Coventry Canal
We are heading 31 miles and 13 locks from Fradley junction to Hawksbury junction where the Coventry Canal joins up with the North Oxford Canal at Sutton Stop. If we continued on another 5 miles on the Coventry canal we would be going into Coventry. We've been there before, and it's not really a place we want to go to again by boat!
Just as we leave the Trent & Mersey canal and get
on the Coventry canal there's a little swing bridge, Paul jumped off and opened
it up as I cruised on through.
 |
| We go through the small swing bridge and moor up to get water |
We pulled over straight after the bridge at the
water point and stopped to top up the tank.
 |
| The sun comes out for a short while, making light patterns on the towpath |
I went to have a nose in the little
shop, nothing much in there!
 |
| I take a walk to the small gift shop, nothing there I want! |
We had a telly signal, Internet, phone signal and dog
walks over stubble fields.
 |
| Jack had some lovely stubble fields to scamper about in, he's looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! |
We'd got full water and a full fridge. We were
sorted for a few days, it was a good job really as there was a storm warning
for a few days time, the wind was already raging, we were settled safe and
quite sheltered. So for the next few days we sat tight.
 |
| The wind whips up all around us, but we're fine in our cosy little boat |
We explored all around us and dragged a great huge palette
back to the boat to be converted into a coal palette and kindling. The storm came, the winds and rain raged around us, but
all the time we were safe and cosy in our little boat.
 |
| We left our little spot near Lichfield on a bright day .... at the moment |
Tuesday 29th October and were on our way again. The
winds and rain of the last few days have quietened down now, there's a glimps
of bright sky as we set off by 8.15am, keen to cruise in the best part of the day.
The cold wind still hits you suddenly around some of the corners but it's a
bright and sunny day.
 |
| The small village of Whittington, and our mooring spot we stayed at last year |
We cruise on past Whittington, a familiar stopping place
for us last year, lovely gardens once again lead down to the canal.
 |
| Open fields all around us now.... |
 |
| ..... fields on the left flooded from the amount of rain we've been having |
Out of Whittington there's open fields all around and the
woodlands look beautiful in the autumn sunshine, leaves cover the paths and lay
on the water of the canal.
 |
| The forbidden woodlands looked tempting to stop, but the signs say 'no' |
Signs say 'Private Property, Keep Out, Military
Rifle Range' so we kept well away, although it looked a lovely place to walk
Jack and he would have loved it!
 |
| We stopped at the water point for a quick fill up and dump the loo |
A few miles on it's starting to get a bit
built up and a
little further on is the Birmingham & Fazeley sanitary station where we empty the loo
and fill up with water. We're done in 10 mins and we're off again and we come to the junction with the Birmingham & Fazeley canal heading through Tamworth.
 |
| The signs show the way.... we head towards Coventry and the South |
 |
| .... and we're not going that way, the junction of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal |
We soon get to Tamworth and there's an aqueduct over the river Trent, again!
 |
| Looking over the aqueduct at the river Trent, sun glistening on the river below |
Nice gardens with nice houses attached line the canal
all the way through, it's a good area, well looked after and clean and tidy.
We
go for 4 miles through Tamworth, not seeing any graffiti or any rubbish laying
about!
 |
| As we got to the locks there were boats and people about everywhere...... |
There's two locks at Tamworth, both together, and surprisingly there's a
queue of three boats waiting to go up the locks! We haven't seen a boat all
day, now there's boats waiting to come down, and go up!
 |
| Men in Fluorescents...... there's something going on here but it soon gets fixed |
Turns out that the top
lock has had a problem but as we get there the CRT workmen have fixed it and
things are moving again. It takes us an hour to wait our turn and get through
the two locks, hindered by a rather huge winter coat caught round the prop stopping
any forward or reverse propulsion at all!
 |
| The huge soggy mess of a winter coat wrapped around the prop that caused us to be at a standstill... |
At the top of the locks there were more gardens
 |
| Gardens of all shapes and sizes..... |
 |
| ..... up high in the trees... |
 |
| with strange shaped sheds at the bottom..... |
 |
| .... long plain grassy ones.... |
 |
| ..... and bath time ones! |
long
ones, short ones, pretty ones and modern ones, old ones, apple tree ones, ones
with tree houses, ornament ones, shed and car ones and craft shop ones! All the
different ones you could think of, really interesting to snout at!
 |
| The restored original bridges cross over the canal lots of times to accommodate all the people in houses here |
Bridge after bridge cross the canal here, all the original
traditional arch bridges.
Out of Tamworth we went on a mile or so and came to Alvecote
marina, and some amazing woodland that we really wanted to explore. So we
pulled over and banged in the pins, this was our place for the night! And what
a place!
 |
| We spotted this sign outside the Samuel Barlow pub, seemed a fun place to go for lunch! |
After a disappointing visit to the Samuel Barlow pub
for lunch (it was shut!) we had lunch at home and went to explore the amazing
woodlands here.
 |
| Sun shines down on Happy Daze in our mooring spot by the beautiful woodlands |
 |
| Ruins of the old Alvecote Abbey in the autumn sunshine |
There were some ruins and remains of an old abbey on one side
of the canal, and on the towpath side was the woodlands and lakes.
 |
| The woodlands were magical... sun still shining through the now nearly bare trees |
 |
| Taking a walk through the lovely autumn leaves |
Years ago
this was old quarry works, the lakes formed from the pits that were dug and the
hills and spoil heaps were left to make the woodlands.
There was so much fungi about, toadstools of many shapes, sizes and colours, including a lot of these!
 |
| This heart shaped Fly Agaric looks pretty, but is deadly poisonous to many, but makes others very happy! |
 |
| Swampy bits of the woods made it enchanting |
It was a wonderful time
of the year to be here, all the autumn colours in the trees and on the floor.
It was now a nature reserve with paths in the woods and around the lakes.
 |
| One of the many lakes dug out for quarry works years and years ago |
We
spent a lot of time exploring here, climbing up the tall slag heaps and walking
around the lakes.
 |
It took us a while to climb the tallest of the hills.
When we got here it was wonderful, and we found this gold bar at the top! |
 |
| The view from the gold bar hill, tallest of the old slag heaps |
Jack absolutely loved it, scampering around excitedly like a kid in a
sweetie shop!
 |
| Jack has a good sniff about at all the new smells |
On Wednesday 30th October in the morning we took Jack
out in the woods and round the lovely lakes again and I got a surprise phone
call from my daughter, Donna. She was going to drive the 140 miles from Norfolk
to come and see us bringing my two grandsons (8 & 9 yrs) with her! It was school
half term, she was leaving soon and arriving this afternoon!
So we got back to the boat and planned on where to
meet them, it would have to be somewhere
by a road bridge so she could park up and get their stuff onto the boat easily!
 |
| The day was beautiful and sunny when we set off from the lovely woodlands and lakes of Alvecote |
 |
| ...... and then we saw the gold bar from the canal, high up on a huge mound..... we've been there! |
The day was beautiful and sunny and we set off down
the canal towards Polesworth where we stopped at the 48hr moorings for Paul to
stock up with maggots!
 |
| Stopping off at Polesworth for Paul to get maggots from the fishing tackle shop |
He was only gone 15 mins but by Jack's excited reaction you'de
have thought he'd been gone for weeks! On our way in the autumn sunshine we cradled
hot cups of soup, the sun had disappeared and it was now cold, windy and grey.
We arrived at Bradley Green bridge, our destination for the day, our meeting
place for Donna and the bottom of the 11 locks we were all going to do the next
day.
We had lunch and went walking over the lovely meadows
by the river, grassy and pheasant filled! Jacks heaven! By 4pm Donna still hadn't
arrived but after a few frantic phone calls from a lost daughter to her mum we
got her here, safe and sound. It was dark by now, she was so relieved to have
made it! They were in the car for 4 hours, all needed the loo, especially the
little dog, Yogi! We ferried all their stuff on the boat and after a cup of tea
and a chill out we had tea and everyone relaxed for the evening.
 |
| The boys relax in their halloween pj's, making very scary faces! |
Somehow 3
adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs all squashed into our little boat and managed to get a
good nights sleep.
On Thursday it's a miserable day, drizzle all day with
occasional heavy showers. We set off after Jack's walk, Paul and Jay head off
up to the first of the 11 locks, Donna, Callum and me on the boat.
 |
| Callum pulls the boat in at the first lock mooring...... |
 |
| .... while Donna keeps Yogi the doglet warm in the borrowed rainbow coat |
Theres a
queue at the first five locks! It's raining and cold. Two hire boats are taking
their time getting through, then there's two more boats and then us!
 |
| Jay puts all his might into turning the paddles.... |
 |
| .... and it takes two, with Jack watching on, to pull open the lock gates |
The rains
coming harder now and Donna and the boys get indoors in the warm and dry, Paul
and Jack trudge up the flight of locks, getting us through one by one.
 |
| Callum gets instructions while Paul cradles his cuppa soup.... |
 |
| Donna gets working hard, but she's all in a muddle as she's left handed |
 |
| Heave ho.... they push and pull and get the gate open |
The rain
stops as we've only got a couple of locks left to do and Donna and Callum get
kitted up once again and get busy helping. I think she is secretly enjoying it,
but doesn't let on!
As we get nearer the top there's a simpleton with stary
out eyes on his way down to me fiddling with the cord tying up his jogging
bottoms! As the locks are emptying I'm holding the boat on the side with the
ropes and he asks me with muffled tones if I would undo his knot on his
trousers for him! That involves putting my hand down his waistband of his
trousers so I politely decline! He was harmless enough, he'd already asked Paul
to undo his knot, he'd refused too! Bless him, he seemed to just be wandering
up and down the lock flight looking for someone to undo his knot for him! Donna
disappeared with the boys, a safe and wise decision! I left him fiddling with
his trousers and went into the last two locks of the day.When we got to the
top there was a lovely smell of fish and chips! We pulled over, tied the boat
up and went to find the culprit. We all had chips and curry sauce for lunch,
soaked in salt and vinegar! A lovely treat for us all after a hard day working
the locks!
 |
| At the top of the locks, not a desireable are to be in, so we made our gettaway |
We went on a little further to find a nice spot in the
countryside away from Atherstone, and it was only a mile away when we stopped.
 |
| Near Hartshill.... a nice quiet spot near to a bridge where we could load up the car |
Sheep fields and meadows all around, woodland and a country park! What more
could we ask for! Peace and quiet. Aaaahh!
When we were all tied up and secure, cuppa or two down
our necks, Paul went off on his bike down the boggy mess that was the towpath
to collect Donnas car.
 |
| Here's one very tired little doglet, Yogi crashes out for the night |
On Friday 1st November Paul and I were up early and
out with Jack exploring the woods and walks all around, brilliant!
 |
| We got to the top of this sheep field, what a view! |
 |
| This is like a 'where's wally'.... only its 'find the narrow boat!' See if you can find Happy Daze! |
When we came
home everyone was up and dressed, Paul and I borrowed Donnas car and went into
Atherstone food shopping, stocking up with several days food. They left not
long after we got back, but not before we all got stuck into bacon and egg
butties and smarties cookies!
 |
| Out walking again, over fields and through the woodland you can see in the distance, that's Hartshill Country Park |
Soon we were out walking again with Jack, we walked through
fields and woodland and ended up in Hartshill Country Park. We all had a
brilliant time and got home just before the heavens opened and the rain came
once again. We relaxed in the space that was once again ours, and peace and quiet
returned once again!
The next day, Saturday, we moved once again, the
weathers bad and were going to shelter somewhere new. We cruised on a mile and
a half to Hartshill water point and filled with water on the water island, and
dumped our rubbish.
 |
| Happy Daze by the water point island.... its a big leap across this old BW skip barge to dry land |
The drizzle started, the skies were dark and grey, the
rain was on its way once again. We left the water island and through the
bridge, tall slag heaps all around us, woodlands and meadows all around us.
Soon we got to The Anchor, a pub that we had found out had a fireworks display
on tonight, and an amazing roast dinner for £6.95 on Sunday! So we decided to
stop here in amongst other boaters for a few days, shelter from the high winds
and rains that were coming.
 |
| Moored up by the Anchor Pub in Hartshill, boggy towpath everywhere now |
The tow path is mushy and muddy, people are walking
past most of the day, but it's warm and cosy in the boat.
 |
Out on our walk we saw these eight herons all by the stream, I've never seen so many herons in one place before.
It wasn't long before they spotted us and took flight though! |
 |
| "Is it this way dad?" Jack looks for directions from Paul |
The walks are great here, there's amazing sheep
meadows, boggy marshes, stubble fields and woodlands. There's paths leading
from wonderful meadows into the woodlands growing in the disused quarry. We
watch the fireworks from the boat, great display, although Jacks not at all impressed
at the fireworks going off all around!
 |
| The back entrance, especially for boaters ie... no carpets! |
 |
| What a huge dinner! But we enjoyed every single mouthful! |
On Sunday we go for a fantastic Carvery, wow, ate
every single bit! Beef, lovely thick slices, full roasties with all the veg! It
was the best roast dinner we've had for ages, the last Sunday roast we had was
on the River Stort with my brother Matt, and regular readers of my blog will
know that was back in May! So you can imagine how delicious that dinner tasted
to us!
 |
| We walked through the sheep meadows in the glorious sunshine trying to get a few calories off! We were still stuffed! |
 |
| Looking down at Springwood Haven Marina from the hills above.... and the rest of the countryside |
After a long brisk walk with Jack to wear off some of
the calories we went back to the boat and relaxed, Paul fished and I started to
knit myself my very first attemp at a jumper!
Well the rain and wind came as it was forecast and we didn't
move again till Monday. We walked Jack over the lovely sheep fields and he ran
his little legs off!
 |
| We set off from our mooring spot on a beautiful autumn morning, the sun very low in the sky |
The weather was so different today, the sun low in the
sky, glaring strong into our eyes as we set off down the canal towards Nuneaton.
It was very cold though, we got togged up with hats, gloves and scarves ..... and
sunglasses!
 |
| Cruising past the Springwood Haven Marina, after stocking up with coal |
We went on only a mile and pulled up at Springwood
Haven Marina where we loaded up with coal. Onwards we went to Nuneaton where
the canal has somehow lost its beauty!
 |
| The train line goes over the top of this ugly bridge, there's a little empty building here someone's been living in |
Graffiti everywhere, untidy gardens,
weedy allotments and drunk people!
 |
| Some of the nicer allotments, and houses up on the hill |
And it's still only 10am! We pulled over by
Wash Lane bridge in Nuneaton and while I went off to find a post office and
shop for bread and milk while Paul stayed on the boat with Jack. There's some
unsavory people about and don't really want to leave the boat unattended here!
We soon left our not so delightful spot and carried on the 2.5 miles through
Nuneaton, past loads of not so desirable council houses and flats, playing
fields and shoddy areas strewn with beer cans and vodka bottles!
 |
| The junction with the Ashby Canal, we carry on straight past, onwards to Bedworth |
We left Nuneaton behind and a little while later we went
past the junction with the Ashby canal and went on to Bedworth.
 |
| The crazy boatyard at Bedworth, my camera battery gave up the ghost here, spooky! |
Theres a crazy
boatyard at Bedworth that hasn't changed all the years I've been coming past
here, and that's the messiest boatyard I've ever seen, boats full of water,
some sunk, some on blocks, most not worth the space they take up! But they must
belong to someone I guess? And there's manikins of all shapes and sizes, upside
down ones, half dressed ones, ones with silly hats! but Bedworths another not
so lovely place, just nothing nice about here really. The houses are rough and
the countryside is flat and boring. The weather is not so good now, windy and
cold. Lots of cuppa soups later, and long cold windy straight bits we get to
Hawksbury Junction, or Sutton Stop as it's also known.
 |
| We need to turn left, towards Rugby on the Oxford Canal, Coventry is straight on 5 miles further |
 |
| Straight for the Coventry basin, we turn a sharp left under the iron bridge..... |
 |
| Going under the iron bridge, sharp left again and we're on the Oxford Canal, just a small lock to get through first.... |
This is where we have to
do a 180 degree turn round through the bridge that separates the Coventry Canal
with the North Oxford Canal and into the Sutton Stop Lock, a lock that's got a
foot rise to get up onto the North Oxford canal ......
As we continue down the North Oxford canal....
Last updated 11th November 2013
We're not really moving much now, we're in winter mode, only moving about once a week, shifting from one spot to another because we have to, prefering to shelter in the boat and stay warm and cosy. We have to move by canal law every 14 days, but we'll have to move about once a week to fill up with water, but thats about all we'll be doing. And we wont be moving far either! The days are much shorter now, once we've taken Jack out for his morning walk, had breakfast and set off, its cold and very often wet and windy, which means we want to stop after a couple of hours. Then we take Jack out again, and it's dark!
So there wont be much on here, just a few short notes to let you know where we are, and that we're all doing fine.
Hope you all have a lovely cosy winter, keep warm, and keep in touch.
