Alrewas to Fazeley

Mon 29^th Aug  Alrewas to Huddlesford

We had some help from passers by at Bagnall Lock, as apparently, the bottom gates don’t stay shut. Soon after this, we found a cruiser moored on the off side, with a flat battery. We gave them a tow to the next lock, Common Lock, where at least they could use their electric bike to get to somewhere for a new battery. While we were towing, we passed BCF boat Faith, but we couldn’t stop to chat. We haven’t met them before.

Passing BCF boat Faith

Gabriel and the boat we towed

We passed through Hunts Lock and Keepers Lock, with help from volunteers. When we arrived at Fradley, we paused to empty cassettes and dispose of rubbish, before our final Trent and Mersey Lock, Junction Lock, where there were a lot of gongoozlers.

Hunts Lock

Gongoozlers at Junction Lock

Fradley Junction

Into the Coventry Canal

We used the water point, and then decided to to move on, as it was under trees, and we needed to dry some washing. As we progressed up the Coventry Canal, we were amazed at the number of boats we met, sometimes in a line of five or six. On sections of canal where there are no locks to separate the boats, there can sometimes be convoys like this. Apparently there had been an event at Alvecote, and some of these boats were coming away from that.

We passed Streethay Wharf, and were pleased to be leaving the noisy A38 road. We stopped just before Huddlesford.

Streethay Wharf

Diesel price at Streethay

Moored at Huddlesford

Getting the washing dry

Beautiful sky

5 locks, 7 miles, 1 swingbridge. Dep 0955, arr 1135 Fradley. Dep 1220, arr 1355.

Tue 30^th Aug  Huddlesford to Hopwas

We were just about to leave when a boat appeared from behind, and went past. We pulled out behind, and then another boat pulled out behind us. So, we had a convoy.

We passed Huddlesford Junction, where the Lichfield Canal starts, to be restored one day.

Huddlesford Junction

Lichfield Canal

The first boat pulled over to let us pass, so now we were first in the line of about five boats. There were some narrow sections, and we had to wait at times for boats coming the other way. Thankfully, we were at a wider place when we met an old working boat.

Meeting a working boat

The old quarry at Hopwas

Hopwas woods

We stopped for the day in Hopwas, outside the Tame Otter, and we went for a meal  at the Red Lion.

Moored in Hopwas

0 locks, 5 miles. Dep 0920, arr 1055.

Wed 31^st Aug  Hopwas to Fazeley

We didn’t have far to go today, as we wanted to leave our boat in Fazeley while we went by hire car to Aylesbury and Weybridge.

There were some reedy sections where the channel was narrow. The bridges here aren’t numbered, as historically, this was part of the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Narrow path through the reeds

The last of the Rosebay Willow Herb

No bridge numbers

No-one moors at Peel Wharf

We arrived in Fazeley, and turned into the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, and we moored where Kew used to be, at David and Mary’s house. A little later, Stephen and Gwyneth arrived on Chyandour, and they tried to get in in front of us. There was some obstruction in the water there, so we said they could have our space, and we could moor opposite. They are leaving their boat for a week, and we are only away for two nights.

Moored in Fazeley

0 locks, 3 miles. dep 0930, arr 1030.

Next: a brief account of our journey by hire car to Aylesbury and Weybridge.