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.