Ring Completed

Marston Junction. Ashby Canal.















Coventry Canal.

I've decided I'm going to stop blogging about this canal trip as we have completed the ring and the last few days are really just messing about.

Yesterday having moored near Bedworth we took the train to visit Rachel's mum near Hinckley.

Today we have arranged to met a friend at Hawkesbury Junction. We continued from Bedworth to the next winding point which was Marston Junction where the Ashby canal starts. We turned round, headed back to Hawkesbury Junction and went down the Coventry Canal towards Coventry. We turned at the first winding point and then moored and cycled into Coventry. Having returned to the boat we then motored back to Hawkesbury Junction and moored on pretty much the last mooring on the Coventry Canal.

This ends this blog!

Best Wishes

Nick

20th May. Day 18. Leicester => Birmingham Ring. Oxford Canal Bridge 81 (near Barby) to Bridge 26 (near Brinklow)

Hillmorton Top Lock.

Newbold Tunnel

Swan Family.

All Oaks Wood.

8.20 leave moorings. We were planning to stop near bridge 58 for Tescos. We did this stopping just after the bridge and topping up with water at 11.30. We then pulled ourselves forward to moor for Tescos shop. When we got back we discovered we'd run out of gas. Since we were only 200 yards from the entrance to Rugby Wharf we couldn't have run out at a better time!

We phoned the wharf and they said "pop in" for some gas. We set off after lunch about 13.30 and by 14.15 we'd got 2 new gas bottles which I'd attached, checked out, relit the boiler and we were back on the main canal again.

We stopped as planned just after Grimes Bridge (26)  at 16.30 with the back and middle of the boat on pile moorings and the front on a suspect pin.  

I've got the canalplan website to work out the total mileage etc for the ring we completed today. Its 191 miles and 194 locks and at 6 hours a day should take 18 days. Its the 18th day today.

Tofay 13 miles and 3 locks = 16 lock miles

19th May. Day 17. Leicester => Birmingham Ring. Stockton to Oxford Canal Bridge 81 (near Barby)

Stockton Locks. An empty pound.

Turning left at Braunston Junction.

Set out at 7.50. Rachel went off and set the first 3 Stockton locks. We were pleased with our progress until a woman walking her dog said the pound between locks 5 and 6 was almost empty.  Rachel had commented she couldn't understand how all the locks seemed set up for us going up when yesterday evening they hadn't been. Yes indeed this pound was very empty. I tried seeing what one lock load of water from the lock above did. It actually made a significant difference. So we moved about 2 lock loads of water from the top lock into this pound and proceeded upwards and very slowly through the top 2 pounds. Anyway we finished this flight at 9.45.

We stopped for water at the top of Calcutt locks. The shop there looked closed for the season (empty shelves).

We turned left at Napton Junction and felt like we'd suddenly hit traffic. I think I've had more boats coming in the opposite direction than almost the rest of the trip after Napton Junction. We stopped for lunch at 12.30 between bridge 101 and 100.

We set off again at 13.15 and turned left at Braunston back onto the Oxford Canal where we'd been 2 weeks ago.

The plan was to moor for the night around bridge 81. In fact due to an oncoming boat I ploughed into the tow path bank just after bridge 81....so we stopped there anyway. Loads of boats in this area. Its good bank for mooring after a mile or 2 of bad bank.Perhaps that's the reason.

11.25 miles and  11 locks = 22.25 lock miles.

18th May. Day 16. Leicester => Birmingham Ring. Warwick to Stockton.

Canal Paddle Boarder

Daisy resting.



Bascote Staircase lock.

Stockton Top Lock

8.45 start. Did the 2 Cape locks. Several supermarkets right next to canal going out through Warwaick then Leamington Spa. Tescos, Lidl and finally Morrisons. We were still happy with our overnight mooring although we could have had less of a walk to a supermarket.

We passed several people on a 12 mile sponsored walk for a local Hospice.

Trying to manoevre into the first of 3 Fosse locks I suddenly lost all power. We moored and I checked the propeller. A hoody and a large piece of carpet was wrapped round it! Once removed power back to normal. A paddle boarder passed us while we did the first of these locks.

We moored for lunch at 13.10 after lock 20 (the top Fosse lock) and set off again at 14.00.

When we got to the Bascote Staircase lock (15-14) Rachel drove into the bottom lock immdeiately after 2 boats left. I went to look at the lock immediately above and it looked pretty empty. The intructions said to make sure it was full when going up. A boater about to come down said it was fine. Having emptied it into the lock Rachel was in and then opened gates between the locks Rachel proceeded slowly forward. I was not surprised when she stopped. She'd hit the bottom. Letting a small amount of water in via the top paddles sorted that out and then we proceeded as expected.

We moored for the night opposite the Blue Lias pub on long term moorings at 16.15. A man on one of these mooring said all the long term boats were already in so we could use the one space left. The bottom of the Stockton locks was straight after this mooring.

It was a lovely evening and I fancied a little walk but in flipflops to give my feet an airing. However Rachel decided that once we got to the bottom of the Stockton locks its a rule that you have to walk to the top. In flipflops! I walked most of the way in bare feet in the grass at the side of the tow path.

We had wine and spagetti bolognaise on the boat as when Rachel explored the pub menu she found it uninspiring for the price.

10 miles and 14 locks = 24 lock miles

17th May. Day 15. Leicester => Birmingham Ring. Kingswood Junction to Warwick.

Hatton Locks.

Cape of Good Hope pub.

Hatton locks. These are double width locks and somewhat leaky thus hard work.

We set out at 8.20 and reached Hatton top lock at 10.15. We did them on our own as there was no one going in our direction. Even on the 2 occasions we came across boats going in the opposite direction that only helped for 1 lock as by the next lock it needed filling to set it right.

The water flow once the paddles were up was rapid. At the top lock Rachel noticed a baby moorhen frantically paddling while being sucked into the channel by the mouth of the lock at the top. I managed to get it out and put it on the bank. It scurried off tweeting for its mum into the bushes.

There were 2 CRT volunteers by a hut between 43-44 who were cleaning off a blackboard and preparing to write on it but not helping us! Rachel said she was obviously struggling closing a gate after I'd taken the boat and the man just watched. Later we did have a CRT man help us. He had the usual inflatable life jacket while the others didn't so I suspect the other weren't supposed to help.

It was lovely and sunny and therefore hot. I got increasingly exhausted.

We stopped for lunch between locks 30-29 at 13.10 and set off again at 14.00. The last 4 locks Rachel stayed driving the boat as her back was hurting.

We moored for the night just after bridge 50 in Warwick at 15.05. We had a 15 minute walk to Sainsbury's for provisions- including 14 ice lollies! We had supper at the Cape of Good Hope pub on non tow path side at the lock of the next lock. It was lively and we sat outside in the warm sunshine.

7.5 miles and 21 locks = 29.5 lock miles.

16th May. Day 14. Leicester => Birmingham Ring. Hockley Heath to Kingswood Junction.

All photos in Kingswood Junction in the beautiful evening sunlight.

Set out at 9.05. Reached the first lock in the Lapworth flight (which is numbered 2 because of the stop lock yesterday) at 9.45. We were much assisted by a Canals and Rivers Trust volunteer who set each lock for us ahead of us. Gave him a cup of black tea in payment! We did 16 locks in 2 hours then slowed down for the last few (and collected water).

We turned left at Kingwood Junction and moored on the link to Grand Union Canal at 12.30 on 48 hour moorings.

We decided we'd not go any further as Hatton locks need to be done in one go.

3 miles and 19 locks = 22 lock miles.

15th May. Day 13. Leicester => Birmingham Ring. Oozells Street Loop to Hockley Heath.

Gas Street Basin.

Birmingham University from Aquaduct.

King's Norton Junction.

Guillotine Stop Lock.

Shirley Draw Bridge.

No locks and no rain. 

Took 30 minutes to get us heading in the right direction. I thought I'd be able to go round or turn in the Oozells Loop but the second entrance too tight and sharp an angle. While trying to negotiate Daisy got off and had be dragged back on. It was just a little ledge she got onto. Had to drive on a couple of hundred yards and turn in a canal offshot. I made a meal of that too. 

Then motored through Edgbaston, and Birmingham University.

King's Norton Junction is pretty with toll house. Left here and through the guillotine stop lock (Daisy escape number 2 also) onto the Stratford on Avon Canal. Short tunnel - Brandwood- 352 yards. 

We stopped for lunch at waterpoint just before bridge 5.

Rachel operated Shirley draw bridge (electrically operated).

We stopped at bridge 20 and I and then Rachel went to Wedges bakery and delicatessen which is 100 yards from bridge. It has an amazing selection of various attractive provisions and opens at 7.00am.

We drove a couple more miles to stop close to Hockley Heath. Chips from local chip shop with our own sausages. Good chunky chips.

15.25 miles.  No locks. This was supposed to be laid back so I didn't time it but we set out 9.20  and moored for night at 17.45 but had 2 reasonably long stops and going the wrong direction to start with!