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