Sunday 12 April 2009

Wheels!

0 Locks, 3 Miles. Now moored at Whittington Bridge 79.

This morning we waited for a few passing showers to clear before heading away. We didn’t have a very good start because where we were moored was narrow with the moored boats and we had the misfortune to meet a gentleman, I use that term very loosely, who wanted to sit mid channel as he didn’t want to scratch his paintwork in the overhanging trees. Needless to say we had to come very, very close to the moored boats and while trying to manoeuvre we unfortunately came in contact with another boat that was following behind.

After this we had a clear run through to our present position but since then there has been a constant flow of boats through here. This has been tricky at times because the stretch between bridges 79 and 80 has boats moored both sides and is very narrow. There is no way 2 boats can pass in this section.

Between Whittington bridge and bridge 78 we stopped to photograph the marker post where the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the Coventry canal meet. I think I mentioned it in an earlier blog about the Coventry canal being slip into 2 sections due to the company running out of money and the Birmingham & Fazeley contractors couldn’t wait for its completion so they completed the job.

The junction of the Coventry and Birmingham and Fazeley Canal's.

Along this section of the canal there are many poly tunnels that were being set up for the forthcoming strawberry season and 6 monstrous irrigation systems that were awaiting their time to irrigate other parts of the farm come summertime. These machine can be set up on one side of a paddock and they slowly work their own way to the other side without the farmer having to touch them.

Poly tunnel frames over miles of Strawberry beds. The black plastic rolls over the top.

Huge self propelling irrigation machines at Whittington.

Once moored up we walked up into the village where we found the CO-OP store for some basic essentials and had a quick peek at the St Giles church. The church was locked at the inner glass doors but we were able see into the church and the magnificent floral displays put in for Easter.

Walking back to the boat this beautifully restored horse drawn gypsy caravan was spotted in the back yard of a house. The art work would have complemented the best of any narrowboat afloat.

Horse drawn gypsy caravan and trailer.

1601 locks, 3406½ miles, 59 Tunnels, 44 swing bridges and 39 lift bridges since Nov 2006

1 comment:

Bruce in Sanity said...

A couple of years ago, a privateer and a Canaltime played a game of chicken at one of those bridges between Hopwas and Whittington. Neither gave way, and they were jammed in the bridge 'ole for two hours. They had to use tirfors and stuff to tow them out.

For months and months afterwards you could see the blue streak along the bridge arch where the C'time had wedged.

Cheers

Bruce