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Although we were all but ready to pack the car for departure last evening, it still took us until 12:30+ before we got away. Late in the morning we were asked to move our boat onto the pontoon we had by then been allocated. Took a little longer than usual to tie up firmly as the rings on the pontoon were not well placed for our length! (At this marina the pontoons are double length and we are on the outer end) We had hopes that we would have left before the marina had worked out where we were to go - they promised us on Friday that if that happened then a harbourmaster would move the boat for us, but we were too slow in getting away!

We had to fool Android Auto to give us a route that avoided Stow. From past experience, that road is especially frustrating at this time of year and even on standard timings only offers about two minutes advantage.

Instead, we routed to Oxford but called at a Warwick Services for some sandwiches - we had failed to keep back enough ingredients to make them ourselves before leaving. The service station was very busy and Christine found it a bit frustrating with empty spaces in many of the slots for the sandwiches she wanted!

Whilst Christine was foraging, Mike reset the satnav to take us the familiar route on the A34 towards Newbury and then along the A4 via Hungerford and Marlborough. We were home just after half past three.

Our planning now is open ended - we can be reasonably sure that any section of the network that is closed for water shortage will not re-open this month with the prospect of much longer. It may be a slight exaggeration, by CaRT have said that at least three weeks of continuous rain will be needed to replenish the canals and the reservoirs to a point at which re-opening will be considered.

Of course, there are still many miles still available but we will probably err on the precautionary side to avoid being trapped away from Cropredy when it becomes available for us to return for the winter. We have booked for at least three weeks at Brinklow and other diary entries will be made on that basis.

Preparing for departure tomorrow

About four o'clock in the morning, Mike awoke (usual trip to the loo!) but noticed that, as well as a completely clear sky, there was a full moon. No doubt with better preparation the photo would be improved but . . . 

This morning we went to church in Brinklow - there are several village churches at much the same distance as Brinklow (the marina is not actually in Brinklow parish) but we opted for St John's Church mainly as we went there before in 2018. not long after we had acquired Alchemy. At least we could drive there this time.

It was a lay-led service and the leaders were a little disappointed in the numbers. Including us there were 14 of us, normally a bit more and often with young children - but of course it is school holiday time.

Overall the atmosphere was very welcoming and the roles included as many members as possible, including two young students who are about to go off to university (medicine and drama). Everything felt very genuine but unpretentious.

Over coffee were were told about the display of poppies and memorials in the grounds around Brinklow castle, next to the church, as part of VE 80th Anniversary events in the village.

The silhouette statues are all very much the same - but this seems to make a poignant point that in war, individual tragedies become merged into one. Nevertheless, each represented a specific villager that lost their life in conflict and a short summary of their personal story is shown alongside.

In the background is the display of poppies (that looks inspired by the famous one at the Tower Of London) but here they are mostly knitted, a few fashioned from fabric. Members of the congregation have added strings of doves, which also decorate the church inside.

When we returned to the marina another boat unable to get to their home mooring had come in and tied up behind us. They have been at Crick (another Aquavista marina) for the past 23 years so, like us, they are refugees here until after a good bit of rain falls and restores navigable levels. They mentioned that they needed to collect their car from that marina and as it is only half an hour drive away, we took them over this afternoon.

The boat electrician resident here came for an initial chat earlier than expected and we went through all the gory details of our history with batteries! (even the short version is complicated . . .) Whilst he has not had to troubleshoot a Mastervolt system before (the equipment seems to be very reliable and so not many boaters need work doing on them after the initial installation) he will make enquiries and see if any of his contacts can help. Yes, we can just replace as we have done before but this time they have started to a fail after only a year which is really not good) so if possible we would like to take this enforced delay to see what can be found, even perhaps a cause.

After the trip to Crick (just a hour in total) Mike took up room on one of the many outdoor seats around the marina and comfortably spent the better part of two hours just sitting, reading, dozing and internet browsing in the rather warm sunshine - rather different from the past three weeks. (Meanwhile Christine finished off her cleaning routine and then also read)

The sky was almost entirely clear and bright blue but at one point Mike looked up and noticed a very singular cloud.

Of course, the daffodils have long since come and gone for this year but although the poor cloud kicks off Wordsworth's perhaps most famous poem, the cloud is soon overlooked by the almost equally transient but more picturesque flowers. If only the clouds had behaved themselves properly this year and remembered to bring the rain they are supposed to deliver, things might be different. Still, this one definitely looks lonely - like many a single boater - so for both, let's spare a quick thought. 

Cleaning, Laundry and Maintenance Day

We had allowed ourselves today, partly as a spare in case we fell behind with our trip plan, but also so that we could possibly catch up on one or two chores which never seem to be fitted in when on the move.

First task for Mike was to re-attach the fuel cap: last time we filled up, at Sawley, the cap had come detached from the chain that secures it in case it is dropped when off the tank. We tried to mend it then, with the help of a piece of wire gifted by Black Swan, but the small piece of metal that actually holds the end of the chain had deteriorated beyond use. This is not a problem when the cap is in place.

We did later find an old cap (not sure how we came by it!) and planned to cannibalise it for the holder. Today we did just than and in the end it did not take too long, even though the retaining bolts were not the same size! Indicated is the offending tiny piece of metal. The idea is that the cap can rotate without twisting the chain. 

After coffee, the next task was the bathroom washbasin plug which, for several weeks, has not been retaining water. We did ask Black Swan to look at it when doing the other tasks but not a lot changed. So, it was over to the fount of all wisdom, Google, where we did found a very useful video on how to replace this type of click-clack plug. Unfortunately the one thing we did not find out was what can lead to this kind of failure. 

The way to operate the plug is to push to close and push again to open.  But it is obvious that the seal is not made by the top disc. Not until this morning did Mike work out the answer (probably!) but also what the chap at Black Swan meant when he said he had fitted a new o-ring but not the right size. It was never going to work!

Looking Google Maps we spotted City Plumbing on the edge of Rugby, about 12 mins drive away. When he arrived at the service desk, Mike immediately professed his total lack of knowledge, so please help! The chap was most obliging but said that they do not stock parts, only a complete replacement. Gulp, but at £18 inc VAT it is obvious why they do not stock parts.

He also explained fully the process of replacement. Ideally, it needs a particular type of spanner for basin fittings. (To tighten the black part at the bottom of the long threaded part) They did not have one in stock so directed Mike to a nearby Tool Station. They too were very helpful but only had smaller sizes in stock. Try Screwfix (they were opposite City Plumbing) Again, exactly the same story but try Wickes. This store is different in that customers browse the whole shop rather than have the requested item brought from shelves  behind the front desk. Nothing apparent - they did have tap sized ones but not basin ones . . . Well, we do have a large Stilson wrench, perhaps we might use that and it may not need much more than finger tightness anyway.

Back at the boat, Mike took a good look at what he had bought and found that it was the same design as the original and he could unscrew the top from the new unit (which does have a seal at the bottom of it)  and fit it instead of the old one. Yes, it fitted! Time for the consumer test - does it hold water? (as it were, sorry for the pun) remarkably, for the second time YES.

Meanwhile, Christine had made a start on cleaning and laundry - one load of washing complete and now for a second one. She also discovered that the marina have large dryers - £4 a go, that would take both wash loads at the same time - but she needed Mike to be the pack horse and carry the large bag across to the service block. The laundry is coinless - either an app (especially for permanent moorers here) or a contactless device on the wall. 

Time now for lunch and then back to collect the well-dried laundry. It was also bed change day, the previous set of sheets having gone in to the wash.

Christine had been pressing for at some window cleaning. Mike was reluctant (not just because he's idle) after seeing how dusty the care windscreen was following a week's stay here since the car shuffle. However, he did admit that by far the worst were the top hopper panes which at least are removeable from the inside. When left unclosed for some time they do come to resemble an insect graveyard! So he cleaned them.

Meanwhile, Christine completed the clean of the front half of the boat - the rear section is best left until tomorrow or even first thing on Monday just before we leave.

Brinklow Marina

Today's Canal : Oxford

A much warmer and generally sunny day with clear blue skies for the morning. By the afternoon, the temperature was definitely on the up side with the result that the sky was now quite hazy.

After we had our breakfast and completed all the usual preparations for departure, we looked at our main cabin lock and saw that it was only 8:40. So, Christine encouraged Mike to take a look at the closed service block. The roof has warped and the general repair of the eaves is not good. It seems that there are other structural issues inside that raised the concerns leading to its current closure. It has been a problem for CaRT for a while - the refuse disposal facility in the building was replaced by a separate enclosure (last year?) and we have felt for some time that the whole site has been under-maintained and looking rather sad inside and out. There has been no real place for boats to pull in as the previous spot has now been designated for work boats. At this time, there is no indication of what will happen here for the future.

As Mike was walking back to the boat he realised that the time was now 9:40 - surely it could not have taken him an hour to walk this short distance? We he arrived back he was greeted by Christine telling him that the clock had stopped! It had been OK at 7 am so the battery had only just run out. We do keep spares on board!

The run from here to the Marina is quite familiar and although mostly scenic we did not spot much new that we have not noticed on previous passages. So mostly we will show you pretty pictures with plenty of blue sky!

Perhaps we can also report watching the new short video from CaRT with three experts discussing the present water situation and the problems  around that. With more of the canal being closed even today, the prospect for boating in the rest of the year is rather bleak. Certainly we saw far more moving boats today than for a long time - this is one of the parts of the network that is still fully accessible. A tad frustrating that we ended up behind extremely cautious and very slow moving boats on two long stretches. They were so slow that we frequently had to slip into neutral and still were catching them up!

Being cautious when learning how to steer is one thing, stopping mid-stream to feed the swans and cygnets is quite another!

We have must have mentioned the Wyken Arm before, now a long established narrow mooing for the Coventry Cruising Club. It originally gave access to an important colliery,

The towpath alignment just before Bridge 9 is noticeably strange.

A little easier to see from a distance. This is the result of one of the straightenings that considerably shortened Brindley's original contour canal. His line came on a loop to the left of the picture but directly in line with the towpath just under the bridge.

Ansty Golf Course lies partly to the south and partly to the north of the canal. Players walk this path to go under the canal. It is possible that, again, this was the original line of the canal.

Stretton Stop (once a gauging stop) was snarled up with a traffic jam today. Several slow and hesitant steerers added to the delay - as we arrived one boat was going through in our direction just after waiting for two to come the other way, one of which was obviously very frustarted with the one in front of it, unsportingly sounding its horn several times. As there are moored boats on both sides there was not a lot that the leading boat could do to let anyone pass. When it was our turn, several boats were waiting on the other side and one that was not sure what to do ended up in the wrong position so graciously waved us through whilst they sorted themselves out. We wondered how many of the people aboard had come on a canal holiday to escape the traffic!

A few of the early cast iron towpath bridges have been retained where the canal once meandered away. This loop was part of the canal that originally served the village of Brinklow. We wondered what consternation there was when their service was withdrawn - just like some villages when a new bypass takes away 99% of their trade! The next one marks the entrance to the marina where we were headed,as

Yes, the towpath around the site of a slippage is still closed, pending slow, tortuous negotiations about access to repair it. 

The site was made safe and the canal navigable but the towpath remains unsafe.

We stopped for lunch on the Old Oaks mooring that is normally very popular and spaces at a premium. As we arrived at the start we could see that there were several gaps further on but we were unsure whether we would fit in so we did the brave thing and stopped right at the start where two thirds of our boat could rest against armco but we did need a pin for the stern line. This photo was just after we set off again and, yes, the gaps would have accommodated us and we were back just around the corner, just out  of sight from here.

Only a few minutes later (behind yet another very slow boat!) we arrived at the entrance to Brinklow Marina and turned sharply in. The first hundred metres were once the start of yet another loop, mostly now dried up. We, and another short term arrival a bit later, were asked to stay on the visitor moorings until after the weekend (we are leaving on Monday to return home) We do have an electricity bollard and parking alongside!

Our batteries are again causing a little concern and we managed to contact a local boat electrician who happens to live in the marina - he will come and suss out the situation, hopefully, on Sunday afternoon. No-one really believes that having a boat is a cheap way of life!

9.2 Miles - 0 Locks

Hawkesbury Junction

Today's Canals : Coventry, Oxford

Cool and cloudy for most of the day. The weather does seem to be stuck in a rut at the moment. Just after we set off we passed Ruby's Yard, a Community Interest project set up by a group of local led and inspired by a nearby resident Ruby Chambers. The site has had a chequered history - for a long time it was thought to be common land, usable by local residents. Somehow it became formally under the ownership British Waterways who left it without purpose for some time. Then, in 2001, they leased it out for use as a boatyard and a small slipway constructed. This use was bitterly fought by the residents. The boatyard collapsed as a business before too long and the site again became derelict.

Ruby Chambers lived on the road leading to the boatyard and was heavily involved in community affairs in Atherstone. In 2010 she was elected as town mayor. In 2004 she started to negotiate with BWB who eventually sold the site to her to prevent further commercial uses - it was claimed that heavy lorries did damage to the residents' road.

Ruby died in 2012 and left the boatyard to her daughter. She established a Community Interest Company along with other local people with the aim of creating a recreational space especially for local and young people. They have gradually developed the facilities - this marquee space seems to be one of the latest additions. (see here for more information)

Near Mancetter there is a small Alpaca farm that we have noticed many times in the past. Earlier in the year we could not see any of the animals so wondered what had happened to them. Today, as we approached, still no alpacas in the enclosures where we had previously seen them. Then, as we passed further along, there was a large herd of them! The family also do joinery work for canal boats (see)

We planned to stop at Hartshill Maintenance Depot to fill up with water but another boat was only just starting so we carried on, now aiming to fill at Hawkesbury.

This substantial wharf was once the end of a tramway that brought product from the nearby Hartshill Quarry to be loaded onto boats. The quarry had been in operation for over a century when it ceased working in mid 1990s, eventually being sold to the present owners in mid 2010s. Since then it has re-started work and planning application was made in 2022 to regularise the operations that had been going on for many years. A photo can be seen that shows what the quarry looked like in 1911.

An obligatory photo is missing (*see end)

Tuttle Hill offside leisure moorings is a long stretch but with almost no users. A lonely boat remains there but with no registration  number of licence displayed it is perhaps abandoned. The site is clearly regularly mowed and the description makes it clear that the mooring is pretty basic and not easy to access. The site is said to have No Moorings available so perhaps is perhaps being considered for closure.

We stopped for lunch just before Marston Junction.

Afterwards we carried on. Where else but Charity Dock?!

From mid afternoon we started to see some sunshine but it was sometimes a bit elusive, so you will just have to take one of the few photos with blue sky!

We stopped at one of the two water points just before the junction. The pressure seemed a little better than on occasions in the past. Christine took some rubbish to the disposal point and took a look at the service block that has recently been condemned. She reports that it most definitely looks rather dangerous.

After the tank was full we came around the sharp bend into the junction and to Sutton Stop Lock. We moored immediately beyond this despite it not being the best of moorings - pins even in a popular spot. We really did not want to have to look further as the top end of the Oxford is notorious for a lack of good mooring opportunities. At some stage the towpath bank was strengthened with sloping slabs of stone which prevent boats from coming near to the edge but to rub all night on the hard surface.

* OK, so we recognise that some of you might be upset at the lack of the obligatory photo so here is just a snippet to calm you down! We know that you know where it is.

11.4 Miles - 1 Lock

Above Atherstone

Today's Canal : Coventry

A rather shorter day in cruising terms but for the most part suddenly back into sunshine. Although we were moored quite close to the main railway line we were not disturbed. It runs on the right of the picture and, if you have a suitable magnifying glass, you might see one of the electric gantries above our stern.

Lock 6 would not open until 10 so we put off leaving from the mooring until 9.45, with Lock 7 to complete first. We mentioned yesterday how low some of the shorter pounds had been - here is the bywash for Lock 8 with the level (the top of the bricks) some way from full. Surprisingly, we have had some reports in the past two or three days of how full it is on the Coventry (and of course the Ashby) from above Atherstone, especially the section from Hawkesbury into Coventry. However, we did not have any grounding problems overnight - we left the lines slack just in case.

On then to Lock 7. At one time this flight had side ponds at each lock top help save water. We can recall using some of them but all are now out of action. They would have come in handy at the moment!

We moored, as we often do, in the longer pound between Locks 6 and 5 which is the nearest walking route to the supermarkets and town shops. Apart from bread from a specialist shop, we found everything else at the large Tesco. Our new trolley was certainly put to the test as we had a good number of heavier items, such as two larger bottles of milk and a cartoon of longlife.

Back at the boat well before midday we quickly stowed our new supplies and Mike walked up to Lock 5 to open the gates, leaving Christine to bring the boat up. We could see that the lock was still empty after a recent boat going down) Just before arriving there Mike could see that someone had just started to fill the lock - see the small amount of leakage through the middle. The boater coming down stated that he did not see us coming and that he could not be expected to look down the canal to see what might be arriving. You might think that water was in such plentiful supply that the THRIFT code does not apply . . . We eventually completed the lock about 30 minutes later! 

There were several volunteer lock keepers around but two at this lock were more interested in painting the balance beams than helping boaters! But that is what volunteers can do!

We had help at the top lock and paused to empty the elsan. No really due but we have seen a report that the facility at Hawkesbury is out of action as the roof of the building is deemed unsafe. There is no further facility until after Brinklow Marina.

An oncoming boater at Lock 2 had told us about a police incident in the section between the two bridges above the flight. We were allowed to pass trough but to moor beyond - coincidentally in the same spot as on the way down. We did not think it wise to be seen to be taking photos of a potential crime scene but the PC guarding the towpath at one end just crept into a picture of the bridge! By this time only two PCs were left on scene and what we had been told was quite a crowd of detectives had decamped back to the station.

By the time we had a late lunch (including bread and pork pie from the bakery) we decided that there was no time necessity to move on and we could have a restful afternoon. Just a few microseconds of snooze!

1.3 Miles - 7 Locks

Atherstone

Today's Canal : Coventry

We are having to plan a little more carefully than usual for a few days as the water shortage has led to the top half of Atherstone only being open 10 - 2. The bottom five locks remain open at all times.

As a result, we set off just after 9. We moored overnight between two busy road bridges - you may just be able to see the one behind us and the one in front, the main A5, equidistant but out of sight (behind the camera)

We had a fairly short run to Fazeley Junction, where a later canal branches off to go straight to the centre of Birmingham (closed at Curdworth and Minworth currently - water shortage, of course!). We continued on the Coventry but we ought not dwell too long on our steering at this point. Christine claims that as we approached the junction bridge, Mike was too distracted by wanting to take a photo whilst Mike points out that there was, very unusually, a large projection at water level from the offside under the bridge, at least as large as that for the towpath opposite. In any event, we did not do well!

Shortly after we passed over the River Tame. By now the promised sunshine had arrived but in came and went throughout the day. So also did the wind, we wondered if this was the edge or the remnant of storm Floris which mainly battered the northern part of the UK in the last couple of days.

A little before Glascote, a boat pulled out in front of us so we had to follow them up the two locks. This was extra fortunate for them as when Christine asked here they were headed they replied "Leicester". But surely you are going the wrong way said Christine in reply - "You do know that the Leicester Branch is closed from Watford to Leicester?" It seems that they did not and as they had a fitting for a new boat cover booked they opted to turn around as they now have just enough time to get there in time - they did not want to lose their booking slot.

Overall, we had not lost too much time when we emerged from the upper lock.

Alvecote Marina is home to a goodly collection of historic boats so this time we thought we might try and identify a few and look for their history. This is Bream which started life as a full length working boat, built in 1949 for the British Transport Commission (just after nationalisation) to the same design as several for Fellows, Morton & Clayton. It was eventually chopped into two. The shorter, rear part was joined to part of a BCN day boat and used as a hire boat.

Nuneaton was built in 1936 by Yarwoods for the GUCCC. It was bought by the Narrow Boat Trust in the 1970's and since then has been paired with a butty, Brighton, alongside it is this photo. For a while the latter was used as a camping hire boat and then did some gravel carrying on the Soar near Thurmaston.

Ceres was built by Harland and Woolf in 1935 for the GUCCC and later the Manchester Ship Canal where it operated as a tug. Lupus dates from 1936 and also built by Yarwoods. It spent much of its time on the Bridgewater Canal. It only became paired with its current mate in the last few years.

Atlantic No 3 was possibly built for Stewarts and Lloyds in the 1940's although the National Historic Ships website tells a slightly different story. In any event, it seems that it largely worked in the Walsall area of the BCN.

We pass on: Pooley Hall Colliery was part of the once substantial coal mining activity in this area. This short set of private moorings was once a loading arm or basin, open only at one end. It has now been opened out so that boats can access either end - they are keen to tell us that not only is this not CaRT water but that it is also full of silt. So how do boats get in or out?

After the colliery closed, a large area was established as a country park. Large flags announced their tempting ice creams for sale at the canal-side tea room. We await with bated breath the coincidence of them being open and us being here at the right time of day so that we can put the products to the test. We are not unwilling!

Under Bridge 53 in Polesworth are some plaques engraved with what we assume to be extracts from a poem. The first begins "Power. Primaeval power, the forest comes, stretching, reaching for sun and sky" We have not been able to find any info on the source or author but wonder if it might have been inspired by Longfellow's poem Evangeline which begins "This is the forest primeval". 

Just after leaving the village we could see this obelisk on Hoo Hill in the distance (hence the heavily zoomed photo). It is said that it marks the site of a chapel dedicated to St Leonard. A picture of the view that spot can be found here.

We have passed Grendon Dock many times but this year little seems to be happening although there is a boat inside. With the mass of weed now sitting above the stop planks, we are not sure how it might be allowed to escape, even if it wanted to.

Just a few minutes away from the Atherstone flight we pulled in to have lunch. Afterwards we moved on to the services at Bradley Green: we were lucky as a boat that had passed us earlier was just finishing filling with water and we could follow them immediately. The tap has a very good pressure and filled the tank even before the other usual tasks were finished! As we set off, a boat coming down from the locks also wanted to pull in, so another immediate swap.

Several boats had recently come down and the locks were all empty. This gave Christine an opportunity to chance her arm again.

The locks are closed at the top of the flight at 3 o'clock and perhaps because of this, with several boats still in the flight, the shorter pounds were now alarmingly low. We drifted over the cills with extreme caution! (If a boat does catch on the cill it is important to be able to reverse immediately to avoid a sinking, especially at the top end) The closure is supposed to start at Lock 6 but the pound between it and the one below is rather short so we opted to stop in the longer pound below Lock 7 where our guide indicates mooring is possible. It was and there was plenty of space. It was just a tad too far to walk to the shops but we will have time to do that in the morning. The locks do not open until 10 and we have until 3 to exit! We can hope that, as on the way down a few weeks ago, there will be a plentiful supply of volunteer lock keepers to compensate for the lack of water supply.

Later, Christine went to forage for fruits for her breakfast in the morning and returned with a goodly handful of small plums and bigger damsons.

10 Miles - 6 Locks