The Gravel Run!

0 Locks, 1.26 Miles. Now moored at Brownsover.

The great gravel run. Archimedes and Ara carting gravel from Paddington Arm to Atherstone.

Before we left Newbold we had the pleasure of watching the old working barges carrying the gravel from the Paddington Arm to Atherstone. Apparently this cargo carrying convoy was creating a great deal of interest with enthusiast’s following them all the way from Paddington taking photo’s where ever they could. It was real convoy with a single barge leading the way with Archimedes and butty Ara  following behind. The latter 2 we saw at the Braunston festival a couple of weeks ago fully laden with coal.

Butty Ara fully laden with gravel.

A short while later another single barge came past but the last barge and butty didn’t arrive until Sunday morning. Fully laden these boats were sitting very low in the water (mud) and were having extreme difficulties on bends and bridge holes especially the butty’s continually grounding. (BW please note, dredging required) As the butty ‘Joe’ passed us Chris on the helm commented  to Dot “It’s a long time since I saw your boat on the River Wey”. He last saw it on the River Wey in 2006, that's what I call a good memory.  After staying the night at Newbold the plan was to get to Atherstone Sunday night, haven’t heard whether they made it or not.

Archimedes and Ara at Newbold heading to Atherstone loaded with gravel.

2233 locks, 4326.56 miles, 94 tunnels, 131 swing bridges and 58 lift bridges since Nov 2006