8 August 2011 - Hinckley to Bedworth

Morning taken up with a trip to the vets and anti-biotics for a poorly dog.  Back at the boat the crew held a focus group meeting - where next?  I voted to continue on the Ashby, Annie to do a big ring involving the Coventry canal, Trent & Mersey and Grand Union.  We are a democratic family, and after the votes were counted, the ring it was. Thank heavens for democracy.

Set off after lunch, but pulled over once when the rain got too heavy.  Made it to the entrance of the Ashby Canal by tea time and we called it a day at Bedworth.

The Ring - current location bottom of the Ashby (lower left) Target is Braunston (lower right) estimated time 58 hours (about 2 weeks)

7 August 2011 - Hinckley to Sutton Wharf & return

The military operation succeeded! Annie cycled to Aunty Wins whilst I moved the boat next to an industrial area in Hinckley that we had previously reccied - with a road only 50ft from the tow path (Aunty is range impaired with her broken bits).  Annie booked a taxi to meet us and we all arrived at the appointed place near enough at the same moment.

Loaded Annie & Win into the boat and after the obligatory cup of tea and tour of the boat, set off to find somewhere to turn around.  Trinity Marina was right next to us and offered an obvious place, but is bedecked with signs saying No Turning! Danger of Death or some such.  We wanted to have a look at the marina as friends keep their boat there, so turned in slowly looking for somewhere to moor.  As the visitor mooring hove into view we were confronted by a naval destroyer, several yachts and a tall ship.  All radio controlled of course, having some sort of event.  Thinking the owners might get peeved if I stopped there crushing the Lilliputian Navy we made for the single empty pontoon, nearly making a hash of it as the wind whipped across the basin.  A native helped us moor the boat and we chatted to several more friendly natives after we had had a look around (we found Mick and Sue's boat nb Wakanui but they were not aboard).  Wasn't looking forward to turning boat to get out again with strong wind and little maneuvering room.  Friendly native advised us to head for exit in full reverse and we couldnt fail.  Not sure about this as exit is 7ft gap in continuous concrete wall 1/2 mile long and (it seemed) 1/2 mile away with what was now a hurricane blowing.  Closed eyes and went for it - moments later we were right in the middle of the 7ft gap and popping out back into the canal.  Friendly native gave thumbs up and we waved thanks.

Annie and Aunty Win with broken bit

Now going in the right direction we had a superb cruise along the Ashby passing Dadlington and Stoke Golding.  We partook of Ham & Eggs at the canalside cafe at Sutton Wharf  - have you noticed there aren't any cafes any more - they have all turned into restaurants.  Then winding the boat we headed back with ever increasing and ever dramatic cloud building behind us.  Two bridges from home the rain hit - so sharply that you could see it raining hard at the front of the boat, whilst it was still dry at the back!  We moored at this morning's start pont and drank tea until the rain subsided, called a taxi and said bye bye to Aunty Win with whom we had had a lovely day.  Bit dingy but we decided to remain here for the night given the weather.

6 August 2011 - Bedworth to Hinckley

Entrance to the Ashby Canal off the Coventry Canal

After exchanging contact details with Alan & Di, set off northwards on the Coventry canal.  After only 30 minutes we came to the junction with the Ashby canal - this is a *very* sharp right - more a 3 point turn.  We quickly found the Ashby a very different canal from those we had traveled along so far.  No locks at all is the main difference and also very shallow.  It is another 'contour canal' with sudden sharp bends, usually obscured by trees.  There is little traffic along it and when you do find something coming the other way, it is always in the middle of a bend, usually coming at you under a bridge.  You cant slow down for every blind bend on the off chance something might be coming - it takes too long.  You develop therefore a kamikaze approach.  Full speed into blind bends and bridges, knowing that statistically you are likely to be fine.  Problems come when in the middle of the bend a boat appears.... now right on top of you.  With luck, lightening reflexes throw the boat into full reverse and you scream to a stop inches from the other boat (they meanwhile have been doing the same).  Both boats pass one another and we wave and shout"lovely morning",  "Yes, isnt it!" they reply noone giving any indication that everything has not always been fully under control and two 15 ton boats had not almost crashed head on.  As soon as they are passed, hand goes to throttle and up goes the speed again.

We had planned to visit Annie's Aunt in Hinckley but we had some difficulty finding moorings - the edges are so shallow, when we stop we are so far out from the side, the plank wont reach the bank.  Eventually we moored up, got the bikes out and cycled across the fields to Aunty Win's just beating a monsoon downpour by the skin of our teeth.  Cup of tea and arrangements made to take her with us for a days boating tomorrow.

5 August 2011 - Brinklow to Bedworth

A good bit cooler than of late, but at least a dry day.  Walked dog through fields while Annie prepared breakfast then set off.  Moving past Rugby and towards Coventry but still out in the country with no built up areas, just the occasional farm.  An intermittent squeak from the engine slowly became worse during the morning.  When an unattended boat floated out in front of us, mooring pins having come out, Annie jumped off to re-tie it.  I used the opportunity to up the engine covers and investigate the squeak. Verdict that its a bearing in one of the alternators (we have two) and not a show stopper.

By 1pm we arrived at Hawkesbury Junction which is the northerly end of the North Oxford canal, where it meets the Coventry canal.  This is a lovely spot, full of canal memorabilia, including an old steam engine house.  Moored the boat and wandered in to town to buy bread & milk.

Immediately before the junction there is an insane little lock that drops the boat all of 6 inches down to the level of the Coventry Canal.  Here we got talking to Alan and Di of Nb Henry Edward Thomas, a conversation which was resumed when we both stopped for water just round the corner.  Agreeing that we couldnt keep chatting on the water point (other people needed it) we decided to adjourn to a mooring two bridges further up, showing a waterside pub next to it.  When we got there the pub was derelict and the mooring empty but for one unattended boat.  Non-plussed we pulled out chairs on the bank and cracked a couple of bottles of wine.  Stayed here for the night..... Just before turning in Alan and Di walked passed, they had seen a boat coming along in the dark, big headlight on with lots of music blaring.  It came passed at speed, missed our two boats but T boned the other moored boat - bang!  They swiftly reversed and continued on their noisy way.

The Newbold Tunnel.  Congrats to BW for installing such a magnificent lighting scheme!

4 August 2011 - Braunston to Brinklow

Good old British weather!  The combines worked throughout the night - we could hear them - until 4am.  Which coincidentally is when it started hammering down with rain.  By 9am the heavy rain had gone so we set off, Annie making bacon butties as we went along.  Braunston is the junction of the Grand Union Canal and the north section of the Oxford.  We were turning left, back onto the north Oxford.  We stopped for nearly an hour to wander around Midland Chandlers based right at the junction and bought lots of bits and bobs.

Braunston is the middle of the canal world.  Much like Muslims with Mecca, Canal People turn towards Braunston at dawn and dusk, doffing caps at the former and raising a glass at the latter.  This centre of the canal-multiverse manifests itself in the form of ghosts.  Long dead wooden working boats have been resurrected by those with the faith, and now haunt the canals around Mecca Braunston. You pass them, sometimes sad and decaying, sometimes sunk, but often beautifully restored and painted with just a patina of rust.  Several went the other way during the day - two lovely pairs of motor and butty heading down to the Thames.  Then as we moved further north modern gaily painted tin cans much like ours took over and we saw no more of the ghosts.

Ghosts of the past wandering Braunston's waterways

Medieval ridge and furrow ploughing

Echos of the past extend even further back in the form of medieval ridge and furrow plough marks that cover many of the fields running down to the canal. Corrugated card board Annie calls them.  These were formed using early ploughs, pulled by oxen.  They have survived by the land only having been used for grazing since enclosure of the old open fields.

  A steady rain fell all day, interspersed occasionally with short periods of torrential rain.  However it was still quite warm and not at all unpleasant - until it started running down your neck.....  Son Mark was en-route from Southport to Fleet and had promised to call in for a cup of tea.  He tracked us using Google Latitude and duly turned up on an over-bridge at 5pm.  We stayed at the spot to have our evening meal after Mark left, then moved the boat about a mile further west, just outside Brinklow for the night.

3 August 2011 - Wormleighton to Braunston

Upped pins and set off mid morning while it was still quite cool.  This section of the Oxford north of Fenny Compton is a 'contour canal' that is it follows the contours, going round the hills rather than over the top via locks.  There are therefore 10 drop dead gorgeous lock free miles as far as Napton.  The weather was perfick and the landscape more than perfick.  Spent time spotting how many tractors and combines (wildly active with rain forecast tomorrow) had amber flashy lights on.  Then spent time wondering why a combine working in the middle of a huge field with no living soul for an imperial mile.... should need a bar of amber flashing lights on top. Probably to scare the field mice,
After said 10 lock free miles Napton comes along to bite you on the bum with 8 locks all in one go.  Safely through these the Oxford Canal quickly comes to an end and we joined the Grand Union - again lock free so we made good time.  Moored for the night about a mile outside Braunston Village.

Napton top lock with glorious Warwickshire as a backdrop

2 August 2011 - Banbury to Wormleighton

Lots of boats started passing us very early in order to beat the heat.  We didnt join them. The dog has been 'off colour' the last few days and Annie cycled back into Banbury to find a pet shop for tablets and dog food.  This allowed us to set off around 10.30.   Lots of boats seemed to be coming the other way and not many in our direction.  We passed through Cropredy for the third time - this time even more congested than before with the impending festival.  Signs have appeared on the locks on the Oxford Canal will be closed from 4pm to 9am until further notice because of a shortage of water. Its a good thing that we are nearly off the Oxford.  Stopped at the Wharf Inn in Fenny Compton and the 'Nectar' was rather pleasant.  Finally moored about a mile north of Fenny Compton opposite the humps and bumps of a DMV - the deserted medieval village of Wormleighton.

Poor TV signal requires a big aerial....