Hawkesbury to Atherstone

We made the move from Hawkesbury a few days earlier than intended as James needed to get some supplies from the Axminster shop on Bermuda Park in Nuneaton. As we moved across the canal to water up we noticed the canal was a very strange green colour, almost as if someone had put a dye in it.

We were soon on our way through Sutton Stop Lock and then the turn onto The Coventry Canal heading for Bridge 17 Gypsy Lane as Axminster is just up past the quarry works, not a particularly pleasant walk as its along a fairly busy road with no footpath. Purchases were soon made and then it was into Frankie and Bennys for dinner.

Moored just before bridge 17

After a nice peaceful night with nothing much around we winded and headed back just past Marston Junction. I needed to be in Coventry for Wednesday and it's just a short stroll from there to the train station in Bedworth, at just £2.80 return for me with my railcard it was a bargain.

Marston Junction is just behind us

We had arranged for Mark on Callisto to stop by with coal and diesel, unfortunately his diesel supplier had cancelled his order as they thought it was double booked as he only had a delivery the week before. As he was planning on going down the Ashby, where he had rearranged his delivery and then onto Atherstone we would catch up with him there. It is good to see that the working boats are getting the custom on the canals we always use them if we can.

Here comes Mark on fuel boat Callisto 

On Friday James reversed back to the junction where we winded again and headed to Atherstone for the weekend.

Moored in Atherstone

12.5 miles and 1 lock
Total 558.5 miles and 377 locks

On the move again

I arrived back at the boat on Monday 24th November, I think James had enjoyed his time home alone a bit too much! I had a couple of weeks part time work in Rugby so we stayed at Brownsover for the rest of the week, it was so handy for a stroll to the offices near the railway station. 

Moored at Brownsover, near Rugby

Saturday 29th November and we headed off for a weekend in Hillmorton, we winded at the bottom of the locks and moored up on the visitors moorings shortly after. It was very quiet, only two other boats there Saturday night. I had a walk up to Post Office to post a couple more pens and James was busy with his lathe out on the towpath turning a few more. (Details of the pen venture to follow). 

Lovely day in Hillmorton

After a Sunday roast chicken lunch (it's still very exciting to be cooking in my oven, sad I know) we headed off back to Rugby as I still had a week of work there.

On Friday afternoon we had a lovely visit from Dave and Allison (Free Spirit) and we all enjoyed James' bakewell tart and mince pies. 

Yesterday we were on the move again and left Rugby, it was cold and frosty as we left at around 8:30am. 

Just before Newbold there was a bit of very thin ice forming on the canal with a bit more just outside Brinklow Marina. On the approach to All Oaks Wood the ice was across the canal and a bit thicker, but it was at its worst on the approach to Hawkesbury Junction as we passed by Coventry Cruising Club. We arrived at Hawkesbury Junction around 2pm after a really pleasant wintery cruise.

Passing Lime Farm Marina

The ice just passed Brinklow Marina

Heading towards All Oaks Wood and a bit more ice

After we cut a passage through the ice

Moored up just before Sutton Stop Lock at Hawkesbury Junction

19 miles

Total 546 miles and 376 locks

Hawkesbury to Brinklow

On Saturday we had a brief visit from Heather on Smile and Wave, they passed by and moored up on the Coventry Canal side of the junction, Heather wandered back to have a chat and also look out for friends of theirs who were following on a bit behind, we were briefly interrupted by a hire boat bashing its way around the corner, passing by us and shortly after clattering into a boat on the permanent moorings. Thanks for stopping by Heather it was good to see you again.

Saturday evening saw us in the very busy Greyhound Inn, we actually managed to get a table, well a share of one, and had an enjoyable evening.

Our intention was to set off from Hawkesbury on Sunday, but we didn't because it was busy so we thought we'd leave them all to it and not add to the congestion. We took a stroll back to the junction in the morning and did a bit of gongoozling, it just so happen we watched the hire boat from yesterday go through the lock, a member of their crew seemed to have difficultly dropping the paddle behind them so left it up. A couple of guys from the Coventry Canal Society were following on a boat behind them and raised the paddles in front to help them on their way, everyone stood around for some time before James had to go and let them know that paddles both ends were open, luckily its only a stop lock so nothing drastic this time. The hire boat wasn't doing too bad a job of the turn until there were a couple of other boats coming towards him at the narrow section by the pump house, after a bit of confusion as no one was indicating their intentions and at that point it really did look like the hire boat was trying to wind, everyone was soon on their way.

So this morning we set off, but as usual for us not far. We passed through Ansty where the 'Strictly no mooring' section has increased further from the permit holder moorings right through to the M69 bridge. I wonder why there is no mooring here? And is it really necessary for all these signs in about two boat lengths? 

I am always reminded of a nasty lady when we come through this way. When we very first hired from Lime Farm Marina, which is only about seven miles away, we got to this section and it poured down and hailed as we couldn't really see much and being first timers we thought it would be safer to stop and having spotted the mooring rings and a vacant spot we pulled in, we did overshoot it somewhat and I jumped off in the 'strictly no mooring' section, so we were just going to pull the boat back to the rings. I could soon hear some shouting and a lady appeared from one of the houses, as she got closer I could make out her shouting at us 'you can't stop here, its no mooring' and pointing to the many signs. I tried to explain we were just stopping because of the weather and were pulling back onto the rings, she just continued to shout and scream at me about no mooring here. bearing in mind it was absolutely pouring down I really couldn't understand her actions. Anyway I am always reminded of the incident and unfriendliness of Ansty.

We continued on passing under the M6 and then into a section made narrow by the overgrown reeds on the offside.

Next up was Rose Boats and their little swing bridge, I jumped off and opened it, it wasn't until James was going through I realised there was an arrow on it indicating which way to push, oops I had gone the wrong way, I did try both but pushing it the correct way it wouldn't budge, once James and LJ were through and it did close OK.

We stopped just short of All Oaks Wood on the visitor moorings and had a walk into Brinklow Village, and as it was lunchtime we had a bag of chips and sat on the new benches by the new war memorial. It was lovely and warm this morning with some sun, but this afternoon we've had a few showers.

Tomorrow it's back to Lime Farm Marina to see John, the owner, to get a quote for some work we want doing on LJ.

7.75 miles

Total 447.5 miles and 362 locks

Nuneaton to Hawkesbury

11th September

Well very nearly up to date with the blog at last!!

The last couple of days we have been moored the closest we could get to the Bermuda Industrial Park near Nuneaton, so James could visit the men's toyshop, Axminster Tools and Machinery, and it happens to be the largest of their six stores. It's just a short stroll from the canal up there and on our first trip he got a different type of glue to try, the second trip this morning was to replace an £8.75 collet which unfortunately took a dive into the canal, after an hour and a half looking round we came out with a chuck set costing a little bit more at £130, but I suppose it could have been worse there were some individual ones at close on £200.

Nuneaton's Axminster store

The weather has been gorgeous and James has been doing some woodwork on the lathe, while I have been busy with my sewing machine, it's all been very industrious on LJ and with the sun on the solar panels to power it all. I did venture out to pick some blackberries but it was very disappointing not many collected I guess it is getting a little late for them now, especially as they were so early this year.

There was some work, or possibly survey, being done on the bridge behind us, which a raft arrived for. They set up a scaffold on it and had to keep moving it out of the way for the boats to pass by.

The scaffold raft arriving

Our little neighbour for a few days, she enjoyed floating on her own reed raft

After our little shopping trip this morning it was wise to move on before James could think of anything else he needed at Axminster, that's the problem being near shops - we spend money. We continued on past Marston Junction where the Ashby Canal goes off, past Charity Dock, then arrived at Hawkesbury Junction, where we spent the winter in 2012/2013. 

Charity Dock

This collection seems to grow every time we pass

We did the 180 turn at the junction past the Greyhound pub, which was quite busy for a weekday, on to the Oxford Canal, through the stop lock and then moored up just after.

The familiar view of the Pump House at Hawkesbury Junction

The Greyhound on a lovely sunny day

Moored up just after the stop lock

3.5 miles and 1 lock

Total 439.75 miles and 362 locks

Well if yesterday was damp and drizzley...

Well if yesterday was damp and drizzley...

Today we are living in a cloud. The camera didn't come out yesterday for our return trip from Coventry basin. We waited for the rain to change to drizzle before upping pins and moving over to the pump-out. 

Unfortunately despite the pump running it soon became obvious there was a blockage. I called a very apologetic C&RT who said that there was slim chance of getting an engineer there today but insisted they track us down to replace our payment card. 'No need' I said, 'we will be passing your Braunston office soon so I will pop in'. Now I'm all for good customer service but they insisted that their two operatives tracked us down and refunded us the same day. The rest of cruise was uneventful but it could be a really nice approach to Coventry if there was a little (lot) less rubbish. I don't think canal or towpath users are to blame either, the piles of rubbish emanate from the banks by road bridges and directly below the windows of flats. Not just bin waste either but washing machines, pushchairs and children's toys. In fact the cleanest parts are through the industrial estates.  

So whilst the fog has lingered all day today I have been nursing my man-flu in front of the fire with a Wilbur Smith book. Yes I am a bit better today, thanks for asking :-) I am not sure if there is a female version of this gender specific aliment but research indicates that if I get more than three consecutive symptoms I may well be the subject of medical journals! Of course when Deb had her version she had the distraction of working all day so it wasn't so bad (brave ain't I)

Swan and fisherman in the mist. 

I had 39 answers to my last post asking what to do when boaters are in a hurry behind me. You are all quite safe I won't be jousting you off with my pole, but waiting for a safe place to pull in and let you past. 

Tomorrow we plod on towards Rugby (where i will be spending the afternoon watching the rugby) where we have booked our four yearly boat safety scheme test and hope to stay for a few days to make use of the shops on the industrial estate by the visitor moorings. It will be the first time in eleven months that we won't have to worry about walking/cycling back to pick up the van.