Great Haywood junction to Foxton, Leicestershire
Our final destination 21.10.14
We continued the next couple of miles until we got to
the junction at Great Haywood where the Trent & Mersey canal meets with the
Staffs & Worcs and turned a sharp right turn to head southwards down the
Trent & Mersey canal.
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The sign on the junction points the way... we're heading towards the Trent |
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Leaving the Staffs & Worcs from this bridge we turned right onto the Trent & Mersey canal |
It's a popular spot here, there's plenty of boats
moored up but we only had to wait for one other boat to go down the lock and we
were soon down.
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Leaving the first lock at Great Haywood on the T & M |
We cruised past the 48hr moorings, under the old
bridge and moored up on the 14 day moorings, one side of us was beautiful meadows,
the river Trent and Shrugborough Hall in the distance and old woodland the
other side.
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Moored up at Great Haywood, opposite the mighty Shrugborough Hall |
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These kids are having so much fun falling out of their canoes on the river Trent |
We knew we had lovely walks here, Jack had a nice time
but was still covered in lumps and bites and was scratching furiously at any
chance he got. He still wasn't eating and was being sick too, so we took it
gently with him.
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A cold and misty morning on the canal |
It was cold and foggy on Monday 22nd September when we
woke up. Jacks still not well, lethargic, itchy, scabby, he's scratched his
face so much it's now bald on one side with raw lumps too. He ate a tiny bit of
breakfast but threw it up straight away, I was really worried about him so
after he reluctantly went for his walk I phoned the vets up to explain the
problems were much worse than on Friday.
The vets in Rugeley, our next stop, were partners of
the vets in Penkeridge so we made an appointment for the afternoon as it was a
couple of hours cruise away.
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Leaving our spot pretty swiftly to get to Rugeley for the vets, Shrugborough Hall in the distance |
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And these were the lovely views we had from our little spot on the towpath |
The mist
and fog had cleared and the sun was now shining warm and bright when we set off
for Rugeley. Paul stayed in the boat with Jack and I cruised on to the first
and only lock of the day.
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Our first and only lock of the day... |
After Paul set the lock we were on our way through
lovely countryside till we got to the aqueduct over the river Trent, round a
sharp 90 degree turn and past the houses on the high embankment overlooking the
canal.
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The sun came out and it was a beautiful day for cruising |
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'Grub's up' and all the animals followed two by two... the second alpaca is hiding behind the lady in blue! |
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Rugeley power station on the horizon, you can see this for miles around |
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We cruise over the aqueduct of the River Trent... |
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.... and round the sharp left hand corner, high houses up front |
We pulled over opposite the houses, about a mile outside
Rugeley, we had our lunch and walked into the town to find the vets in the high
street.
After an injection of steroids and another of
antibiotics, the vet was concerned about the sickness and loss of hunger. So he
said to starve him for another 24 hours to clear anything out of his system (he
hadn't eaten for three days already) and just to let him have a little water. We
were to take him back the following day at the same time. We walked back to the
boat with a very poorly Jack, he had no energy at all.
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We pulled over here for the night, but it was so noisy we decided to move the next day |
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Leaving the first mooring in Rugeley, see the 'pretend' speed camera on the post in one of the gardens! |
We could hear the noise of the busy road from the boat
and the train line was also quite noisy too. But we thought it would be fine until
a couple of dogs continuously barked and howled into the evening and well into
the night! So we were really disturbed most of the night and decided we would
move further into town in the morning.
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Coming under Rugeley road bridge... |
After a short walk with Jack on Monday 23rd September we
moved the boat to the 14 day moorings in town, busy but with one space left
just the right size for us to get in.
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This is our new spot for a few days, much more peaceful here! |
It was actually much quieter here,
although we did have some kids the other side of the hedge lob something 'rock
like' at the boat! Paul shouted at them and they ran off just as I'd got
through the hedge!
We took Jack for his appointment with the vet, result
was two more injections and a pile of tablets to take home! But he'd got the ok
to eat and he was so hungry by then he ate his dinner up and kept it all down!
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We didn't have many decent dog walks here, but we found this bit of waste land by the power station...Jack was happy! |
We went shopping too at Morrisons and I wandered the
streets of Rugeley window shopping, it's a lovely town full of interesting
individual shops. On Thursday Paul caught the train for his second interview in
Corby, said it went well. he was back by 6pm confident that he'd done his best.
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Leaving Rugeley under the big railway bridge |
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These are somehow quite beautiful with the right colour sky in the background! |
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Who's this watching from the banks as we pass... Old Father Time? |
Friday 27th September we left Rugeley. It was a sunny
day and after Jacks walk we set off on our way. We stopped off at the water
point to fill up with water and headed on to the cutting in the rocks.
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We make our way through the 'once' complete tunnel.... |
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.... narrow and rocky, with a corner at the light end! |
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This bit has a new(ish) bridge built on the top where the tunnel roof would have once been |
This used to be a tunnel until it became too unstable
and it was converted to a bridge, but the steep sides and narrow channel were
still there. Paul had to get off the boat and go ahead to check nothing was
coming through the other end, but all was clear and we made our way to the
toilet factory at Armatige.
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The woodland looks lovely with the sun shining through the trees |
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The toilet factory at Armitage |
Onwards we went through Handsacre, the sun dancing
through the trees on to the canal as we disturbed the still waters.
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The canal's like glass here... |
We then came to our first lock, Woodend Lock.
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Leaving the bridge after the lock... |
It was
very pretty here with woodland all around us.
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Heading down the long straight towards Fradley junction |
Down the straight canal to
Fradley, it's normally too busy here at the visitor moorings to stop off but
there was a space just big enough for us to get in! So we decided there and
then to stop here for the night.
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And we pull over for the night, first time we've stopped here! |
We set off for our walk mainly to dump rubbish in the
Biffa bins at the sanitary station but also to take Jack's mind off scratching
himself.
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Walking round the lake at Fradley we see this picnic spot on an island.... |
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.... and this giant dragon fly made from wood |
We found a lake and some woodlands to walk round, and Paul
got an email on his phone .... he'd got the job in Corby!!
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We had a celebrationary drink at the Swan when we heard Paul had got the job! |
So on the way back
to the boat we stopped off at The Swan and had a beer to celebrate! Later we
walked Jack round some huge stubble fields and back home he ate his dinner like
a goodun'.
It got pretty chilly in the evening so we lit a small
fire for a couple of hours and settled in for a peaceful night.
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The sign says no limit on mooring so thats why there's never a space to be had! |
We woke early on Saturday 27th September, it was a
cold misty morning when we went for our walk.
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Leaving the second of the two locks at Fradley |
We set off down the two Fradley
locks and turned sharp right onto the Coventry canal, through the swing
footbridge and away we went.
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We turned right here and headed towards Coventry on the Coventry Canal |
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The foot swingbridge at Fradley, the Swan pub in the background |
Today it seemed all the boats were out cruising
the Coventry canal!
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Just LOVE the colour of this boat!! |
We met so many boats at such tricky bends and bridge
holes, in the narrowest parts with trees overgrown onto the canal blocking our
sight.
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We met loads of boats on the narrowest bits of the canal |
Reeds grew high on both sides, obviously not been chopped down this
year! The sun came out hot and bright, but in the shade of the trees it was
chilly.
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Reeds grow so high they obscure the bridge holes |
Onwards we went past Streehay Wharf and a boat that
had obviously been filling with diesel decided to pull out right in front of us!
Full revs in reverse we escaped a clash by inches! Today is manic boat day!
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We got past this silly woman after nearly hitting into her boat when she pulled out in front of us! |
Onwards we went through Huddlesford, past the Lichfield
Arm and through the lovely town of Whittington.
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Boats moored everywhere, including this one on the left, moored stupidly opposite the row of permanent moorers! |
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The houses and gardens are all lovely here in Whittington, still would prefer what we've got tho! |
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Leaving Whittington, the canal gets narrow again |
Through narrow reedy canal until we got to the
beautiful Hopwas Hill Woods, straight and tree lined, this is where signs tell
you that it's a military firing range and not to enter the woods.
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Coming into Hopwas Hill Woods |
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Keep Out signs everywhere, but it's no longer used as a firing range so now its open to the public |
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This beautiful old bridge was the way in to the woods |
But this was stopped a while ago and now it's open to
the public. We always wanted to stop here and now we could! So we pulled over after
the woodlands just before the 48hr moorings and it was still only 11.30am.
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We found a lovely mooring just after the bridge, its lighter here and we should get a telly signal! |
As we were having our lunch we heard a
"helloooooo, any one in?" It was nb Myfanwy from the Wigan flight! We'd
shared the notorious 21 locks in Wigan with two lovely people and they were on
their way back to their marina in Weedon on the Grand Union.
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And off we went to explore.... |
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We found some lovely areas of the woodland, this comes right down to the canal |
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On top of the world, we left the woods and were out in open countryside able to see for miles! |
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Paul looking a bit worried at the signs... no longer used as a firing range, you'll be fine! |
After a good old catch up they went on their way,
leaving us for our walk in the woods which was wonderful. There were paths and
clearings and hills and valleys. We had a lovely time, so did Jack!
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This was such a sickening sight, obviously someone had 'darted' this duck, but it swam away before we could do anything for it. |
Boat movement had eventually slowed down and all the
Saturday afternoon walkers had gone home, we had a lovely peaceful night.
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Saw this on the way out of Hopwas.... quite funny I thought! |
Sunday 28th September was another lovely day. After
another walk in the woods we set off in glorious sunshine along the twisty
narrow canal out of Hopwas and on to Fazeley.
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... and this one's for you Jenny! It's yours!! |
We pulled up by the really busy A5 road bridge and
tied up. We knew there was a pet food shop about half a mile away over
wasteland and needed some shopping from Sainsburys. so off we trudged, trolley
dragging behind us. We got Jacks food and some cake for our friends who were
visiting us tomorrow and headed back to the boat. We didn't really want to
leave Jack longer than we had to as he was still scratching his hair out!
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Leaving the busy road bridge where we moored up to find the Pets at Home shop |
An hour later and we were off again down the canal,
past the newly done up area of the junction of the Birmingham & Fazeley
canal and onto Tamworth.
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Still working on this junction, but it looks so much nicer than last year! Its now modern and bright and used to be derelict and old and falling down! The kingfisher and robin painted on the wall in the background were shown in my previoius blog. |
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Still on our way South, this sign is at the Birmingham & Fazeley junction, that was earlier this year for us! |
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Wouldn't mind a butler like this one, painted on the side of this narrowboat |
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We head up the two Tamworth Locks, there's a boat coming down too |
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You don't get gardens this long in modern council houses like you did in the old ones... room for two more here! |
There's hardly any boats about today and we soon came to Alvecote and the lovely Pooley Fields Nature Reserve.
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We stopped for lunch at the beautiful Pooley Fields Nature Reserve.... |
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.... and climbed the highest hill to look down on the M42 motorway and the canal that goes under it |
We pulled over for lunch and a quick walk around the
woodlands and soon were off again in the sunshine through Polesworth and onto Bradley
Green.
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Leaving the woodlands we spot this group of cows huddled up in one corner of a huge field.... |
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.... and here's why, their mate has made it to the garden next door, just the other side of the fence! |
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Tight corners and overgrown trees make this tricky to see around the corners |
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And the trees at this bridge hole don't help either! |
After a quick stop off at the rubbish point we went on
to the bottom of the Atherstone 11 lock flight. We'd had quite a long day and
were ready to stop, there were no other boats moored up here so we had the
place to ourselves!
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We moored up at the bottom of Atherstone 11 locks... quiet here with no other boats waiting |
After our walk around familiar fields we sat out in
the lovely sunshine until the evening. It was quiet here, we had a peaceful
night.
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Water like glass as the sun sets looking back down the canal |
On Monday 29th September it was grey and dull. We'd
got 11 locks to do immediatly so Paul took Jack and went to set the first lock.
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Leaving the first of 11 locks... Paul and Jack are up ahead while I close the gates behind me |
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We find help going up the last 5 locks, Jack's a happy boy now! It lets him off the hook! |
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The lock fills up, 'it's high up here' looking back down the canal |
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Leaving the last of the 11 locks and it's still only 10am! |
Most of the locks were full and against us but we made
our way up the flight quickly; help came from a lock keeper for the last five
locks and by 10am we'd done them all!
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Mancetter, this was our view last year when we moored up here! |
We cruised on out of Atherstone and into the lovely countryside
of Mancetter and in another couple of miles we had arrived at Harts Hill, one
of our favourite mooring spots and our meeting place with Ann Marie and Dave from
nb Legend.
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Dave and Ann-Marie, eating cake and sarnies out on the towpath.... such a lovely couple! |
By 1.30 two fine figures came strolling down the
towpath, arms laiden with cakes! We sat out on the towpath in the sunshine and
ate sandwiches and cake! After a great catch up we all went for a lovely walk
in Harts Hill Country Park and followed that with a good pub meal in The
Anchor.
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We walked high up Harts Hill, what a view! |
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.... and then pigged out at the Anchor for our evening meal! |
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Boats all in a line with the sun rising moored up at Harts Hill |
The chatting and laughter only stopped when our
friends left to go back to their boat, we'd had a great day with great people
and hope to see them again real soon. Love them to bits!
The next morning it was cold and grey. After a lovely
walk in the woods and over grassy meadows we set off for our days cruise. It
was a good day, we went on to Nuneaton, past all the allotments that came down
to the edge of the canal.
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Allotments, allotments, allotments line the canal on the off side, most are overgrown and unloved though |
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This was pretty, crystals hanging in a tree by the canal. When the sun shines I bet they sparkle! |
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This boat sunk only a couple of weeks ago, you can see the water line on the bottom of the windows. All pumped out now and leaning over the other way! My guess is that there's still water in there! |
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Charity Dock at Bedworth....not like any other dock on the canal |
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This hasn't been used as a diesel tank for a while... that makes it about 33 pence a litre! |
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Full of old tat... I would love to go rumaging around here tho! |
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Married manikins... |
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.... and a child manikin climbs this climbing frame to peer over the wall! |
We were soon out into the countryside again, through
Bedworth and arrived at Hawksbury junction where the North Oxford meets the
Coventry canal.
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Hawksbury Junction.... we go under this bridge and do a 180 degree turn back onto ourselves to head up the N Oxford |
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We've left Atherstone and are heading towards Rugby now... |
I dropped Paul and Jack off just before doing the 180 degree turn under the bridge and into the first lock, Sutton Stop Lock, on the
North Oxford.
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Going up the Sutton Stop Lock on the North Oxford canal |
This was all of about a foot deep, so within minutes
we were on our way again but this time on the North Oxford Canal.
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Paul's maggot stop... the yellowish building is a fishing tackle shop but you wouldn't know it by looking at it! |
Three miles later, after a brief stop off for maggots
at the fishing tackle shop on the way, we went on to Ansty.
We'd moored here several times before and knew the dog
walks were ok, and it was now 2pm and we were ready to stop!
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The 'Permit Holders Only' part of this sign has gone missing so anyone can moor here now |
We pulled into the once 'permit holders only' moorings
which had now changed to visitor moorings and tied up. After lunch we went out
with Jack and the once familiar empty fields were now full of gipsy ponies.
Inquisitive foals and protective mums, all looking for food, wondering what
Jack was! So we left there and found some stubble fields where he could run with
no bother from anybody or anything!
The mooring spots were all taken when we got back, we
settled in for the evening in our lovely quiet spot.
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Leaving the mooring at Ansty... it's another chilly but bright day at the moment |
Wednesday October 1st and it was a sunny but chilly
day. We set off up the canal, Paul and Jack walking along the towpath, me on
the boat.
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Paul walkes Jack (invisible today) up the newly laid towpath... a tiny section in a complete bog! |
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Long straight sections of the canal make it easy to see oncoming boats, that makes a change! |
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We go under the M6 motorway bridge, the train line right next to the canal for quite a way now |
I picked them up a couple of miles later and we went
on under the huge M6 bridge, the train line adjacent to the canal most of the
way.
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Rose Narrowboats all waiting in line for someone to hire them, but its out of season now, so they sit and wait! |
Onwards past Rose Narrowboats and Paul hopped off the
boat to let me through the swing footbridge.
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All Oaks Wood, this is a beautiful stretch of the canal |
We cruised past the beautiful woodlands of All Oaks Wood,
the canal changes from long straight bits to twisty narrow bits for a while now
until we reached Newbold Tunnel, just outside Rugby.
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Straight is the way today, you can see right up the canal from under this old bridge |
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Into Newbold tunnel where only one light remains lit. 4 years ago the whole tunnel was lit by different colour lights |
Through the once beautifully lit tunnel we went (there
were different coloured lights all along the tunnel but now only one light
remains working) and pulled over at the water point in Newbold. After filling
with water and dumping our rubbish we went on another hundred yards and moored
up at the 48 hr moorings.
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Moored up in a familiar spot at Newbold on the 48 hour moorings |
We knew this area well and liked it here. The pub, The
Barley Mow, takes in boaters washing so we dropped off a couple of bags to be washed
and dried, we'd pick them up in the evening.
After shopping in the Co-op and walking Jack we went
out for a slap up meal in the pub, taking our clean and dry washing home with
us! Brilliant place this!
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'Cheers' we head off for our evening meal in the Barley Mow to celebrate Paul's new job |
On Thursday 2nd October we set off after our Jack walk
and headed for Rugby. We cruised slowly past rows of moored boats, past the
dredger, that didn't hold us up, and weaved our way through the north side of Rugby.
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The first signs of dredging taking place, this old skip barge is used to ferry all the mud away from the sides... |
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Aha, we could have to wait here as it becomes more evident there's something going on up ahead... |
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And here's the dredger, on the side, letting us go straight past him, no hassle, no wait! |
Once out of Rugby the sun had come out, there want a
ripple on the water, it was a lovely day. a few miles later we arrived at
Hillmorton Locks.
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There's plenty going on here at Hillmorton Locks as a boat goes into the first of three locks |
There's three locks to go up here, all single locks
but set in pairs. The C&RT were doing maintenance here, closing one of each
of the pairs of locks, but still leaving the other lock in use.
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Looking up ahead its busy here with CaRT workers fixing the top lock |
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As this boat leaves the second lock its my turn to get in after the water has been let out |
We had to wait for the boat in front to go up the
lock, then it was our turn. We were soon up and Paul and Jack went to the next lock
to get that ready while I left the first lock. As I entered the second lock a
boat pulled up behind us, waiting their turn.
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Shouting and screaming came from the guy in blue as his wife tumbled head first into the canal... |
Then I heard loads of shouting and screaming and
swearing, turned around to see a lady in the water splashing about, her husband
panicking on the back of the boat trying to slow it down so it didn't go over
the top of her.
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Paul heaves her up by her legs as the two old geezers in the caps look on unable to help |
Paul immediatly realised what was going on, he'd seen
the woman fall in the canal and ran down to help drag her out the water.
She was soon out, wringing wet and very cold. She'd
lost her glasses in the canal but luckily other than that there was no damage
done, just a bit shocked. Needless to say they didn't come up the locks behind
us, I think a sugary cup of tea and a hot shower was what was needed here. But Paul
felt he'd saved a damsel in distress anyway!
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Leaving the second lock and waiting till the water's emptied in the third lock (on the left) |
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And finally we're up the top, work boats everywhere, the blue boat goes into the lock I've just left |
We were soon up that lock and waited for a boat to
leave the last lock and then we were in. I felt a little twang on the back
gates as the water came in giving me a bit of a shock, the back fender had
caught on the back gates and the chain had broken causing the back fender to
ping off on one side! But no damage done that a couple of cable ties couldn't
fix, we were soon outta there and on our way again.
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A bridge... and a bridge.... and up ahead another bridge |
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Lovely countryside as we head on towards Braunston |
We cruised on through open countryside, long straight
bits and twisty turny bits, cows and sheep grazing in the grassy meadows. The
sun was warm and the boat purred as we chugged through the calm waters. 6.5
miles later we arrived at bridge 89 in Braunston, opposite the church meadow,
just where we wanted to be.
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Bridge 88, we've only got one more to go, and there's Braunston Church in the distance.... nearly there! |
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Moored up in Braunston, one of our favourite places ever! |
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The view from our window.... and the sun's come out to play too! |
It was busy here, we'd got the last space. After our
lunch we headed off to familiar meadows with Jack, he seemed to know where we
were and we all loved it here!
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Jack's back in his familiar meadow... he loves it here so much! |
We stayed here for the weekend, on Friday we went to
Midland Chandlers for their Freaky Friday 20 percent off sale and had visitors
from our last mooring in Woodford, Roger and Steve. It was great to catch up
with all the news!
Saturday was grey and miserable, but it didn't matter,
we loved it here and no amount of bad weather could spoil it for us!
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It's a cold and misty morning but it looks kinda eerie! |
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This isn't 'smoke on the water'.... |
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Leaving our little spot opposite the church... it's still busy with boats here |
Sunday 5th October we set off again, it was a misty
frosty morning, peaceful and quiet. We filled up with water set off for the 6
Braunston locks and were there by 8.40am.
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View of Braunston, we enjoyed many weeks moored here over the winter |
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Up ahead is the first of 6 wide Braunston locks, the mist lays still on the water up ahead |
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The little Boat shop on the first of the Braunston Locks |
We went into the first one alone and as we set off for
the next one there was a shout from a moored boat... people wanted to share the
locks with us! Their names were Veronica and Peter, the dog was Buster and their boat was called
Mistletoe.
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Narrowboat Mistletoe and Buster the dog make their way into the lock with us |
They were very posh, well spoken, and they wanted to
share with us! We chatted on our way up the locks and soon we had done them
all, Peter and I on the boats and Veronica and Paul on the locks. We got to the
top in no time at all, said our goodbyes and we set off towards Braunston
tunnel.
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Big open mouth of Braunston tunnel.... |
We were soon out of the long tunnel, only meeting one
boat inside the tunnel.
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Out of the tunnel and into the cutting heading towards Norton Junction |
Out into daylight again we made our way the couple of
miles to Norton junction where the Leicester Line of the Grand Union canal
joins.
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And this is Norton Junction, we need to turn sharp left.... |
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.... made it, we go under the footbridge of the Grand Union Leicester Line.... |
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... and here it is, the sign proves it!!! |
Here we did a sharp left turn and under the little
footbridge and we were heading north again towards our final destination.
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Another neglected part of the canal network as trees are let to take over the canal here |
We only went a few miles and we'd got to the Watford
flight of 7 locks including a staircase flight of 4 .
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Arriving at the bottom of the Watford Locks, a flight of 2 locks, then 4 in a staircase and then another, 7 in total |
After speaking with the lock keeper we were able to go
straight in following another boat up. It took us 50 minutes to do all 7 locks,
these are easy locks for both me on the boat and Paul on the locks.
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We've done two locks, now for the staircase! |
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Making progress up the staircase locks.... |
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.... and we've got to the top! |
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And it's a lovely view from up here! |
At the top we immediatley go under the M1 motorway bridge
and were soon back out into lovely rural countryside.
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Cruising past Watford country park, leaves on these horse chestnut trees already brown from the autumn |
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Crick bridge, followed by Crick tunnel just around the corner |
Soon we'd got to Crick tunnel, slightly shorter than
Braunston tunnel but wetter, so out came the brolley! We didn't meet any boats
coming towards us in the tunnel making it easier to keep to the centre.
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Leaving the tunnel we cruise past The Moorings, a lovely little cafe by the side of the canal |
Out the tunnel and onwards past Crick marina, out into
beautiful fields and not much else! The canal loops around several hills here
as it follows the contours, but that's great for us as it means there's no
locks to do!
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Oooooh its so beautiful here, the canal is as still as a pond today... not a breath... |
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Crack Hill, we stayed here last year too! We've got lovely open countryside all around us now |
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Just around the corner is where we find our spot for the night, but we managed to explore these woodlands too! |
We'd gone 15 miles, up 13 locks and through two
tunnels today, so by now we were looking for somewhere to stop for the night.
It was 3pm and getting cold. We pulled over just by bridge 27, near to nothing
and no one! A very quiet and remote spot beside woods and fields, in amongst
the reeds!
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.... and this is where we ended up, just around the corner! |
After our dog walk we settled in to a lovely log fire,
warm and peaceful!
Monday we sat tight out of the wind and horizontal
rain. Hugh and Wendy, Paul's brother and sister-in-law, came to visit and we
had warming soup and bread for lunch. We went out with Jack in a dry spell, but
the rain soon caught us out!
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Leaving our little spot, so quiet and peaceful, loved it here! |
Tuesday 7th October we went wood hunting and came back
laiden with some great fire wood to chop up. It was still windy, cold and rainy
but we needed to make some progress. We'd set off by 10am, wrapped up for the
weather.
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High reeds first.... |
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... trees nearly touch overhead of us, oh I hope there's nothing coming! |
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Aha! I see the canal again! I knew it must be there somewhere in amongst all this overgrowth! |
The canal was narrow and overgrown and reeds were high
and in the way! We only saw a couple of boats today, one at a tight bridge hole.
Sounding their horn as they approached meant I had time to put it in reverse
and lighten and bump! But somehow we just managed to avoid a collision, and
with a cheery wave we both went on our way.
|
We narrowly missed having a bit of a 'ding' with this boat, but all was good and we both went on our way |
We'd only gone 5 miles but in the nasty weather that
was enough! We pulled over by bridge 40 in a cosy sheltered bit of towpath in
amongst a gap in the reeds only big enough for one boat.
|
Another beautiful little spot, secluded and remote, just how we like it! |
|
This is us in our secluded little spot, in the middle of the jungle it would seem! |
Out of the wind and rain we lit the fire and warmed up
with mugs of soup. We found great walks across the fields to Welford and back
and Jack had a great scurry about.
|
Autumns really showing its little face now, leaves lay on the top of the water like a blanket |
The weather didn't get any better for Wednesday. We
left in the rain and the brolley stayed up most of the time!
|
Just about to enter Husbands Bosworth tunnel |
We made our way to
our last tunnel of the trip, Husbands Bosworth tunnel. Strangely enough today it
was dryer in the tunnel than outside, but as soon as we were back out in the
open the heavens opened and heavy rain was upon us again.
|
Under the brolly, that was the idea for the day's cruising today as it lashed it down with rain... |
|
.... and the rain still kept coming |
|
.... somewhere the sun's out, it must be, but I'm dammed if I can see it! Arriving at Laughton Hills |
We went on to Laughton Hills, a favourite spot of
ours, and moored up between bridges 51 & 52. Once we'd got warm and dried
out in the boat the sun came out and the rain went! Its quiet here on the
canals now, only a couple of boats moving about; we had lovely walks and were
warm and toasty and as the weather tomorrow was set to be the same, we stayed
here an extra day.
|
The sky was mental, this was the afternoon! It went all dark and then it was like a huge fire on the horizon... |
|
... and just after it brightened up the sky went even more mental! |
|
Moored up at Laughton Hills |
|
.... looking like autumn has got to us here! |
It also gave us a chance to go and collect the car from
MK after a very kind offer of a lift from Hugh.
|
It was a beautiful day when we left Laughton Hills... |
|
.... the sun was shining and it was a completely different day to yesterday |
Friday 10th October and we were on the move again. It
was a cold morning but the sun was out. We slowly made our way the 2.5 miles to
Foxton, firstly because it was such a lovely day for cruising but also we both
knew this was going to be the last bit of our 19 month cruise; it was soon coming
to an end.
After an hour we were at the top of Foxton locks and
tied up the boat. As the car was there already we went off and got some much
needed shopping from Market Harborough.
Over the last few days our batteries had got steadily
worse, loosing charge and not having enough power to have the fridge on
overnight or the fire going (power is needed for the water pump for the rads).
The only solution was to invest in 4 new ones, so we went off to MH and £300
later and a good electrician (know any?) we were back up and running again.
|
Leaving Foxton above the locks with Maff and Jo on board |
|
Arriving at the Top Lock we were able to go straight in... |
My brothers turn to visit today, Maff and Jo met us at
the top of the locks for the journey down the 10 Foxton locks. It's two staircases,
5 locks in each with a passing point in the middle. We set off after sheltering
in the boat out of the rain, by now it was 12 midday.
|
... and off we go, straight in... Maff leans on the gate, and waits till I go down... |
We didn't have to wait at the locks, after Paul had
gone to find the lock keeper he said we can go straight down, there were no
other boats waiting to come up or go down. Jo was chief looker afterer of the
four legged variety (only dogs on leads were allowed much to Jacks dismay), I
was in charge of the boat, Paul was in charge of the lock paddles and one gate
while Maff only had to open and close one gate. We made great progress going
down even with Maff forgetting to shut the gate behind me on more than one
occasion!
|
Gongoozlers taking photos, and Maff in a dream! |
|
We'd just come down the first five, five more to go.... |
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Jack has to be on a lead here to his discust.... but he's still trying to get away but Jo's in charge |
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The Foxton Locks Inn where we had lunch... Paul and Jo and a lockie make conversation as the boat goes slowly down |
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.... and we've made it, we're at the bottom! |
|
Leaving the bottom lock I look back to see the lonely figure of a man on the bridge... spooky! |
With lots of people about (we are a tourist attraction
after all) all taking photos and asking questions and generally interested in
the way locks work, we were at the bottom
by 1 pm and had moored up around the corner on the 48 hr moorings
through the bridge.
|
Maff and Jo make their way over the bridge as we more up just through here on the towpath |
|
A rainbow makes another appearance as the sun's out somewhere.... but not here! |
That was the last set of locks done of our great
voyage of discovery so we head off straight to The Foxton Locks pub for a well
earned celebrationary lunch-time meal. It was great food with great company, we'll
come here again!
|
Looking down from the top of the flight over lovely countryside... these are now our dog walking fields! |
|
Looking towards the top of Foxton Locks... the first five anyway |
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It's a lovely misty morning when we walk Jack along the towpath to the fields... |
We'd had a really lovely day with my big brother and his wife and after a walk back up the locks to wave them off we wander the fields discovering some lovely walks for Jack.
We stayed here in Foxton overnight and the next day we
made our way the short distance to Debdale Wharf.
|
Heading out to Debdale |
|
... and a familiar sight, reeds overgrown on the towpath side of the canal |
We cruised past to suss out
the moorings and the marina that had been booked to crane the boat out and
black the bottom and a couple of miles on we turned around and headed back and
tied up right outside.
|
And who should come past us but Ricky and Mo and of course Poppy, on nb Djinni |
|
Moored up waiting to go into the dock, but it wasn't to be this year because of very bad weather... |
Here we stayed overnight, ready for our crane out
tomorrow.
|
What a lovely sight as the sun set behind the boat |
But it wasn't to be .... The weather was so bad on Monday
13th October that the guys in the marina suggested it might not be a good idea getting
the boat out as strong winds and heavy rain was forecast for the following
three days. We needed it to be dry so the black bitumen would go off before it
was put back in the water.
|
This should have been a crane full of our boat, but we cruised away with our new appointment booked for April |
So after much deliberation it was decided to make a
date for early spring.
We stayed outside the marina for the rest of the day
as the weather was terrible, but moved back to Foxton Wednesday 15th October.
|
Back in Foxton below the locks |
|
We're now in place for the winter... along with other fellow boaters above the Foxton Locks |
This is where were staying for the winter, we've got a
lovely little spot here on the towpath, it's good commuting distance for Paul
to travel to work, there's a great community of boaters and a proper boaters
pub! We've got access to water, toilet dump, rubbish and laundrette. We have
found a space to park the car off the road, there's a little shop for all your
basic needs and a great foody pub too.
|
Our friends Ian and Irene and nb Free Spirit who we met on the Rochdale canal cruised on by, but not without stopping for a cuppa tea and a great catch up with all the latest news! Friends we'll remember forever, always welcomed with open arms! |
If anybody would like to come and visit us here at
Foxton we will welcome you with open arms, always a pleasure to see family, old friends
and new.
It's with great sadness that this is where our story
ends....
We've had the best time ever in our 19 months of cruising,
we've seen some amazing and breath taking sights, the most beautiful
countryside and lovely woodlands we've ever seen, we've traveled to city's to
sample the interesting urban city life, been places that we never knew existed,
and places we don't ever want to be in again!
We've met some lovely, lovely people along the way,
most whom were still in touch with and know we've got friends for life. There's
a truly wonderful community of fellow boat folk out here, interesting,
individual, but most of all very friendly and always helpful. We've all got our
different lives but all share the same lifestyle. We'll meet up again
somewhere, someday, and greet each other like it was only yesterday we last saw
each other.
I hope you've enjoyed reading about our travels. It
was lovely sharing it with you, we feel honoured and extremely lucky to know
and live this truly wonderful life.
But for now we must work ......
Signing off xxxxxxx