Great Haywood

Our mooring on the Trent Aqueduct was ideal and it would have been tempting to stay over a night but the plan was to get to the Tixall Wide for the weekend

Looking back from our mooring

Since the majority of boats moored with us were pointing in the same direction we decided on an early start, although I must admit that our early starts are not as early as in some years......is it age creeping up??  nevertheless we were en route by 8.15 on a glorious morning.

I set off with Barney for our morning exercise and this was my view.  Admittedly beyond the trees you can see, there is a busy A road and the distant hum of traffic can be heard

Yet another day with pretty gardens to ogle.

Only 2 locks today and Geoff and Barney walked the mile+ between the two.   We passed a lovely mooring spot whilst they were walking at Little Haywood and when we eventually moored up at Great Haywood Geoff said he had been tempted to stop there.  Since I had been thinking the same on Petroc it was a pity we were not together.   We looked closely at the guide to see if there was a suitable turning point if we returned but it would have meant going all the way back to the Aqueduct so sadly shelved the idea.

Instead we found a congenial mooring just above the second lock close to the tea rooms and decided to stay put.   A walk into the village showed us there was a suitable church service on Sunday and the tea rooms has a restaurant and does Sunday lunch so have decided to give Tixall Wide a miss this time.

Whilst walking through the village we passed the Catholic Church of St John the Baptist with a most unusual tower

As is my wont in the evening I do like to wear comfy clothes......Geoff is very scathing about my favourite jumper which I keep on board.  It is very old but I am very attached to it....note the holes....

Toilet Bowl Country!

Onward towards Rugely where we planned to stop and shop at the Morrisons close to the canal.  But first we had to pass through Handsacre and Armitage......Home of the well known Armitage Shanks sanitary ware.

It was another day of pretty back gardens as well

and just for a change a much higher bridge than we have had recently

When I sit up in the front cockpit watching the world go by, my heart is in my mouth as we go under some of the bridges as I expect to hear our satellite dish being scraped off at any moment.    The perspective from the front makes the bridges seem even lower than they are.

next came what was the Armitage Tunnel, only the first bit is tunnel now

The next part is just the narrows and one way traffic......Geoff had gone ahead to check the way was clear

The large cooling towers of Rugely Power station can be seen from some distance away

We managed to moor with no difficulty and set off for Morrisons.  However to our surprise when we came to the road we found a brand new Tesco stores right there, sorry Morrisons!   It was obviously quite new and for a change had big wide aisles, so shopping was easy.

After unloading and lunch we moved on about a mile to our intended destination for the day and had no difficulty finding space on the Trent Aqueduct.  In fact since we were here last there are new mooring rings on the offside.  There was only one other boat here when we arrived and we felt guilty disturbing his peace.  However by teatime both banks were pretty full.

Total distance:7.15 miles 

Elapsed time3h33m59s (Not including shopping & Lunch!)

Locks:1

Bridges:22 
Average speed:2.41 mph (2.75 lock/mph) 

Fradley

 Yes the sunset did herald a better day, a beautiful day in fact.  We had beautiful countryside to cruise through (although the skipper, who hogged the tiller most of the day, was heard to have the occasional mutter about the shallowness of the canal in places!)

Sadly we passed friends Tina & Klim aboard Brindley in the most inconvenient spot.   There was not a suitable bank to pull into to stop and have a catch up and they were hotly pursued by two more boats.  They told us later they would have been able to stay another night at Fradley which was our destination.....had they but known where we were......they should have looked at my blog for our position!!

We passed this garden with an alternative to garden gnomes!!

We turned left at the junction and went up the two locks.   It had been very quiet boatwise all day but after we were safely moored in an idyllic spot (just above the top lock) we had a steady stream of boats from both directions.   However there were no long queues for the locks such as I have just been reading about in Waterways World.  Fradley is one of the places mentioned, there is even talk of boat rage with someone jumping the queue...tut tut!

We decided on a pre supper pint (1/2 cider in my case!) in the Swan and needless to say Barney came too.

Total distance:4.93 miles 

Elapsed time:2h47m10s

Locks:2

Bridges:18 
Average speed:1.77 mph (2.13 lock/mph) 

Whittington

We are going North

"No Rush" said Geoff this morning, the trouble is I never know whether he means it or not.  Still I took him at his word and rose very gently.  We were still on the way soon after 9am!

The junction was just around the corner

We have never noticed these birds before, so are they new or have we just been unobservant on our previous trips through Fazeley?

For most of the day we followed around this huge mast......should be a good TV picture tonight!

I never cease to lost interest in peoples back gardens, I love seeing what they have achieved in their canalside plots and what extensions they have added to their houses.  We passed some lovely ones today.

We also passed some interesting sights......how do boats like this manage to acquire a Boat Safety Certificate???

This is part of the world where a lot of the bridges have these little cubby holes......I have commented on them in previous years' blogs and had several responses as to what was their use ...spare planks,,,,,,hay for the horses....

We passed through Whittington and moored just outside.  The rain was very kind to us today, just a few sprinkles now and then and we have the promise of better things to come from tomorrow.

Does this sunset tell of these better things???

Total distance:6.29 miles 

Elapsed time:2h45m15s 

Locks:0

Bridges:17 
Average speed:2.28 mph (2.28 lock/mph) 

Fazeley Junction

Showers, some sun and still windy but not a bad day.  Quite long for us, over 4 hours.  We decided to moor just before Fazeley Junction in a spot we have not stopped before.   There is a nice long straight stretch after the Tame aqueduct and we moored just after the aqueduct before the start of the industrial buildings.   Ideal for Barney with a nice wide towpath and steps leading down to a large wildlife meadow where you can walk along the banks of the River Tame   Not knowing much about the river Tame I had to look it up on Google and discovered it is the main river of the West Midlands and the most important tributary of the river Trent and here it is quite a wide river....the facts one discovers when you search the internet!

Total distance:7.94 miles 
Elapsed time:4h7m2s
Locks:2
Bridges:32 
Average speed:1.93 mph (2.42 lock/mph

To go....or not to go....

Last night plan was for an early start and down the Atherstone locks..  That idea was easily shelved when we awoke to the sound of pouring rain!
However after a few hours things began to perk up and we decided we were being wimps so by 0945 we were off.  near the top of the locks we spied this....thank you Maffi

Atherstone Top Lock

Maffi was 'ere

Very quiet for a Sunday, we waited for one boat to come up the top lock but there was no one ahead of us.  We even met up with a volunteer lock keeper who gave us a hand through a couple of the locks.

and I thought at least Spring was here

It may not have been raining but the wind was very strong and it was decidedly chilly, definitely a hat and gloves day.

Sadly another pub bites the dust, The King's head below lock 5

But there were glimpses of sun from time to time and the locks are in a very pretty setting for most of the way.

There was a nasty squally shower as we approached lock 10 so once we reached the bottom after lock 11, we decided to quit whilst we were ahead.  The wind had freshened somewhat and there was a cosy looking mooring space just waiting for us.  So the joint went into the oven, miraculously we had digital TV and the Grand Prix was just starting for Geoff so all was right with the world.

The wind continued to blow all afternoon so we had made the right decision.

Total distance:2.05 miles 

Elapsed time:2h40m0s 

Locks:11

Bridges:10 
Average speed:0.74 mph (4.86 lock/mph) 

Atherstone

Well, no rain for our trip today just cold and windy!  The rain saved itself for later when we were moored up.
We were lucky on arrival at Atherstone to find the first slot after bridge 40 was free.  Further along we would have been facing ugly buildings, so we settled in for our normal weekend stay.  However when we discovered that Sundays service in the church was possibly not quite our cup of tea, we contemplated  going down the locks and on to Polesworth so we could attend the Abbey service.  Saturday dawned rather sunny and it was tempting but we watched the forecast and decided against it......not a bad decision as the sun soon disappeared and was replaced with wind and rain.......we will assess the situation tomorrow.  We don't normally travel on a Sunday but we are both keen to get a few miles further along......we shall see.
Total distance:6.11 miles 
Elapsed time:2h27m21s 
Locks:0
Bridges:24
Average speed:2.49 mph (2.49 lock/mph) 

Rain Rain, go away

Unlike yesterday when the rain started a quarter of an hour after we were snugly tied up, today it started a quarter of an hour after we set off and boy was it wet.
Barney was most unimpressed as he doesn't like going below when we are travelling, he prefers to lie at the feet of whoever is on the helm.   He had to be forced below to save him from drowning in the heavy rain and he is still sulking and refusing to eat his food........
Geoff did most of the standing in the rain (because I would have stopped much sooner!)
We are going to continue with the vibration and see how we get on.  Ideally we would like to get through this season as she has to come out of the water to have her bottom blacked next year, so it could be looked at then.......just very annoying.
Eventually Geoff spied a boat coming off a mooring just before Nuneaton which had rings so we nipped in smartly and battened down the hatches, at least we are warm and dry below.   It was a good day then for me to catch up with some of Giles' accounts.   The forecast for the weekend is still not brilliant.

Total distance:5.10 miles 
Elapsed time:2h5m28s 
Locks:1
Bridges:16 
Average speed:2.44 mph (2.92 lock/mph) 

We are off!

Well shower all fixed and the washing machine did not leak!!!
We have had several nights out with friends whilst getting Petroc all shipshape, now it is time to return to sensible eating.   Geoff lost 2 stone over the winter and I managed almost a stone, but saying goodbye to everyone tends to put some back on...can't think why!
So after saying our goodbyes to all at Clifton this morning we set sail (as you do) just after 9am........however it was not to be the most auspicious of first days cruising..........
We had to stop after 2 miles and Geoff had to resume his least favourite position as we had a nasty vibration.

Nothing much around the prop however so we continued although we both agreed that things were not as they should be.  We had planned to moor just before Anstey out in the open where we have moored before, however the forecast was not good for the next few days so we decided to do a few more miles before the rain came.    We timed it superbly as the rain started about quarter of an hour after we were snugly moored up.
After a gentle siesta (Geoff's routine) he decided to explore down the weed hatch again.......this time he discovered that we have a slight nick out of one of the blades on the propeller.  Needless to say this has not been good for his stress levels............either we have to put up with the vibration all summer or we have to consider a new propeller...AAGH!
On the bright side we have a nice neighbour

Grazing opposite Petroc.

Total distance:13.25 miles 
Elapsed time:4h47m1s 
Locks:0
Bridges:44 
Average speed:2.77 mph (2.77 lock/mph) 

Ready to cruise???? Not quite

Back to the rural life

After a sunny week the rain decided to arrive for our arrival at Petroc, whilst we unloaded yet again too many belongings.   You would think after 8 years we would have this transfer off to a fine art but yet again a cull took place and we have left a suitcase full of unnecessary clothes in the car.

This is obviously not going to be a smooth departure.....no water was the first afternoon's problem.   No water means no loo either!   It took a whole afternoon and two strong men  (one of which was not Geoffrey!) to sort out the blocked up pipes etc.  Needless to say some of them were in extremely inaccessible places so there were a lot of mutterings about boat builders.....
The first attempts caused a small flood through the boat so the floor had a good wash and my many towels and tea towels suffered somewhat.
Whilst all this was going on, Geoff's stress levels were rising.   However thanks to Sandy and Phil the problem was eventually resolved.
The next problem is the shower.........plenty of water......but we cannot get rid of it.  The pump initially sprang to life but then decided to quit.........so from having too little water, we now have too much....... sitting in the shower tray.
This morning I shall try the washing machine for the first time.......do problems really come in 3's??
To look on the bright side, the rain disappeared and although the mornings are chilly, the sun is here and we have 5 months of cruising ahead of us.

Back to the cruising life

Only a few more days to go and we will be afloat again
Our house is Spick and span and ready for the first holidaymakers to enjoy Cornwall, whilst we enjoy the delights of the canals.
Watch this space for more news.

Slowly back to our home mooring

The forecasters still seemed undecided about when we would get this torrential rain but it seemed that Thursday morning would be OK so we decided to stay over here for a day.  We had decided to treat ourselves to a meal at the Greyhound Pub on Wednesday and didn't want to miss out on that.    In the event there was no rain at all on Wednesday although I don't think other parts of the country fared as well.  Still plenty of boat traffic and the moorings reasonably full.  All the mooring here is 7 days, although the signs do now say £25 per day if you overstay.

Early start on Thursday as we planned to empty rubbish and loo in the basin and thought there would be no one else on the go at 8am........wrong for a change.   As we pulled into the basin a hire boat came through so he went ahead of us and as we went through the lock there was one waiting to come the other way....obviously they have all heard the weather forecast which gives heavy rain later...

It was a bit of a misty start

However the rain stayed away and we had a dry  if overcast, run all the way to Rugby.  We stopped to pick up a few things in Tesco and have lunch and the rain started............however it was nothing like forecast and we did the final run to Clifton with very little rain.

After all the good weather we have had recently it was sad to have a dreary run for our last trip.  We mustn't complain because overall we have been very lucky this summer.  However it is sad that this years cruising has come to an end........we have a few days on Petroc now to sort her out for the winter and a quiz supper in the cafe here on Saturday.    Geoff is doing the quiz part of the evening....all Italian questions as the theme and food is Italian this time.

So this is my last blog of the year....hope to be back next April.....................................

To Hawkesbury Junction

Short hop today.......weather still holding for us..........aren't we lucky.

We passed this sorry sight

and the past Charity Dock with their large array of garden figures

We arrived at Hawkesbury in time for coffee, how civilised....and since there was plenty of room before the junction we decided to stay there for a change........

Through the rest of the day it was quite busy with boats going in both directions.....

Total distance:3.48 miles 
Elapsed time:1h29m39s 
Locks:0
Bridges:7 Average speed:2.33 mph (2.33 lock/mph) 

Last Locks of the year

Having come up the first four of the Atherstone locks on Friday there were only 7 to do today.   Off the chocks soon after 8 they were all set our way and no one around.  We decided to stop after the 3rd lock as it is the closest to the Co-op and there is a water tap.  So I nipped off for a quick morning shop while Geoff watered....or rather didn't water......of the two tap connections one did not work and the other was a non standard fitting,  However it was not the end of the world as there is a sani station after the top lock.

A duller morning than of late but still  mild for the time of year.........we did meet one boat on the way down which was handy and just before reaching the top, lo and behold 2 lock volunteers.......we did tell them about the unfriendly tap lower down but I can't say they seemed that interested so not sure if the info will be passed on!!

After watering etc at the top we were away just ahead of another boat who was in the top lock......Geoff had in mind a mooring in the open before Nuneaton.     We had a good run for a while but then picked up a S L O W boat in front of us.......we don't cruise fast but there are degrees of slow!!!

Unfortunately Geoff's memory for once was not as good as usual and having passed an open mooring but continued for what he thought was an even better one, we were disappointed to find that there were far more trees than he remembered.    So we ended up having to go all through Nuneaton before we found another nice open space.......a longer trip than planned.....Actually 'disappointed ' is probably too mild a word for his feelings on the matter......

SLOW  boat had stopped a little while before us but he moved on later and  a walk with Barney later discovered him moored just after the next bridge......just waiting to come out in front of us tomorrow......

A little removal job required...wonder how long it has been there

We don't see many of these nowadays.....

The forecast tells us that this balmy Indian summer cannot last and the prospect for Thursday which was scheduled to be our run to home base in Clifton, may have to be brought forward a day......or even delayed a day....we shall see what the guru's say this evening.....

Total distance:8.38 miles 
Elapsed time:5h8m17s 
Locks:7
Bridges:35 
Average speed:1.63 mph (2.99 lock/mph) 

Weekend in Atherstone

A weekend on a pleasant open mooring enjoying this Indian summer.......we cannot believe how warm it has become.   Sandals are out again and some gentle sitting on the bank has been enjoyed.......well at least by me...Geoff is not a sitter in the sun........we are quite near the railway line which is very busy but after a while one ceases to notice the trains

The price we pay for this nice mooring is that we are a bit further from the town than we would like.......just over a mile.    we've walked in to shop and for Sunday lunch but a second walk to go to church today defeated me.........

Lunch was in the Red Lion pub which is nice surroundings with a good carvery (very friendly chef serving it) BUT the service is appalling..........the whole place seems as though it needs a good manager to grab it by the ankles so to speak.........

Approaching the end of our cruising season which is very sad..............................

Atherstone

A gentle start just after 8.30 on a bright and promising day, summer does seem to have made a reappearance at the moment....We stopped briefly in Bradley Green at the sani station where another boat was just conveniently pulling out.
We contented ourselves with the first four locks as we knew the designated moorings above the next two locks were much more surrounded by trees.   We decided we would rather have the slightly longer walk to town and an open mooring.
After settling ourselves in Geoff set off for the town with a view to looking for a barber and some shopping, not for hair cutting, more for beard trimming!!!  About 10 minutes later he rang to say he was on his way back with a boat and maybe I would recognise it.........
It turned out to be Hector and Sally Hillman aboard 'Hectors House'.  They are ex RAF friends and we knew they had a boat but had never met up before......can't remember the last time I saw them.  So they pulled in and a convivial lunch was had by all...weather still great so we sat out on the bank.

Hector's House

They carried on after lunch but we were settled for the weekend and that was the end of shopping and barber hunting for the day!

Total distance:5.55 miles 
Elapsed time:3h48m33s 
Locks:4
Bridges:16 
Average speed:1.46 mph (2.51 lock/mph)

Alvecote

Later start this morning almost 9 o clock...we are slipping......
However it was just early enough...we had a lockless run to Fazely junction and shortly after that Tamworth begins to make its presence felt

Lots of interesting back gardens to look at en route, this one blessed with lots of gnomes.....

I love looking in peoples back gardens!!!

I am sure I have been told before what these cubby holes in some bridges were for but I have forgotten (it's my age!!)
Perhaps someone could enlighten me...........

Only the 2 locks at Glascote today and we were head of the queue...by the time we reached there we had 5 boats behind us which is why I said we were just off in time.......

We stopped briefly by bridge 67 and Geoff walked to a nearby Tescos and then just a little further to moor opposite Alvecote marina.  The moorings shown in our book were after the next bridge but that looked to dark with trees for our liking.....

After tea I took Barney for his walk and thought I would explore  what was shown as a nature reserve in our book but it was full of trees and far too lonely for my liking so I tried the other side of the canal and went to explore Alvecote Priory....this was a bit of a let down...I think I expected something a bit grander!!!! There a few ruins and a bit of scrubby grass so it wan't the most successful of walks.....later Geoff did the nature reserve walk with Barney so he didn't miss out......looking back on it maybe we should try walking together sometime!!!!
Total distance:8.06 miles 
Elapsed time:4h7m46s 
Locks:2
Bridges:34 
Average speed:1.95 mph (2.44 lock/mph) 

Alrewas to the middle of nowhere

Well not quite the middle of nowhere but not close to habitation.....between Hopwas and Whittington on a nice open mooring.
Off just before 8.30....getting later for us now as the mornings are darker..........
Barney walked all the way to Fradley junction, first with me and then with Geoff.......should wear him out for the day!!!!
We had a good run as there was no one in front of us and no one on the water point......we didn't need the water, just the elsan and rubbish.  Sadly the little shop was not open ...sharp left turn onto the Coventry Canal after the last lock and then no more locks for a while which meant I could resume my regal position in the bows whilst leaving my 'man' to steer........lovely countryside.....aint life grand....
Total distance:8.53 miles 
Elapsed time:4h21m8s
 Locks:5
Bridges:31 
Average speed:1.96 mph (3.11 lock/mph) 

Still in Alrewas

A lazy day was planned for today for me and Geoff was going to go to Lichfield on the bus as he wanted to see the Cathedral.  However lethargy set in before the day was very old and he abandoned the idea....

Today we sadly said goodbye to John and Fi on Epiphany

Mind that head John.......

Last lock wheeling together for Geoff & John...they have been a good crew....

Geoff and Barney walked as far as the first lock with them

Fantastic flowers.....on the way back through the village

Petroc's mooring (2nd boat back)

meanwhile...back at the ranch.....

and so our lazy day continued........we have been cruising in company with Epiphany for almost 6 weeks since we met up at Braunston.......we can but hope ours paths (or our wakes!!) will cross again next year....