Mon 17th August Fazeley to Alvecote
We spotted an unusual goose as we said farewell to Terry and Chris on Grace this morning as they set off towards Fradley.
Farewell also to John and Gill on Faithful as they did the same an hour later. We departed in the other direction, passing the junction with the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, crossing the Tame on an aqueduct, and going up through the two Glascote Locks. The locks were both in our favour, as a boat was just leaving the bottom locks as we approached.
At the top we paused on rings by Anchor Bridge while Hazel visited the Co-op for some milk. This shop is in the building that used to be the Anchor pub, where we once performed during a mission on the Coventry Canal. Further on, we spotted Alan Dewhurst in his garden and we had a chat from the boat. It was good to see him.
We have had various things on our propeller from time to time. Today we had a first: a dog lead that we had to clear.
We cruised through Amington, meeting several boats, and coping with low hanging weeping willow trees. Alvecote Marina had the usual selection of historic vessels, and we stopped just afterwards as far from the railway as we could without getting too close to the M42. It rained hard just after we had moored up.
When the rain stopped, it was lovely to have a chat with Eric and Sally Naylor as they passed on Cherie, heading for Wolseley Bridge. We also spoke to Barry from Vimochana who was moored behind us, and whom we had met at Napton a few years ago. Then we saw Brian on Lord Sooty as he cruised past. We shared the Wigan Flight with him once, and moored with him in Leicester on another occasion. How very sociable it has been over the last few days!
Later we spotted a newt on our bathroom window, and when we shone a light on it, it moved onto the gunwale. Bad light made a blurred pic.
2 locks, 4 miles. Dep 0955, arr 1220, including 20 minutes for the Co-op.
Tue 18th August Alvecote to Atherstone
We had planned to go just to the bottom of the Atherstone Locks today, but the weather forecast for tomorrow was wet all day. Not wanting to do locks in the wet, we decided to go all the way up the locks today.
We set off fairly early, passing Lord Sooty just around the corner. Brian was not up. Our route took us under the M42, past Pooley Fields Heritage Centre and around Polesworth.
At Grendon there are always some boats in need of attention. Maybe one day.
We made use of the facilities at Bradley Green before commencing our journey up the flight of eleven locks. There was a boat just leaving the bottom lock as we arrived, and many people must have the same idea as us, deciding to do the locks today rather than tomorrow. We only had to empty two locks. All the rest had boats coming down.
Finally, in the top lock, the rain started. There were no moorings opposite the old hat factory, and we had to go through bridge 40 before we could moor up. By now it was raining quite hard, and we were pleased we had no more locks.
11 locks, 6 miles. Dep 0830, arr 1350.
Wed 19th August Atherstone
We took a footpath across the recreation ground and the railway, and went for a very pleasant breakfast at the Old Bakery.
We then collected a pre-ordered prescription from Lloyds Pharmacy, and visited the Co-op and Aldi before returning to the boat with our brollies deployed.
It rained for most of the day. At around 6pm it stopped and several boats started to move, including Brian on Lord Sooty. We stayed put, and had a Canal Ministries Zoom meeting in the evening.
No boating today.
Next: Continue
on the Coventry Canal and up the Ashby.
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