Newbold to Braunston

In no hurry to start moving on our last morning moving we set off the latest we had done all trip.

Passing through Rugby we were then on to the 3 locks at Hilmorton.

These took us about 30 minutes with a very nice CRT volunteer helping us through the top lock.

Above the locks were a few working boats coming back from a festival at, I think, Stoke Bruerne.

The Barby Straight was bitterly cold with a headwind which was quite fierce.  We caught up a boat and then shortly afterwards our two boats caught another boat up.  To say the front boat was going slowly would be an understatement with me having to take the boat out of gear on several occasions to stop running into the boat in front of us.  This probably went on for a couple of miles all the way to Braunston.  Thankfully the lead boat turned right at Braunston Turn and went up the Grand Union / Oxford section.

We passed the Stop House, turned right into the marina and back into our mooring at 13:30.  The minute we tied up it started pouring with rain.

We took a walk up to the Admiral Nelson for a few drinks and to book a table to eat the following evening.

Hartshill to Newbold

An earlier start this morning, setting off at 8:20.

Today was an easy run through Nuneaton, with what seems like miles and miles of canal-side allotments, past Marston Junction and the Ashby Canal (one for the future I think) until the outskirts of Coventry and Hawkesbury Junction.

Once again the 180 degree turn was done in one go.  I'm not sure if this is a normal thing or not but I was happy with it!

Just before the junction it was obvious we were catching another boat up and we eventually caught them on the Oxford Canal just past the village of Ansty when they waved us past.  However having passed them it seemed to take a long time to pull away from them.  Much longer than it took to catch them up!

We reached Newbold Tunnel at 14:30 and shortly after emerging from the other end we moored up in a similar spot to the week previous.

After sorting a few things out we went and visited the Boat Inn.  The Boat staff were very friendly and had only been in a few weeks.  The 2 Dalmatian puppies were quite a handful but well behaved.  A few pints of St Austell Tribute went down very well next to the log fire!  

We enquired about food but they weren't doing any yet so we went next door to eat in the Barley Mow.

Compared to the Boat, the Barley Mow was unfriendly and we were not made to feel welcome.  Not because of any one thing but probably because the barmaid spent a lot of time talking to the loud group of builders in the other bar, even when pouring our drinks.  Even the drinks were average, with cheap wine and probably one of the worst pints of Greene King IPA I have ever tasted.  We only had one drink before leaving.

Next stop was the Co-op to stock up on a few bits then we visited the Newbold Crown.  I'd been here before and stayed to far to late into the morning but this time it was just for a pint of St Austell Dartmoor before getting some fish and chips and heading back to the boat.

Polesworth to Hartshill

We wanted to make an early start so as to beat the boats in front of us on the mooring to Atherstone Locks. However by the time we left there were already 3 gone.

We needed to fill up with water somewhere so thought about the water point at bridge 48.  As we approached there already was a boat filling up but they looked to be moving off so we held back and moored up when they left.

We filled up with water and emptied the rubbish and set off again.  Only to reverse 2 minutes later as we'd left the adapter for the hose on the tap!

Atherstone Bottom Lock was reached and we had to wait for 'Bletchley' to come out.

We were following a boat up and they were helping us by emptying the lock they just left if nothing was coming the other way.  We passed quite a few boats coming down and reached the top just before 1pm.

We decided to call it a day in the countryside at Bridge 33.

We had lunch then took a walk along the canal to where we had moored on the way up to visit the Anchor pub where we had a lovely couple of hours before returning to the boat for dinner.

Fradley to Polesworth

We were sat having breakfast as a coal boat passed us.  He'd previously gone the other way when we were still in bed.  It was a lovely morning so I took a few pictures.

We set off just after 9 and before long we passed the coal boat moored up.  He asked us if we wanted any coal and we took the opportunity to buy a couple of bags from him.  He'd been up to Fradley Junction that morning to wind.  Saying goodbye we headed off.

We passed through Hopwas and reached Fazeley Junction just after midday.  The 2 locks at Glascote were uneventful with only one boat coming down.

We eventually reached our mooring for the night at Polesworth just before 3 pm.

There were about 4 other boats on the moorings and everyone said hello and were busy doing chores or walking about.  We took a walk into the town to get a few supplies before heading back to a relaxing evening.  I also took the opportunity to re-pack the stern greaser as this was getting low.

Great Haywood to Fradley

We woke to a rainy Staffordshire morning after a few days of lovely weather and it was soon time to make a start back to Braunston.

Typically at Colwich Lock there was a queue and the rain was coming down harder but as there were also boats coming up it didn't take too long for us to be on our way again.

One of the boats coming up through the locks was 'Huggles' which was at Braunston when we left.  Apparently it was a brand new boat but they had quite a few teething troubles with it and were hurrying to make up lost time.  We wished them on their way and hope they enjoy their boat.

In an attempt to drive off the rain and keep myself somewhat warm the first part of the day was spent with the back stove lit and the back doors shut!

We passed back through Rugely and Armitage with its tunnel and porcelain factory.

We reached the locks at Fradley and this time the traffic was more typical with having to wait for boats to go down and come up all of the locks.

We rounded Fradley Junction back on to the Coventry Canal and thought about mooring up for the day.  The only space was on the end of the visitor moorings.  It was very shallow in the edge and after a few attempts we decided to head on a bit further and see what we could find.  We reached Bridge 90 about 3pm to find a few boats moored up but plenty of room for more so we moored up for the evening.

We spent quite a bit of time watching the earth move on a Mole Hill but no Mole appeared (not that we really thought it would) but it was quite interesting watching the worms 'run' away on the surface.

Great Haywood Day 2

We set off from our mooring opposite Shugborough Hall around 11 am and passed through Haywood Lock before turning onto the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Haywood Junction.  Immediately after the junction I had to back into the basin in order to pump out the toilet.

In the end there wasn't much that needed pumping out but we took advantage of being able to empty the cassette toilet, empty the bins and fill up with water at the same time.

After everything that needed emptying was empty, I pulled right out of the basin and backed through the junction bridge to head back down the Trent and Mersey, mooring slightly above the lock.

Great Haywood

We spent the morning feeling good about arriving a day ahead of schedule which meant we were able to just relax from the minute we got up.

During the morning we took a walk past the lock where a boat was selling 2nd hand books to the Anglo Welsh boatyard to enquire about pumping out the toilet.  Although we didn't really think it would be full it was the first time we'd used the boat for any length of time so wanted to be safe than sorry.  They said they had a few turn-arounds to do today but it would be quieter on Sunday.

We then walked to the farm shop and were amazed how much bigger (and smarter) it had got since we'd been there a year before.  We even remember commenting how little local produce they sold before but now almost everything is local.

We bought a few bits and pieces and took a walk back to the Clifford Arms for lunch.

During the afternoon we ran the engine for an hour or so to top the batteries up.

That evening, Joanna picked us up and we went for a quick drink in the Red Lion in Little Heywood before going out to lunch at The Yorkshireman at Rugely.  The meal was excellent although had we not had a lift I don't think it's really walkable from any mooring.

Hopwas to Great Haywood

Again, we set off about 9 am.

The Coventry Canal winded its way onwards towards Fradley Junction and we made average progress.  It would have been quicker had a boat not pulled out on us at Whittington.

We passed Huddlesford Junction and the Lichfield Branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal.  This branch is currently un-navigable but is being restored by the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust.  I'd passed the other end of the branch during a trip back in 2002.

Another boat pulled away in front of us and were quite slow along the section through Streethay Wharf.  We could see it was a bunch of guys wearing bright blue woolley hats which made us think 'stag party'.

We stopped briefly at Bridge 90 to check the weed hatch and then pressed on towards Fradley Junction.  I knew that traffic at Fradley could be heavy and feared the worse.

A boat was just to pull off the water point and waved us through, opening the swing bridge for us as well.  As we got to the junction, a boat was just coming up the lock from the Trent direction but had to wait for us to turn on the Trent and Mersey Canal meaning we found ourselves at the front of the queue for the locks.

We met a couple of boats coming down and with help from the crew of the other boats behind us we managed to whizz through the locks putting us on a good footing to reach Great Haywood in good time.

In our last trip on the Trent and Mersey Canal we'd turned around at the winding hole at Handsacre at about 3 pm and made it back to Great Heywood for a good time.  Using this past knowledge I knew that as long as we passed Handsacre by 3 pm we would be on track to reach Great Haywood a day earlier than planned.  Ok, there was nothing to stop us carrying on later but it would be nice to stop before dusk.

We caught the 'stag party' boat up at Woodend Lock but by the time the lock was reset they were quite far ahead and we eventually passed them moored up.  Their back deck was covered in beer cans but they were enjoying themselves.

A few minutes later we passed the winding hole at Handsacre and were well short of 3 pm so knew that we'd be in Great Haywood that evening.

We passed the Armitage Shanks factory in Armitage and soon after I let Becky off the boat for Armitage Tunnel.  This is a single-track tunnel which is on a slight bend so it is a good idea to let crew off to walk ahead to check the tunnel is clear.  In fact it isn't really a tunnel anymore, the roof was removed in 1971 due to subsidence.

We passed through Rugely and headed out into the country again.  Just past Brindley Bank Aqueduct we met, coming the other way, the hire boat 'Empire' we had hired 18 months before.

We passed through Colwich Lock and were on the home straight and moored in view of Shugborough Hall just before 5 pm.

Joanna came and ate with us on the boat before we headed out to the Clifford Arms for a few drinks in the evening.

Hartshill to Hopwas

We were woken by the quarry opposite the canal starting work at 6 am but managed to get back to sleep only to be woken again by the heating not coming on.  We have a diesel heater which heats our hot water in the morning but it seems to be a little temperamental at times!

We set off just before 9 am and passed the old waterways maintenance yard.

We arrived at Atherstone Top Lock just before 10.  We were going to stop for water but for some reason didn't however we did stop in the end just above lock 5.

We left the bottom lock at 1209 and headed on to our intended mooring at Polesworth.  We got there just after 1 pm and as it was still early we decided to push on.

We entered the outskirts of Tamworth and passed through the 2 Glascote locks reaching Fazeley Junction at 3 pm.

I was now back on a route I'd been on before however I couldn't remember much of it.

We got to the visitors mooring at Hopwas at 4 pm and moored right outside the Tame Otter pub.

After sorting a few things out we went for a quick walk before heading back and having a very nice meal in the Otter.

Newbold to Hartshill

After breakfast we set about lighting the small range in the back of the boat in order to cook a stew in for the day.

With this lit we were able to cast off and head through Newbold Tunnel.

The day was a sunny one although we were quite glad to be heading the way we were as the sun was very low and it was apparent it got in the eyes of the boats coming the other way.

The northern section of the Oxford Canal was originally very winding but with the threat of a rival canal to Coventry, the canal company set about straitening the line north of Braunston.  The old route can still be seen and where it crosses the improved line there is often an ornate iron bridge over the old route.

Passing Stretton Stop with its swingbridge, which was kindly opened for us, and the village of Ansty, we arrived at Sutton's Stop and Hawkesbury Junction.  Here the Oxford Canal has its final lock, with a fall of just a few inches, and meets the Coventry Canal side-on.  We had to wait above the lock for a boat to pass through the lock, wind and come back up.

The 2 canals originally ran parrallel to each other for another few miles before joining which is why the current junction is a little awkward.  To head the way we wanted to and not into Coventry itself we would have to do what is in effect, a 180 degree turn.

Passing through the lock I managed to get around the turn in one go which I was very pleased with and we found ourselves on the Coventry Canal.

A little under an hour later we passed Marston Junction and the Ashby Canal.  I was now on a bit of canal I had not done before.

We passed through Nuneaton and out the other side choosing to moor by the Anchor pub at Hartshill.

We didn't go to the pub that evening, choosing to stay onboard and eat the stew that had been cooking in the back stove all day.

We're off...

Woke up early and after showering and breakfast the engine was started and we backed out of the mooring and headed through the marina.

We joined the Grand Union Canal and passed the narrow boat 'Zodiac'.

Zodiac is on of 8 pairs of 'Middle Northwich' narrow boats built for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.  I believe this is the correct 'Zodiac' as the 'Zodiac' I knew from the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal is thought to actually be 'Tucana'.  After 6 or 7 years, 4 of the motor boats were cut down to 40 feet long for conversion into ice-breakers by the Ministry of War Transport and featured a rather menacing ice-breaking 'ram'.  'Tycho' is the only one to retain its ram and was moored at the bottom of Braunston locks a couple of days previous.

Moored up the canal from 'Zodiac' were the pair 'Nutfield' and 'Raymond.

We needed to get diesel and the plan was to back into the marina entrance and tie up alongside the diesel pump.  It crossed my mind to go in forwards as I thought it would be easier but as Becky wasn't aware of my change of mind I figured I best back-in.  Good job I did really as the diesel hose would not have reached the filler!

After filling up with 53 litres we were ready to head on our way.

Backing into the marina.

We turned left out of the marina and headed up the Grand Union and then onto the northern section of the Oxford Canal.  I'd done this route before back in 2008.

After a couple of hours we reached Hillmorton Locks.  There are 6 locks at Hillmorton arranged in 3 pairs so you can use whichever of the pair you want.  At the top lock we were told not to use the right hand lock as a boat before us had caught on a piece of brickwork and had tipped up rather violently.  This meant we had to wait for the left hand lock to fill.  As we entered the lock, the replica working boat 'Hadar' came round the bend and entered the other lock.  As Becky hadn't seen one for a year, the lady on 'Hadar' was quicker in operating the lock and they were able to get ahead of us.  This wasn't a problem as we were in no rush.

We followed 'Hadar' all the way to Newbold-on-Avon where we moored up on the end of the visitors moorings at 1411.  Just afterwards a boat came past very quickly and its wash managed to pull our mooring pin out of the ground (the stern rope was on a ring).  Another 3 boats had to re-do their mooring pins also.

After walking to Newbold Tunnel we walked into the village and to the Co-op to buy a few supplies.

Tea for the evening was Chicken en Croute with Kale and New Potatoes.

Total for the day: 11 Miles, 6 1/4 Furlongs, 3 Locks.

Holiday Day 2

Woke up to a still, misty morning.

Went to the marina office to see what the protocol was for getting diesel.

Went to the shops in Braunston village.

Walked up the canal to, and a bit beyond, Braunston Turn.





Spotted the narrow boat 'Bletchley' moored near the turn.  I first saw 'Bletchley' in Birmingham on a holiday in 1993 and it is still carrying coal for a living.



Walked back to the marina where the rest of the day was spent relaxing on the boat.

Holiday Day 1

Arrived at Braunston at 1410 to find the wind blowing a gale through the marina.

Opened up Piglet and switched on all the electrics, etc. before unpacking all our stuff and stowing it all away.

Walked up the locks to the Admiral Nelson pub and had a couple of good pints of Flowers IPA (which I remember being very cheap in cans from the local off-licence when at uni) and Robinson's Dizzy Blonde.

After a lovely couple of hours we returned to Piglet and lit the fire.

Dinner consisted of steak with dolphinoise potatoes and kale.