Atherstone to Hopwas

Mon 21st May  Atherstone to Polesworth

We were woken this morning by James’ phone alarm going off at 4.40am!  We had no intention of getting up so early, and didn’t want an alarm at all, so how did this phone set itself for that hour? 

We had just about got back to sleep when a duck landed on the roof, quacking for all its friends to join it, as there is a good view from there. It was now 5.30am.  James saw it off in his dressing gown.

Early morning duck on the roof

Then a boat went past towards the locks at 7.15am and we gave up any further idea of sleep.  Another boat went past at about 8am, and we followed at 9am, thinking they would be clear of the first few locks by then.

Stephen Carter was at the top lock ready to help, in his capacity as CRT volunteer. It was good to see him again after our meal at the Greyhound last week.  He helped us down the first five locks.

Helpful volunteer Stephen

We discovered that another boat was going down in front. He had not passed us, as he was closer to the locks than we were. He was on his own, so everything took longer.

Bright sunshine on the locks

Pink blossom

At lock 7, just below the boatyard, there was blue paint floating in the water. Someone had been a bit careless.

Blue paint

Further down the flight

It was very sunny and these locks are fairly light compared to some, so it was an enjoyable time. There were some boats coming towards us up the flight, so that was a help.  The eleven locks took 2 hours and 20 minutes.

We paused at the Grendon facilities to empty cassettes and rubbish, and fill the water tank.

Just after this we saw a beautiful field of buttercups. Then at Grendon Dock there were historic boats in various stages of restoration.

Buttercup field

Restoration project

Restored

Cygnets

We stopped at Polesworth, and were fortunate to get the last remaining space with mooring rings.  Tagula Blue was there, and we arranged to meet Anne later.

Andy and Sue phoned from Nottingham, and then dropped in to say hello on their way back to their boat on the Ashby Canal.

A pleasant couple from Holland arrived on a Black Prince hire boat, and Andy and James helped them moor.

We cooked on board, and later we sat out on chairs, and had wine and nibbles with Anne. A very sociable time.

11 locks, 5 miles

Tue 22nd May  Polesworth to Fazeley

We met a guy from Sylvia and they were moored near us at Springwood Haven, and also at Atherstone. They are travelling in the same direction as us so we will no doubt meet again.

Leaving Polesworth

After half a mile, a man on the towpath shouted “I filmed you” referring to the Coventry Canal mission a few years ago here in Polesworth.

We passed Pooley Hall and the visitor centre where an old pulley wheel from a coal mine has been painted in many colours.

Colourful pulley wheel

M42 Bridge

Samuel Barlow pub where we sang in 2015

Historic boats at Alvecote

Bantam Tug

More yellow flowers – this time it is broom.

We called in to see Alan and Joan Dewhurst. They live canalside on a small arm that used to be a Samuel Barlow coal wharf.  It is now very silted up, and we had to use lots of power to get the boat in.  Then we had to use even more power to get the boat off the mud again.  It was good to catch up with Alan and Joan. Alan was a founder member of BCF when it was formed in 1995. 

Alan and Joan

The pub where we once sang is now a Co-op

When we arrived at Glascote Locks there was a lock queue – one boat in the lock going down, and two boats in front of us waiting.  These locks are very slow to fill and there is often a queue here.

The leaky lock poem

Glascote locks

We crossed the River Tame on an aqueduct, where there is a WWll pillbox to guard it.

Aqueduct

River Tame

Pillbox

We moored at Fazeley, almost opposite David and Mary’s boat Kew.  Sandra Kibble came and collected us and drove us to see her new home in Drayton Bassett, a quiet village a mile or so away.  She has only been in for six weeks and already she has lots of ideas about putting on events in the community centre opposite, and the ancient church next door, where Sir Robert Peel is buried.

She drove us back to our boat at Fazeley.  There was a dog in a garden nearly opposite that barked at every other dog that was on the towpath, and also at our cat whenever he ventured out.  For this reason we plan to move tomorrow.

2 locks, 5 miles

Wed 23rd May  Fazeley to Hopwas

Mary Litchfield came to see us in the morning for a catch up. David was away on a walking break.  While we were having coffees on Gabriel, Vic Mortimer and Sandra went past on Alan Dewhurst’s boat Piglet. We understand they were on a Waterways Chaplaincy appointment.

Hazel and Mary

After some shopping at Tesco Express we set off on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal past the Litchfield’s house where they keep Kew.  We turned at the winding hole by Debbie’s Day Boats, and came back past Fazeley Mill Marina, where the only facilities in Fazeley are now located, since Canal and River Trust closed their regional offices here.

Passing Kew

Fazeley Mill Marina

The old CRT office

We continued to the junction where we turned left to resume our journey up the Coventry Canal. We stopped on the water point briefly to check the propeller, and found orange plastic netting and several polythene bags. Our first weed hatch visit of the season.

Tolson Mill

Watling Street Bridge

Fazeley Junction

Assorted debris from the prop

We went under Bonehill Road Bridge, and then we spotted a boat with a sign advertising stainless steel chimneys. We have been looking for new chimney as ours is rusting through.  We stopped and met Tracey, who called Kym, the guy who makes them.  We waited for half an hour while he returned from Fazeley, and he measured up for a new chimney for Gabriel. 

Chimney notice

Stainless Steel Chimneys

We carried on a further two miles towards Hopwas, where we passed Tagula Blue.

Tagula Blue

Lilac

Moored at Hopwas.

Soon after we arrived, we were told about a cat on the next boat. Apparently it is a feral cat and kills all sorts of animals. We were warned to be careful about our cat.

Then a lady came along with some boater’s keys she had found. They weren’t ours, but we put a notice in our window with her phone number in case the owner came along.

Then Kym delivered a new chimney to us.

0 locks, 4 miles

Tomorrow we are likely to move the boat because of the cat situation. In the evening we are going to the social club where Chequemates Folk Club happens every Thursday.  We are heading for Rugeley by Saturday, and plan to visit Victory Church there on Sunday.