It is a long time since our last post - yet again! We have travelled many miles and many of them taking us through contact less areas. It is amazing how many places don't even have mobile signals. We all take it so much for granted these days. No mobile means no data!
We are at present in Birstall a small village along the Soar. We have found this river beautiful-a smaller version of the upper reaches of the Thames.
We left you last time in Shardlow. From there we left the Trent and Mersey Canal and travelled a short way on the river Trent. This took us to the wide junction of the Trent, Soar and Erewash Canal. We planned to explore this canal despite being continually told about the big and heavy locks that have 'handcuffs'/ anti vandal devices on them for witch a special key is needed.
And so, first lock -Trent lock- big heavy locked gates. We managed them and continued with a bit of foreboding for the 14 locks ahead of us! We managed 2 more then decided to find a mooring. Having passed through Long Eaton earlier in the day we were a bit concerned about town moorings! Sandiacre was nearest so we continued and moorings were shown on our Pearsons guide. Despite seeing no other boats all day these were very full and looked dismal and right by the side of a busy road and unsavoury looking pub and it being Friday we were wary. We pressed on and after trying to moor outside the town where we were thwarted by shallow water. We pressed on further and event u ally found a pleasant spot just below Pasture Lock.
Saturday dawned and the weather looked beautiful but we were dreading the further 11 locks ahead when heading in our direction was another boat. Jenny smiled broadly as did the lady walking towards her. She too had been dreading the journey up the Erewash. A very pleasant, if hard working Saturday developed as Esio Trot and Hunters Moon ascended the locks. The sun shone and Jane and Ian became good companions. They keep their boat in Mercia Marina but live in Hampshire -small world!
We made it to Langley Mill which is the furthest we could go. Our welcome in the Great Northern Basin was warm and helpful. Norman, the chairman of the association that manages the basin, was there-we think a jungle telegraph told him two boats were on theit way up-and he filled us in on all the local facilities. The natives were very welcoming as well!
We had planned to head off on Sunday but Jane and Ian had planned to stay till Monday. In view of the task ahead of us we decided to stay till Monday as well and spent a lazy day and explored dome of the local area. Being ignorant we were unaware that D H Lawrence was born in the area so a short walk took us to his birthplace and Sid bought a broom handle!!! We then took the Broom handle for a beer!!
Monday dawned misty and we set off with Esio Trot down the locks. None of us knew how far we would get but good progress was made and we got back down to Trent lock in 7 hours ( we stopped for lunch as well). Progress down was much easier with every lock in our favour. It was a really pleasant journey with good company.
The following morning we parted company after enjoying a celebratory beer and meal in the Steamboat the previous evening. Somehow we know we will see Jane and Ian again. It was very misty as we waved farewell at Trent Lock.
Not knowing quite where the entry to the Soar was and the thick mist meant we decided to take on water and let the mist lift, which was a wise move because it was a bit tricky. The mist lifted and the beautiful River Soar opened up to us.
Leicester, Foxton and a get together with good friends , Sue and Pete lay ahead and hopefully a continuation of this beautiful Indian summer.
Wednesday 30 September 2015
Thursday 24 September 2015
Shardlow
Since our last post we have enjoyed a real mix of weather with some cold evenings and rain so the stove has worked it's magic and warmed us and dried us well.
From Fazeley Junction we continued up to Fradley Junction where the Coventry Canal meets the Trent and Mersey. En route we passed the Huddlesford Vintage Gathering. Sid was so engrossed with the beautifully turned out working boats and the sound of the vintage engines it was surprising he didn't bump into any. It was very tight in places. It was good to see so many people enjoying the sights and sounds of the gathering despite the grey day.
Fradley Junction is always buzzing a and it 21st good to have some cheerful volunteers to help us through the locks. We pressed on to Alrewas, pronounced ol-r-wus ( I think). We had been advised that there was a brilliant butchers in the village and we also wanted to visit the National Memorial Arboretum.
Having found the butchers, yes it was brilliant, we decided to walk the mile to the NMA. It was raining a little but we pressed on. Little did we know what a horrible walk it was going to be! The rain git worse and worse and the pavement disappeared so we ended up walking through the long grass on the verge of a very busy road! It was quite a well worn route and apparently the is a campaign to get the pedestrian route improved. It needs to be. Needless to say we were like a couple of drowned rats by the time we arrived. Thank goodness for our Rihanna waterproofs but we discovered we both need new walking boots! They leek ed badly!!!
The Arboretum covers a huge area and is a humbling and moving place. Neither of us were aware that so many service men and women had lost there lives since the end of WWII and it is a worthy of a much longer visit than we could give it.
We decided to get a cab back to the boat since there is no longer a bus service to the site. However, the company that the staff at the NMA gave us only had voice mail on their land line and mobile numbers and the other nearest cab company we found on an Internet search was in Tamworth! So, we walked! Yes, we got even wetter. Thank goodness for our central heating and stove! !!
When we reached Burton-on-Trent we just had to visit the National Brewery Centre. The tour was excellent as we're the beer samples.
Now at Shardlow, nearly at the end of the Trent and Mersey. We are going to explore the Erewash Canal before heading south towards Loughborough and Leicester on the Leicester Arm if the Grand union.
From Fazeley Junction we continued up to Fradley Junction where the Coventry Canal meets the Trent and Mersey. En route we passed the Huddlesford Vintage Gathering. Sid was so engrossed with the beautifully turned out working boats and the sound of the vintage engines it was surprising he didn't bump into any. It was very tight in places. It was good to see so many people enjoying the sights and sounds of the gathering despite the grey day.
Fradley Junction is always buzzing a and it 21st good to have some cheerful volunteers to help us through the locks. We pressed on to Alrewas, pronounced ol-r-wus ( I think). We had been advised that there was a brilliant butchers in the village and we also wanted to visit the National Memorial Arboretum.
Having found the butchers, yes it was brilliant, we decided to walk the mile to the NMA. It was raining a little but we pressed on. Little did we know what a horrible walk it was going to be! The rain git worse and worse and the pavement disappeared so we ended up walking through the long grass on the verge of a very busy road! It was quite a well worn route and apparently the is a campaign to get the pedestrian route improved. It needs to be. Needless to say we were like a couple of drowned rats by the time we arrived. Thank goodness for our Rihanna waterproofs but we discovered we both need new walking boots! They leek ed badly!!!
The Arboretum covers a huge area and is a humbling and moving place. Neither of us were aware that so many service men and women had lost there lives since the end of WWII and it is a worthy of a much longer visit than we could give it.
We decided to get a cab back to the boat since there is no longer a bus service to the site. However, the company that the staff at the NMA gave us only had voice mail on their land line and mobile numbers and the other nearest cab company we found on an Internet search was in Tamworth! So, we walked! Yes, we got even wetter. Thank goodness for our central heating and stove! !!
When we reached Burton-on-Trent we just had to visit the National Brewery Centre. The tour was excellent as we're the beer samples.
Now at Shardlow, nearly at the end of the Trent and Mersey. We are going to explore the Erewash Canal before heading south towards Loughborough and Leicester on the Leicester Arm if the Grand union.
Saturday 19 September 2015
Fazeley Junction
We arrived back on board this afternoon in beautiful September sunshine.
We had paid a visit home to go to a good friends funeral, which was a moving and beautiful celebration of his life.
We caught up with lots of family and friends that we hadn't seen for too long a time. And of course my dear old mum.
Whilst home we also had the opportunity to check that the grandchildren were still keeping their parents on their toes.
We now continue up the Coventry Canal to Farsley Junction then turn right onto the Trentham and Merseyside which will take us to Alrewas ( pronounced ol-ree-wess) from where we hope to visit the National Memorial Arboretum.
We had paid a visit home to go to a good friends funeral, which was a moving and beautiful celebration of his life.
We caught up with lots of family and friends that we hadn't seen for too long a time. And of course my dear old mum.
Whilst home we also had the opportunity to check that the grandchildren were still keeping their parents on their toes.
We now continue up the Coventry Canal to Farsley Junction then turn right onto the Trentham and Merseyside which will take us to Alrewas ( pronounced ol-ree-wess) from where we hope to visit the National Memorial Arboretum.
Sunday 13 September 2015
Atherstone
In a pub at last and in touch with the world again!
We have spent a fabulous 5 days on the Ashby Canal. Although the weather started very cold it improved and have enjoyed some warm sun and couple of BBQ on this little gem of a canal.
We also had a visit from good friends Dave and Val, who came to see us at Cheyney Wharf. From there we had a lovely walk with their dog, Dylan, which took us to see the site where Richard III met his death at the hands of Henry Tur at Bosworth Fields.
We had a great day in great weather. Perfect!
Arrived in Atherstone this afternoon and during our search for a good pub stumbled across Atherstone Motor Show in the market square. Had another spell of reminiscing at some beautifullying turned out cars.
We have spent a fabulous 5 days on the Ashby Canal. Although the weather started very cold it improved and have enjoyed some warm sun and couple of BBQ on this little gem of a canal.
We also had a visit from good friends Dave and Val, who came to see us at Cheyney Wharf. From there we had a lovely walk with their dog, Dylan, which took us to see the site where Richard III met his death at the hands of Henry Tur at Bosworth Fields.
We had a great day in great weather. Perfect!
Arrived in Atherstone this afternoon and during our search for a good pub stumbled across Atherstone Motor Show in the market square. Had another spell of reminiscing at some beautifullying turned out cars.
Monday 7 September 2015
Hilmorton, Rugby, Hawkesbury Junction and Coventry
On Friday we decided to moor up early because the wind g had picked up and we were both, yet again cold. A shirt walk down the Hilmorton locks and through the village warmed us a little but with rain threatening we headed back to the boat, having first stopped at the bus stop, where there was a convenient bench because we were aware that we could get an Internet signal at that spot. Only a very weak one but enough to get emails. Makes a change from finding a pub. The pub in the village was closed by the way.
After days with no locks we arrived at the 3 locks of the Hilmorton flight on a very chilly Saturday morning. A cheery CRT volunteer was on hand at the last of these duplicate locks. This is only the second time this season that we have seen a volunteer! They must be avoiding us!
During the morning the sun shone through and it did appear to warm up a little but the north wind meant keeping fleeces on. We arrived at a very busy Rugby and fortunately found a 57 foot space just waiting for Hunters Moon. Tesco shopping to replenish dwindling stocks was on the menu for Saturday afternoon followed by some blackberry picking. Jenny had it in her head that a blackberry and apple crumble would be nice on Sunday.
We had not been back at the boat long before there was a tap, tap on the hull. A very anxious looking chap carrying a folding bike was trying to find someone to mind the bike for him. Apparently his wife had had an accident and the ambulance was waiting to take her to hospital and the chap was moored on the opposite side of the canal and it would take him too long to walk around and over the bridge to put the bike on his boat. Of course we agreed and quickly found out which was his boat so we could take it round there in the morning if he wasn't back. At the time we knew no more.
We were just readying ourselves to leave Rugby on Sunday morning, having prepared a little card to leave with the bike when we returned it to Mistol when the poor man appeared. He looked washed out having spent the night in the hospital. The good news was that nothing was broken and his wife had been discharged with a pair of crutches. Not the easiest of thing to manage on a narrowboat. Apparently she had been returning from a swim at the leisure centre by bike and a motorist had opened his car door in her path and knocked her off the bike. The road was busy with traffic so it could have been very nasty. So, a word of warning to drivers - THINK BIKE!
Sunday then turned into a beautiful September day, the sun shone, the temperature rose and Sid and Jenny wore a smile. We arrived at Hawkesbury Junction and relaxed for a couple of hours in the sunshine whilst the roast pork cooked. The delicious roast dinner was followed by apple and bkackberry crumble with ice cream. The perfect end to a perfect day.
Another bright day dawned on Monday albeit rather chilly again and we ventured down the Coventry Arm to the Coventry Basin. Warm and sunny again. We wanted to visit the Cathedral and light a candle and pray for Terry a family friend who died last week. Whilst we were there a lovely lady approached us and we started to talk together. We shared our story and the reason for us being at the Cathedral and she then told us that she had had stage three cancer eight years ago and things looked very grim but here she was, now a Chaplain in the Cathedral. We lit our candles and prayed together and left that wonderful building feeling uplifted and blessed.
Sitting in the sunshine writing this rather long blog by the side of Hunters Moon. We have a connection!
I might even try some photos!
After days with no locks we arrived at the 3 locks of the Hilmorton flight on a very chilly Saturday morning. A cheery CRT volunteer was on hand at the last of these duplicate locks. This is only the second time this season that we have seen a volunteer! They must be avoiding us!
The old and the new at Hilmorton Locks
During the morning the sun shone through and it did appear to warm up a little but the north wind meant keeping fleeces on. We arrived at a very busy Rugby and fortunately found a 57 foot space just waiting for Hunters Moon. Tesco shopping to replenish dwindling stocks was on the menu for Saturday afternoon followed by some blackberry picking. Jenny had it in her head that a blackberry and apple crumble would be nice on Sunday.
We had not been back at the boat long before there was a tap, tap on the hull. A very anxious looking chap carrying a folding bike was trying to find someone to mind the bike for him. Apparently his wife had had an accident and the ambulance was waiting to take her to hospital and the chap was moored on the opposite side of the canal and it would take him too long to walk around and over the bridge to put the bike on his boat. Of course we agreed and quickly found out which was his boat so we could take it round there in the morning if he wasn't back. At the time we knew no more.
We were just readying ourselves to leave Rugby on Sunday morning, having prepared a little card to leave with the bike when we returned it to Mistol when the poor man appeared. He looked washed out having spent the night in the hospital. The good news was that nothing was broken and his wife had been discharged with a pair of crutches. Not the easiest of thing to manage on a narrowboat. Apparently she had been returning from a swim at the leisure centre by bike and a motorist had opened his car door in her path and knocked her off the bike. The road was busy with traffic so it could have been very nasty. So, a word of warning to drivers - THINK BIKE!
Sunday then turned into a beautiful September day, the sun shone, the temperature rose and Sid and Jenny wore a smile. We arrived at Hawkesbury Junction and relaxed for a couple of hours in the sunshine whilst the roast pork cooked. The delicious roast dinner was followed by apple and bkackberry crumble with ice cream. The perfect end to a perfect day.
Another bright day dawned on Monday albeit rather chilly again and we ventured down the Coventry Arm to the Coventry Basin. Warm and sunny again. We wanted to visit the Cathedral and light a candle and pray for Terry a family friend who died last week. Whilst we were there a lovely lady approached us and we started to talk together. We shared our story and the reason for us being at the Cathedral and she then told us that she had had stage three cancer eight years ago and things looked very grim but here she was, now a Chaplain in the Cathedral. We lit our candles and prayed together and left that wonderful building feeling uplifted and blessed.
Sitting in the sunshine writing this rather long blog by the side of Hunters Moon. We have a connection!
I might even try some photos!
Sunny morning in Rugby
James Brindley working on his Great Plan
with Hunters Moon in the Coventry Basin
'Cash's Hundreds'
Joseph Cash built these for his workerforce.
Ground floor and 1st floor as a dwelling and the top floor for the weaving looms. However, only 48 of the 100 got built!
Thursday 3 September 2015
Braunston
Well, what can I say?! Cold and wet but on the plus it is not windy.
As I said in my previous post the cold air is coming from the north so the fire has been lit each evening and the central heating is in use.
We have enjoyed a couple of very tranquil evenings with beautiful views across the Warwickshire countryside, albeit watching through the rain.
We arrived in Braunston this afternoon and after Sid fixed some lighting issues and Jenny posting a couple of cards the rain started so we decided to stay put.
It is slow progress but we are not in a hurry!
As I said in my previous post the cold air is coming from the north so the fire has been lit each evening and the central heating is in use.
We have enjoyed a couple of very tranquil evenings with beautiful views across the Warwickshire countryside, albeit watching through the rain.
We arrived in Braunston this afternoon and after Sid fixed some lighting issues and Jenny posting a couple of cards the rain started so we decided to stay put.
It is slow progress but we are not in a hurry!
Hunters Moon moored at Braunston
Harvest time
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