On to Great Haywood marina

Wednesday 27^th September; Shugborough to Great Haywood marina

It was cloudy and dry as we set off this morning, well before 9.  A boat was already coming down Haywood lock, making for Rugeley to sit out the coming weather.  It would be raining at 11, they said, and gales this afternoon.

Coming in to Haywood lock

This is another lock where the balance beam of the top gate is held together with a bolted metal framework.  It’s a funny place for a notice about Wolverley lock though, that’s 40 miles away.

Haywood lock is only little and it wasn’t long before we were up and passing the lovely bridge spanning the Staffs & Worcester at the junction.  We turned into the marina a few minutes later, and tied up on the wharf to find out where our berth would be for the next couple of weeks.  Moored nearby is a familiar boat – What a Lark.  I took the photo as we moved round to our mooring, with Aylestone, who we had met yesterday, taking our place at the wharf.

It’s a very convenient berth for loading the car.  WIth nobody watching, Dave positioned Bonjour perfectly to reverse gently into place without even brushing sgainst the pontoon.  He quickly arranged a taxi to Rugeley station and at 11 set off to fetch the car from Gayton.  Time for me to make some coffee and crack on with the cleaning.   After lunch Meg needed a walk, at least once we had overcome her initial fear of the pontoon surface! She hates anything that isn't solid, and this is made of the small green squares which are so good otherwise.  I put down doormats and towels, but it wasn’t till she saw me open the gate to carry the rubbish out that she jumped off.  She was absolutely fine after that.  We walked down to Tixall Wide - always plenty of space when you don’t want it!

On the way back I stopped to have a look at Fearn’s Fenders who were moored at the junction and fancied a dog lead, but had no money with me.  Back we went to get some – it’s quite a long way on foot from the canal to the marina, a good quarter of a mile.  I’d got so hot on our walk that I foolishly left my waterproof on the boat and, naturally, the rain started on our way back to the canal.  Bright new dog lead purchased, we speed-walked back – stopping briefly at the Farm Shop, where I had noticed the Snugbury’s ice cream sign outside!  They are already gearing up for Halloween and had a display of pumpkins at the entrance, which a lady had stopped to photograph.  She should have walked round to the field where they are grown, by the the corner of the marina!

Scarecrows too

We got a bit wet on the way back to the boat but not soaked.  It wasn’t long before Dave returned with the car and soon we were enjoying our ice cream.  The rain didn’t last long, so he went out to check the engine hole and then we did a bit of packing.  But the rain returned as dusk fell and the wind really got up during the evening, buffeting us about a bit.

1 mile, 1 lock

On Thursday we finished packing up and left about mid-morning for the long journey home.  We waved to the canal far beneath us as we joined the M5 and looked out for boats on the Tame Valley aqueduct and later the Warwickshire Avon, but no-one was on the move.

We haven't seen a lot of bird life on this trip, bar the usual mallards, moorhens, swans and Canadas, the occasional heron and a fair few robins singing their sweet autumn song.  But in the middle of our trip we watched a few swallows feeding up on their way south for the winter, and a few days ago there weere a few house martins.  Yesterday at Tixall I saw a large group of martins also feeding up, but couldn't tell whether they were house or sand martins.  I hope the ubiquitous pigeons and blackbirds will leave enough of the abundant haws and other berries for the winter thrushes which will be arriving before too long!

Trip stats

85 miles, ¾ furlongs and 35 locks.

Narrow canals - 68 miles, 1½ furlongs, 22 narrow locks.

Broad canals - 16 miles, 7¼ furlongs, 13 broad locks. 

Braunston Tunnel (2042 yards long), Newbold Tunnel (250 yards long) – a total of 1 mile, 2¼ furlongs underground.  Swing bridges at Stretton Stop (Rose Narrowboats) and Fradley junction.

Waterways – Grand Union and Northampton Arm, North Oxford, Coventry and Trent & Mersey.

Slowly through Rugeley

Tuesday 26^th September; Woodend lock to Shugborough

I took Meg out just as the forecast rain arrived around 8 and luckily we were back before it got heavy.  Which it was, on and off, mostly on, till about 10 – again as forecast.  Around 9 o’clock a workboat went by – were they going to be clearing the fallen tree we had been warned about yesterday?  While we waited for the rain to stop, I had another look at the stoppage notice that came through yesterday and confirmed that it’s not today – it’s in 2 weeks’ time.

Hurry up, we're waiting

Eventually we set off, the rain gone.  The work boat may have cut the fallen tree – the stumps looked fresh – but judging by the pile of wilted foliage on the bank, boaters had been the ones to clear enough space to get by.

A bit more room now

We didn’t really recognise the countryside – it was almost like exploring new waters.  On the way this handsome buzzard was sitting on a fence surveying his territory.  Unfortunately, when I clicked the shutter he had just turned his head away, or I would have caught him in profile.  But at least I got him before he flew off.

On the approach to Handsacre there is a lot of housing which must be new as fencing is still around one edge of the site.  I always like to think of how excited a young family would be the first time they looked out of the window and saw a boat going by!  Finally we reached the area round Plum Pudding which we did remember, along with the toilet factory of course.

I think these are basins

I strode ahead along the Armitage Tunnel narrow section and luckily the single hander approaching saw my signal and pulled over.  Then we took the first mooring in Rugeley that was long enough for us, and stopped for lunch behind Aylestone¸ an ex-Ownerships boat, as was our old Padworth.  They were on their way to Tixall Wide for the night before making sure they were tucked up in Great Haywood marina before storm Agnes hits tomorrow afternoon.  After lunch we carried on through Rugeley, with the bends and moored boats making for slow progress, and out into the country again.  Boats started coming towards us after a while, probably all having come down Colwich lock, which was deserted when we arrived.

A large crack is visible where the balance beam must have broken, now encased in an iron frame to hold it together.

 Running repair

We selected a nice sunny mooring on the approach to Shugborough Hall and took Meg off for a walk before the sun disappeared.  We walked out into the parkland for a bit, and on the way back went into the little grove opposite the entrance to the Hall.

Yew tree

I think this is a redwood

Of course I had to make sure I had at least one photo of Essex Bridge across the Trent, and then it was time for Meg to have a game of sticks in the water before we headed back.

Fun in the Trent

10 miles, 1 lock, Armitage tunnel 

 

We weren’t expecting to get as far as the T&M today!

Monday 25^th September; Hopwas Woods to above Woodend lock

We awoke to sunshine and after breakfast Meg took Dave to the woods.  But the red flag was flying and the gate locked, so instead they took an alternative route down a long and gentle slope to the river.  We didn’t leave till after 10, with the exodus from the Heritage Boat gathering having begun before we did so – the Cheese Boat and Cassiopeia were the first.  The weather was glorious, although you needed to be wrapped up in the shade.

Hopwas woods

It was a very interesting morning’s cruise.  We lost count of the number of historic boats coming the other way.  Several of course were passed at bridges or bends, and we spend a lot of time hugging the right side to let them by.

As we approached bridge 80, the last in Whittington, we could see one, then two, high bows on the far side of the bridge hole!  With a boat moored on the offside just before the bridge, there was only one thing to do – hold well back and hope the boat behind us did too (which they did).  It seemed the first boat had run aground but luckily, as the second passed it, the pull was sufficient to free it and they both passed us easily.

The second boat which we think had been aground

Eventually it was our turn at the bridge!  As we approached, we realised the house and boat belonged to Eric and Doreen, the long-time supporters of the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Trust, who gave me a pumpkin years ago.  On we went, out into the open where the wind was whipping across the fields near bridge 81.  It nearly blew us into a moored boat, then as yet another one came towards us we got too close to the bank and off jumped Meg.  We decided to let the boat behind us, Jubilee, go past, and then decided we’d have an early lunch stop in the glorious sunshine.  The constant passage of boats coming from Huddlesford had dislodged a dead helium balloon which the wind kindly blew to within reach of the boat hook.

Wouldn’t want that round your propeller

I chucked it in the bow to join a couple of lengths of red-striped plastic tape which I’d picked up earlier.  By the time we set off again, we estimated well over 20 boats had passed us going towards Hopwas and Fazeley – we lost count early on.  Huddlesford was not quite empty,with just a few boats left from the weekend, and a lot of trodden grass along the towpath too. 

Huddlesford Junction

On we went, still in lovely sunshine.  It was much quieter now with only one other boat on the move all the way to Fradley Junction.  We passed Old Nick, the electric boat we had been moored next to at Droitwich over last winter.   They are moving to Brinklow for winter this year.

Since we passed Tamhorn winding hole this morning, the canal has been unfamiliar.  It is new waters for Bonjour, though not for us as we came this way several times with Chuffed and Padworth, our share boat.   We recognised Huddlesford, but then nothing until we approached the moorings at Fradley Junction.  We would have like to moor here overnight, but the bank before the armco was too shallow to moor so Meg could get on and off safely at night.  And of course the ‘proper’ moorings were full.  We took on water and disposed of the rubbish, before rounding the junction and ascending Middle and Shade House locks.  I found the bottom gates unexpectedly heavy.  At Middle Lock an oncoming boater brought the unwelcome tidings that a stoppage had just been notified for tomorrow at Wood End to repair a paddle.  So although there was a space above Shade House we thought we had better go on!  Up Wood End lock we went.  It all looks very sad now, with the cottage and offside mooring above it abandoned.   The cottage still has carpet and curtains, and even a chair could be seen through a window, but it’s all fenced off now.

At least the birds will get this year’s berries

 We squeezed onto a mooring beyond the lock.  It is fairly quiet apart from a distant road, and a tractor busy harvesting maize silage, but who knows when (or if) the HS2 works will start in the morning?  Or if the sections north of Birmingham will get the chop, as Mr Sunak seems to be considering?

Ground paddle well wrapped up, but why such an urgent stoppage?

We had hoped to eat at the Plough in Huddlesford and the Swan at Fradley Junction on this trip.   There was no hope of a mooring for the Plough for the weekend, we knew that, but were a bit annoyed to discover later that we would have been fine to moor at Shade House lock and walk back to the Swan - the stoppage at Wood End isn’t for 2 weeks.  Grrr!

9 miles, 1 swing bridge (kindly swung by another boater), 3 locks

No queue at Glascote!

Sunday 24^th September; Pooley Woods to Hopwas Woods

There were a couple of clangs and pings last night from acorns on the roof but nothing to stop us from sleeping.  It was very grey this morning and the forecast was poor so Dave took Meg off for a walk in the woods while it was still dry.

Our mooring from the woods

There was really only a few spots of rain in the wind, so we set off about 9.30.  There is a lot of good edge for mooring as you go past Alvecote marina and through Tamworth so we knew we would be able to stop if the weather got too bad.  Before we left I removed a few bits and pieces from the roof.

But the forecast rain didn’t amount to much, just a bit of drizzle now and then.  There are lots of bridges as the canal goes through Amington, a suburb of Tamworth, and lots of gardens to look at.  Most are very narrow indeed, but this one by a bridge isn’t.

I’ve snapped the giraffe before, but now I wish I hadn’t bothered with the other ornaments.  The state of the bridge beside it is far more interesting – there have clearly been a lot of collisions over the years as steerers have rubber-necked their way past!  Now we were on the approach to Glascote locks, and couldn’t believe our eyes.  I even got the binoculars to check - there was absolutely no activity at the top lock.  We had passed just one boat this morning – everyone must be having a lie-in!  The lock was almost full too, so it wasn’t long before we were on our way down.  A boat was coming up the lock below, and even though they had closed the top gate behind them the water level hadn’t dropped far.  I re-acquainted myself with the ode of the Leaky Lock but didn’t take a photo – the plaque needs a good clean and the lettering is rather indistinct.  I don't think we have ever been through Glascote locks this quickly.  We carried on over the Tame aqueduct

and past Fazeley junction where you turn left for Birmingham.  We haven’t been that way for years.  However, we are now on the Birmingham & Fazeley canal  – owing to financial troubles, the Coventry hadn’t been able to reach as far as Fazeley, so the B&F was continued as far as Whittington, where it joined the canal owned by the Grand Trunk Canal Company to Fradley.  The Coventry canal company later bought it back – I will try and spot the boundary marker stone tomorrow.  The only difference it makes to us now is that the bridges have names instead of numbers.

We moored near Sutton Road bridge for a trip to the Sainsbury’s in the Ventura business park, but before we could leave to do our shopping there was a bit of an incident.  All of a sudden the high bow of an old boat appeared by the dinette window, followed by a couple of loud bangs and engine revving as they hit us.  A look out of the front revealed a narrowboat across the canal.

Stanton was pulling back by the time I took this

The oncoming narrowboat pulled in to the gap between us and the moored boat she had been trying to avoid.  She had been caught by the wind suddenly gusting through a gap in the trees, and as she's only had her boat for 6 days it's not surprising she hasn't yet got the experience to cope with wind gusts.  Dave sussed that straight away – the survey marks were still chalked on the hull.  She moored at once and made a point of apologising properly to us and the owners of Stanton, who also came to check we were ok after they had clobbered us.  No real harm done though, and we were still getting our shopping bags ready when a familiar boat appeared under the bridge.

Free Spirit

I shot up top with my camera and we were able to get a photo and say a quick hello as they went by, on their way from the Huddlesford Heritage Boat gathering.  And finally we got to do our shopping.

We had lunch and carried on towards Hopwas, with the sun starting to break through.  We were held up a bit by a couple of paddle-boarders, who didn’t seem to know basic safety regarding narrowboats – a boat they met at a bridge hole cast his eyes up and tapped his head as we passed.  Fortunately by the time we caught them up they were out of the water.  They had been litter-picking, and are part of an organisation ‘Planet Patrol,’ which was started by Lizzie Carr who you may remember was the first person – back in 2016 – to take her paddle-board the entire length of Britain’s waterways, solo and unsupported.  She was in the boating and national press and commented then how bad plastic pollution on the waterways was.

I don’t know if there is a term for it – if you litter-pick while jogging it’s called ‘plogging’.  Maybe it’s ‘slogging’.  Our favourite mooring past Hopwas School Bridge was totally empty, so we picked a spot in the sun before the dense tree cover of the woods.  Dave was listening to the North London derby between Spurs and Arsenal so Meg and I cleared off to the woods.

Sadly large areas of the lower parts of the woods are infested with the wretched Huimalayan Balsam.  When we got back, the exodus from the Huddlesford Heritage Boat Gathering had started in earnest.  Here are Star Crafts on Adrastea with butty Nebulae. 

Plenty more followed, some traders such as the Bakin’ Butty, some not, and even a couple of hire boats who must have wondered what on earth was going on.

7 miles 2 locks

A very late start

Saturday 23^rd September; Atherstone bottom lock to Pooley Wood

It was distinctly chilly this morning as we prepared to leave, so out came the hats and gloves.  The boat moored behind us started his engine before we left and I rather liked the way the sun caught the white smoke from its chimney as it puffed up into the morning air.

I pushed off at the bow and as I walked back through the boat I wondered why we weren’t going anywhere.  Dave was cursing a bit, he had pushed the Morse control forward and it was loose.....  we had just enough momentum to get back in to the side.  A quick investigation confirmed that the throttle cable had snapped.  Well, at least we were now in the sun so the solar panels could get to work!  So a call to RCR was made, and the engineer would be with us at 1 – he would be driving from Newark, so would be some time  After coffee I decided to go up to Atherstone and get a paper, and put on my running gear for a bit of exercise - just a slow jog interspersed with walking in pleasant sunshine.  I was back well within the hour, but the engineer had arrived early and was already half-way through the job.

I am sorry to say we have both forgotten his name.  He was very efficient.  He was the same one who had advised us over the phone last year when the engine wouldn’t start – he had remembered the boat name.  After getting us going again, he would be on his way to Welford for his next job.  We had lunch before setting off, this time with no hitches.  There were fewer boats on the move than a few days ago.  Grendon Dock was quiet too – just one boat moored. I wonder if the old boats that are often moored here have gone to Huddlesford for the Heritage Boat Gathering.

The canal end of the cottage here is still semi-derelict, but outside is a magnificent stack of logs.  There were a couple of interesting things to see as we cruised through Polesworth.  The first was canalside at the bottom of a garden.

Site of Lees and Atkins Dock

I could find very little online but it appears that the Lees and Atkins yard ‘built boats for many well-known carriers’ (Alvecote marina website).  The NB Holderness blog http://nbholderness.blogspot.com/2021/06/taking-in-tamworth.html has a bit more info.

We didn’t need to stop in Polesworth as we had already got the paper.  One of the boats on the visitor moorings had some unusual devices on the gunwales to stop fenders falling off while the boat is moving.

I've not seen these before, andI think I’d be worried about tripping over them if I needed to walk down the gunwales (not that I make a habit of it but sometimes you have to).  Or what happens if you end up in offside vegetation, would that cause damage?

We went through Polesworth, under the M42 and along beside the lovely woods on the old colliery spoil heaps, just catching a glimpse of the golden pillar in the sunshine before trees obscured it.  We carefully moored in the spot we hoped would get the sun for longest – we haven’t travelled far and have also been running the inverter to charge the electronics.  Meg of course demanded to be taken for a walk.  The trouble with these moorings is that unless you moor way back towards the M42 bridge you will have an oak tree over at least part of your boat.  The first acorn pinged off the roof at 9.30.

4 miles, and a new throttle cable

A soaking on the Atherstone flight

Friday 22^nd September; Hartshill to Atherstone bottom lock

You can’t really sleep late here during the working week, as the quarry starts work before 8, but we were around the bend, and shielded from the worst of the noise.  We are back to wiping condensation from the window frames again when we get up, but we could see the sun was up behind the hedge.  Meg was agitating for a walk at least down to the railway line before we set off, and that’s what she got as soon as we finished breakfast.

Ready now

We were on our way about 9, and stopped for water at the BW depot.  A CRT worker was using a submersible pump to empty the rainwater from a flat - presumably he was towing it somewhere for something.  We left him fiddling about with the tugs.  The weather was wonderful, as long as you weren’t in the shade!  After a while, boats started coming towards us at regular intervals, so we guessed the Atherstone locks would be busy.  On the way to the top, we passed the derelict hat factory.  Last year it was supposed to go to auction.  I wonder what happened?

In trying to find out, I came across a YouTube of a drone flight above and around it, which was interesting.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myHueUhTIlQ.   The drone showed the view through the broken windows into the top floor.  The factory was certainly in operation during WWII, when they produced hats for the military.  At the top of the flight, there were two volunteer lockies on duty.  While they brought a boat up, I took the rubbish round to the bins.  No recycling here unfortunately, though there is a book exchange.  They weren’t the chattiest of vollies, but we could tell from the board they had been quite busy – 6 up, 2 down and we were the third down.  We crossed with boats coming up at each of the first five locks, then moored up for some shopping.  First stop the hardware shop for some curtain hooks and a set of drill bits for cross-head screws.  Dave then popped into Pennies Worth, where red oxide paint is £6.99, half the price at B&Q.  Savoury snacks from the baker, meat from the butcher, a few bits in the Co-op, and back for lunch as it started to rain.  By the way, the Co-op is about to close for a refit – it's due to open again next January.  I only took one more photo today, so here is one from last year.

July last year

As we came down lock 7, by the little marina, the sky looked a bit threatening, so I put my waterproof on and set off to walk the longish pound to the next lock.  It started to rain lightly as I raised a top paddle, then suddenly the heavens opened!  We rushed to tie up to the lock landing with water and hail cascading off the roof and by the time we got inside our bottom halves were drenched.  As the rain eased off a bit I poked my head up to see if the person I’d seen at the next lock was a boater – it had been.  They were now sheltering under the bridge between the two locks so, fully waterproofed now, I opened the top gate and brought Bonjour in while Dave finished getting changed.  They had got just as wet as us but nevertheless we all grinned cheerfully as we passed.  It finally stopped raining, so Meg got a good walk along the long pound as a familiar cruiser went by – which I recognised by the smell of fresh diesel at the approach to the next lock! 

Super-stinky

There was a lot spilt in the two bottom locks, the pound between and just below.   The cruiser had clearly abandoned the plan of going to Huddlesford.  Did he not realise what was happening or didn’t he care?   Anyway, we moored for the night a little further on and I called the CRT hotline.   The local chap called back and was already on his way to find the cruiser.  The rain started again within the hour and early evening was very wet.  We were very glad we hadn't gone on to Polesworth.

11 locks, 4½ miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derelict hat factory youtube

 

 

Beyond Nuneaton, the land of allotments

Thursday 21^st September; Hawkesbury Junction to Hartshill

It was clear and sunny this morning, the M6 hadn’t been intrusive and we slept well.  We left just before 9, several boats already having passed us on their way from Hawkesbury.  It was pretty cold, unless we were in a sunny patch, and we were well wrapped up with woolly hats.    It’s not all roads and industry along here – there is a strip of green on the offside between the canal and a road, with some houses and some hens.

The huge area of electricity supply stuff on the offside isn’t known for its beauty, but some individual pylons have a certain degree of elegance.

We arrived at the stop lock to find it being prepared for a boat just coming round under the bridge.  I went down to dispose of the rubbish as they rose up.

The little hut seems to have a purpose now

A boat was arriving below to take our lock, and round the junction we met one in the narrows by the old engine house, with yet another close behind.  The moorings must have been pretty full last night, we were glad we had stopped where we did.  By the time we got to Charity Dock it was quite warm and layers had been gradually discarded.  The gardens and their mannequins are looking pretty sorry now, unkempt and damaged by the rain.  Some things still made us laugh though.

One way to keep the rain out of your flue pipe

We had been wondering if the dock was actually functioning any more, or was it just a repository for a load of old junk?  But the dry dock does appear to be in use.

The canal through Nuneaton is no longer the litter-strewn linear dump it used to be.  We didn’t see a scrap of litter.  Nuneaton has a huge number of allotments, and there are several multiple-football-pitch sized areas abutting the canal.  I always like to see what people are growing and how their crops compare to mine.  The good folk of the town like their sweetcorn, and giant pumpkins too

Pumpkin nestling in greenery, bottom right

We moored just past Boot Wharf and Dave went off to look for a shop to get a paper.  He turned east at Boot bridge and walked up to the main road (Bull Ring) where he found a tiny little shop which did have the paper he wanted.  Opposite was a brilliant mural.  The owners of the garden wall had asked a local street artist to create a football mural after the England men’s football team reached the final of the Euros in 2020, so he painted the manager Gareth Southgate flanked by Harry Kane and Raheem Stirling.  It was very popular, and when the Lionesses won the women’s Euros last year two actual winners were added – Bobby Moore, captain of the 1966 World Cup team, and Leah Williamson who captained the Lionesses to glory.  Another street artist added the late Queen to the right of the gate. 

Aren’t they talented?  It's so much better than the scrawly rubbish you so often see.  It became a tourist attraction and raised £10,000 for a defibrillator appeal.  Good stuff!  We had an early lunch then set off towards Hartshill.  I noticed a diesel sheen on the water as we cast off, then every now and then we saw a bit more and it was obviously fresh as the smell was very strong.  After a while we caught up with the cause – a cruiser was moored on a blind bend, with a narrowboat stopping to help.  We got the full story when we pulled in to get fuel at Springwood Haven, as they came in behind us.  He had recently filled up, and at some point one of the pipes started coming adrift and fuel entered the bilge, so the bilge pump duly pumped it out into the canal.  He hadn’t noticed either the smell or the bilge pump cutting in and only realised there was a problem when he ran out of fuel!  The narrowboat which stopped had some diesel, which got him to Springwood Haven after he mended whatever was wrong.  He was on his way to Huddlesford where there is a heritage boat gathering this weekend (see NB Free Spirit).  While we were at the wharf I took advantage of their recycling bins before we went off again.

It's mandatory to take a photo every time you pass by

We moored on the approach to the bend before the Anchor pub.  We had barely finished tying up before Meg was agitating for a walk, so off we went as soon as a shower had passed over.  She ran ahead and was waiting for us by the gate to the footpath that leads down to the railway.  Do dogs know where they are by sight or smell, I wonder? She can't have been here more than 6 or 7 times over the years.

Playing ball on the way to the railway line

We did the full circuit – along the railway, over the bridge, across the field to Caldecote Manor, now private apartments.  Actually we went round the field – the crop (oilseed rape I think) was untrodden and there seemed to be large earth banks thrown up on the far side. 

Mount Judd on the horizon, a quarry spoil heap

Anyway, we picked up the bridle paths back to the railway (under this time, not over), coming out at the bridge by Springwood Haven marina, and back along the canal.  We had hoped to leave the boat at the marina for a couple of weeks before returning to Droitwich, but it’s a very small marina, and since the ABC hire company took it over they want to use any spare berths for brokerage.

1 lock, 8 miles