticed what looks like a new seat just in front of the old service block, I might be wrong but I don’t remember seeing it before.

 

   Out onto the Coventry canal and we turned sharp right heading towards Nuneaton. On the left hand side there is a long length of long term moorings and at the end one I spotted this stargazer.

We soon caught up with a hire boat that Diana had assisted down the locks, they had got a bit too close to the towpath so stayed there while we passed them, I was able to point out the stern rope trailing in the water. Just after that it was a CRT push tug, the steerer was on the towpath holding it, after we passed he followed us, what a noisy beast that is. I wouldn’t want the job of driving that. Then we caught un with another CRT Workboat, I mentioned to them how noisy the small one was, they said that is why they were trying to get away from it.
The housing development just before you come into Nuneaton is really taking shape now with some houses occupied and others for sale. There seemed to be less boats at Boot Wharf with only a single row in front of the yard.
The sky to the right of us was looking really dark and not long after passing Springwood Haven Marina we had a very short, sharp shower. The diesel at Springwood is more expensive than at Amada, coming in at 162/Lt.
A short way before The Anchor Pub this work flat was trying to stay afloat, I think a bit more rain may see it dipping under, I am not sure it would actually sink as it may have buoyancy tanks.

We then met two CRT volunteers heading down to look at it, I am not sure what one was carrying but it wasn’t a bucket to bale it out.

We have moored outside The Anchor pub where we plan to eat tonight.

 

Today’s Journey

 

8¼ miles with one lock in 3½ hours

Hawkesbury Junction

Woke to a bright sunny morning with clear blue sky’s. We were away at 1015  and only met 5 boats all day. The temperature was a bit cooler than it has been but the bright sunshine mad it feel warmer than it was. At Stretton Stop it was suggested that Sutton Stop may be closed but speaking to a boater in Ansty they said it was open so we carried on. Very few boats moored in Ansty I think they are all at All Oaks Wood. At Hawkesbury there were a couple of spaces against the concrete and one against the piling before you get to Sutton Stop so we pulled into the piling spot for the night. I have just booked a table at the Greyhound for tonight.

 

Today’s Journey

 

7¾ miles with no locks in 2¾ hours

All Oaks Wood

I was quite foggy when we went to bet last night but most of it had lifted by this morning but it was much duller and overcast, the sun didn’t get through until lunch time.  We set off at 10-30 again and were soon passing The Waterside pub, I hate to think what this plant growth is doing to the roof.

Done at Hillmorton Locks a boat coming up had just closed the near side top gate as we had arrived, 2 minutes earlier would have saved us both some work. Although the time restriction on the flight has been lifted only one side is functioning. There were a couple of Volockies at the bottom lock where we had to wait for a boat to come up. Just below the lock Brighton and Nuneaton were tied up, they had passed us earlier this morning before we were ready to set off.

There wasn’t a breath of wind so the canal was like glass giving some lovely reflections.

The house building at the old GEC electrical Engineering Works is really taking shape now just beyond the flats .

There were very few boats moored at Brownsover, but the ones that were there were right near Bridge 58 and needless to say as we arrived a boat came under the bridge, we slide gentle together.
The autumnal colours are really out now.

Something that hasn’t happened for sometime was to meet a boat in Newbold Tunnel, he was less than a boat lengths in when we passed so quite light as his headlight was an LED killer. Passing Amada boat hire I noticed their diesel is now at 159/lt. I suppose it had to happen. When we got to All Oaks Wood I was not hopeful of a mooring but found one space just long enough for us to slip into for the night.

Today’s Journey

 

9 miles with 3 locks in 3¾ hours

N Oxford Bridge 75

First thing this morning CRT turned up to work a Calcutt hire boat and a boat offering training down the locked Calcutt flight. I guess the hire company has an arrangement to keep operating. Daisy’s Bakin Butty was doing quite a trade by the top lock.

We set off at 10-30am in weak sunshine and slight mist. Down to Wigrams Turn and sharp left towards Braunston. Quite a few boats around at first but then tapered off, although the sun was out it was not as warm as yesterday. This large house at Wolfhamcote was shining in the sunlight.

Another left turn at Braunston Junction saw us on the North Oxford canal. A brief stop at the serviced to deposit recycling, its not waste any more and check the pound water level, its come up slightly in two days.

We carried on passed our home mooring to bridge 75 where there is a short length of piling, just room for two boats, but thankfully no one there today. This was our mooring for the night.

Today’s Journey

10¾ miles with no locks in 4¼ hours

Calcutt top lock

Well today did not go to plan. Last night was a lovely moonlight night with the Tawny Owls out calling to each other.
The sun was out this morning and we set off at 1030 all the other boats were long gone

The towpath along the Grand Union canal is quite bad in places where is fallen right into the canal.

Unlike a little further on where its all concrete pilled, its just a pity they don’t stick to the dredging measurements.

 

Water levels on the Braunston pound are only down by about 30-40mm. so the doing was easy, this is the weir at Lower Shuckburgh. We met several boats as we continued on to Napton on the South oxford. They have done a lot of piling prior to the winding hole giving much more room to moor. You can’t come along here without taking a photo of the windmill.

We hadn’t filled with water since last time out so we stopped at the waterpoint by the Folly Pub. Its so slow we were able to have dinner while it filled up. That done we set off to the locks and that folks, is where it went wrong. Napton flight is still closed due to lack of water until Monday. How I missed it checking the stoppages I don’t know. Nothing for it but to reverse back to the winding hole and do something else.
Something else was to retrace our steps, back passed Napton Narrowboats with most of their fleet in to Wigrams Turn. Here we turned left and head to Calcutt Locks, not with a plan to go down them, but wind above them and moor for the night. The flight is still closed and the back pumping going full bore, however the flow of water over the bottom lock bywash is quite substantial, I am not sure where its coming from. We walked around the reservoir, its not as low now as when we visited last September see this photo 

I have never seen one of these before beside the water, stops the vandals throwing them in or walking off with them.

 

   

After returning to Harnser we were treated to a splendid sunset over the reservoir before closing up for the night.  

 

 

  

Today’s Journey

8½ miles with no locks in 4¼ hours

S Oxford Canal Bridge 100 - 101

No a bad drive to the boat, a bit of mist early on but that soon cleared, We did have a couple of holdups, a accident on the A146 had closed the road, but the old road, now only a lane runs parallel to it, if you know its there. The next stumbling block was at the far end with the lane to the maria out of Barby village closed. It said open to businesses so off we went until we hit the second road block, right across the road. As we arrived so did a digger coming the other way. No chance in getting through, so turn round and follow the diversions to Hillmorton and come in from the other end. Same thing, road closed, access to businesses so we carried on, and hit a full , manned roadblock just over the canal bridge. A chat with the man and he let us through to get up beside the works and into the marina.
We unloaded onto the boat and started making ready to leave, firing up both the engine and the stove. By 1-30 we were on our way. I don’t think I have ever left the mooring with no wind. A gentle cruise round the marina and south on the Oxford Canal.
By Dunchurch Pools some of the sheep have bright blue bums, but I couldn’t spot the Tupp anywhere.

At Braunston Junction we turned  right on the S Oxford/GU canal chugging on passed the moored boats to tie up just after bridge 100.

Today’s Journey 6¼ miles in 2¼ hours with no locks