Day Trip to Coventry

Jo and I had a day trip on the bus to Coventry today to do some shopping.

Keith.

HADARFORD

I have now set up a new BLOG to record the building of my new model railway, which I have named “HADARFORD”.

I will post on it as and when things occur related to the building of the layout. It can be accessed by clicking on this link or by using the new link in our BLOG list on the left-hand side of this BLOG.

Keith

Keith’s Rag Rugs for Sale on eBay

I now offer my rag rugs for sale on eBay, you can view and buy them by clicking on this link.

Keith.

Budbrooke Junction to The Saltisford Arm

0.25miles no locks in 10 mins. An extremely short journey this morning back onto our home mooring in the Saltisford Arm where we will spend the rest of the winter.

Keith.

Hatton to Budbrooke Junction

2.5 miles 21 locks in 3hrs 25 mins.

Breakfast at 9:00am at the Hatton locks café to give us energy before setting off down the locks.

 

We had nb Independence come into view behind us, so we waited for them to join us and we shared the locks which always makes life easier.

We stopped at Budbrooke junction to sell them some coal. We are going to stop here overnight as we know there is a boat on our mooring which will be leaving in the morning.

Keith.

Hatton Country World

 

This afternoon we took a walk to Hatton Country World. There were lots of children there on their half term holidays, and lots of pumpkins around.

 

Then we went to the café at Hatton top lock for a pot of tea and cake.

Keith.

Lapworth to Hatton Locks.

4.65 miles, no locks in 1hr 50mins.

Another short hop today. Approaching Shrewley tunnel and horse tunnel.

Now moored near St. John's Bridge No.55 above Hatton locks.

Keith.

Lapworth

This afternoon we took a walk through Lapworth, starting from Bridge No.65 on the Grand Union Canal, up the road crossing over the North Stratford Canal near Kingswood junction and past The Boot Inn.

It looks like Lapworth are going to have a huge bonfire on the 5th.

The footpath alongside the road took a detour through this wooded route.

Autumnal colours.

We joined the towpath of the North Stratford Canal at Bridge No.31.

More Autumnal colours, towpath side ferns this time.

We chatted to Keith and Lesley who live in this very pretty cottage alongside lock No.7 for well over an hour, they have lived there for 43 years.

The Canal Shop at lock No.14.

Kingswood junction on Stratford canals.

The link between the Stratford canals and the Grand Union.

We treated ourselves to a pint each of Lapworth Gold from the Byatt's Brewery at The Navigation, I think we deserved it.

Keith.

Knowle to The Navigation, Lapworth.

3.4 miles & 5 locks in 2hrs 25mins.

Another short trip today. Two hire boats who came up the Knowle locks this morning had managed to drain one of the pounds on the Knowle flight of locks, but it did expose the remains of one of the old narrow locks, which is normally hidden.

Black Buoy Inn looks nice.

Now moored opposite the The Navigation, Lapworth.

Keith.

Knowle

We walked into Knowle, Stephen Goldsbrough Boatbuilders at Knowle Hall Wharf on the other side of the canal bridge.

The Church of St. John the Baptist, St. Lawrence and St. Anne.

The village sign, with the church in the back ground.

Chester House, now used as the library.

The Knot Garden behind Chester House.

The Toby Carvery where we had lunch washed down with a pint each of Doombar.

On our way back we popped inside the church and looked around the graveyard.

Keith.

Catherine de Barnes to Knowle

2.85 miles no locks in 1hr 30mins

Very short hop today to above Knowle locks, had to reverse back from Kenilworth Road Bridge No.71 quite a long way before it was deep enough to moor up.

Keith.

Sunday Roast Dinner

We had a lovely roast dinner in The Boat Inn, Catherine de Barnes, we each started with a pint of Silhill Gold Star from the local Silhill Brewery, which is just the other side of the canal, and very nice it was too. Jo had the turkey and I had the pork, and to finish off Jo had the millionaire’s cheese cake and I had the ultimate sticky toffee pudding, which was the best one I have ever had, and I have had  a few!

Keith.

Curdworth to Catherine de Barnes

16.4 miles & 14 locks in 7hrs 40mins

An early start this morning in the fog, which soon cleared. New territory today for Hadar, Jo and I, turning into the Saltley branch at Salford junction under Spaghetti junction.

Garrison locks on the Saltley branch.

Turned south at Bordesley junction onto the Grand Union canal and up Camp Hill locks.

Sampson Road depot at the top of Camp Hill locks.

The Ackers.

Moored at Catherine de Barnes for the weekend.

Keith.