On the Moorings Saturday 4 January 2020

Day : Saturday
Date : 4 January 2020
Start : 0930
Finish : 1330 Back at the moorings

Last night we made the decision we would go home today, so today's plan was a trip to Fazeley to fill with diesel and than back to the marina, this would also recharge the batteries to leave the boat.

0930 this morning saw us on our way, When I went out on the back deck it looked as if we have had a small visitor overnight.

The weather was surprisingly warm and we were soon at the two Glascote locks and a boater had just come out of the top gate which was a bonus. Down to Fazeley Junction and sharp left to Fazeley Mill marina to top up with diesel, only after 50 lts their tank ran dry.

We retraced our step stopping at Fazeley Junction to fill with water, just beyond the junction this boat had a very nice piece of wood carving on its bows.

Out luck at the locks going back wasn't so good as yet again a boat was just leaving the top lock gate, so both against us this time. A little further on one of the houses has had a very nice Christmas display, last time we passed it was only partly completed.

Back at the marina we slid into our mooring slot and made ready to go home, this time of the year this includes draining the domestic water system. Just a hour later we were in the car and on our way home.

Today's Journey10 Miles 4 Locks in 4 hours.

A map of our total journey taken from Canal Plan AC

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Alvecote Friday 3 January 2020

Day : Friday
Date : 3 January 2020
Start : 1045
Finish : 1500 Alvecote

First task yesterday evening was to find somewhere to eat, looking on the internet first choice was The Chapel House, not what we would normally chose but looked rather nice for a one off, but no table available, so we walked to the Red Lion but found it unfriendly and uninviting so walked out again, maybe the Indian further down Long St. Steaming Billy's didn't sound like us and the Indian was empty and looked moor Take away, however next door almost was the Black Horse, a much friendlier establishment. We ate in the bar as there was already another couple eating there and after a nice meal got into conversation with a couple of local gents who came in for a drink. A very friendly atmosphere all round.

This morning we set off a little later than usual, stopping at the water point to fill with water and dump the rubbish before setting off down the flight, 2 boats had already gone down so we expected to locks to be against us. We did meet one boat at lock 4 but he had only come up a couple of locks, likewise we met another at 7 but after a couple of locks they were all empty again. By now the sun was out but it still wasn't as warm as it was last night, 10.5°C at midnight in early January. Once clear of the locks we had a steady run through to Alvecote where we have moored for the night just north of the marina.

Today's Journey8 Miles 11 Locks in 4¼ hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Atherstone Thursday 2 January 2020

Day : Thursday
Date : 2 January 2020
Start : 1030
Finish : 1330 Atherstone visitor moorings

Oil and Filter changed, Batteries topped up.

It was a nice quiet mooring last night opposite the school playing field. The wind picked up overnight which made the centre lines slap on the rear bulkhead, surprising how loud that can be inside the boat in the quiet of the night.
This morning was reasonable warm with a bit of breeze. The scrap pile at Charity Dock looks to be getting bigger with 2 Morris 1000s and a van on there now.
The pussy willows now have their catkins on them so we have the spring to look forward to. I am always amused how some people decorate their gardens, this one has a Buddha temple, a couple of skeletons and other odds and ends.
There is so much water entering the canal opposite The Anchor at Hartshill that the canal is a milky grey for several yards under the road bridge, I suspect its old mine or quarry pumpings.

It wasn't long before we were approaching Atherstone and Rothen's new base. Rothen now do most of CRT boat related bank work and supply boats to CRT, I think they probably bought most of the from CRT a few years back, but they also have new stuff.
Once moored at Atherstone and after a cup of tea Diana went for a wonder round town to find somewhere to eat tonight while I did the oil etc.

Today's Journey9¼ Miles 0 Locks in 3 hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Bedworth Wednesday 1 January 2020

Day : Wednesday
Date : 1 January 2020
Start : 1100
Finish : 1600 Bedworth

Well we saw the New Year in with a couple of glasses of Champaign and watched the London fireworks on the TV so were a bit late to bed and a bit late starting this morning at 11am. When we set off there wasn't a breath of wind and only the lightest of breezes all day. We saw our first snowdrops at Brinklow.
A little further on and the old Spoon Dredger is still at Rose narrowboats Ltd, it was here last time we passed. this time I managed to record the number BCN 18409.
At Ansty when we same by a few days ago there were about 50 horses in a field, today most of them had moved off into the scrub area beside the canal where they were browsing on bushes etc.
As you approach Hawkesbury Junction there is a large electrical substation on the off side owned by the National Grid surrounded but what could be termed waste ground, it seems this is now being managed for wildlife and nature.
We had to wait at Sutton Stop as a boat ahead of us was just entering the lock, as he was single handed Diana closed up for him and turned the lock for us, then it was out on the Coventry canal with a 180° turn round the junction and through the gauging narrows. We stopped in Bedworth at Terry and Christine's for a cup of tea and some tasty brownies plus but of a chat before setting off again to moor a short way before Charity Dock opposite the school playing fields.

One final thing. Why not make it a New Years resolution on 1st of the month to check your smoke and CO alarms, you know it makes sense.

Today's Journey11 Miles 1 Lock in 3¾ hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

All Oaks Tuesday 31 December 2019

Day : Tuesday
Date : 30December 2019
Start : 1000
Finish : 1615 All Oaks again

Yesterday evening we wandered up to The Plough for dinner, quite early at 7pm and as expected it was quite quiet at that time. Its several years since we have eaten there.

This morning Diana went to do a bit of shopping while I motored down to the Marina to wind, she was coming over the bridge just as I moored up in the same spot I left 25 minutes earlier. Once back onboard we headed back to the N Oxford. The island supporting the double span bridge across the junction needs some serious attention. You may recall that on Friday I posted a photo of a boat on Cross straps, well this is how its spouse to be done.

We had a good run down the locks with the top lock full and a boat about to leave both middle and bottom lock as we arrived. Being a bit short of water we stopped at the water point below the locks, but once we saw how low the water pressure was we carried on to Rugby and filled there. We met quite a lot of boats, most of them we had also met yesterday going the other way, including this Kate hire boat, they also had an inflatable Christmas tree on the rear deck and a Father Christmas.

Boaters tend to put something on top of their chimneys and exhausts to stop the rain getting in while the fire/ engine is not in use. I use an upturned, but painted coffee tin, some use mugs and saucepans, even bowler hats and Charlie pots, but this one had purpose made bonnets.

We pushed on and moored back at All Oaks wood visitor moorings.

Today's Journey15 Miles 3 Locks in 5¾ hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Braunston Monday 30 December 2019

Day : Monday
Date : 30 December 2019
Start : 1030
Finish : Braunston 1530

Well weather wise the day made a very slow start and didn't really pick up until mid day, but boy it certainly made up for it with warm sunshine until about 4pm.

We met quite a few boats as we made our way to Braunston, we were going to stop at Hillmorton but the weather was so nice we just carried on. All the Hillmorton Locks were with us and a boat came down just as I was leaving the bottom lock, so I didn't need to stop and close it. There look to be a few more houses on the old radio site than last time we passed, I wonder how long it will take to complete the development.

One thing that stuck out today were there old Oxford Canal Company concrete fence posts, but they are not lined up for running wires through them, so ether they have been moved or were put in for another reason.

As we approached Braunston the sun was still bright but getting lower and it left some great shadows on the ridge and furrow land running up towards Braunston Church.

At Braunston Junction we went round to the left towards the village, there were a couple of mooring spots opposite the Boat House pub and as we knew two boats were following us we decided to moor straight way rather than going to the marina to wind first and risk not finding a spot.

Today's Journey14½ Miles 3 Locks in 4¾ hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

All Oak Wood Sunday 29 December 2019

Day : Sunday
Date : 29 December 2019
Start : 1045
Finish : All Oaks, N Oxford 1530

A much brighter day today and looking at the sky this evening I am hopeful for tomorrow as well.
Before setting of a short walk round the basin and a visit to the food shop that specialises in eastern European thing. I have never had dry smoked squid before and then we were off. One of the bridges has some interesting art work, I can't call it graffiti as it was commissioned. What did surprise me were the yellow and blue wheelie bins right by the canal, form the labels they contain oil spill clean up kits and no one has set fire to them yet. Further along on the off side there is a complete wall made from old shipping containers standing 3 high.
You can't come down the Coventry Arm and not take a photo of the concrete sofa, no one has thrown this one in the cut yet. Talking of throwing things in the cut I have never seen this branch so clear of floating rubbish, on one trip down the weedhatch in the whole 10 miles.
When we reached Hawkesbury Junction I had to wait for a boat to come out from the Oxford before we could swing under the footbridge to the lock. A group of moorers just beyond the lock look as if they had a joyful Christmas.
Just beyond bridge 44 the fields are well flooded, I wonder if the pylon will grow a few inches with its roots in water.

We carried on and as the sky's cleared and the sun popped out again very low in to the horizon it started to feel a bit cooler, a kind boater taking water at Rose Narrowboats opened the swing bridge for us which was most appreciated as we carried to moor for the night on the rings just before All Oaks corner. We have met quite a few boats today, probably more than we have seen moving all week until today, the first being on the Coventry Arm followed by a couple at Sutton Stop.

Today's Journey14½ Miles 1 Lock in 4¾ hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Coventry Basin Saturday 28 December 2019

Day : Saturday
Date : 28 December 2019
Start : 1030
Finish : 1545 Coventry Basin

A much brighter day and the thermometer said it was warmer, but it didn't feel that way.
One of the tasks today was to fill up with water again so we stopped just passed the A5 road bridge to top up, all the taps we have used on this canal have all had good pressure. I think I have seen more Canal Company boundary markers along this canal than anywhere. The company set them in the ground on the off side to show how much land they owned beside the canal, in some cases all this land has eroded and now the canal bank is the boundary.

The very last mile marker can be found at Marston Junction where the Ashby joins the Coventry and as expected it indicates 0/30.

Once on the Coventry canal we turned left, a bit tighter than 90° and due to taking the photo I wasn't on the best line, still we got round. I better give Christine a mention as she was hanging the washing out as we passed and invited us in for a cup of tea, We refused her kind offer as it would have meant we wouldn't have made our destination this evening.

The excitement of the day came at Charity Wharf, first there were clouds of billowing thick smoke and then just as I was into the bend I saw a boat coming the other way, with boat double moored on the bend I think it was the bow riding against the build up of silt that prevented us actually touching as we came round. The fire turned out to be a bonfire in a large metal container.

At Hawkesbury Junction we sailed straight on, under the bridge with the metal swans heading for Coventry basin. There are a lot of new houses since I came this way last and a lot more being built, not only that the canal on the whole was an awful lot cleaner probably thanks to the canal society who works very hard clearing the rubbish that people just discard. When we arrived at the basin there were probably half a dozen boats moored there so we winded and slid backwards into what use to be the Excellence Afloat moorings for the night.

Today's Journey16 Miles 0 Locks in 5¼ hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Hinckley Friday 27 December 2019

Day : Friday
Date : 27 December 2019
Start : 1020
Finish : 1435

It was a dull old morning when we set off and it didn't improve at all, in fact it got quite damp, not rain of drizzle but the air was very damp.
As I said the other day the top end of the canal is a SSSI and British Waterways installed a barrier along the off side in Shackerstone to protect the offside vegetation and bank side, This is Nicospan on wooden poles with holes cut in the material so that birds and mammals can swim through. In the past we have always seen Water Vole up this canal, but none this time so far.

Yesterday I posted a photo of a defaced milepost, so here is one that has not been got at.
Something I have never seen before is a brick bridge with the centre section of parapet wall built independently of the two approach walls, I wonder if the designer was allowing for someone to hit the approach wall section and so limit the damage? but I really don't know.
I also mentioned a couple of days ago about a strange boat, well one with a coffin on the roof was a first for me, there are also a couple of skeletons sitting up there. The wind generator is unusual as well, not sure how well it works on an inland boat with hedges about.

If you are a fellow boater then you will know about following a boat on "Cross Straps". This normally entails having two short equalled length ropes with an eye spliced in each end. One end of each rope is placed over the towing dolly, or T stud of the butty, these then drop both sides of the bow of the butty before being crossed and one put over each of the towing dollies on the motor boat, This holds the bows of the butty inline with the centre of the towing boat. This boat owner has taken the name literally and used strapping to connect the boats.
We passed yet another case of fly tipping, this time actually into the canal, well the road does run right beside the canal at this point. I should point out that the car in the picture was just passing as I took the photo and has no connection to the incident. I have of course reported it to CRT.
We didn't travel much further before mooring for the night on the outskirts of Hinckley feeling somewhat chilly and damp.

Today's Journey12 Miles 0 Locks in 4¼ hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.

Shackerstone Thursday 26 December

Day : Thursday
Date : 26 December 2019
Start : 1000
Finish : 1530 Shackerstone

Well the weather today was somewhat different to yesterday, dull, overcast, cool and light rain, not the most pleasant conditions to be boating in.

We set off for the end of navigation, the far side of Snarestone tunnel. The canal is actually a bit longer than this as the Ashby Canal Association have a bit more in water, but to access that there is a swing bridge and we are to long to wind at the end, so we winded before the swing bridge, had a chat with Mike who is now the resident manager before mooring on the visitor mooring for lunch.

Before we reached the tunnel, which although it wide, it is not wide enough for two boats to pass and also it is not quite straight, we had to pass under Gopsall Wharf bridge, The parapet of this bridges was knocked off some time ago and its still awaiting repair.

The Ashby canal Association decided a long time ago to install mile posts that they have had made all the way from the terminus at Moira and Marston Junction, a distance of 30 miles, each post shows the distance from each end but some has decided that the end is actually Snarestone and has defaced the three posts south of there to show 1, 2 and 3 miles.

After lunch we did walk to the end of the restored section at Faulks Bridge and back, the restored section now looks very established.
As you can see by this map from Waterway Routes the restored canal will have to deviate from its original route quite soon.

There were 4 boats came down and winded while we were moored up and we followed the forth one back to Shackerstone where we both moored for the night in almost the same spot as last night.

Today's Journey7½ Miles 0 Locks in 3 hours.

IMPORTANT NOTICE All of the above is my personal opinion and does not represent those of any official body or notices. All comments made to this blog are checked before being accepted any made anonymously are accepted but if you leave a name I could say thanks.