Sent to Coventry......

.........no I chose to go there.

The forecast today was good and I had the urge to move on to Coventry passing through Hawkesbury Junction which I will stop at on the return leg.

So at 9:10 I cast off on the 3 mile or so trip to the Junction, it was fairly uneventful although you soon know you are arriving by the sudden increase in moored boats.

Approaching Hawkesbury Junction

First you have to pass through the shallow lock which I am informed is where the area got it’s more communal name of ‘Sutton Stop’ as it was the surname of the lockkeeper who took tolls from the passing boats in the early 1800’s.

Lock ahead below the bridge.

Hawkesbury is a famous canal community and a conservation area, with the ‘Greyhound Inn’ pub right at the junction where the Gongoozlers take much delight in watching any unfortunates who make a mess of the tight turn formed by the junction when travelling from the Northern approach of the Coventry and joining the Oxford canal, many a laugh for them and no doubt some abuse back from the boaters as they pass the pub having recovered steerage.

Left To Coventry, Right to the North.

I am about to turn left here to head for Coventry but if you are coming into the Junction from the right the canal turns through 180degrees back on itself to head down the Oxford, the pub is just behind me in this picture and evidence of failed turns can be seen on the damaged edging below the bridge on the left, imagine that with another few boats turning in differing directions as well J

A quick stop just to empty the Elsan and offload more rubbish and then off again passing beneath the M6 a brute of an ugly bridge.

A bit slow going due to shallow depths and debris with not much to see apart from bridges and industry until you reach the Ricoh Arena where Coventry City play, I’ll get a picture on the way back.

Past ‘Cash’s Hundreds’ 3 storey terraced homes built for Joseph Cash’s workers with accommodation on the ground and first floors and weavers looms on the second floor, although it was intended to build 100 only 48 ever got built.

Compare those to these new ‘modern’ homes.

You are then faced with a large development on the left and a new footbridge  before arriving at Coventry Basin.

Visitor Moorings on the right leg.

Quinquireme on the far side.

After sorting out where to moor and getting myself reversed in I had a need to venture into the weed hatch again.

In among that lot was a pillow case, I thought the engine was a bit sleepy.

This afternoon I walked around the city, more on that in the next post.

Totals today: 8 miles : 1 lock

P.S. Late afternoon N.b. Briar Rose turned up, another blog I follow, I've just looked at their blog and they've posted this evening and Quinquireme got in a picture on it.