Atherstone

Last night as we were in a city we went out to eat, we couldn’t get a table at Jinseon where we have been in the past with the table BBQ, so we decided to try Ghana Restaurant/Afrilicken Junction and it was interesting. We will probably have a Takeaway from there next time as the venue is not over exciting. Despite the weather forecast the evening stayed dry as can be seen from this night shot.

The basin was deserted over night and we had a very quiet night but you need good blackouts as its like daylight all night. This morning another treat with a full cooked breakfast at Playwrights, I was surprised when asked if we had booked at 9 in the morning, they certainly do a good trade.
We set off at 10am leaving an empty basin behind us, we had been the only boat there all night, but we did meet on boat making their way to the end.

There are some interesting sculptures along the towpath as you come into Coventry, but I a at a lose to know what this one depicts, part of an old car, but the context is lost on me.
Its good to see no one has managed to throw the sofa in the canal yet or set fire to it, I can’t remember when it first appeared. There are even more flats and houses along the banks of the arm now, there can’t be room for many more to be built.
As we came into Bedworth we ran into fine drizzle but it only lasted a few minutes to be followed by a dull rainbow but we couldn’t see any sun. The wood framed building has grown a little in the past week, I think I will look the plans up to see what its going to be. Coming into Nuneaton we met Jason on Bargus towing his butty with a new dog onboard.
We are heading back to base due to two stoppages on this stretch starting Monday, the first a gas pipe is the longest shutdown, not sure how they will spin the job out that long, probably days of doing nothing, the other is shorter and a foot bridge in Atherstone. That one has notices up warning of the closure, but nothing at Nuneaton.
Passing The Anchor Pub at Hartshill we could see that as well as a large marque behind the building they have also cleared a lot of land and put new fences up.

We carried on to moor for the night a short way before the Atherstone flight with the houses between us an the railway.

Today’s Journey

16¼Miles no locks in 5¼ hours

Coventry Basin

The wind picked up during the night and was quite gusty at times today but the temperature was already in double figures at 9 o’clock (that’s when I checked it). We set off for the final ½mile of the Ashby canal, some of the bridges could do wit a bit of pointing on the stone work.

We were soon back to the main line and turned left towards Hawkesbury Junction. To out surprise there were actually vacant mooring spots down by the water point, they must have known we weren’t stopping. At the junction we went straight ahead down to Coventry Basin for the night, we did wonder if there would be any spaces as I expect its 14 day moorings in the winter, anxiety levels were raised when we saw two boats moored outside the basin, canal side, near the water point. However as we came under bridge No.1 we could see the basin was completely empty, we are hear all alone. We haven’t seen a single boat on the move all day. As I write this we have had to turn the stove off, its 30°C in the boat and 17°C outside. The Baltic shop is sill there so a few bits bought, the Portuguese shop is now a café in competition with Playwrights but thankfully they still sell home made cakes, so a small stock was bought for the boat.

Today’s Journey

8¾ miles, no locks in 2¾ hours.

Marston Jabbett

It turned quite cool again during the night but mild this morning and all day, although its been very overcast until mid afternoon. There were nowhere near as much traffic about today and we only met one boat and had one follow us all day.
It wasn’t much of a problem getting off the soft mud this morning but tis strange walking around the boat with a list on. I noticed yesterday as we crossed Shenton Aqueduct some one has cut the full length of the offside bank which use to give access to the Battle Field, I am not sure would do this or why.

This is something you don’t see every day, an outboard powered Narrowboat, but this looks like a permanent feature.

We carried on to fill with water at the A5 road bridge near the Lime kilns pub before continuing almost to Marston Junction to moor for the night.

Today’s Journey

14 miles, no locks in 5¼ hours

Far Coton

Last night I was guilty of leaving git gaps, when we moored up there was a boat, a gap of about 70 feet and then a row of boats, so I moored in the gap close to the row of boats, what happened the boat in front left so it looked like I had moored inconsiderately.
Early morning was quite cool and when I looked out this morning we has bright sunshine and frost on the grass, by the time we set off the frost had gone and we had a fisherman right by our stern, there was another by the bows of the next boat, not the grumpy sort and made sure I had room to lose off and leave.
There is a patch of reeds down the canal and I don’t think I have ever seen taller, not even in Norfolk grown for thatching.

It was a steady run in the sunshine down to Snarestone tunnel, not the straightest tunnel on the system but wide with quite a low profile.

Down at the end we decided not to go through the new lock with the footbridge across it but to wind and moor up to spend a few pennies in the trusts shop. At the moment if you want to pass through the lock you have to get it unlocked by a member of the trust as its not been handed over yet.

After bit of a chat and as I said parting with  a couple of quid we were on our way south again, it wasn’t long before the sun was considering saying goodbye.
Its good to see have all been repainted although the comedian who has gone to great trouble in the past to deface the mileposts at this end of the canal is still trying to spoil things, unless its bird poo dripped down They only targeted about the last 3 posts for some reason.

Our plan was to moor at Market Bosworth for the night and there was actually one space there by the water point, all the best moorings have been handed over to the marina, however as there is now a building site opposite and they are constantly reversing dumper trucks with their bleep bleep bleep we decided to carry on through bridge 38 at Far Coton. The canal is not to deep here by the towpath so we are well aground, slight list to port and two foot from the bank, no need for fenders.

Today’s Journey

11½ miles, no locks in 4 hours

Shackerstone

I am pleased to report there is no more water leaking from the pump and no air in the pipes, so that’s a success.

It was a bit chilly last night, down to 0.8° C but it was up to 3° C when we got up with thick fog. The fog cleared a bit by the time we set off just after 10am. but it hung around until after lunch when the sun came out.
We have seen a couple of hire boats out from Braunston today but not as much on the move as yesterday.
Passing Sutton Wharf they were lifting a boat out using a hiab lorry mounted crane, it was only a cruised but I thought the lorry was well away from the edge and had the boom well out to reach it, I don’t know what weight they can lift. There were four chaps with lifejackets and crash hats as well as at least three in hivis jackets, so it looked more than someone just having their boat lifted.

As you can see by now the weather was a bit better but it was over another hour before the sun peeped out. We were now following a boat but they pulled in after about half a mile so we were on our own again. Spring is on its way with loads of catkins out, there are even a few pussy willows starting to show as well as daffodils and snowdrops.
Bosworth Marina will be the half way point on this canal when the final length is opened. The Ashby Canal society (probably the wrong title) do a grand job keeping the mile posts smart.
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Our original plan (made yesterday) was to stop at bridge 47 and go to the pub for a meal not considering today was Valentines day, when Diana reminded me we decided that may not be the best idea as they would probably be packed, so we carried on to moor in Shackerstone just past bridge 52. By now the sky’s were clear, the sun was out and it was some 13°C almost summer like. Talking of spring, I hope the lambs don’t keep calling all night.

Todays Journey

12¾ miles, no locks in 5 hours

Hinkley

We were all set to go this morning at 10 am when I decided a quick trip to the loo was called for. On flushing the loo a bleeping was heard to be coming from the galley, it was the water alarm that sits in the tray with the water pump. The water supply has been a bit spluttery all trip with air in the system, I put this down to a slight leak on the lid of the pump inlet strainer sucking air in when the pump runs and letting a very slight weep out when it isn’t. The pump tray was dried out, the strainer top loosened and retightened and we will see how it goes, I am glad I fitted the water alarm, last time it went off the pump was leaking.

So half ten and we are on our way, we passed an exworking pair, some of you may recognise them,before continuing on to stop at the Hartshill old BWB yard to fill with water.

There were a lot more boats around today and we were to meet several before mooring up. Today was brighter than yesterday but no warmer.
Coming into Nuneaton we passed this garden wall, its been painted for some time now and still showing no signs of vandalism, maybe Nuneaton is getting better, I see more and more boats moored there now. To the other side of Nuneaton work is still continuing on the large warehouse complex. They are now erecting a large timber framed structure, I have no idea of its purpose.

When we reached Marston Junction we turned hard left along the Ashby, by now the sky had cleared completely and it was constant warm sunshine on our backs, visibility in the opposite direction wouldn’t have been too good as the sun got lower in the sky. We carried on to Hinkley, mooring for the night on the visitor moorings just past the Sea scouts. The towpath here was closed for several months for resurfacing and what a mess it is now, the surface sticks to the soles of your shoes like mud, ideal for getting on a boat.

Today’s Journey

12 miles, no locks in 4½ hours

Hartshill.

Today didn’t quite go as we had hoped, It was just after 10am when we went to set off, the same time as the boat moored between us and the locks, so we followed him to the bottom lock. He was sort of single handed, I say sort of as he had got a friend to come and help him up the flight, the friend was 75 and never worked a lock before, it didn’t go well, Diana tried to explain what was needed but by lock 9 they had parted company and the friend was heading back to his car. The single hander, well he was now said he was only doing 4 locks when actually he miss counted and moored below lock 5. To give him his due, after mooring up he had locks 5 and 4 ready for me. We did actually get along better after his ex friend had gone home. The other thing we hadn’t planned on was two pounds fully drained, the first between 8 and 9 but that is very short with a long pound above, but then 2 to 3 was dry as well, this meant letting water down from the summit. Once in the top lock Diana nipped off to post a letter and I struggled to get the top gate open, it had been leaking badly when I entered the lock, once open I couldn’t close it again. I don’t carry a rake but poking round with the pole I could feel the obstruction under the gate and by opening the gate a bit more I was able to pull it from under the gate and up with a boat hook. It was a car tyre.  We had planned to take water above the top lock but as we came up in the lock another boat arrived and pulled onto the water point to fill up.
Just as we set off the CRT chap turned up to refill the top two pounds as someone had phoned it in, so he was surprised to see us just leaving. I explained it all to him and we were on our way. A bit long winded but that was basically our morning. As we came slowly up the flight Atherstone Castle was clearly visible in the distance. 

Once we were away from the locks we passed one of The Rothern Groups new boats looking very smart on her moorings. Academies was moored outside there yard and there is a blue top on the hard being worked on.

We only planned to go a short way after this and moored for the night by the winding hole just prior to bridge 33.

Todays Journey

4 miles, 11 locks in 4 hours

Bottom Atherstone Locks

We had a very good run from home to where we left M42 where we found our turning closed off, off the A5 and Tomtom didn’t know about, so we continued along the A5 and then relied on Tomtom to take in a long loop to get us back to the road to the marina. Once on board it was a case of unpacking the car and wile Diana packed things away I refilled the freshwater system, this is quite straight forward, open the isolation valve on the tank and switch the pump on and wait for water to come out of both cold and hot taps. It was just as well I drained down as I recorded down below -2° on the floor of the boat, well below water level.
After lunch we left the marina and headed towards Coventry, the weather although very overcast was surprisingly mild with no wind. Needless to say we didn’t see any boats on the move but one did come down the flight about 5pm.
For a long time there have been Plaques, poems and writings along the Pooley section of towpath, now there are a few more new ones.

Todays Journey

4¾ miles no locks in 1¾  hours

Home Moorings

A bit of frost last night but not a breath of wind and quite bright this morning, we were away at ten passing a field of swans. We counted 25 and I would estimate there were 3 times that number and and even more geese.

We stopped at Fazeley Mill marina to top up with diesel as we use about 12Lts per day this time of the year. That done we headed down to Fazeley Junction to fill with water, our water gauge is in desperate need of recalibrating and consequently we tend not to fully fill up. We had just finished when another boat arrived for water so he timed that well. Both the Glascote locks were against us and as we were leaving the top lock a CRT chap turned up to change the spindle on the top paddle as someone had reported it very warn. We carried on in the sunshine heading back to Alvecote, on the way we pass this end terrace house that the owner has had coated white, they have also gone to the trouble of doing half the chimney.

Back at the marina there was a chap magnet fishing from the towpath, he asked what I thought his latest find was, this conversation resulted me in leaving it rather late to swing into the marina and I had to turn a bit more that 90° to get in. There wasn’t a breath of wind as I turned round and reversed back down to our mooring slot, I think this is the first time I haven’t had to consider the wind.

Todays Journey

6 miles, 2 locks in 3¾ hours

Drayton Basset

It was new Years Eve yesterday and we could hear fireworks from about 4pm until 1am. At midnight there were some very large displays on the horizon in most directions.
This morning about 8am we actually had a boat go by, the only one on the move since half way up the 21.
We set off in the sun at about 10am heading for Curdworth tunnel, I must admit I didn’t bother fitting the tunnel light. Next stop Curdworth Top Lock, from here HS2 have had to install a temporary road access to the site of the M42 bridge as they have had to chop Marston Lane off where it crossed the M42 to push their new bridge in as as can be seen in this video

HS2 bridge going into place

Down at Lock 4 we could see the new bridge, I bet they take more than a week to put one over the canal.

Looking to the offside you can see the path of the new line running off into the distance,

As well as the route that have a large work area for building the bridge. Room to build a couple of supermarkets with car parks.

The Curdworth Flight consist of 11 locks, out of these 5 of them have paddle problems, I do wonder if CRT are hoping that HS2 put a stoppage on the canal before they have to due to equipment failure.
There may not have been any boats about but there were plenty of walkers, one wished us a happy new year and enquired as to whether we had seen any fishermen and was disappointed when I said no.
We cleared the flight and carried for about half a mile to moor just before Fisher’s Mill Bridge.

Todays Journey

5 Miles, 11 locks in 3½ hours

Kingsbury

A nice quiet night at Perry Barr last night. This morning when I looked out the top lock was full and the second empty, no sign of CRT this morning, they are normally there about 8am to adjust levels. I walked down and drew a paddle on lock 2, noting the first 2 pounds were down a bit I let some water down from the summit, so at least we would have something to take with us if needed.
Frank was waiting at the lock for us to set of and accompanied us all the way to lock 11, I am not sure if he is hoping to become a Volockie or just a Gongoozler.

The Alexander Stadium has now lost all the extras that were there for the Commonwealth games but there are still hundreds of construction fence panels around it. A notice at the lower end says construction site and there is still machinery on site, as we passed I spotted a couple of people using the track.

It turned out I didn’t need to steal water from the top two pounds as all the levels were good, but that will change if someone leaves the bottom gates open on this lock, I think it was 11.

We didn’t have any problems until locks 12 and 13, 12 one of the anti vandal locks wouldn’t release and 13 the bottom gate was fouling something both reported to CRT. Between locks 12 and 13 there are the 2 Deykin Avenue bridges, old and new, side by side. The old one has cast iron panels.

The new one is a good impersonation with steel panels, a good effort.

 

We managed not only to do the flight, 13 locks and 2½ miles in 2 hours 50 minutes, but more importantly before it started to rain. When the rain did come it was only fine drizzle but its better if you don,t need to work locks. We were now on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, a cyclist warned me there was a lot of rubbish ahead and a small tree, but there was plenty of room to pass it. The Minworth locks are still a pain, lock 1 only one top paddle and only one of the bottom ones actually passes water, I have reported it every year for the past 4 years and expect I will do the same next year. We carried on to moor about a ¼ mile before The Cuttle Inn. Looking across the canal it looks as if the giant industrial building they were constructing last time we passed is complete.

 

Today’s Journey

8½ miles 16 locks in 5 hours

Perry Barr

It was quite windy last night when we went to bed and this morning we woke to find the bows still attached to the bang and the stern in the off side reeds, I can’t say I was surprised, the ground is wet and I could only get the pins in a short way, I can’t blame it on a speeding boater going by, we haven’t seen a boat on the move since half way up the 21.

We were away at quarter to nine in the rain and wind, the rest of the W&E was uneventful. Walsall Council have put a nice carpark and laid paths on a piece of land on the off side, they have also installed a couple of picnic benches for people to use. The tarmacked  carpark already supports some fly tipping.

We stopped at the services by Tesco and got shot of the stuff I removed from the prop yesterday and shortly afterwards turned sharp right down the Daw End Branch.
Black Cock Bridge that was rebuilt earlier this year looks very splendid and you could easily pass by not realising it had all been replaced, a little further on we past an impressive piece of graffiti on the wall.

One thing we noticed was that Aldridge Marina is now deserted, not a single boat or piece of boat equipment to be seen. The pumpout unit is still there but whether you would find anyone to operate it is another matter.
Our original plan for this trip was to stop at Longwood Boat club, but as we had made an early start we continued on down the 9 Rushull Locks, these all have anti vandal locks on them and everything worked nicely, some locks were with us, some against, but by now the weather was fine and it was fairly easy going. What I cant understand is why they didn’t put lock 3 a lot closer to lock 2, the canal in this long pound is on an embankment for part of the time and if they had dropped down earlier it wouldn’t have been needed.
Down at  Rushall Junction we turned left on to the Tame Valley canal, along here we met a gang of vegetation control operatives, one driving a ride on mower and the other three walking, I have no idea where they had been working. When we arrived at Perry Barr we pulled over to the services to fill with water, since all the refurbishment I can report that the walkway in front of the service block no longer clanks when a bike passes over it. Once the tank was full we pushed over to moor by the top lock for the night.

Todays Journey

13¼ miles, 9 locks in 6 hours