15^th May

Left the mooring with an overcast sky and a strong cold wind blowing from the north. Made good progress through the locks as the boats moored in the pounds of the Atherstone flight had not yet started to move. Passed Nb Elysium Days who were just preparing to leave and gave us a cheery wave. It was only at the last 3 locks that we encountered 2 boats coming down.

Moored up in Atherstone at 10.00 am for coffee and homemade biscuits. At about 10.45am Nb Elysium Days passed us on route to Brinklow.

Faced Timed Jean and although the mobile signal was not too good still had a reasonable reception, not as good as with Graham last night.

Went exploring around Atherstone and whilst chatting to one of the market stall holders he told us that we were the first potential customers he had had all morning and trade was really slow. Unfortunately we did not buy anything.

Finally did our grocery shopping and headed back to the boat for lunch.

In the afternoon we caught the bus into Nuneaton, a journey which takes about 25 minutes and takes you through Mancetter and by the canal at Hartshill British Waterways yard. Now we know why there are always a lot of boats moored there.

Nuneaton was very quiet and the shops and arcades seemed empty of people, M & S had closed their store about a year ago although there were still several big name stores there.

Whilst we were walking back to the bus station the heavens opened up and we had hail and torrential rain for about 5 minutes. Fortunately we were able to shelter but the roads and pavements were flooded.

The best feature about Nuneaton was their very impressive Millennium Island which contained a fountain in the shape of a Dandelion Clock.

We returned to the boat, lit the fire and had a couple of zzz whilst the weather decided to have a few more downpours.

14^th May

Just after we set off we had a couple of showers and then the weather brightened up and we ended up with a glorious sunny afternoon and evening.

On route to Fazeley Junction to buy some provisions from the local Tesco and deposit the rubbish at the BW waste recycling centre we passed Nb Susan the Kate hire boat we used to go Oxford a couple of years ago. The couple on board said that they were really enjoying themselves.

* Sightings of more and more signets as the week goes on

After coffee we carried on to the Glascote Locks where the boat would not move out of the first lock until I had removed somebody’s old carpet from the propeller. Fortunately this only took a couple of minutes as June had prepared the next lock and as always happens in these instances another boat came along wanting to come down the locks. It was an Ashby Hire boat with four Texans onboard and we had a good chat while the lock filled. They were over here for 2 weeks spending a week on the boat, something they had never done before, but were enjoying it very much. As we said our goodbyes they said that we were very gracious people, never would have put us in that category!

A little further on as we were looking for the Canal Craft shop on the outskirts of Tamworth another Ashby hire boat with 4 Canadians waited for us to go through a narrow stretch with boats on either side and again we stopped to pass the time of day with them.

June was after a tassel for the tiller but the shop did not sell them so it looks as though she will have to make one.

As we went through Alvecote we spotted this fleet of South Midland working boats and further on towards the M42 another was moored near the woods.

* South Midlands Fleet

* Nb Verbena.

* Interesting vessel Laplander spotted at Alvecote

We carried on through Polesworth passing the lovely Pooley Hall and moored up for lunch at one of our favourite spots near Meadow Lane Bridge.

* Pooley Hall

After a short siesta we surfaced to find Nb Elysium Days passing us; Chris and Sue stopped to tell us that they were on their way back to Brinklow as they had to go home to attend to some business, so their trip up north had been postponed for a while.

*Views from our mooring towards Atherstone.

 

Later in the afternoon I took a walk up to Grendon Dock and saw another 4 South Midlands working boats in various states of repair and these two Fellow Morton and Clayton. The owner is obviously a working boat enthusiast.

* Grendon Dock

Walking back from the dock the old Grendon Church came into view with a modern wind turbine at its side. How the sky line is changing.

* Grendon Church

13^th May

After a beautiful sunset last night we awoke to a brilliant blue sky and sunshine so decided to get up and set off early to make the most of the good weather.

* Sunset down the canal

First we had to cross the River Trent on the Brindley Bank Aquaduct so named because of its builder.

* Crossing the Trent

* River Trent with the Rugeley Houses overlooking the river and canal

The canal then follows the river towards Rugeley passing lovely gardens overlooking both the river, canal, and open countryside, much nicer than we remembered from our trip a few years ago. Just before entering the town stretch we saw 7 signets with their parents, the most we have seen in a clutch so far together with lots of Moorhens with their chicks. We seem to have moved out of the Coot area into the Moorhen realm.

* Seven Signets with Mom and Dad

The A513 crosses the canal on a new bridge where the short 130yd long Armitage Tunnel used to run before having its roof removed in 1971 to the combat subsidence effects of the nearby mining of coal. The cutting is so narrow that you have send a crew member in advance to make sure a boat does not enter from the opposite side as it is only just wide enough for one boat.

* The old Armitage Tunnel - no roof

At the other end the canal opens out to expose a subject close to narrowboaters hearts, TOILETS. It is the Armitage Shanks Toilet factory and toilets are stacked up outside waiting to be delivered.

* Armitage Loos

As we approached the Kings Bromley Marina we were followed by 4 Buzzards circling low overhead as we moved slowly down the canal, it was a real treat which unfortunately I could not capture on film.

We soon reached Fradley Junction and as we came out of Middle Lock we were surprised to find Leslie and Sue (June’s brother and sister-in-law) waiting just below the lock. They had decided to come out and meet us on route and so we turned on to the Coventry and moored up at the water point. Fortunately it is a very slow filler and our tank was less than half full so we were able to enjoy a coffee, cake and chat with them before they had to leave, as there was no free mooring space going out of Fradley.

Leslie is an avid fan of Formula One and wanted to be home to watch the race so could not stay with us for a ride along the canal.

We carried on to just beyond Bridge 85 where a new marina is being built and stopped for lunch and watch some of the F1 race. After lunch we motored on to more in a nice sheltered spot near Tamhorn Bridge.

Yesterday we had washed the starboard side of the boat and touched up the paint work where it had got scratched below the gunwales. The sun was so strong that the water was steaming off the hull as we washed the side.

To day we were moored on the opposite side so were able wash and touch up the paint on the port side. Fortunately this time the side was in the shade so it was a much easier job.

Ones work is never ending as a boat owner!

12^th May

Woken up at 5.15 am by the Canal Cruising hire boat behind us putting on it central heating and then its engine; don’t know what the neighbouring house owners thought about it spoiling their Saturday lie in. 

We decided that as it was a lovely morning that we would get up and make an early.

As we left our moorings in bright sunshine we passed this little craft with the apt name.

* Along Shortly

It must have been our day for newly born creatures because as we headed towards Sandon Lock we passed this lovely young foal with the rest of the herd keeping a watch on him.

* New Foal

Later as we passed Aston Marina we spotted our first signets just waking up, they were only one day old from what a towpath walker told us. Further on as we passed some more just below some houses on the outskirts of Western.

* New Signets

We made good progress to Great Haywood even though all the locks were against us, and moored up, for lunch and to get a paper, just below the bottom lock overlooking the River Trent and out further to Cannock Chase.

 * River Trent

* Cannock Chase

Moving off after lunch we had good views of Shugborough Hall.

* Shugborough Hall

As we came out of Colwich lock we met Nb Elysium Days from Brinklow Marina on their way to meet up with their friends on Nb 4Evermore, who we had met earlier, and stopped to have a quick chat before they had to enter the lock.

We had hoped to moor just after bridge 69, where we had stopped on H3O, but they have now put a pig farm there and the smell was somewhat overpowering so we carried on trying to find somewhere  deep enough to moor. We eventually found a spot just short of the winding hole next to bridge 68 north of Rugeley with lovely views over Cannock Chase and a field of newly born calves next to us.

* Overnight mooring spot

* New Born Calf

When you look at Autumn Myst now you would think that we are real water Gypsies with our washing drying in the cratch. Perhaps we are becoming real narrowboaters!

* Water Gypsies

11^th May

Thought we would make an early start but Barlaston, being part of the Four Counties Ring, we were well and truly beaten by a hire boat passing us at 5.45am and then a couple more followed.

We decided to leave at about 8.00am and as we were preparing to move off Nb Sarah Kate was passing and asked if we had a Sandhills boat. I asked how he knew and it turned out that he was a friend of Mo and Ness on Nb Balmaha. A little further we passed Nb Caxton moored up with no signs of life otherwise we would have stopped to speak to them as we knew the previous owners Lesley and Joe and the Labradors.

The Canal is a small world and you can’t move without somebody knowing.

* Canal side Cottages

Although the locks were against us we made good progress and were moored up at Stone before 11.00am.

* Town Mooring in Stone

No sooner had we moored than we had a call from one of June’s school friends to see where we were as they lived nearbye; so a quick tidy round and they arrived for coffee. Spent the afternoon chatting about holidays and farming, as Jacqueline and David had recently retired from their dairy farm and were now enjoying a lie-in in the mornings and far off holidays.

* David and Jacquline   

Later we went to explore Stone and do some shopping. June of course had to visit her favourite dress shop and even tried to buy some shoes but to no avail. I on the other hand found some more bargains at Morrisons, a £10 umbrella reduced to £.3.00 and a selection of bread rolls reduced to 19p.

* The Last Lock before leaving Stone

* Ducks enjoying the evening sun waiting to go down the lock!!

 10^th May

The heavy overnight rain gave way to a warm morning with high cloud. Graham and Carolann had some finances to attend to in Stoke and were going to Church Lawton to catch the bus so we said our farewells and set off for the Harecastle Tunnel.

As we left Rode Heath we met 2 chaps loaded down with heavy packs walking in the opposite direction and passed the time of day with them.

Passing the BW Yard we noticed piles of new lock gates awaiting fitting, perhaps destined for the locks in the Wheelock Flight where BW were working on a couple of the lock chamber.

* Sets of Lock Gates awaiting fitting.

At the first lock we met up with the single hander who had left the moorings a short while before us and we helped one another through the locks up to Church Lawton. He had been a sailor and had sailed around the world, so narrow boating was pretty tame stuff for him, but he was giving up the boat and heading off to live in Thailand.

As we passed him in Church Lawton he passed us a bag full of Books and Magazines and wished us well on our travels. You do meet some lovely people on the cut.

On route we went under the Maccelsfield Canal as it comes back on itself from the Junction with the T & T at Hardings Wood Junction.

* Under the Maccelsfield

When we reached the Tunnel we met up with the 2 chaps we had seen walking in Rode Heath. They were enjoying a cup of coffee and June offered them a lift through the tunnel. They (David and Andy) readily accepted as they had had some hassle from Gypsies when they had gone over the top. They told us that they were doing a 50 mile walk for the NSPC charity through their company, JCB, and had turned around at Rode Heath to do the 25 miles back to home.

Derek the BW Tunnel keeper at the North Portal came and gave us a briefing on travelling through tunnel and we enjoyed a bit of banter with him and the lads. He told us that we would have to wait about an hour as a boat had just gone through and 4 more were waiting to come north. This was ideal for us as we could have a nice leisurely lunch.

We were let in to the tunnel at 12.05 and 35 minutes later were dropping the lads off at the other end with promises of putting their picture on our blog. As a parting gift they gave June some butter and tomato sauce.

* David and Andy at the Harecastle Tunnel

As it was still early in the day and we felt quite fresh we decided not to moor at the south end of the tunnel but carry on through Stoke with its Bottle Kilns and passed the junction with the Caldon Canal at Etruia. We had a couple of boats in front of us at the deep Stoke flight of locks but still made good progress to Barlaston where we moored up for the night near to the Wedgewood Factory and Museum.

* Bottle Kilns preserved amongst new office blocks

* Etruia Junction with the Calden Canal

* Mooring at Barlaston where the canal and railway follow the same route

8^th May

Nice bright sunny morning with a hint of early morning mist. Sat watching the Grebe fishing at the side of the boat whilst we had breakfast.

* Morning Mist on the Flashes

* Grebe Fishing for Breakfast outside the boat

Just as we set off two other boats left their mooring in front of us and we had to follow them all the way to Middlewich. On the way we stopped at the Waste Disposal Site which is adjacent to the canal and provided the ideal opportunity to dispose of the old engine oil as well as our household rubbish. Just as we left we were passed by the Canal Voyages Hotel boats.

* Canal Voyages Hotel Boats

We decided to stop for shopping and so did the boats in front so when we came to set off again we now had three boats in front of us to go up the Middlewich locks but hey ho that’s boating and why rush particularly as the weather was warm and we could enjoy the sun.

Fortunately the boats in front turned off towards Barbridge so we had a good run to Wheelock. On the way out of Middlewich we passed a colony of young Swans sandwiched between the canal and the main road.

* Swan Colony

We moored up at Wheelock close to the San Marco Italian Restaurant and booked a table for the evening to celebrate Carolann’s BIRTHDAY, I am too much of a gentleman to say her age but she is over 21.

It was a great meal and was preceded by Champagne on Autumn Years.

9^th May

Reversed back to the Water point and filled our tanks before tackling the next 14 locks to Rode Heath.

* June Working the Locks

A lovely warm day and most of the locks were in our favour so we made good time to Rode Heath where we moored up opposite a Swans nest. The Cob came over immediately to see what food was available and the Pen decided to leave the nest for a short rest. Soon the local Mallards had joined in and June had a full time job feeding them.

* Mom leaves the nest

* Locals call to see what’s going.

6^th May

June sat watching a large Dog Fox whilst having breakfast on a bright sunny morning. Soon on our way travelling through Lymm, and on to Stockton Heath where we stopped for the Sainsburys shop and drop off some rubbish at the recycling centre.

* Leaving Lymm

* Useful garden Shed

The canal was busier than we had seen for the many weeks as it is Bank Holiday and the Watch House and Lymm Cruising Clubs were out on their Club Cruises, we must have seen over 50 boats, most travelling back to their mooring in order to avoid the rain and wind forecast for Monday.

We arrived at the Preston Brook Tunnel with just 5 mins to wait before we could go through. At the south end of the tunnel we were buzzed by bats flying low over the boat and my head. There were several boats waiting at the other end and more waiting to come through the stop lock, they were the stragglers of the Lymm CC on their way home. The last one got through the stop lock just before their tunnel transit time was up.

Motored on and moored up overlooking the Dutton Lock on the River Weaver in a lovely sunny spot. It was a lovely afternoon so we decided to take a walk down to the river and explore the area.

* Dutton Lock

* Weaver Sluice at Dutton Lock

* Don’t leave your boat on the Weaver

* Old Inspection Boat being renovated

* The front Steering position with the wheel on the side.

As we walked back to the boats we spotted a very realistic Scarecrow, at first we thought she was real.

* Scarecrow

Climbing the hill to the canal we could hear what we thought was a drum beating and it seemed to be getting nearer. As we got back to the boat two Dragon Boats appeared around the corner at full speed.

* Dragon Boat Racing

* 2^nd Dragon Boat

Later on after dinner I decided to go for a walk along the canal and around a few corners bumped into a chap enjoying a glass of Whiskey on the bank outside Nb Buttons. I stopped to chat and never got any further with my walk as he was a most interesting guy who had been in the Merchant Navy and was a Vindi Boy like Max, on the Sandhills narrowboat of the same name. I promised to pass on his details to Max so that they could talk about old times..

7^th May

Although the forecast was for a really bad day we awoke to brilliant sunshine so June and I decided to go for an early morning walk before the rain. As we passed AY Carrolann stuck her head out and asked if we wanted to travel until the rain started.

We thought it was a good idea and so we left our mooring at 7.30 heading in the direction of Middlewich not expecting to get very far. However, although the wind got stronger, the rain did not look like coming and so we sailed on through the Saltersford and Barton Tunnels, again just arriving at the right time to go straight through. We continued on passed the Anderton Lift and decided to take the risk and travel on to the Flashes (an area like the Norfolk Broads) where we moored up just in time for lunch and a short shower.

The area is teeming with bird life, Buzzards, Grebe, Reed Bunting, even a Swan who poked his head through the hatch to be fed.

* Cheeky Swan

* Reed Bunting

The forecast rain did not materialise so we could have carried on to Middlewich. Even with all the sophisticated computers they still can’t forecast our weather. Lets hope tomorrow is fine as we want to push on to Wheelock to celebrate Carolann’s birthday at the local restaurant.