Today was good boating weather. Instead of setting off, we had decided to stay for the singaround in the Red Lion, and we had a few chores to do first.
James trundled a cassette to the facilities by the top lock, while Hazel ran the engine and did a load of washing, hanging it out to dry in the sunshine.
Meanwhile, we took our instruments and went for lunch at the Red Lion, followed by the singaround. Another three couples had done the same, so the pub gains from having the event here. There were eight acts, and we went round the room three times. We sang Fremantle Bay, Antiques and Long Way Down. Eric and Sally were there, as were the people from Chyandour (the other one). There were some very good performers in the group. It ended at 4pm.
We made a quick getaway, departing from our spot opposite the old hat factory, and passing Eric and Sally’s boat Cherie as we left.
Hat Factory
Cherie
We were soon out into the countryside, as the canal here winds along a contour on the side of the hills, with amazing views to the left over the Anker Valley.
We spotted BCF boat Firoza, but there was no sign of Derek and Judy. It started to get chilly as we passed the Canal and River Trust historic workshops at Hartshill, and we decided to stop before Nuneaton. We found a pleasant mooring just before Springwood Haven.
0 locks, 3 miles. Dep 1620, arr 1725
Thu 3rd October Springwood Haven to Brinklow
A boat passed just as we were undoing the ropes, so we thought we might be held up, but he went at a good pace, and we followed two or three minutes behind him.
We picked up something on the prop in Nuneaton and had to stop to clear it. It was something red and woolly. Lots of things lurk under the water.
We passed the junction with the Ashby, and we went past Chris and Terry’s house without contacting them (Sorry Chris and Terry!) as we were trying to get to our destination before the rain. Then we arrived at Hawkesbury Junction and our only lock of the day, where there was a short queue.
The first part of the North Oxford Canal has a large electricity substation with associated pylons, and the M6 and the M69 motorways making a lot of traffic noise, so it is not a place we choose to stay. The Elephant and Castle pub seems to have become offices, although the Rose and Castle at Ansty looks active. We saw some swallows just before the entrance to Coventry Cruising Club. We wonder whether these will be the last of the year.
We passed Maranatha, previously Sandra and Ernie’s boat (BCF and Canal Ministries)
We found a mooring at Brinklow, just where we wanted to be to meet Clare and Craig. As we stopped, we picked up something else on the propeller. It was a shopping bag, but not just any shopping bag…
Sadly, Craig couldn’t make it due to pressure of work, but Clare duly arrived, and she drove us to the next village, Easenhall, where we had a lovely meal at the Golden Lion.
1 lock, 15 miles, 1 swingbridge. Dep 0850, arr 1410
Fri 4th October Brinklow to Wise’s Bridge
The first part of the journey today was through beautiful green woods, where squirrels were very active, hiding acorns. Along this canal are a series of iron footbridges on the towpath, made by the Horseley Iron Works in Birmingham in 1828. They were put in when the Oxford Canal was straightened out with embankments and cuttings, avoiding extravagant contour loops.
We stopped at Brownsover for provisions from Tesco, lunch on board, and the use of facilities. There is a new water point, there are new mooring rings, and there is a wheelie bin in the car park. We discovered that the Elsan point, which for years has been closed due to vandalism, is now open again, although it still has red and white tape across the door.
We left with everything filled or emptied as appropriate, and picked the last plum from the overhanging tree soon after Clifton Cruisers.
There is now a new bridge across the canal which we think will lead to a large housing development.
When we reached Hillmorton Locks we found we were third in a queue, as two of the paired locks were out of action.
We passed through the three locks and carried on to get ourselves clear of the railway noise, followed by the M45 noise. We found a peaceful mooring south of bridge 80, where we were treated to a lovely rainbow over sunlit fields. We noticed that boats coming after us were wet, so we had escaped a downpour.
3 locks, 11 miles. Dep 0925, arr Brownsover 1155. Dep 1345, arr Wise’s Bridge 1640.
Sat 5th October Wise’s Bridge to Norton Junction
Our plan today was to go the short distance into Braunston, and attend church there in the morning. But plans are there to be changed…….
We had a leisurely departure, and very soon passed the new marina, Dunchurch Pools, with a modern version of the iron footbridge at the entrance. An old railway follows the route of the canal along this section, and there is an occasional reminder such as an old signal at the edge of a field. We soon caught sight of the landmark church spire at Braunston.
Old Railway signal
We stopped opposite Braunston Turn, where we visited Midland Chandlers. They didn’t have what we wanted, which was One-Chem toilet blue, so we ordered some online to be sent to Aylesbury.
We stopped between the two marina entrances for access to the village in the morning. A nicely kept working pair went past.
We thought we would check the time of the service at the church. We discovered that the service was celebrating the Harvest Festival, and was not in the church, but at Bragborough Hall Farm. No post code was given. Looking at the map, we found two possible places: Bragborough Hall, and also Bragborough Farm. Both locations were more than walking distance, so we decided we would have to forgo church on this occasion. The weather forecast showed rain tomorrow and again on Monday, so we decided to move on as far as we could today.
We joined a lock queue, which was complicated as Union Canal Carriers had hire boats all over the place as their base is at the foot of the locks.
Lock queue
We ended up sharing with Dawn Mist, which we noticed had an interesting stern deck.
We moored just after Norton Junction on the visitor moorings.
6 locks, 7 miles. Dep 1020 arr 1155 Braunston. Dep 1425, arr 1730 Norton Junction
Next: moving on down the Grand Union as the weather allows. We need to be in Milton Keynes by Thursday evening.
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