| This Month's Totals and Average | |||
| 22.95 miles | 18 locks | 14.17 hrs | 2.89 lmph |
The drizzle turned to heavy rain overnight, although it did ease slightly after breakfast. During one of the lulls, we walked down to Trinity Methodist chapel for their morning service. The weather had completely changed by the end of the service, with brilliant sunshine seeing us back up the hill to "Paws".
Mysteriously, I managed to get an internet signal (albeit very poor) after lunch so managed to get the diary, maps and stats uploaded.
Long lie this morning, quiet day planned. Walked down into town mid-morning to do our shopping - oddments including tools (Atherstone Toolbox) and wool (Georgia in Crafty Corner), then lunch at Costa, followed by food shopping at the Co-op before returning to "Paws" mid-afternoon. Misty-drizzle throughout.
Up and on the move promptly, although others were obviously more prompt than us! By the time we were ready to go, there were three boats waiting at the lock to go up. Plenty of people to help, but it still takes time to turn a lock around. Headed up the flight, ascending the first 6 locks (11-6). More boats coming down - even more people to help each other, but waiting for boats to come in can actually slow down a passage. A dull but pleasant morning - no rain, little wind, and a nice temperature for working locks. Arrived at Lock 6 to see Ann walking along the towpath to join us (she had come in from Leicester by train to join us for the second half). Cleared Lock 6 and moored in the King's Head Pound for lunch.
After a slightly longer lunch break than we would normally have had, but happy chatting and catching up, we let go again and tackled the second half of the flight, Ann assisting. There were also CRT Volunteers manning the top three locks, an extra bonus. Clearing Top Lock, we found a space shortly after Bridge 41 and moored for the night.
After clearing away the equipment, we sat and chatted through dinner (my night on cooking - curry) and into the evening. Ann left to catch the 20:04 train back to Leicester - great to see her again, and a lovely day was had by all.
Found that the phone mast in this area has still not been fixed so there is still no internet connection along this section of towpath. Diary, maps and stats will have to wait until we move on
| 1.76 miles | 11 locks | 3.40 hrs | 3.75 lmph |
 puzzled.niece.altitude |
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After a good night's sleep (but the late night), we didn't want to get up. 'Crawled' out of bed and set to getting ready to move. Eventually let go at 10:00 and headed out of Amington. Passed Alvecote with its small priory (now in ruins) and marina (home to South Midland Water transport Company), then Pooley Hall with its Country Park (used to be a small private coal mine attached to the Hall). Next came Polesworth with its Abbey - well worth a visit if you have time when passing. On again to Grendon with its drydock (owned and run by Alvecote Marina), then Bradley Green where we moored for services.
After servicing, we moved the short distance to the foot of the Atherstone Flight (11 Locks) and moored up for the day. Had a brief chat with the team aboard "Dolly No.2", who had the boat on loan from John & Helen. A quiet afternoon. The dull start to the day had gone slightly downhill, turning to drizzle by lunchtime.
| 6.00 miles | 0 locks | 2.33 hrs | 2.57 lmph |
| upward.extra.guessing |
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Up promptly and on the go by 09:30 on a bright morning. Reversed back to Streethay Wharf for a gas bottle (they were busy yesterday so we didn't stop). The sun had come out by the time we were ready to move on.
Let go again and returned southwards past King's Orchard Marina and on past Huddlesford Junction (the connection to what was originally the eastern end of the Wyrley & Essington Canal, now part of the restoration project of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Restorsation Trust . From Huddlesford, we continued into Whittington, passing the marker where the (original) Trent & Mersey section of the Coventry Canal met the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal (see later). Continuing on again past the farming hamlets of Hademore and Tamhorn, we arrived in Hopwas - no stopping today. Leaving Hopwas, with lunch on the move, we passed by the new housing estate at Dunstall and the suburb of Bonehill, arriving in Fazeley. The cloud had built again and it had become cool by after lunch. Crossing Fazeley Junction, where the Coventry Canal Company finished its 'cutting' due to lack of funds (the remainder to Fradley was actually 'cut' by the Birmingham & Fazeley Company and the Trent & Mersey Company). Leaving Fazeley, we passed through the suburbs of Kettlebrook and into Glascote, ascended the two locks, and moored at Bridge 73 to get stores at the Co-op. We found "Serena" also moored there so had a long chat with John & Judith before moving on again into Amington. Moored again (for the night, this time) just east of Bridge 68, as near as possible to Sarah's house.
Sarah came round to visit us about 19:00, and we had a great evening chatting till late. Sarah eventually went home around 22:00, and we headed for bed.
| 10.10 miles | 2 locks | 4.93 hrs | 2.45 lmph |
| jelly.discouraged.catch |
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The national day of remembrance for merchant seafarers who, in the course of their trade, lost their lives as a result of armed conflict. During WW1 and WW2, British Merchant Fleets lost 52,000 men, women and boys to the sea, and that is their only grave. September 3rd was chosen as the memorial day for two reasons -
1. it was the day WW2 was declared,
2. SS Athena was sunk by a German submarine on the first day of war, with the loss of 117 civilian crew and passengers - the first merchant ship sunk in the war.
The overnight rain had died out by morning, but it was still overcast. Linked up with our friends in Doncaster for our monthly 'e-coffee' and chat - Liz and Margaret from Doncaster, John & Jane from BCF, and the two of us, no Fhi today as she was on 'car duty' for Jamie. After lunch we decided not to move - caught up with a bit of e-paperwork.
Slept in again - I was up first, on a dull, misty, windless morning. Pat said she wasn't feeling well and returned to bed. I left her until 10:30 in the hope that she would have improved, but our time had expired and there were still no spaces on the 14-day section so we had to move. I went into single-hand mode, let go and headed out of Alrewas back towards Fradley. The mist formed into drizzle for a short time, then started to clear. Ascended Bagnall and Common Locks, then got Volunteer assistance for Hunt's and Keeper's Locks. As we were running later than usual by this point, I moored first for a bite od lunch. Pat had still not surfaced.
After my lunch, I took "Paws" across to the services berth and did the 'necessaries'.
Once ready again, I ascended Junction Lock (again, the Volunteers had gone for their lunch, so no help here). Turned left onto the detached section of the Coventry Canal, passing through the swingbridge. Continuing south, we passed the edge of Fradley village then on past the farm-hamlets at Brookhay, Bearshay and Streethay. Pat had surfaced by this time, although she wasn't dressed. I moored up in the section outside King's Orchard Marina - a favourite spot for us. The mist had fully cleared by this point and we had a mostly sunny afternoon with occasional cloud.
After completing the diary, stats and maps, we had a quiet evening. Rain arrived early evening and continued into the night.
| 5.09 miles | 5 locks | 3.50 hrs | 2.88 lmph |
| peach.firebird.boomers |
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A dull morning to start the new month. Walked round to the Methodist Chapel for their service, followed by coffee - great to catch up with our friends there. Interesting service, with Rupert teaching some new hymns.
After lunch, I walked along to the river lock (it had been busy over the lunch period), but after 2 hours of standing around, nothing had come through either way. Gave up and returned to "Paws" for coffee. It remained dull throughout.
