Boats Assembled

The boats are now all assembled at Alvecote marina for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Keith.

Hartshill to Alvecote Marina, 8.6 miles 11 locks

A very dull day and drizzly to boot.

Hartshill yard.

We had a passenger.

Atherstone locks done.

Now moored opposite The Samuel Barlow, Alvecote marina.

Keith.

Onley Wood Bridge to Hartshill Yard, 26.5 miles ,4 locks, 1 tunnel,

A chilly start to the day at 7:30am and a small amount of rain, but it soon brightened and warmed up as we went along.

Leaving Hillmorton locks.

Orange canal water, just like on my model railway!

Jo walking the gunwhale.

Newbold tunnel.

Leaving Hawkesbury junction.

Now moored at Hartshill yard.

Keith.

Braunston to Onley Wood Bridge No.79, 4.6 miles no locks

As it was raining this morning I took the bus into Daventry to see if I could get our mini hub sorted, but no joy.

After lunch the rain stopped so we moved a short distance out of Braunston to Onley Wood Bridge No79 on the north Oxford Canal.

Keith.

Long Itchington to Braunston, 11 miles 13 locks.

A good run this morning up through Stockton locks in 1hr 30mins! Nearly every one was in our favour which helps.

Approaching Wigram's Turn.

WE always know when we are approaching Braunston when we can see the church.

Now moored near Braunston turn.

Keith.

Saltisford to Long Itchington, 10.2 miles 12 locks

This morning we set off on our Autumn cruise.

The 2nd Cape lock.

Crossing the River Avon.

Crossing the railway.

No one moored at the Lidl moorings, so we pulled to do a food shop.

Passing through Leamington Spa.

We stopped briefly at Radford Semele for lunch before tackling the locks.

We met up with this boat and we shared the last few locks with them.

Now moored at Long Itchington before the 2 pubs, we popped into the Two Boats for a pint each.

Keith.

Long Itchington, to Saltisford Canal Centre. 10.3 miles, 12 locks.

We had the company of nb Sloop John T from Bascote to Leamington, where we stopped briefly at Lidl for a food shop, before sharing Cape locks with a Black Prince hire boat.

Now safely back on our mooring.

Keith.

Blue Lias to Two Boats Inn, Long Itchington, 0.55 miles, 2 locks.

Very short trip this morning, which took us all of 35 mins!

This is the wide beam attempting to travel from Warwick to London, still below Bridge No.24 which it cannot get through.

Now moored neat the Two Boats Inn, Long Itchington.

Keith.

Barby Wood Bridge to Blue Lias, Stockton, 13.6 miles, 11 locks.

Surprising how July brings out all the prize idiots, plonkers, plebs and pillocks onto the canals.

Only one photo today as I left my camera inside the boat.

Now moored at Blue Lias, Stockton.

Keith.

Mancetter Bridge to Barby Wood Bridge No.78, 26.9 miles, 4 locks, 1 tunnel, 9hrs 30mins.

A very sunny and long day today.

Passing Marston junction and the Ashby canal.

Approaching Hawkesbury junction.

Suttons stop lock, and onto the North Oxford canal.

The Coventry Cruising Club.

M6 Motorway.

Newbold tunnel.

Hillmorton top locks,  the offside one is working again.

Now moored near Barby Wood Bridge No.78.

Keith.

Samuel Barlow to Glascote and then to Mancetter Bridge No.35. 12 miles 11 locks.

This morning we set of for Glascote where we winded, moored up and walked into Glascote to pick up a set of new rear fenders from Phil English of Glascote Fenders. He certainly makes a good fender.

Then we set off to retrace our course, passing under the M42 bridge at Pooley again.

We moored between Grendon bridge and Bradley Green bridge below Atherstone locks for a time as we didn't want to do the Atherstone flight of locks in the heat of the midday sun.

Waiting at the bottom lock.

Halfway up the flight.

Top lock and cottage.

Now moored near Mancetter Bridge No.35.

Keith.

Hawkesbury Junction to Alvecote, 16.6 miles, 11 locks, 8 hours 35 mins.

We tried to set off at 7:35am this morning but 2ft from the bank and we picked up a load of rubbish on the prop, including electrical cable and plug, audio cables, a TV aerial amplifier, the bag that that lot was probably in, a bicycle tyre and a sea searcher magnet! It took me an hour to clear it all off.

Hartshill Yard.

Approaching Atherstone top lock with Holland just entering it.

Grendon dry dock.

Now moored opposite the Samuel Barlow at Alvecote.

Keith.

Braunston Turn to Hawkesbury Junction, 22.1 miles, 4 locks 8 hours

Having had a great weekend at the Braunston Historic Boat Rally, we set off this morning, but not for home. 

We are now heading to Glascote to pick up a new set of stern fenders.

The old stables are looking really good these days.

Hillmorton top locks.

A new road bridge across the canal.

Approaching Newbold tunnel.

Leaving Rose Narrowboats at Stretton-on-Fosse.

Stobbart!!

Approaching Sutton Stop.

In Sutton stop lock.

Now moored just north of Hawkesbury junction.

Keith.