Back on the Ashby.

0 Locks 11.82 Miles. Now moored at Hinckley

Visibility was down to a couple of hundred yards this morning as we set off, first port of call was the BW yard just through bridge 31 for water and then it was non stop to the Ashby Canal.

Hartshill, Coventry Canal, 10am and it was still poor visibility.Mist slowly dissipating on the Coventry Canal.

We played cat and mouse with a Kingfisher who allowed us to get probably the closest we have ever been to one of these beautiful little birds but still not close enough for a good photo. We also flushed out a cock Pheasant who flew over our heads giving us a right ticking off for disturbing him.

Starline boats, Boot Wharf. This one's only a tiddler of about 10 ton's.

Passing through Nuneaton we noticed that the allotments have certainly made a resurgence in popularity, more and more of the unkempt plot’s now nicely cultivated and at least a dozen or so people busy tending them. A real hive of activity.

Some canal side gardens are a credit to their owners, this one seen in Nuneaton

By 11am the sun finally burnt through the mist and for a very short while it was gloriously warm but then some cloud rolled in and that was the end of that. After we had moored up for the day the sky cleared but by this time the sun was low in the sky hidden behind a hedgerow.

Marsden Junction, Ashby and Coventry Canals.

2027 locks, 3940.53 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Rememberance Sunday

We decided that we would just have a lie in and an easy day today.  After the fireworks last night we just felt a bit jaded.  Looking at our itinerary we have plenty of time before heading to Rugby for Christmas and our six monthly check up at the doctor so tomorrow we will head for the Ashby Canal.  After contacting fellow New Zealanders John and Elizabeth on Nb Helen Louise, we hope to catch up next week as well as maybe get a visit from daughter Tracey in London.

John, Elizabeth and Derek at Kenilworth Castle earlier this year

What a beauty.

0 Locks, 2.09 Miles. Now moored at Hartshill.

Well the weather guru’s did say that the forthcoming week’s weather would be unpredictable and how right they have been. Today is more like Spring than Autumn with a clear blue sky and not a cloud in sight. Great cruising weather although we didn’t plan on going very far, just to Hartshill where we may stay for 1 or 2 nights and then make a run for the Ashby Canal.

Making the most of the lovely day

For sale signs have recently gone up on 2 canal side properties. The 3 acre property by bridge 36 with half a dozen on line moorings is on the market for £350k, an investment with an income. The other was by the lake between bridges 35 and 34 where the sign merely states that plots are available so perhaps a farmer is selling off a bit of unproductive land. Wouldn’t be bad with end of garden moorings.

Native Gorse, but it doesn't grow here as well as it does in NZ.  We have only seen a little of it here not acres and acres of it as in the countryside at home.

2027 locks, 3928.71 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Atherstone.

9 Locks, 1.53 Miles. Now moored at Atherstone.

A mist covered landscape greeted us this morning but by the time we were ready to set off the sun had started to burn the mist away. Progress up the Atherstone flight was steady as they were all set in our favour except for the two where we had to wait for an opposing boat.

Atherstone top lock.

Once moored up we contacted the diesel/coal boat Gosty Hill to see what Iain and Alison’s schedule was for the near future and low and behold they will be in Atherstone tomorrow, how convenient. So tomorrow we will be topping up the diesel tank.

Canal side memorial celebrating Atherstone’s history of hat making, the canal, and books.

Later we wandered into town for some lovely pies from 19 Gales (Nightingales) and a few bits from Somerfields. There is also a handy automotive spare part shop behind Rothens coal yard where I picked up another 5 litre’s of battery water which will see us through the winter.The town is now all decked out for Christmas with their Christmas decorations hung around the town.

Atherstone Railway Station although the building is a Vets clinic.

2036 locks, 3928.15 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

We’ve been booked for a gig!!

2 Locks, 5.15 Miles. Now moored above lock 10 Atherstone locks.

It was a case of will we or won’t we move this morning with the threat of rain. The sun broke through for a short while so we decided to move. We hadn’t been on the go for long when the rain clouds came back and the rain arrived. Half an hour later it was all over and we completed our cruise relatively dry.

Pooley Hall Coventry Canal.

Having travelled this section of canal several times before there was nothing new except a new Narrowcraft built boat that was moored behind us last night. On the market at £69k it had a reverse layout with the lounge at the rear followed by an open plan Pullman dinette and kitchen making the whole rear half of the boat quite open and airy. The kitchen lead onto the separate bathroom and separate bedroom. The bed base was a conventional front – rear bed but appeared to have a fold up side making the bed wider.  I was quite impressed by the layout.

British Waterways answer to towpath and hedge trimming?

Not long after we had moored up we had a phone call from a gentleman with a broad Liverpudlian accent (A Scoucer). He was ringing up to confirm Gypsy Rover’s gig for Saturday night. I couldn’t work out whether he was from the Rocket agency or the gig was at the Rocket club. I then had to politely inform him that (A) we were nowhere near Liverpool, and (B) the Gypsy Rover he had called was a narrow boat not a rock band. How on earth he had got our phone number is a complete mystery. Bit of a laugh, Eh!

2027 locks, 3926.62 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Mind the Paintwork.

2 Locks, 4.48 Miles. Now moored opposite Alvecote Marina.

What a glorious day for a cruise. The plan for today was a short cruise to the BW facilities at Fazeley Junction for water and rubbish disposal and then on to our present mooring. At Glascote locks we came across a gentleman who was being very precise about lock procedure. It turned out that the boat had only been in the water 2 days and he was trying not to scratch the paint work, he’ll learn (we were like that once) narrow boating is said to be a contact sport regardless of how careful you are.

Aqueduct over the River Tame.

While waiting for the first of the Glascote locks Nb Beefur arrived which is a new boat to us. It turned out that we had met the lady on board at the BW visitor centre at Trevor on the Llangollen Canal where she works for British Waterways. She has been following our progress ever since and that was about 15 month’s ago. We may catch up again later on the Ashby Canal.

A WWII bunker at the Aqueduct over the River Tame.

A familiar boat we did see was Nb Northern Pride (proudly flying the NZ silver fern), Barry and Sandra are now home in Gisborne, New Zealand saving hard to return next year, their boat on her winter moorings at a friends end of garden mooring.

Winter moorings at a friends end of garden mooring.

2025 locks, 3921.47 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Goodness Gracious, A Dredger.

0 Locks, 1.79 Miles. Now moored at Tamworth.

With uncertain weather conditions we decided to move down to Sutton Road bridge where we could visit Sainsbury’s supermarket. After that we would re-assess the situation. Luckily it was only a short trip as it started to rain not long after setting off. Soon after arriving at Sutton Road a BW dredger and tug went past heading north. We had thought that perhaps it was heading to bridge 88 on the Coventry or even Woodend lock to dredge out below the lock which has been shallow for a very long time. However that turned out not to be the case as about an hour or so later the same 2 vessels came back heading south. Joy riding perhaps?

Leaving the fine weather behind we were soon under rain clouds.

After doing the shopping we decided to sit the rest of the day out due to strong winds but wouldn’t you just know it, mid afternoon saw a complete change to no wind and sunshine. Ah well, we are not in any great hurry from here so we will see what tomorrow brings.

2023 locks, 3916.99 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006