Hilmorton Top Lock

Oxford Canal – Monday 30 September 2013

Another 07:30 start and after the weekend the canal is quiet.  A steady chug on past Hartshill Yard, where there is a ‘Land Girls Cookery School’ then Nuneaton and Bedworth.  At Hawkesbury Junction there is a 180 degree turn to change from the Coventry to the Oxford canals.  The next point of interest is Stretton Stop (home of ‘Rose Narrowboats’) where there is a swing footbridge over the canal.  Then on to Rugby and Hilmorton.  Today was mainly miles but tomorrow there is Braunston.

The sun barely showed today, it was cloudy and fleece weather until 15:30 but the sky is showing patches of blue.

Atherstone

Coventry Canal – Sunday 29 September 2013

Another 07:30 start then after a few miles passing through Whittington there is the start of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal where the bridges have names rather than numbers.  By this time other boaters had woken up and at almost every bridge there was a boat approaching.  At Tamhorn Farm bridge (a blind bridge from the north) there was a day boat that, after it had gone through the bridge, stopped and drifted past just as I started up then two “water-boarders” came through (I think that’s what they’re called – standing on what looks like a surf board using a paddle for propulsion), a quick bit of reverse and bow thruster and we all missed.  The day boat was their escort but I did say the steerers should have used their voices to warn of the additional danger.  At Hopwas Wood Bridge a couple were out in canoes.  Once I’d got past Fazeley Junction, where the canal reverts to the Coventry, and the two Glascote locks the boat activity quietened down until Atherstone where there is a flight of eleven locks.  Once through those it was moor for the night.

The ‘Indian Summer’ continues with blue skies and a few fluffy clouds.

Fradley Bridge

Coventry Canal – Saturday 28 September 2013

Another 07:30 start through Star Lock and on down the Trent valley – I was doing ok until Rugeley when a ‘Shakespeare’ boat pulled in front of me then went at tick-over speed – the two steerers kept looking back and at bridges they stopped to let a walker off (who was walking faster than them) then stopped to pick them up again at the next one.  If we came to s clear straight (as at Hawkesyard Hall) they speeded up!  This went on until Handsacre when they pulled in to moor – as I went past they said ‘Oh did we hold you up then?’  Three miles in an hour and three quarters!  Then on down to Fradley Junction which was as busy as usual and turn onto the Coventry.

Weatherwise the mist hung on until nearly eleven when the sun finally came out but then it was vest weather again.

Stone

Trent & Mersey Canal – Friday 27 September 2013

Started at 07:30 to get to the North Portal for the start at 08:00, then had to wait as a single boat from the south had been let through first.  By the time she arrived there were five boats heading south.  Then it was steady run of miles with breaks at the Stoke, Measham and Stone locks (13 miles and 14 locks).  In Stone I tried to fit a 57ft boat into a 55ft space between two moored boats and one of the boaters came out (I was expecting a the usual abuse) but all he said was did I want a hand and proceeded to move his boat!!  There are nice people around.  The weather has been late summer with the sun out all day and blue skies with a few ‘mares tails’ and jet trails.

Red Bull Aqueduct

Red Bull Aqueduct, Macclesfield Canal – Thursday 26 September 2013

Started early to face the Bosley locks (12 in about a mile).  First I had to navigate two swing bridges – at the first, which is a footpath bridge, I had just unlocked it and was about to walk the boat forward when a morning runner asked if I needed help, so that was one down.  The next one is electric and blocks the road traffic, so wait for no cars from both directions then press and hold the ‘open’ button, over the pedestrian bridge, back on the boat through the bridge ‘ole and moor up, the back across the footbridge and press the button to close the bridge.  Only four cars waiting and no abuse.

Then through the locks which I completed in 2 hours 30 minutes running time.  One minor problem – I got stuck on the overflow at lock 2 – the wind and the water-flow were holding me and I had to wait until a boat going up could pull me off.

After that it was just a journey onward in steadily improving weather – the sun out and the wind dropped.  Tomorrow it's Harecastle Tunnel first.

Danes Moss Bridge

Danes Moss Bridge, Macclesfield Canal – Wednesday 25 September 2013

A Change of location!

Monday late afternoon Peter re-painted the blue and the various bits of masking tape removed on Tuesday.  The last bits were fitted (turn buckles to hold the new polycarbonate sheets) and another bit of boat shuffling, leaving me facing south and breasted up on ‘La Suvera’.

Today was a wait for the postman and a final delivery of some paint I’d ordered, after lunch it was goodbyes to ‘The Cabin’, the team, Peter and Susan then heading off.  A peaceful run as there was only a couple of boats going the other way, the sunken boat at Macclesfield is still there, but the one on the opposite bank which made passing difficult has been removed.  Since going into the Paint-shed the sun has been out, now I’m back out it’s been raining!  However it stopped mid-morning and has remained overcast but dry.