Fazeley to Hawkesbury Junction

Tue 27th Sep  Fazeley to Meadow Lane Bridge 50

Hugo was in a dreadful state this morning, with his fur all messed up. It wasn’t until we moored up later that we noticed that his collar was also missing.  Too late to look for it.

So after a wet Monday we set off from our mooring opposite the Litchfields, and turned left at the junction, to head for the facilities, passing the Three Tuns where we have sung twice. We notice that our friends on About Time had departed.

Fazeley Junction

The Three Tuns

Using the facilities at Peel Wharf

We turned round at Peel Wharf, and set off past the junction once more, this time passing the entrance to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, heading instead up the Coventry Canal.

 Going South

We crossed the 1790 Tame Aqueduct with its 1940s pillbox, and soon found ourselves at the two Glascote Locks. A steam narrowboat was following us, and a hire boat was coming down.

 Tame Aqueduct

Glascote Top Lock

We passed Alan and Joan’s house, with their little boat Piglet moored outside, before travelling through Amington and Polesworth, with the associated memories of our mission held there in 2011.

Chez Dewhurst

There are always a few interesting boats moored at Alvecote, and today was no exception. Soon after that we passed a team working on renewing some piling.

 Historic Boats at Alvecote

Maintenance work near Alvecote

Then came Pooley Fields Heritage Centre, with its old mining pulley wheel on display, which always seems to merit a photo.  Pooley Hall was hidden by trees just before the big curve past Polesworth.

That big wheel at Pooley Fields

We had intended to go a little further, two locks up on the Atherstone flight, but we decided instead to stop just before Meadow Lane Bridge.  There was piling here, but it was not very good, as the piling pins slid along every time a boat went past. In the end we had three lines out in different directions at the stern which seemed to work.

Norfolk Belle went past with BCF members David and Angela Dunham, whom we have seen in passing on another occasion.

 Moored near Meadow Lane Bridge

Then we were treated to the most amazing sunset.  All the boaters we could see were out of their boats looking and taking pictures.  Later, on the news, there were spectacular pictures submitted from a wide area.

 Sunset

Sky on fire

Another view

Later still

2 locks, 7 miles

Wed 28th Sep  Meadow Lane Bridge 50 to Mancetter Bridge 36

Morning sky

The sky this morning was lovely, but nothing like last night’s sunset. We set off early for Atherstone with good dry weather for a day of locks.  As we passed Grendon Wharf we saw one of their projects for restoration. Quite a lot of work needed here. We also saw Pompey Chimes on a line of moorings, a boat we know well from the Wey Navigation.

Project boat at Grendon

Pompey Chimes

Then we were at the first locks, which were set against us.  We discovered that a boat had gone up at about 6.30am, so none were in our favour until boats started coming down.

Atherstone locks

Glorious day for the locks

In the middle of the flight, on the bridge where Watling Street carries a fair amount of traffic, we spotted this metal object attached to the bridge parapet. Does anyone know what it was for?

Historic fixture - what is it?

For the last three locks we appreciated some help in the shape of two volunteers.  The eleven locks over two miles took us 2½ hours. This works out at 20 minutes per mile and 10 minutes per lock.

We stopped at the facilities for water, rubbish and cassette emptying before moving on to the visitor moorings.  We set off for the shops.  We bought some filters from a motor spares place, and a replacement carbon monoxide alarm.  Ours has been going off for no reason recently, despite changing the batteries. We also bought a new collar for Hugo and had an identity disk engraved for him.

We had a good lunch at the Wheatsheaf, before picking up some necessities at Aldi and returning to the boat. We wanted to travel to somewhere more rural, and we only needed to travel for a mile, before we found a spot near Mancetter with views up a sloping pasture to some woods.

Moored at Mancetter

James went for a walk up a footpath from the bridge, and was rewarded with long views across the Anker valley.  On his return down another path, he passed through Quarry Farm where there was a small collection of elderly caravans.

James’ walk

Caravan collection

Hugo brought in a live gift, and James caught it and released it back to the wild.

11 locks, 4 miles

Thu 29th Sep  Mancetter Bridge 36 to Hawkesbury Junction

On our journey today we were aware of a line of huge clouds as a weather front moved across the landscape.  We also passed some alpacas that we don’t remember seeing before.

Alpaca

 Weather front

Canoeists are usually fairly fast, and moored boats don’t usually move, but some notices at Hartshill said they were both slow.

Slow Canoeists

Slow Moored Craft

 Hartshill

We continued our cruise through Nuneaton, appropriately named as James had not had any breakfast!  We passed the entrance to the Ashby Canal and the visually entertaining collection of all sorts near Charity Dock.

That telegraph pole again

Marston Junction

Collectables

New artwork at Bedworth

We visited Terry and Chris Rigden. We have to specify the surname as we also know a Terry and Chris Simmons. We sent the wrong couple a text by accident to say we were passing their house and they rang to say they don’t live near a canal!  Fortunately the Rigdens do, and we tied alongside Grace, their boat, and enjoyed some fellowship over tea and cake.  Terry also managed to get our fuel gauge working, which makes life a lot easier.

Alongside Grace

 Terry and Chris

  

We moved on to Hawkesbury Junction, where we decided to visit the Greyhound pub for a drink. We have never called in there before, and it looks good for a meal next time, and they serve Westons Family Reserve cider.  They serve breakfast, but on Sundays only.

There is a lot of noise around here from the M6, which passes the area.  Also an alarm went off in a car or house close by in the small hours, and lasted half an hour, which interrupted our sleep. We hope that no-one experienced a break-in – it is usually an electrical fault that sets them off.

0 locks, 9 miles

Next: on to the Oxford Canal and heading for Braunston