We got a convoy.....

.....a slow one.

The fuel boat duly arrived Monday afternoon, I took 7 bags of smokeless fuel and asked for a diesel top up, and I certainly got a top up, unfortunately he tried to squeeze as much in as he could to round the cost up to the nearest £ and without realising managed to overfill it allowing a litre or so to seep down onto the swim and into the bilge, I only discovered it later when I noticed the diesel smell was quite bad and investigated. So that all had to be soaked up into nappies for disposal later, another lesson learned, don't let anyone try to fill it to the brim!

On Tuesday I cast off around 9am for the fairly short hop to Fazeley jcn. about 4miles and two locks ahead, I had put on my back support as it still feels a bit tender but I don’t ‘expect’ any more problems for now. It was slightly misty but not too bad weather wise.

There are 11 bridges along the first couple of miles so if you are going to meet another boat it is almost definite that it’ll be at a bridge hole, but today it was quiet and I met nothing.

There was a boat coming up the first of the two Glascote locks (12-13) as I arrived and they were fully crewed so I only had to wait until they had finished before heading in myself.

Arriving at the second lock just as a lady off another boat that was coming up reached the bottom gates I was glad to see that she realised the lock was nearly full (in my favour) and she then walked up to the top gate and began to set the lock for me waving me back to my boat, she locked me through and I was on my way again.

Passing over the aqueduct across the river Tame.

Before arriving at Fazeley my boating friend Rod texted me to say the visitor moorings before the junction were empty but those after were full, and on arriving Rod was there to say hello, I moored up and we had a coffee and catch-up.

Mooring:

I stayed put on Wednesday, and chatting with Rod we decided to do a stint of cruising together and made arrangements to head off Thursday, later on Rod said another friend of his, Costas,  was going to tag along with us as well. In the evening I treated myself to fish and chips, a huge portion that was far too large for one person!

Thursday arrived and all three of us wanted water, so there was a bit of a delay before we got going with Fradley junction as our probable destination.

Fazeley Junction, Birmingham right, Coventry Left

On the waterpoint

With me taking the lead, Rod in the middle and Costas at the rear, we got off to a good start, the weather was nice and we pootled along quite happily.

As we passed through Hopwas a couple of boats moved off ahead of us and a fisherman told me there was one in front of them as well, so we had a convoy, three ahead of me and two behind, and to begin with all was fine, but then the second boat ahead of me slowed, noticeably, it was probably the worst section of the trip with overgrown edges causing narrows and no opportunity to overtake, and so it went on for the next couple of miles, meeting oncoming boats with us five quite closely grouped, a bit of a fiasco really, until eventually just after the next village of Whittington the two boats ahead of me moored up, as I passed by he told me his gearbox was ‘unwell’ so he thought he’d stop to let us pass, better late than never I guess!

By now it was midday and I was getting thirsty and peckish, so at the first available spot large enough for three boats I decided we should stop for lunch.

Lunch mooring spot

Rod's boat N.b. Tilly Mint, Costas is behind him hidden from camera.

A half an hour later we were off again with Costas leading Rod second and me as rear gunner, and soon passing through the next village, Huddlesford, where there had been a festival a week or so ago.

Festival straggler?

The Plough Huddlesford

A boat pulled out between me and Rod just before Kings Orchard marina and I followed him until we reached Streethay Wharf where they pulled in for services, only a short distance which made me wonder why they had pulled out so quickly but perhaps they thought I might stop on ‘their’ service point.

I caught up with Rod as there was some further issue ahead of him with a boat blocking passage, it looked like he was attempting to moor up in too shallow an area, but all was revealed later when Rod suggested they ask me for a tow (Rod did not want to risk giving a tow as he has only recently had some engine work done) and on pulling up alongside them the chap informed me he thought he had something wrapped around his prop as his engine had just stalled abruptly, he was trying to get to the side for a trip down the weedhatch but couldn’t because it was too shallow, so with a towrope passed between his bow and my stern I towed him to a more suitable area, later when I was moored he passed by and said it was a big lump of wood jammed in the prop, he thanked me again before gliding past.

Just before bridge 90 Rod decided he wanted to stop, we were just short of Fradley junction and the probability of finding a mooring at this time of day was low so a good decision, Costas had gone off in the distance during the delay, so we moored up to call it a day, later on Costas returned to moor in front of Rod.

Current Mooring:

Totals this post: 11 miles : 2 locks : 1 Slow Convoy : 1 Rescue Tow J

Real Alpacas.

Yesterday I took the opportunity to walk in to Atherstone, four times, well my back is still sore so I did a number of ‘light’ trips, I stocked up with a few bits from Aldi and found a couple of bits I needed from the amazing hardware store, it’s so packed with stock that when I asked for one item the assistant said “we do stock it, I’ve just got to remember where I put it” he found it after a few minutes.

This morning after my usual Sunday fry-up breakfast I set off to complete the flight of locks, numbers 6-11, I had waited for a boat to come up ensuring that at least the first one would be in my favour, so once he had passed me I cast off, I should add that the nappy pin/piling mooring hook affixed to a length of rope that I made and mentioned a few posts back is working well saving a bit of effort each stop, 

Lock 6

And leaving lock 6

 At lock 7 I met another boat coming up so I helped him through and then continued with lock 8 still in my favour, at lock 9 I could see a boat was quite high in lock 10, they took an age, I had gone through my lock and moved down the pound slowly, before they finally sorted themselves out and started towards me. Arriving at lock 11 it was against me and looking ahead I could see another boat rising in lock 12, so rather than turn the lock (refill it n this case) I opened the gates and sat on the steps waiting, it was holiday makers from New Zealand, one of the woman, there were three sisters, presumably with husbands, one said how horrible the canal was, blooming cheek, she said it was dirty and smelly (perhaps in New Zealand the rivers and canals only contain clean water, well dirty yes, there’s lot of silt, but smelly, no, not normally, anyway she hated her boating holiday, can’t please everyone!

Having finished the flight I continued on past Bradley Green with its line of residential moorings, approaching bridge 48 I could see a boat winding (turning) just beyond it, I was only at tick over anyway because of the moored boats but when I got quite near he waved me through which was unnecessary but nice, once I had passed by he finished his turn and followed me along.

Bradley Green moorings

A few snaps as I passed Grendon Dock.

Seen better days

Still working

Would make a lovely project, or is already?

Two in the dry dock getting repaints

I think this next picture was Hoo Hill, sort of from the back really, there is a monument up there which was easily seen once I got further along but I didn’t get a decent picture, it's a bit too far away.

Somewhere along the next stretch (I think), I passed by a group of Alapaca’s there were two or three baby ones but I couldn’t get a decent picture, they kept moving and ducking behind the railings, but they were cute!

On through Polesworth and then I came across a strange fishing match, they weren’t sitting patiently with lines in the water, no, this lot were all walking up and down dragging the line with them, a strange idea for a match I thought, anyway there were a couple of dozen of them, all the way along to my mooring, opposite Alvecote Marina, later in the day they had their award ceremony in the pub opposite.

Current mooring:

There's three or four anglers walking up and down in this picutre
and that's the Samuel Barlow pub where they got their awards.

Totals today: 5 miles : 6 locks

I have a rendezvous here tomorrow with a fuel boat and then on Tuesday I am heading off to Fazeley junction to meet another boating friend.

Tiny boat.....

.....and an Alpaca.

This morning was blooming chilly when I woke up, I had lit the stove yesterday afternoon but it was too warm once the chill was gone off the boat so I let it go out overnight, that's the problem with this time of year, too keep it running or not is a difficult decision.

After two days flat on my back in bed I had decided today I would put on the back support and head off to see how it felt back in action.

I'd negotiated a 10 bag discount for smokeless fuel from Springwood Haven marina (£13.25 down to £11.25) and told them I would be along in a day or two (once my back was more settled) for the coal, gas and diesel, so off I went at 9am and was pleased to see no other boats on the service area. I called in the shop then met the chap to load me up, I was a little upset to find they only had one bag of coal, how daft, they never said they were low or I would have paid for it to be put aside for me! The upshot of my disappointment was I only bought the gas (which I really needed) and the one bag of coal, (which I might really need), I left the diesel and will do what I normally do and buy from the fuel boat later!

Anyway it was obviously no strain on my back so I set off for the Atherstone locks.
Just before Hartshill this little chap was moored up.

I don't know why but the tiny ones are always fascinating, I must get a look
inside one someday.

Then it was through bridge 31 to reveal Harhill Yard.

By now the sun was out and it was a lovely time to be cruising along, it was quite busy, I passed several boats along the way.

And the I spotted an Alpaca, they are not that rare but this one was quite cute.

The canal winds it way along for the next mile or so before arriving at the first of the Atherstone flight of locks, 11 in all (1-11) dropping you down 80' overall. But first I needed to fill the water tank and empty the cassettes and rubbish.

I had a slight hold up as I waited to allow a chap to reverse back past 2 other boats to change his mooring position and as I approached there was a boat in the first lock.

On the service point

The service point is a little awkward, by the lock and forming a winding hole as well, but it was clear so I moved onto it and did the necessary. the tap was awfully slow, while there two boats came up through the lock and two went down, and just after I had moved off a boat appeared wanting to wind (turn around) so timing was good, he'd have struggled with me on the service point.

And then it was off down the first lock, a volounteer was on duty so a good start, no need to do much just wind up one paddle then back on the tiller.

On the tiller waiting for the water to exit.

The volounteer walked along and worked me through the second lock as well.

From then on it was all smooth going, meeting boats coming up at each of the next three locks made easy work of it once again, I was soon tying up on the visitors moorings so that I can nip to the shops tomorrow.
Current mooring:

Totals Today: 4.5miles : 5 locks

If it’s not one thing...

.....yes you can guess the rest.

So yesterday I was a bit bored, a nice break in the weather and I thought I’ll wash the roof, bad decision, I had one bag of coal up there which needed to come inside so I very carefully did that, I then proceeded to wash the roof ok but in putting the gang plank back on the roof I think I twisted awkwardly, it doesn’t take much, and I felt the twinge that tells me I may have a problem with my back looming again. During the evening and overnight the little twinges of pain continued.

This morning I got the call from the chandler to say the parts were in, so I slowly walked over and got them, total cost for all the necessary about £125, it took me about 4 hours to do what should have been done in about half the time, but the new waste pump  is in and working.

I now know I have to rest up a bit, my first job when I move on is to stock up with smokeless fuel and also a bottle of gas, also I have a flight of 11 locks not far ahead, neither of those things can be attempted while I am suffering back pain, so it’s sit it out for a while, or rather lay it out.

Hopefully it’ll recover fairly quickly. Happy days, at least the sun is shining!

Not alone

Going with the flow.....

....or in this case not going without the flow.

Thursday evening I did my usual routine, cooked dinner and ate it while watching the news at 6pm on TV, telly off at 7pm and read until 8pm, then hop in the shower, I am a creature of habit!

It was going as normal until I noticed the water level in the shower rising over my feet, not normal that, I checked I had switched on the waste water pump with the ceiling pull cord, but soon discovered the pump was not removing the water, luckily the tray was just deep enough to allow me to finish my shower before briefly investigating, the pump was making a noise but no flow. So it was out with a bucket and sponge and empty the shower tray manually, deciding it could wait until morning for further investigations.

Yesterday I emptied the wardrobe and gained full access to the pump, after a thorough investigation including stripping down the pump I decided it was not working J, so a call to the nearest chandler’s to check they had stock informed me that they had two pumps but not one the same make as mine, this was what I had found when the main water pump packed up a couple of years ago so I wasn’t concerned, I actually had intended to replace this one, a Flowjet, with a Whale Gulper, which is filterless, when it gave up the ghost, and they had one of those.

I set off on foot for the 1½ mile walk to the chandlers and when I arrived found that both the pumps they had were suitable, but the connections were not compatible with my old one, after spending about 30 minutes with two staff members trying to work out how we could overcome the problem, trying various combinations of fittings, we concluded that I would have to order two fittings they did not stock, delivery would be Tuesday, so I purchased the Whale Gulper and set off back to the boat slightly disheartened, I would not be moving far for a few days. On the plus side I walked into Nuneaton and got a haircut in the afternoon.

Today I returned to town and bought some milk having decided I would prefer to be moored nearer the marina, my walk yesterday had shown me there was plenty of piled edged mooring available in much nicer open countryside, and being near the marina would mean if the fittings came early I could make a good early start.

So around 8:30 I set the washing machine going to get one load of washing done while I cruised the 1½ miles, when I arrived there were two boats moored so I plonked myself in between them, they have both since moved on so I have the spot to myself for now, hopefully Tuesday the parts will arrive, or before, and I can sort it out, it’ll mean altering pipework and the enclosure but that’s boat life for you.

Current mooring:

 Total today: 1½ miles

Ermintrude...

.....what a cutie.

While at Hawksebury jcn. I managed to get one coat of gloss in the bow locker in between the rain showers, with gale Aileen causing no damage I could see locally but it was a windy night so I understand, I slept through it all, and the only evidence I could find was my TV ariel had been blown around to face the wrong way.

With the forecast not great over the next few days I decided to take advantage of what should be a reasonable morning and head for Nuneaton, so I cast off just before 9am.

The only lock of the day was just ahead of me and is a very shallow stop lock which prevented owners of the Coventry canal stealing the water from the owners of the Oxford canal, it’s only about 6” deep.

Stop lock just beyond the first bridge, the junction is ahead through
 the white bridge turning right for me, left for Coventry itself.

After going into the lock I was joined by a crewman off a hire boat who was coming from Coventry and heading back to Rugby, he offered to do the gate for me, if you are heading from the Oxford canal onto the Coventry canal going north you have to do a 180° turn right through the junction, there is plenty of room but it can be tricky if it’s windy or busy, there's a pub right there The Greyhound, so gongoozlers have plenty of entertainment especially if you get it wrong, and lots do, and as it happened he positioned his boat a little awkwardly so I couldn’t get round in one go, no problem though, a bit of reverse and then I was around.

I've done the turn and am now on the Coventry canal parallel with the Oxford
which is on my right

The hire boat has now moved into the lock opposite me.

So I am now on the Coventry canal heading north, a narrow gauge canal, no wide beam boats to contend with, and on a lock free section again, and to begin with (after passing all the moored boats) it was very rural and quite chilly especially as you pass through the Coalpit Field cutting which is tree lined.

As you approach Bedworth the canal side houses begin to appear although they are higher up so you only really see the different arrangements they have formed at the end of their gardens by the canal.

This brute keeps an eye out for trouble makers from the garden of one house.

You then pass ‘Charity Dock’ with its weird mix of mannequins boats and other strange objects on display. Some would call it an eyesore, others a fascination, I’m somewhere between the two view points.

Coming out of the Marston Junction off the Ashby Canal on a previuos trip, heading in the opposite direction to today, I sounded my horn and was met in the second  bridge hole by another boat who either never heard it or ignored it anyway causing a few minutes of consternation,  so today I was ready to sound it again as I approached, but there was no need, for as I got close a boat came through anyway, a quick burst of reverse to slow me was all that was necessary before it was clear for me to continue.

Thats the junction beyond this bridge.

It's a cutback right turn, quite awkward again.

The Ashby, not for me this trip.

Aaaawww here she is, lovely.

The run from Marston junction to Nuneaton is quite bendy and quite shaded, it does not float my boat as they say, and then you have to deal with the moored boats all around the Star Line boat yard, that bits quite nice if you don’t meet anything!

Approaching Start Line boat yard

Not the place to meet oncoming boats.

By now I was in two minds whether to stop or continue on a bit, it was getting cloudy and colder and my back was aching again, I’m a martyr to my body ailments J, coming around a bend I recognised a spot I had moored at previously which is opposite a park and decided stopping early had won today again!

Current mooring:

Totals today: 5 miles : 1 lock

I’m here ‘til I move which is going to be decided by the weather I think!