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

Between the storms.

0 Locks, 8.04 Miles. Now moored at Hopwas.Huddlesford Junction where the Coventry meets the Wyrley & Essington Canal.

Yesterday was not a good day to be going anywhere with heavy rain and strong winds, so we sat the day out updating the computer. This morning was a total change with clear blue skies and sunshine. After saying farewell to Roger and Pip on Windsong we set off by about 10.30am.

Junction of the Coventry and Wyrley & Essington Canals. Once restored it will be a short cut to Birmingham.

With the leaf fall now well under way we suffered quite a lot of leaf foul on the propeller necessitating a lot of regular reverse blasts to clear the prop. Unfortunately we got held up behind 2 boats who were having the same problem but they didn’t know how to rectify it. One boat was a hire boat which pulled over to allow us to pass, as we did so we imparted the information about what to do in  these conditions which was gratefully received.

A vessel made for four.

By the time we had moored at Hopwas the weather was starting to change with the next cold front coming through with the threat of more strong winds and rain. With the weather girls on TV admitting that the incoming low was going to be a bit unpredictable we will just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings and make a decision about moving or staying put in the morning.

Hedge and towpath trimmers taking a break.WWII bunker on the Coventry Canal near Hopwas.  You can find them in the most unusual places miles inland from the coast.

2023 locks, 3915.20 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Want a loo or two?

Armitage and Shanks  ceramic factory. Any one for a loo.

Acquaintances Old & New

3 Locks, 9.69 Miles, 1 swingbridge Now moored at Fradley Junction

It was a take it as it comes sort of a day with it being unseasonably mild again. We had nothing definitely planned other than stopping at Rugeley to pick up a few things at Morrison’s. With the boat club rally at Tixall Wide and school holidays coming to an end there were plenty of boats on the move heading north.

Realistic looking Scrooge at the Spode Moorings on the Trent and Mersey Canal

Now the tree’s are loosing all their foliage the wildlife are becoming more apparent. In the past few days we have seen a Mink, Jay’s, Magpies, Robin’s as well as the usual waterfowl. The funniest, for which no camera was at hand, was a Grey Squirrel with a corn cob from a recently harvested field. He had it sideways in his mouth making him as wide as he was long but he was very determined to get it into his winter cache of food.There would be quite a few days supply for him with that sized cob.

When is a tunnel not a tunnel. When it's Armitage Tunnel which was opened out due to mining subsidence.

After leaving Rugeley we were just pottering along enjoying the day when another boat came into sight. Not taking too much notice of the lady walking close by with a dog which it turned out to be Anne & Chas on Nb Moore2Life. Well we both hove to and the kettle was soon on the hob. After not seeing each other for the best part of a year there was plenty to catch up on. Well time stands still for no man so we had to say farewell and get under way again to find a more suitable mooring before we ran out of daylight. Darkness is now upon us by about 5pm.

Chas, Anne and Molly Nb Moore2Life.

We had hoped to moor between locks 19 & 20 but when we arrived there the last available mooring had been taken by a boat that passed us while entertaining Anne & Chas. Ah well, C’est la vie. We pushed on through to Fradley Junction and turned on to the Coventry Canal where initially it appeared that no moorings were available. Just after passing through the small swing bridge across the entrance to the Coventry Canal our attention was drawn to a couple waving and calling out. We were puzzled as to who they were waving to as we didn’t recognise them. It transpired that they were fellow bloggers Roger and Pip on Nb Windsong who told us that there was a mooring available behind them which worked out perfectly.

Fellow bloggers Roger & Pip with their pride and joy.

2023 locks, 3907.16 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006