Alvecote to Hartshill

Mon 5^th Sep  Alvecote to Atherstone flight

It was a glorious morning with a bright sun dispersing an early mist.

Sunny misty morning at Alvecote

We cruised slowly past Alvecote Marina with its collection of historic boats. Kew is now moored here, and we could just spot the blue roof.

Approaching Alvecote Marina

Historic boats

A new home for Kew

Through the old mine workings, with disused disappeared bridges. Under the M42 and past Pooleys Country Park with its colourfully painted pulley wheel from the lift shaft. We have never stopped here – perhaps we should. The trees have grown since our last cruise past here, and we had difficulty seeing the golden monument on top of the slag heap.

Remains of old coal workings

Under the M42

Pooley Fields Heritage Centre

Then past the Polesworth visitor moorings, where we spotted some Japanese Knotweed flourishing. We also had difficulty seeing Polesworth Abbey because of the trees.

Knotweed

The farm where there used to be a lot of rusting farm machinery has probably changed hands, as there is now a large barn or warehouse being built. (no photo). There is still a derelict swingbridge.

Swingbridge beyond repair

Sunken cruiser near Grendon

A lovely tree and old cottage at Grendon Wharf

At Bradley Green there was a boat turning in the winding hole. We waited for them to finish, and they went onto the facilities. We pulled in behind them, and emptied a cassette and disposed of rubbish. We moved on towards the Atherstone locks, and passed Pompey Chimes, which used to be on the Wey, and seems to be in good condition.

Bradley Green Services

Pompey Chimes

The start of the locks

We went up through two locks and moored just past bridge 47. Soon after we had stopped, BCF boat Firoza came past, and Derek said, “We are coming back.” We assumed they were turning the boat. However, they moored up below the bottom lock, and walked back to see us, on the way back to their car. They came on board for a cuppa. We last saw Derek and Judy in 2018. As they left it started to rain, and we had a heavy downpour later.

Lock 10 on the Atherstone flight

Derek and Judy

Moored on the Atherstone flight

Reeds and sky

2 locks, 5 miles. Dep 1030, arr 1300

Tue 6^th Sep  Atherstone flight to Atherstone top

We had met people yesterday who were delayed coming down the flight, because of low pounds. We wondered what the situation would be today. We managed OK to begin with, although one pound was about a foot down. When we came to the final five locks, where there is a timing restriction, it was quite busy. As Hazel tried to take the boat into lock 5, she found herself not going anywhere, as the boat was on the bottom. James took a rope and bow hauled the boat into the lock, assisted by a volunteer letting a little more water down.

Atherstone Locks

Low pound

Meeting another boat

Trying to get into Lock 5

Unusual use of an allotment

There were several volunteers out and about, so we gave them a tin of biscuits we had picked up in the shops.

We moved onto the facilities, after waiting for a boat there with two ladies having lunch. Thankfully, there was a mooring space for us opposite the derelict hat factory.

Atherstone Top Lock

Moored in Atherstone

9 locks, 2 miles. Dep 0920, arr 1140 Top Lock facilities. Dep 1200, arr 1210 moorings.

Wed 7^th Sep  Atherstone to Hartshill

The hat factory in Atherstone

We went shopping in Atherstone, which has surprisingly few charity shops. We bought two dirt trapper mats for the stern and bows, and visited the Co-op and Aldi to stock up.

It was the first Wednesday of the month, so we went to the Red Lion where they have a singaround. We started off in the library, but had to move to the Lady Godiva room where there was more space. James sang Autumn Song, Gossip Calypso (in tribute to Bernard Cribbins, who died recently), and Low Bridge.

Red Lion singaround

We had planned to meet John, of Johns Covers, at the Anchor by bridge 39 tomorrow morning. So, we set off for the two mile cruise. We noticed that all the moorings were full, and we counted nineteen boats moored, many waiting for the locks to reopen in the morning.

Thankfully, the weather stayed dry for us, as we cruised along this lovely stretch of canal following a contour on the side of a hill.

Storm clouds brewing

Mancetter Marina

Is there any other sort?

They are usually quite quick!

We stopped just before Hartshill, as there was a good place to moor, with a small car park alongside. We sent a text to John to let him know where to meet us, but we had a phone call to say that he would prefer to do it on Saturday, when the weather forecast was more certain. We agreed to meet at the Greyhound at Hawkesbury Junction at 10am.

Moored near Hartshill

Hartshill depot

While cooking our meal, the oven decided to go out, so we had to re-light it. There was plenty of gas, so we are not sure why this happened. It meant that we were eating our meal during our Canal Ministries Zoom meeting. 

We discovered that Rob and Trish were in Fazeley, and heading our way doing long days. We sent them a message to find out where they planned to be tomorrow, and the answer was Atherstone. We suggested they go an extra two miles where they would find us.

We had heavy rain later

0 locks, 2 miles. Dep 1625, arr 1715.

Thu 8^th Sep  Hartshill

Dry morning. We could have done the pram hood after all! Instead, we caught up with a few chores as we had a day to use. 

Heavy rain started at lunchtime, as predicted. Rob and Trish arrived around 4pm, very wet, having started at about 8am. They came on board for a meal later. It was great to catch up with them.

Rob and Trish

Menacing cloud

Large moon

After they left, we turned on the news to discover that the Queen had passed away. Two days earlier she had been photographed with Liz Truss, the new prime minister. We felt a profound sense of loss. 

No boating today

Next: A short cruise to Bedworth for a meal and overnight mooring with our friends Terry and Chris. Then, hopefully, a day at Hawkesbury Junction to have our pram hood measured, and a meal with Jasmin our granddaughter, then heading down the North Oxford Canal.