Home Mooring

A rough old night and woke to the rain several times but this morning was calm and clear so we set off a few minutes earlier than normal, reversing back to the junction and going round the triangle, rather than running all the way to the marina to wind.
I got a photo of the  new “winter mooring” signs as we passed showing the wording.

The water level gauge by Braunston Services indicates that the level is only a tine bit off  its

normal one, however this afternoon we took the car to Napton Reservoir to see if they had started topping it up, but its just as low as last month.
Just beyond bridge 90 where the canal starts to narrow there is a cruiser moored up, its not really wide but wider than a Narrowboat and where it is it will make life very interesting for any wide beam boats that want to get up there.

When I come this way I often try to take a photograph of Braunston Church through the arch of the bridge, I still haven’t taken that perfect shot.

Then it started to rain and then it rained harder, eased for a bit, but then it chucked it down. So far today we have had ½”. As we got to Dunchurch Pools it was nice to see the service pontoon empty and no gale blowing through. As we tied up even the rain stopped, double win. The improvement in the weather didn’t last. Back at our marina we needed a pump out, but there was already a boat on the services, thankfully he had nearly finished and we could draw in and do the necessary. While we were there I went and collected our new starter battery and loaded it onboard so that I could fit it this evening. Then it was round to our mooring and slide in for the night deploying our wooden fenders to prevent the gunwale sliding under the pontoon.

Today’s Journey

5 miles with no locks in 2¾ hours

Braunston

It turned quite cool overnight compared to what we have been experiencing recently, down to about 6°C and this morning felt decidedly chilly out on deck, The still morning soon changed to a breezy one making it less pleasant in exposed places. Just before we set off a boat with a very short butty moored ahead of us, we have seen them several times during the lock closures but I never managed to get a photo of the solid stern of the butty with imitation doors painted onto it. Even hinges.

I don't know if anyone has ever experienced rats boarding their boat by climbing the mooring lines, I thought they would be more likely to just hop on from the bank to the deck.

We met quite a few boats on what was quite a short journey. As we approached Braunston a family of Swans came to say hello, actually I think they were saying feed us.

Unlike the flock of Canada Geese that were swimming down the cut ahead of us ,they preferred to keep out of our way.

We  passed yet another length of winter moorings running right up to bridge 90 in a no mooring area. The notices also say these are moorings for boats with a winter mooring permit, so I assume the rest of us have to sail by.

We stopped to fill with water at the services at Braunston Junction, there was only one boat moored in that section when we arrived but a second moored before we left. We just went round the corner towards the centre of Branston and moored for the night.

Today’s Journey

 

6½ miles with no locks in 2¾ hours

Hillmorton Top Lock

We were away a little after 10 on yet another warm, sunny morning. I wasn’t 100% happy with the new weed hatch seal I fitted yesterday as I couldn’t get the top plate as clean as I would have liked, so lifted the deck to check, sure enough everywhere was wet, so I screwed  the lid down a bit ran the bilge pump and continued on our way. A little later I ran the pump again and far too much water was pumped out, so pulled over to open it up and check it, I had got a tuck in the seal when I fitter it at the back. so that was sorted and now looks to be OK.It just goes to show, something I have done loads of times but you need to check.
There was no work at the site of the land slip today, I am interested as to what the finished job will be like.

Only one boat moored at All Oaks, normally a popular spot, that is without counting the work boats at the far end where they are piling in front of the concrete edge. It will make a few more handy moorings for the summer if they don’t attach rolls of coir to it.

We continued on meeting a steady flow of boats including 4 hire boats taking a late break. As well as boats we met this lady on her stand up paddle board, we had seen two more, earlier packing up at All Oaks Wood.

Only 6 boats moored at Brownhills, and a couple at Ansty, very similar below Hillmorton with a couple on the winter mooring part. Hillmorton lock was empty and as we went up a boat appeared above and a chap without a windlass wandered up and said “we plan to come in when you leave” I am not sure if I said to just thought, I guessed that. The next two locks were also with us and we moored for the night at the top of the locks, again not many boats here

 

Today’s Journey

13 miles with 3 locks in 5¼ hours

Ansty (outskirts)

A bit damp over night and miserable this morning clearing up this afternoon. First job of the day was a visit to Playwright's for a Traditional Breakfast, unfortunately the order got muddled and we received two “Jumbo” breakfasts, two of everything, she offered to take them back but we assured her we could sort it out.
We were finally away at 10-45 on a dull day and it wasn’t long before the drizzle started. I was aware that I had something round the prop but provided I didn’t do more than 3MPH I could live with it. On this stretch of canal this time I saw 3 Kingfishers, two Water Voles and a Brown Rat, plus the ducks,swans  seagulls etc. I managed to get a photo of this little chap.

Over the past few years this building has changed dramatically, the gable was originally the painted part. The bricking up we have seen was interesting and the rendering looks like he uses his hands and a shovel .

Exhall Basin moorings has now changed hands and already it looks as if there are more boats in there. I also see they have applied for planning consent to build some new houses there .

As I turned into Sutton Stop it was obvious I couldn’t go any further without a visit down the weed hatch. I am not sure what it was but the green bit is a zip and the white a plasticated mesh.

Once that was sorted we were off again but only about 2 miles where there is a shot length of piling, about as far as you get from the motorway or railway.
After we had moored up I found that the weed hatch seal was leaking, I am not surprised as it hadn’t been disturbed for months, so that was another little job to sort out before the light went.

 

Today’s Journey8 miles 1 lock in 3 hours

Coventry Basin

As planned last night we ate at The Anchor and on the board it was pie night. Not real pies but a bowl of meat with a piece of puff pastry floating on top. That said my steak pie was packed with tender meat and it came with a good jug of gravy.

Outside it was bonfire Night and they had a big fire street food wagon and at 7-30 a half hour fireworks display. The place was heaving, queuing up the steers to the bar for drinks. There were people out on the street watching as well as on the bridge. The cars were parked down the road as far as you could see which caused problems with the HGV’s getting back to the yard.

This morning was another bright sunny start but again it didn’t last. Springwood Haven have all their boats in for the winter..

It wasn’t long before the showers started, I would put the brolly up and a few minutes later it would stop. Repeat until through Nuneaton, but no rainbow.
We only met a couple of boats and didn’t see one ahead until Charity Dock, we then did the trip to Hawkesbury at 2¾ MPH.
Boot Wharf have some interesting boats on the hard including this wide beam barge, that must be a lorry job.

I didn’t expect to see The Blues Brothers on the Coventry canal, I spotted them on our way up and luckily they were still sat outside their house today.

As we passed the new Rhenus Warehousing office block  we could see that already at least three of the large windows have failed.

When we got to Hawkesbury the boat ahead pulled in at the water point so we were able to slide passed. From Hawkesbury services to bridge 11 is a solid row of moored boats crossing both the two water points and the No Mooring signs opposite Exhall basin, very handy for boats going in or coming out.
Again CRT have designated a long stretch of towpath to winter moorings, probably room for 15 to 20 boats down to Longford Bridge, there is one boat there, the first I have seen on any winter moorings. Down at the basin we winded and slid in next to the swing bridge that never swings. (thank goodness). There were already 4 boats down here and we have been joined by another. Diana has bought the cakes from the Portuguese shop and tomorrow breakfast in Playwrights, they were broken into earlier this week. This evening there was a lovely sunset reflecting on the water but the photo just bleached out.

Today’s Journey .13¾ miles with no locks in 5 hours

Anchor Bridge, Coventry canal

We were a bit later getting away this morning and the timing was all wrong. Just as I was fitting the tiller to boats came by and we followed them all the way to Marston Junction.
We set off this morning in bright,warm sunshine, by Springwood it was raining, not heavily, but constant.
All the long term moorings at Tuttle Hill are now vacant, for some time there has only been one boat there, but the area is nicely maintained with all the grass cut. There is also a good supply of water entering the canal from somewhere.

I think everyone photographs this pole as the pass through.

We had a good clear run from Marston Junction as far as the winding hole just past Springwood Haven where a boat coming the other way had started to swing in to turn, so we waited until he was round. While we were waiting a notices a small swarm of flies, wasps, bees around the piling. I tried photographing them, you can just see one on the piling  

So we were now following another boat heading north, we passed our planned mooring for the night outside the Anchor, passed the CRT yard at Hartshill and on to the next winding hole, just north of the winding hole is another abandoned and vandalised boat, I think that's the forth today, the others were still afloat but all the glass, doors and anything useful gone.

We headed back to the Anchor to moor for the night and have booked a table for this evening. It looks like a noisy evening as the have a live band in the marquee. The water here is bright brown/orange colour and you can see it entering the canal directly opposite the moorings.

Today’s Journey

10 miles with no locks in 3½ hours

Hawkesbury, Coventry canal

Boy it was windy last night but no rain, we were moored beside the old GEC works, this is now being demolished to make way for housing.Thankfully they didn’t start until 8 o’clock this morning.
An early start for us as the forecast is not too good but at the moment it couldn’t be much better. There were only half a dozen boats moored in the centre of Brownsover . This is where the water that is weiring down the Hillmorton flight is going, probably the Avon.We stopped in Newbold for water, Like most of the normally popular visitor moorings we have passed there were only 4 boats moored here. CRT or their contractors have been carrying out spot repairs to the towpath from here to Hawkesbury. As we passed the moorings at All Oaks Wood there was only one boat moored there and even the small cruiser I reported on last time has even gone from the ditch. Even the patio is getting overgrown.

CRT have had to go to extra expense to stop people walking along the closed towpath by the slippage.

Work was ongoing at the site of the large slippage with it being levelled and tamped down with diggers and then being compressed with a remote controlled spiked roller. It keeps the operator safe if the bank collapses.

I dropped Diana off a short way before Bridge 30, the railway bridge so that she could open Rose Boats swing bridge. As we passed through I had a short chat with this surveyor working his way along the hull and chalking up his results.

There were loads of spaces to moor at Ansty, but as the weather was holding we pushed on to Hawkesbury. CRT have designated a long stretch or towpath just before bridge 4 to winter moorings and just like the ones below Hillmorton there was no one using them. However all the decent moorings prior to Sutton Stop were occupied including the off side water point and opposite the Grey Hound by the bridge, despite the no mooring signs. I don’t know what has happened at the long term mooring but the security fencing has been extended.

As the moorings were full we passed through the stop lock and onto the Coventry Canal turning right back on ourselves. We carried on to moor opposite the far end of the long term moorings, surprisingly there are hardly any boats moored along this section.
Not long after we moored up it started to rain very lightly, It did this on and off for some time and now as I type this its chucking it down

 

Today’s Journey

 

13½ miles with 1 lock in 5½ hours

Brownsover

Our journey to the boat was slightly different today as we called in at Brinklow Marina to meet some one. As  it was lunchtime we then stopped in Newbold at The Barley Mow for a snack. I had sausage and onion baguette where as Diana had the Chicken Club Sandwiches, I had to give her a hand with them.

   We then carried on to Barby Moorings and made ready to move off. Again there was a good breeze from the south. beam on to me reversing out and then swinging into it. Today id was quite gusty, so watching the flags and washing I was able to slide out during a lull in the blow, picking Diana up after the bridge was not so easy.
Out on the canal it was turn right towards Hillmorton, As we left the marina I snapped a shot of the pristine, new stop plank groves, I hope they are not needed.

At Hillmorton the back pumps were running which seems a bit pointless as the pound is on weir and its running straight back down the flight.

CRT have locked the towpath side locks leaving just the offside operational. They have tape on all the handrails which is silly, as a boat crew walking down the towpath have to cross a tapped off lock to reach an operational one.

All three nearside locks are like this. At the bottom lock someone has painted a horse looking out of the top half of the door.

Our plan at this point was to moor a short way before Houlton Road bridge, but as the weather was good and there were already lots of boats there we carried on to Brownsover. All the hire boats were double moored outside Clifton Cruisers, not a problem, however a boat moored on the towpath side on the bend was a different matter. The owner shouted apologies from the boatyard saying he pulled up as he had a problem. His urgency would suggest he didn’t think I would get through. It was close. The café at the yard looked inviting with all the lights on.

We pushed on to the mooring rings at Brownsover and moored not far passed Boughton Road Bridge at quarter to five.

Todays Journey

5 miles with 3 locks in 2¼ Hours

Home Moorings

Well before we were up an old engine came chugging slowly passed, thanks for going slow Nick. We set off our normal 10am and headed down Dunchurch Pools Marina to fill up with diesel. It was a tad busy with two boats on the service bay, one waiting under the entrance bridge, us behind him and another coming from the Braunston direction waiting behind us. Eventually it was our turn and we took on 90l of the red stuff. That sorted we made our way back to Barby.
The sheep in the area are already showing brightly coloured bums, I don’t know how long the Tup has been with them but it looks like he has made a good start, we didn’t put the Tup to the Ewes until Guy Fawkes day.

We manage to meet a hire boat in a bridge hole on a bend, luckily they weren't speeding and pulled back se we could pass on the wrong side. Back at our marina we follower the boat who had been ahead of us buying diesel through the marina bridge and we slid into our slot.
The water level in the marina was almost back to normal but I still deployed our wooden fenders to prevent Harnser sliding under the pontoon if the level falls again.

Until the next time.

Today’s Journey

 

4¼ miles with no locks in 2 hours.