Fradley to Huddlesford via Fazeley

2019  55 Fradley to Hopwas

Tue 17^th September  Fradley to Whittington

We had decided on a cooked breakfast at the Laughing Duck café opposite, which didn’t open until 10am. Meanwhile, we moved the boat across to the facilities area, where we filled the water tank, disposed of rubbish and emptied our cassettes. We moved back across to moor up again and walked round via the lock for a very pleasant breakfast.

Moored in Fradley

The wharf crane and water point

When we set off, there was a volunteer at Junction Lock, our only lock of the day. Once through the lock, we turned left onto the Coventry Canal.

Junction Lock

Onto the Coventry Canal

It was good to see Nigel and Rosemary on Jarrah, albeit briefly as we passed each other. They moor in Aylesbury.

Nigel and Rosemary on Jarrah

We have noticed a number of novice boaters recently. Some have a boat share, and some have just bought a boat. On a narrow section, there were boats moored on the left, and a boat coming towards us. We kept right over to the right against some reeds, leaving plenty of room, but they went too near the moored boats and hit one with a loud bang. A very irate inmate appeared at the bows. Thankfully we were out of earshot by then.

Our phone signal had been poor for a few days, and we tried to phone Fradley Mills Marina to see if they had a 6kg propane gas bottle for us. Twice they missed our call, and twice we missed theirs. Finally we were able to ascertain that they did have one, so we didn’t need to call in at Streethay Wharf, where it is often difficult to tie up.

We passed Huddlesford Junction, where the Lichfield Canal used to go through to Ogley Junction in Birmingham. Hopefully one day it will do so again. The Huddlesford Heritage Gathering is happening here this weekend, but we have been unable to book in, as they are not accepting any more boat entries. We have therefore been unable to book a slot in the buskers tent, or tickets for the hog roast and entertainment on Saturday night. We may try to moor here anyway if there is room.

Through route to Birmingham one day

We moored for the day just before Whittington. Another boat arrived – Thistledown, and we had a good chat with John and Vee, BCF members. They are going to the festival. They are also keen on the wildlife, and we watched two buzzards on the field opposite.

Moored at Whittington

Buzzard

Evening light

1 lock, 5 miles, 1 swing bridge. Dep 1110, arr 1310


Wed 18^th September  Whittington to Hopwas

Thistledown left, and we expected to see them at the festival.

John and Vee on Thistledown


We cruised through the delightful Hopwas Woods, and moored by the Tame Otter, (where we once had a gig) just where we wanted to be to meet granddaughter Jasmin tomorrow. We heard owls in the night.

Hopwas Woods

Moored near the Tame Otter

0 locks, 3 miles. Dep 1110, arr 1310


Thu 19^th September  Hopwas to Fradley to Hopwas

Jasmin arrived, and parked in the Red Lion car park, and joined us on the boat for a chat, before we all went to the Red Lion for lunch.

Red Lion (where we once had a gig)

It was a beautiful day, and we wanted to turn the boat to go to Huddlesford for the Festival the next day. Jasmin said she would like to come too, so we set off for Fazeley. Another boat had just gone by, and he was travelling slowly, so we ambled along behind. We passed the Little Chimney Company, where we had bought a chimney two years ago.

Little Chimney Company

Following a slow boat

Jasmin

Hazel

We arrived in Fazeley, where Hazel and Jasmin got off to get some shopping from Tesco, and a pre-ordered prescription from the chemist. James meanwhile took the boat along the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal to Fazeley Mill Marina to buy gas, and empty cassettes. He chatted to David and Mary as he passed their house. They are going to the festival with Kew.

Three Tuns pub, another place where we once sang

Fazeley Junction

Passing Kew

Tolson’s Mill

He collected the ladies at the junction again on the way back. As we passed Bonehill Road Bridge we saw that some shopping trolleys had been pulled out of the canal. Several years ago we had witnessed a trolley being thrown into the canal from the bridge. Perhaps this was the same one.

Shopping trolley

The moorings by the Tame Otter had been taken, so we let Jasmin off there to return to her car. We continued past the Social Club where we are going tonight for the folk club, and we moored further on by Hopwas Woods.

Social Club

Moored in Hopwas Woods

We went along to the folk club, where we had a great welcome, as we have sung in there several times before. We sang Long Way Down, Fremantle Bay, and The Man Who Calmed the Sea. A man called Andy said he was going to the festival and would knock on our boat.

0 locks, 6 miles. Dep 1315, arr 1635


Fri 20^th September  Hopwas to Huddlesford Gathering

We set off, hoping to find somewhere to moor for the festival at Huddlesford. It was another lovely day, and Hopwas Woods were beautiful.

Pillbox in Hopwas Woods

Hopwas Woods

We saw a large group of swallows lining up on wires, getting ready for departure to warmer places.

Swallows – will these be the last this year?

As we approached the festival, we decided to turn round at the junction before mooring up, as we could then see what boats were there, and we would avoid the chaos at the end of the festival. We found that there were quite a few gaps, and, as we hadn’t booked in, we moored far enough away so as not to deprive anyone of their rightful mooring. The only allocated spaces were for historic or trading boats.

Arriving for the festival

The car park measured out

Moored for the festival

Kew came past later, and we told David that we had seen his allocated mooring.

0 locks, 4 miles. Dep 0955, arr 1150


Next: Huddlesford Heritage Gathering, then a week later, a BCF fellowship weekend in Fazeley.