Haircuts, pubs and overnight stay on narrowboats allowed!

We  enjoyed a short cruise from Shardlow, mooring near Sarson's bridge (11) on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

It was great to be back on the canals again after lockdown and enjoy the wonderful wildlife and scenery.  From bridge 11, we walked on the bridleway (the old train track) and up into the market town of  'Melbourne' (approximately one hour walk). Whilst walking on the track we noticed a bench which made us smile - someone has obviously spent a 'happy hour' or two there during lockdown!!

Melbourne is a lovely town mentioned in the Domesday Book 1066. There are a few independent  shops and pubs etc.  We enjoyed some fish and chips (and so did Nugget) sat in the centre.

Rain rain go away.....

The weather has been very wet over the last couple of weeks and our moorings at Shardlow have been no exception!!

Derwent Mouth Lock  

 The River Trent and River Derwent have both been in flood for quite some time.  As the photo shows, the river is so high it even covered the flood gauge and the river is the same height as the water level in the lock and pound above.

The lock landing - nowhere to be seen!!!

Today it was at last dry with some glorious sunshine, long may it last!  

Shardlow

You win some and you lose some !

Leaving Branston, we headed back to our moorings at Shardlow, stopping off for another bargain full English breakfast at the Mill House.

Unfortunately Helen left a windlass on the lock gate at Branston Lock and we didn't realise until we reached the next lock - too far to return by foot 😞  However, approaching Fradley a few days before, we felt and heard something large wrapped around the propeller and after limping into the side, we found a fender was the culprit... so one loss and one gain!!!

Weed hatch catch!

We had a good run through to Shardlow and have now completed our summer trip for 2019. Normally we don't 'winterize' Coventina but continue to enjoy short cruises throughout Autumn/Winter.
We have really enjoyed the Warwickshire Ring, it was great to meet up with relatives, friends and some interesting people along our journey.

One thing we did notice more of this year on the towpaths and on walks in general - .unfortunately poo bags - FULL and just discarded on the floor!!!  Whilst we are pleased that dog owners are being responsible by picking  up the poo -why cant they be responsible and GREEN (as the bags will never decompose) and place them in a bin or the provided dog bins along the way!!!!

Generally however, we have seen some beautiful scenery, lovely sunsets and nature along our travels.

       

  

Completion of the Warwickshire ring and onwards to Branston

We left Alvecote passing more delightful old working boats on their way to the festival and had a quick stop at bridge 73 to call at a handy Co-op, which is located at the side of the canal, before descending the two Glascote Locks.
We passed over the Tame Aqueduct (there are a few nice moorings on this short stretch) between  suburban Tamworth and Fazeley.

Tame Aqueduct

Fazeley Junction brought us to the completion of the Warwickshire ring and nearing the end of our summer trip 😞.  

Mooring  just before Fradley Bridge we enjoyed a very nice curry at an Indian restaurant near Fradley called 'Bilash'.   It is about 15 minutes walk from the bridge and based in a small parade of recently built shops including a handy butchers and Co-op.  These form part of a new development of hundreds of new houses.

Percy the thirsty pigeon

The heat has increased once again but luckily we managed to get a shady mooring in Alrewas.  Sadly we have seen a couple of dead pigeons in the canal.  They see the water and desperately need a drink , however cannot fly out of the canal again. A very thirsty homing pigeon called Percy landed  on our roof, clearly thirsty and tired.  We gave Percy a Tesco shreddie and a drink of water.....

Satisfied pigeon

....  soon he was on his way again - one happy pigeon! 
The following day, as the heat continued, we were happy to find a place at the visitor moorings which run alongside Branston Water Park with some shade from the trees. 

Branston Water Park

 A short ten minute walk takes you into the village of Branston which has a couple of pubs, Co-op Chinese takeaway and a charity shop.   We enjoyed a chinese takeaway from 'China King' sat out with a glass of wine with wonderful views and a lovely sunset. One again at Branston, incidentally the home of the famous pickle, there are several hundred new homes under construction including a new school and health centre.    

Brinklow, bras and Boat Gatherings!

Over the last few days we have travelled from Brinklow to Alvecote where an array of wonderful boats are gathering for the Historic Boat festival being held this bank holiday weekend.   

Brinklow Motte and Bailey Mound  

Mooring at Brinklow we went on a short walk to visit the remains of a Saxon Motte and Bailey Castle Mound.  We also walked over the earthworks where the original settlement would have been and on into the village. St John the Baptist church is unusual as it is built on a slope.

Resuming our travels we stopped off at Hawkesbury Junction to use the CRT facilities, before passing through a very shallow Stop Lock.  This marks the end of the Oxford Canal and the beginning of the Coventry Canal. Stop Locks were typically used to prevent competing canal companies from pinching each others water. 

Hawkesbury Junction

Whilst passing through Nuneaton we noticed we were a bit sluggish -  after many years of boating and picking a lot of different items on our prop, this was a first!!!!!👀

40DD?? 👀

 Yesterday we descended the  Atherton Flight of 11 Locks.  There were a few volunteers on duty which were a great help as it was really busy.   We noticed a lot of old working boats making their way to the historic boat gathering and  Festival which is being held this weekend at Alvecote Marina.

Alvecote Marina - historic boat gathering 

   

Long Itchington to Rugby

Following our last posting, we have ascended two flights of locks on the Grand Union, Stockton Locks and Calcutt. After turning onto the Oxford Canal at Napton Junction, we are now descending again.  The Hillmorton flight of 3 locks have a sign 'welcome to the busiest locks in the County'. The wifi signal and phone have not been very good for the last few days  - hence the late posting.

 

We were lucky as a kind volunteer helped us up the Stockton flight and we were up there in no time at all. 

The Oxford Canal is quite winding initially. As usual you meet boats on bends, bridges and locks!!.  We moored  near Bridge 103 taking a walk on the footpath which led us through some fields of corn to a small village called Flecknoe.

 Some of the fields have been harvested but others are still waiting.  It must be difficult for the farmers with the current unpredictable weather with a mixture of sunshine and downpours!! Harvesting reminds us that its the middle of August already, indeed reading lights now required in the evenings earlier and earlier.

Hillmorton

We  encountered our first queue of boats at  Hillmorton locks (Narrow Locks Again). There is a nice cafe and CRT facilities here.

Medieval ridge and furrow field patterns

North of Braunston you pass through ancient landscape where ridge and furrow field patterns are still evident.  These were created as villagers cleared the forested land and each cultivated their own  strip of land.

Newbold Tunnel

Yesterday, after stocking up at the large Tesco's in Rugby (moorings extremely busy in Rugby), we travelled through Newbold Tunnel which is only 250 yards long.  We had read that lights had been installed in 2005 to create a 'ring of light' on the tunnel wall to attract more people to use the canal - no sign of them now!      

Southam - Bascote Locks & Long Itchington

Over the last few days we have visited relatives for some birthday celebrations, moored at bridge 31. Later above Bascote Locks,  moored at Long Itchington.

Firstly a massive thank you to our family for looking after us during our time at Southam and for doing the laundry! - we had a lovely time. 
Andrea and Martin have met up with us for a few days and helped us ascend  Bascote Locks. 

Bascote Locks 

The final two locks on the flight are staircase locks where there is no pound between them and the water from the top one is used to fill the lower lock.  We were up there in no time and have now moored in Long Itchington.  There is a very useful Co-op here and plenty of pubs.     

War memorial - Long Itchington

We thought this war memorial was a wonderful tribute to the soldiers who lived in this area and sadly lost their lives serving their country.  The village held fundraising events to pay for the memorial which was unveiled in October 2018. 
We thoroughly enjoyed a BBQ hosted by Martin and Andrea who were staying at a nearby campsite - THANK YOU!  Nugget and Poppy enjoyed their sausage too   !!!

Nugget at the BBQ