Weather 1 Boater 0.

The forecast I had on the App on my phone said rain early, dry later, but it looked ok so I set off just before 10am, first stop was the water point and having got sorted another boat pulled onto the second water point in front of me so I walked along and had a chat while our tanks filled, he was going my way and said that wind and rain was due about midday, he was only going as far as Handsacre while I wanted to go on to Rugeley another hour or so further on, anyway he finished before me and I went and opened the swingbridge for another boat heading in the same direction and then held it for him as well so I had two boats ahead of me so it would be follow the leader through the three locks today.

I timed my departure about right and reached the lock landing just as he was entering the lock, I locked him through and then went through myself, I had a bit of a struggle getting into the lock because of strong winds, I could not get off the lock landing and kept getting blown back against the bank but eventually I succeeded and when I approached the second lock he was just leaving it.

Shade House Lock (19)

At the third lock he was just entering as I approached

A boat was also waiting to come down so I walked up and chatted to the young man on the other one, he and his girl had bought their boat 3 weeks ago and were moving it down to Birmingham at weekends, they had a residential mooring there. I helped with the lock and then walked to my boat to prepare to move in after they came out, and that’s when the day started to go wrong, for them not me, they were moving out of the lock extremely slowly and I thought it was just because they were new to it all and being cautious, but instead of passing me they began to pull to the bank in front of me, so I asked what they were doing and they had lost drive to the prop, the engine was running ok, but no propulsion, I couldn’t help and they said it had happened before and if they left it a few hours it would be ok again, so I wished them well and headed off through the lock.

Passing through Ravenshaw Woods

 then Kings Bromley Wharf

And then Kings Bromley Marina, 

I had looked at a few boats there during my search for my boat.

On into Handsacre

The weather still looked ok until I had past the moorings and then the wind and rain started, passing Amitage with the sanitaryware works , no photos now as it was too windy and wet, my brolly decided to blow inside out and it was a bit of a struggle to get it back the right way again!

Bridge 61a is the start of the narrow section that was a tunnel until they took the roof off and the signposts tell you to send a crew member ahead as you cannot see the other end, so not having a crew member to send it was with trepidation I began to enter, breathing a sigh of relief as I rounded a curve and saw it was clear all the way, at this point the rain had stopped so the camera came back out.

Armitage narrows, happily clear.

This chap has been photographed thousands of times, I had too.

Spode House and Hawkesbury Priory

Now the weather really worsened and I was glad to reach Rugely, until I stopped, I had a real struggle getting moored with the wind blowing the boat out and a passing boat didn’t help as he failed to slow at all dragging the boat as well, but in the wind and rain I eventually got it tied up safely just after bridge 66

Today I thought I’d pop to the shops which the map showed were close by and as I walked up onto the bridge road Tesco was right there, I was almost in the car park.

Totals: 8 miles : 3 locks : 1 swing bridge

Back moving....to Fradley Junction.

My slightly aggravated back problem let me know it was more than slightly aggravated, when I woke in the morning after a rough night without much sleep I rolled out of bed, literally, and got some pain killers, I attempted to walk to the shop, but after 50yards decided that was not going to happen so I spent most of yesterday on my back resting it uncomfortably, this morning it had eased enough to move on with a heatpad and back support in position and the knowledge that I had no locks or movable bridges to contend with.

So about 10:30 in the drizzle I carefully cast off, conditions were not great but I wanted to get going and not lose any more time, it was unsurprisingly very quiet to begin with. I was soon passing Huddlesford Junction where the abandoned Wyrley and Essington Canal once led towards the wonderfully named Ogley Junction, the (now) short branch is currently occupied by Lichfield Cruising Club until such time as the canal is restored, if that happens.

Club Headquarters

Private club member moorings along the branch.

Handily  for the cruising club, just around the bend on the main canal is The Plough public house.

Another example of the sometimes weird and wonderful boat varieties you see as you meander along.

Passing by Kings Orchard marina and suddenly it got quite busy with four boats passing me in the opposite direction.

Kings Orchard marina entrance.

The next place of note was a busy Streethay Wharf.

Nobody about but work going on somewhere

I assume Daysy is their dayboat for hire.

Boats brested makes for a narrow gap but ok as long as nothing is heading your way

For a short time you are joined by the A38 which runs alongside the canal and the change in noise levels is very noticeable as the cars thunder along at 20 times the speed I am travelling at.

It didn’t take much longer to reach my destination, Fradley Junction and I am moored on the visitor moorings just before the Junction.

I went for a stroll, this small swingbridge

is just before the Junction which is the end of the Coventry Canal as we now join the Trent and Mersey Canal, Right is towards Burton on Trent and Left towards Stoke on Trent, I will be heading left but not going as far as Stoke at this time as I will be doing a circular route (probably) and turning left down the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal at the next junction, Great Haywood.

This way to Burton on Trent, looking from Junction Lock.

This way to Stoke on Trent, the junction can be seen after this lock on the left
I am moored down there.

There is a pub at the junction on the right in the picture above, I have been threatening to actually go and have a pint in one of the many pubs I've passed for sometime now and I think this could be the one, maybe tomorrow!

Tonights mooring.

Total today: 5 miles

A quick catchup

On Saturday I had a wander around Hopwas, a very small village with two pubs and a church or two and not much else although this schoolhouse caught my eye by reason of the wording on the stone.

It must have been quite something for a benefactor to be able to provide a schoolhouse for such a small village. It has since been developed alongside this and is now a thriving Primary school and this building is probably only used for the Admin side.

Having looked around the village I walked up the lane leading to this beautiful church.

St Chad's dedicated in 1869 is by far the best looking village church I have seen so far.

Looking back over the village from the Church

Walking back down the hill and passing over the canal on the road bridge, the next bridge along is over the river Tame which runs fairly parallel to the canal at this point.

On Sunday I moved on to Whittington.

Passing new housing at Whittington

I passed through the village and moored just the other side in a more open spot  away from the housing and roads and once sorted I had a brief foray into the village, it's very nice with quite a lot of new housing alongside the older properties but not very picturesque, it does have a handy Co-op so I was able to stock up with a few bits.

Yesterday (Monday) was a cold start with a heavy frost over the boat, the temperature in the saloon was 5 degrees, I didn't check the bedroom temperature as it would probably horrify me, it's furthest from the stove and definitely 'cooler', but the stove was still 'in' so a bit of stoking and added coal and it was soon nice and warm again.

I had intended to move on again this morning but I have aggravated my back a little getting coal off the roof, and as I have time in hand I have decided to stay put and rest it a little.


Mooring






Total travel: 2 miles

Two for the price of one.....

.......I know how to save even when posting on the blog.

So two post’s today as my internet signal was weak yesterday.

I left my yesterday about 9:30, the wind and rain had all but disappeared so it was a very pleasant autumnal start to my journey.

Stipers Hill was looking very nice although now it is the home of a motorcycle dirt track which for some will detract from the beauty, I didn’t mind, I thought it gives it a bit more interest.

 Almost opposite Stipers Hill is Hoo Hill which boasts a monument to the former existence of a chapel demolished by Henry VIII in 1538, I doubt he literally did it himself, but you know what I mean, it was during the suppression of the monasteries.

I passed through Polesworth which is quite built up and I will no doubt visit that another day,

In case you're wondering where the pub is, it's over there. 

I liked the name of this little boat, makes me wonder if it was originally twice as long, or is the reference to a drinker owning it? 

Half Cut

The approach to the M42 bridge was rather leafy, many bursts of reverse meant slow progress.

As I approached Alvechurch Marina the rain began to fall and I decided to call it a day, mooring just past this sad looking boat and hoping it wasn't catching.

Last nights mooring.

Friday 20th.

I left my mooring today at 9am, I had a reasonable length journey planned (for me) to get me to Hopwas, it was very cold, bright, but a real chill as per the forecasts.

There are many bridges along this section of the Coventry canal, 12 in fact before reaching the first lock.

As I approached lock 12, one of the two Glascote Locks, I could see a boat already coming up in the lock (I am still going down) so I was happy to think the lock would be in my favour, I slowed right down to give him time to get out and as he did a boat I thought was moored moved off and bashed his way into the lock, no matter, I tied up and went and helped him through, then waited for another boat coming up and saw him through before it was my turn.

Leaving Glascote Lock 12

and looking ahead to 13

One good turn deserves another and as I approached the next lock I could see the boat ahead had opened the paddles to refill the lock for me as he was leaving it, good man, however once I got into the lock I could see he was still on the landing, loosely tied and his boat was wandering in and out across the canal and then of course another boat appeared wanting to go up the lock, his crew helped me through  while he hovered before the lock landing and the ‘loose’ boat, commenting to me as I passed him about inconsiderate boats mooring on the landings, then the chap appeared with a cup of tea, he could have moored further along while he made tea, there was plenty of room.

Not long afterwards he caught me up and was close behind me, so after going across the aqueduct over the river Tame I pulled over and let him go by.

The white object is half a porta potti loo

Passing over the river Tame

Off he goes, no doubt tea near to hand

I passe through Tamworth and again will stop there another time, next came Fazeley Junction, left is to Birmingham but I am heading right to the ‘Four Counties Ring’

Coming out into Fazeley Junction

Birmingham down there

The sky blackened and I decided to stop for tea and a sandwich with perfect timing, a very heavy twenty minute downpour, well avoided.

Moving off again past Peels Wharf now a housing development with permit holders moorings, although no boats inside the area.

Through some more lovely countryside

as the weather improved and then under Ball’s Bridge

the bridges now have names and into Hopwas, I passed through the village and have moored the other side of it.
I will probably stay until Monday. I am on the  48hour visitor moorings but during the winter months November ‘til the end of February, I think, all visitor moorings revert to 14 days unless specifically signed along the lines ‘all year round’, I have a TV signal and good internet and I may even walk back to try a pint in the canalside Pub.

Tonight’s mooring

Total travel: 2 days : 10 miles : 2 Locks