Nearly at the Watford locks

 Well, it's been a long day again but not nearly as drawn out as yesterday. 

The forecast said that it would rain between 8 and 9 this morning and rain it did. After that the clouds lifted and eventually cleared away for a sunny afternoon. 

I've taken so many photos of the approach to Braunston but it is iconic. You can see the church, the cathedral of the canals, but the boat is pointing straight at what remains of the old windmill, less its sails. 

We stopped to take on water and, yes, you've guessed it, empty the loo. Then past the junction and along the straight to join today's queue for the locks. 

Surprisingly, only 2 boats waiting to go up. Where were all the others? 

We were worried that we would be going through on our own but while we were waiting for our turn in the lock another boat came and joined us. 

Once we started it was a perfect scenario of 2 boats out, 2 boats in for every lock in the flight. A good example of saving water all the way. 

We've stopped now about a mile below the locks and, unfortunately, half a mile away from the M1. But it's not too intrusive and it was a lovely sunny afternoon just sitting in the sun. 

Hopefully, tomorrow, we'll be through the locks and will be able to get back to the marina without any worries. 

Long days - Hopwas to Willoughby

 Because of the low water levels and restrictions on many of the locks we have decided to put in the hours and get back to Watford locks ASAP. Well, as fast as the propeller and engine will take us. 

As a consequence, at the end of the day we have been hot, tired and just wanting to sit down, have supper, recover and go to bed. 

(Not quite as bad as that but you get the idea) 

Saturday, bye, bye Tame Otter. 

You always know where Tamworth is by the high rise buildings. 

Similarly you know when you're nearing Hopwas when you spot the radio mast. 

We've come through Fazeley and are crossing the River Tame. 

Going through Glascote Locks. 

Now passing a fuel boat. Always handy if you run out of coal, gas, kindling or diesel. 

An artistic photo of hay bales. 

Mooted just below the Atherstone locks for the night. We shall be in the queue tomorrow morning. 

Sunday and off we go. 

Fortunately we didn't have too long to wait before we got into the locks. This is a view across to where we are heading. 

Here's the captain in her happy place working the locks.

Here we are in the middle of the lock flight and I've never seen it so empty. Folk must be worried that they'd be locked in. 

It must have been around Mancetter that we spotted a hireboat stuck in a winding hole. Another boater was trying to pull him off but was having no luck. We managed to get hold of his bow rope and, hooray, we managed to help get him unstuck. 

We went through Nuneaton and stopped at Griff Lane Bridge about half a mile before the Ashby Canal turnoff. 

Monday 

A quarter to eleven and we're passing the entrance to the Ashby Canal. 

We pushed on through Hawkesbury Junction, Ansty, Stretton Stop and stopped at Newbold. 

After all the motoring today, what better than fish and chips to round it all off? 

Tuesday - bringing it all up to date. 

Setting off from Newbold. 

We do love these old canal buildings, this one preserved through modernisation into a house. 

Arrived at Hilmorton Locks at a quarter to twelve and we are 15th or 16th in the queue. We got the chairs out to sit on the towpath but every 15 minutes or so we had to pack up and move the boat one space forward. 

14:16 and we're getting closer. 

Ten to three and we're in the lock. 

And we're off again. The Alpacas were out in force to see us go past at Barby Moorings. 

Went on to Willoughby bridge 84 for tonight's mooring. 

A nice quiet spot. 

But what's going on? Where did this come from? What is this wet stuff? 

Admittedly not much but after 46 days of continuous sunshine it's most welcome. 

Hot foot to Hopwas

 

As we set off from Rugeley we passed a young man with three dogs in what I can only describe as a pedalo. He was raising money for Paddle for Paws on a paddle to London. 

A brief glimpse of Spode House, now a wedding venue. 

Back through Armitage Tunnel which is certainly tight fit. 

Men at work on the Armitage Shanks chimney. Brought back memories of Fred Dibner and the TV programmes he starred in. 

A pretty canalside garden in Handsacre. 

A slight problem at Woodend Lock. A pen had entered the lock with her cygnets. We needed to get them out before the boat coming up could enter. 

Meanwhile, the cob was walking along the top of the lock calling to his mate who didn't know how to reach him. Two cyclists managed to herd the cob back down the towpath and the family of swans were flushed out of the lock by opening the gate paddle very gently so they didn't get hurt. 

Having cleared the way it was our turn in the lock. Having opened the gate I was able to step back on the roof and duck down through the bridge. 

And here they are, the family reunited. 

Just about to go down through the middle lock at Fradley and then turn right down the Coventry canal. 

We've now come around the corner and we're just looking back at the swing bridge which is right on the junction. We were lucky when we came up this way because we were able to more between here and New bridge. At the moment there is a no mooring restriction in place because they are resurfacing the towpath. 

Once again new housing creeping closer and closer to the canal. 

Mind you, some of it is quite in keeping with the old style of warehouse that would have been found canal side. 

Thought you might like to see a picture of my pride and joy in the engine room. 

We pushed on to Hopwas and decided to treat ourselves to a meal in the Tame Otter. 

As always the food was first class. This is one of the few pubs where the standard is consistent with each visit. Well done the Tame Otter. 

On to Rugeley

 

We spent most of the morning with the captain sorting out the washing and me getting the computer back online and working on church accounts. 

When we did set off we passed these delightful cottages before arriving at the first lock of the day. 

After the lock, someone had great fun carving a woodpecker out of the remains of a dead tree. 

A family of geese sunbathing on the towpath. 

As you come into Rugeley the mileposts are all golden. I looked it up on Google but there is no reason given as to why they are gold. Strange. 

Found a nice place to moor. 

Over a cuppa the captain was reading her despatches (looking at Google) and discovered that the Atherstone locks are going to be closed from next Tuesday. We need to get through them before that happens. So, a slight change of plan. If we cruise for 6 hours a day we can clear the locks by Sunday evening or Monday morning giving us time to spare. It's also been rumoured that Watford locks may close mid-August. So we will probably need to get back sooner rather than later. 

In light of that decision we popped along to Morrisons for supplies and worked out what else needed doing before setting off in the morning. We also had a long chat with the boater moored behind us who wasn't too worried about stoppages as he tended to pootle backwards and forwards along the same stretch of canal. That's the life.