Long Itchington

Another beautiful late September morning gave way to slightly overcast, breezy afternoon on the Grand Union Canal but it is still very mild and we are enjoying a nice drop of ale at the Two Boats. We had a jolly morning sharing the locks with a hire boat with 9 burly men on board. They were a group of ex Round Tabler's and for the past 15 years had enjoyed a long weekend together on the canals. They were very organised with a couple of chaps doing all the cooking and the rest sharing driving and lock duties. They insisted on Jenny having a break from locks so we climbed the locks like royalty and left all the hard work to them! Thanks to Pete and his mates from the Millbrook Round Table from Rochdale. Braunston to get a drive plate for the engine tomorrow then back to Fenny and then home.

Back to Warwick

We arrived back to Saltisford Canal Centre at lunchtime today having descended the 21 locks on the Hatton Flight in just under 3 hours. We shared the locks with a hire boat which was a great help. Unlike our ascent the weather was glorious. A beautiful late September morning. Making our way slowly home. 'Strictly' tonight and we have TV via our satelite dish. Hooray!

Birmingham

It was with a little apprehension that we made our way through the warren of canals through Birmingham this morning.  We need not have had any worries.

We descended the first 13 locks through Brum with the help of Tony.  Yes, he is another cheerful, helpful CRT Volunteer who had traveled the system extensively during his time of narrowboating and was well aware of how arduous a flight can be with just two on board.  He prepared all the locks for us as we travelled through the waterways history of Birmingham.  It is fascinating to see the old alongside the new and we should be so thankful that the easy option was not taken during the city's transformation of simply filling in the canals and building on top as has happened in other parts of the country.  Some amazing 20th and 21st century  engineering nestle side by side with pioneering canal engineering of the 19th century.

Tony left us at lock 13 and we proceeded to the Ashtead flight - just 6 this time - through bridges and walls adorned with graffiti, some better than others but still with the feeling of the thousands upon thousands of boaters who had passed this way over the years.  It would have been a far more threatening place in the 19th and early 20th  century.  On a Wednesday morning it was very quiet and once again we descended uneventfully.

At the Junction with the Grand Union he sense of history is all around.  The Fellows, Morton and Clayton boats of yesteryear would have been moored all along this stretch waiting for loads to take to London. The noise and bustle of canal life would have been rather different from the tranquil passage we experienced today.

Three and a half hours after our departure from our overnight mooring we arrived at our 25th lock and stopped for a very well earned lunch.  We both enjoyed this part of our journey enormously and are looking forward to passing through this fascinating city again.

The old and the new!

Emerging from Newell Street Tunnel

New over old and CRT Volunteer Tony

Sid's day at Cadbury World

Sid was so excited to be visiting his idea of heaven. The day was a bit overcast but it was not a problem as we only had a 15 minute walk from the canal, where we had managed to moor in a locked secure Canal and River Trust mooring. Sadly, there were two other boats moored who had obviously been there for some time thus preventing anyone else taking advantage of the security the locked area gave us. We arrived 5 minutes before Cadbury World opened and Sid's anticipation grew by the minute. Then the doors opened and he was in! It was not long before we had been given some free samples, which Jenny popped straight in the backpack since it was only just after 10.00am and she thought it was too early for Sid to have his first chocolate fix! Our day was filled with laughter and lots of chocolate tasting. We were like a couple of kids and managed to bring a smile to all the staff, who were excellent. Since our last visit (approx 15 years ago) the whole experience has grown with lots of extra additions. We went for a most interesting walk around the village of Bourneville after. What inspirational characters the Cadbury family were. We could do with some more like them these days. A policy of taking care of their workforce, making sure they were housed in an environment with lots of green spaces, and generally treating them with respect. This in turn benefitted everyone. An excellent day out. We have now moved on to Birmingham and have had a whistle stop trip around the city this afternoon. The new Library is amazing! The areas around the canal are full of history and the old and the new sit along side each other quite comfortably. Heading south from here on in with lots and lots of locks on our route!!!!

Sid and Jenny!

Sid waiting for Cadbury World to open

The Rest House in Bourneville village

The Library of Birmingham

Hunters Moon moored near Gas Street Basin, Birmingham

Saturday Afternoon in the Pub!

We climbed the Lapworth flight this morning - only 20 locks - and stopped at Lapworth top lock for a well earned lunch - butternut squash with ginger and spices, inspired by the 'Spice Men' or was it the 'Hairy Bikers' on TV ( watch so many cookery programs it gets confusing. However, this particular soup was a winner! Now, where was I, Oh yes, our well earned lunch at top lock. Once again we had the help of a lovely CRT Volunteer. This time Fran cheerily helped us through the flight imparting tips on moorings and general info on the way. I think we have mentioned before that we are always so pleased to see these volunteers who make a welcome addition to what can sometimes be a real slog. There was also a party of volunteers painting the lock beams. They were cheerful and helpful and we can see no reason for them getting such bad press in some of the mags. We have nothing but praise for them. We traveled a short way on to Hockley Heath where we decided to call it a day and thought we would sample some local ale!!

Wootton Wawen

On our return to Stratford-upon-Avon we decided to head back up the Stratford Canal rathee than head on to the Avon and then up the Severn. The wind and rain have returned and although the rivers are ok at the moment both of these are prone to sudden rapid,rises (Tewsksbury this time last year was under several feet of water). So,back up the Stratford we go and yet again encounter lock 53! This is the only lock that has ever defeated Jenny. With the help of our stern line being tied to the metal beam we eventually got the gate closed. The lock then slowly filled - almost as much water leaked from the bottom gate as filled from the top gate! Some volunteer assistance would have been more than welcome at this flight that rises out of Stratford! Things improved from then on and we climbed the Wilmcote flight with the help of Howard and Alan,cheery CRT volunteers who made our ascent of the 11 lock flight a quick and painless experience. Thank you to you both. It is always a very pleasant sight to see some help and to share a small part of our journey with these willing folk. Wootton Wawen is a little village with a Craft Centre, Farm Shop, very pleasant Tea Room (where we are at present taking advantage of their WiFi) a village store, pub and the the oldest Saxon Sanctuary in Warwickshire. We have spent a lovely afternoon soaking up the history of this amazing Church. Our onward journey takes us through remote parts of the Warwickshire countryside so we are hopibg the rain stays off so we can enjoy it and Jenny can do some more blackberry picking to go with the windfall apple we have acquired!!!

Stratford-on-Avon

Well, we are back in contact with the world after days of no signals.  It is interesting that even to someone who resents the fact that life seems to exsist around technology, there is a real feeling of being cut of from everyone when we can't get an internet connection.  However, we are now sitting in a very pleasant pub in Stratford having arrived here this afternoon - in the rain!

Now, where were we?  Since our last communication we have visited Warwick which is a very interesting town, we have also done the castle and thanks to Tesco we got a very good deal.

We have ascended the Hatton flight with the help of Paul, one of the Canal and River Trust Volunteers.  He made, what could have been a very arduous flight of 21 locks (in the rain) quite an enjoyable and informative event.  He gave us some very useful tips and mooring advice and we left him at the top lock feeling as though we had made a good friend.  Thank you Paul!

Mooring in the middle of nowhere is lovely but very black at night.  It is also so nice to hear just the noises of nature all around you rather than planes, cars and trains etc.  Thanks again to Paul for pointing us in the direction of an idyllic mooring.

We have left the Grand Union behind us and have become accustomed, once again, to narrow locks of which we have descended, lots, on the Stratford Canal!  We have also crossed three aqueducts.  A small one then a bigger one, both of which Sid managed but for the last one Jenny had to take the helm and Sid disappeared below! She was a bundle of shakes at the end of it, but we did get across unscathed but with wobbly legs and a sigh of relief.  We may give the long one in Wales, whose name I can't spell (or say) a miss unless we can get someone to help us across!!!!!!!

The basin in Stratford is very busy and we managed to get the last 'proper' mooring.  If we hadn't wanted to leave the boat for a few days we would have ventured on to the Avon, where there are some beautiful mooring in the shadow of the RSC Theatre.

Home for a few days over the weekend then we are not sure which way we will head!
 

Royal Leamington Spa

Sorry, I omitted the 'Royal' yesterday!

Well, it had to change some time!  We woke to RAIN and lots of it.  Decided there was no reason to surface too early and we put off our shop at a brand new Morrisons until late morning hoping it might ease.  It didn't and Morrisons didn't have oatcakes either.  They are one of our favourite lunches!  Boo Hoo!  Maybe we have to get even further north before we enter oatcake country.

Leamington Spa in the rain is not the most inspiring town.  It does have a certain elegance and some beautiful flowers.  However, the Pump House that houses the museum, Library, Tourist Information and various exhibitions was a great find and they served excellent tea and teacakes - just perfect when you are damp and a bit downcast!

The rain prevented us from promenading in the Jephson Gardens, maybe next time, and after all the glorious weather we have enjoyed we shouldn't complain, but it was a shame.  Jenny did partake of the waters via a small drinking fountain outside the Pump House. Urgh!!!!!

We have managed to hop on to an internet signal where we are moored under dripping trees so no beer tonight and we don't have to get wet again.

Telly signal is better today so we will enjoy watching the final of Celebrity Masterchef (I hope Ade wins) and we are definitely hoping to get a good TV signal tomorrow night because Strictly kicks off! Hooray!  Sad aren't we?

Royal Pump Rooms

Flowers in the Rain!

More glorious flowers in Royal Leamington Spa

Autumn Cruise

It is lovely to be back on board and travelling again.  We are so lucky with the weather as well.  Almost as we left off in July except for the cooler, damper mornings and the nights have drawn in a lot.  Today we sweltered whilst descending the Stockton flight and our first staircase of locks at Bascote. Since our departure on Tuesday we have already come down over 30 locks and are now at the bottom!!!

Our spirits are high and we have enjoyed a couple of delightful evenings barbequeing on the towpath and watching the sun go down with a glass or two!

Tonight we have reached Leamington Spa and a pub - hence the blog update. We hope to explore the area tomorrow when rain is forecast and then move on to Warwick.

Blascote Staircase

Morning mist lifting over the Grand Union