Huddlesford to Fazeley

Mon 23^rd September Huddlesford to Hopwas

We took our place in what seemed like a continuous line of boats leaving the festival, heading south. No doubt it was the same for boats heading north.

We passed Whittington Wharf, home of Eric and Doreen, where we once sang in the garden.

Whittington Wharf

We saw what may be the last swallows of the year, swooping round over the fields, before we moored on the visitor moorings in Hopwas Woods.

We took a bus to Tamworth, where we collected Hazel’s repaired computer. We also went to Morrison’s, which was a very small store, but they stock their cider box, and their wholemeal muffins.

Then we returned by bus to Hopwas.

0 locks, 3 miles. Dep 0850 arr 1005


Tue 24^th September Hopwas

It was raining for a lot of today as had been forecast. We took a bus to Tamworth again, and went to see Downton Abbey in the cinema there.

Hopwas in the rain

After coffee in Wetherspoons we pottered round some shops, and discovered James no longer had his phone with him. He remembered picking it up off the table in Wetherspoons.  We tried phoning it with Hazels phone and a lady answered. It been found on the floor in Wetherspoons. We returned and gratefully collected it.

Later James was sitting on a bench while Hazel was in a shop, and a little old lady came past.

“Are you the gentleman who lost his phone in Wetherspoons?” “Yes I am. Are you the lady who found it?” It was good to be able to thank her.

We took a bus back, and had a meal at the Tame Otter.

No boating today


Wed 25^th September Hopwas to Fazeley

We were disturbed in the night by two vans coming along the towpath, and men talking in loud voices at 2am in the rain the other side of the hedge below our boat. Something to do with the Severn Trent Water facility. It must have been an emergency call out at that hour.

The water works facility. The canal is on an embankment to the right.

We set off at a more civilized hour, and paused immediately for a few damsons just before the bridge.

As we passed the A5 and approached Bonehill Road Bridge, we saw what looked like black blobs of paint on the surface of the water. A little further on there were the rainbow colours caused by floating diesel. This continued all the way to Fazeley Junction.

Pollution

Paint maybe

Diesel

We turned right at the junction and made our way to Fazeley Mill Marina to empty cassettes and fill the water tank.

Fazeley Mill Marina

On our return we found that Ferrous had arrived and moored alongside Kew, opposite Columbus, leaving a narrow gap for any passing boats.

Wall to wall boats

We moored up and went to visit David and Mary who had invited us for coffee. Meanwhile fuel boat Clover arrived, and David was able to top up Kew’s tank, and purchase some coal. Edwin left soon after on Ferrous.

Clover, Kew, Edwin and David.

Edwin Fasham on Ferrous setting off and passing Gabriel

Hazel was offered the use of Mary’s tumble drier, which was useful as the weather was still damp.

John and Jan Halford arrived on Jubilee and they joined us in the Chinese restaurant with David and Mary. What a sociable day.

0 locks, 3 miles. Dep 0910, arr 1110

Next: Staying in Fazeley for the BCF fellowship weekend, before starting our journey back towards Aylesbury.