We had plenty of sunshine today and even the grey clouds that very occasionally threatened to drop rain managed to hold off. The temperature was pleasantly mild.
We set off in good time from our overnight mooring amongst the reeds.
It was about an hour to the junction and the start of the Ashby Canal at Marsworth Junction. As we passed near to the edge of Bedworth we came along a narrow section overhung by plenty of vegetation. To one side there is a substantial estate of mobile homes. They all looked well cared for and, where possible, the gardens down to the water have been pleasantry cultivated.
We arrived at the junction and very slowly edged up to the bridge just before joining the Coventry Canal. It was fortunate that we were being cautious as another boat, coming from the right, had no lookout at the front and started to turn rather rapidly onto the Ashby. It looked a little put out that it had to stop and reverse back, They did not find that manoeuvre at all easy!
A little to the south, on the Coventry, we saw this apparent milestone 13. We have not seen any others like it on this canal and where the distance is measured from.
We had intended giving Charity Dock a miss photo-wise but we discovered that it is a rule that passing here is not allowed unless one includes a different picture of the strange characters. In fact, every time we pass we spot something different- including this time the carved cropped tree trunks.
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The former Navigation pub at Bulkington Bridge has now been converted to a large home. We commented on it in 2916 when Adam pointed out to us that it had been the pub. Now there is a For Sale sign outside and the agents are asking for offer over £1 million for it.
The next section was once lined by industrial developments, especially coal mining but today nature has reclaimed much of the space and it almost looks rural once more.
At Hawkesbury we paused just long enough to visit the sani station before continuing onwards towards Coventry itself. Most boats turn through the stop lock onto the North Oxford.
Shortly after the junction we passed under the M6 - the large number of pillars holding up the flyover look quite strange.
A little,later we saw this pub and, thinking that it might refer to some interesting part of the local history, we took a photo. However, we later found out that the pub was only given this name in 2010 and has had several other names in its history since opening in 1772.
We spotted a number of these information boards, each of which tells of the experience of a local person living close to the water of the canal.
At Little Heath there have been extensive housing developments on both sides of the canal - the site on the left of the photo was once a Courtaulds factory making textile fibres and chemicals, as well as cigarette filters. Up to 5000 people worked here in its heyday. The other side is just beginning its development.
Another large Courtaulds factory has been demolished to make way for housing - this time at Foleshill Foad. As we passed, the remaining trees beside the canal were being extensively culled and reduced to just a thin boundary beside the water. This factory produced rayon - some say suitably appropriate as the early industrial history of much of Coventry, including this area, was in the manufacture of ribbons.
Nearing the city centre we passed by the well known Cash's Hundred Homes. Cash's was started by two Quaker brothers who set about manufacturing quality silk ribbons in the 1840's. Although now very different it remains operating as quality textile company but its eponymous name ribbons, once familiar to many a school child whose parents ordered them to sew into school uniforms and sports gear!
In 1857 the brothers started a new site with enlightened ideas about working conditions. The weavers live in cottages on the ground floor with well lit jacquard looms on the upper floor. They gave these the name Topshop.
A large site just before the main canal basin was where electricity generation for the city was first undertaken in 1895. It used coal from nearby mines and the canals were important in providing the transportation. The electric power station has now closed and a number of the old buildings have been incorporated into a massive re-development along with plenty of newly built houses and apartment blocks.
We arrived at the canal basin hoping to be able to moor for the night. Alas, there are only about 5 or 6 spaces as half of the basin is now occupied by a hire base. There was no room! However, turned and went back under the entrance bridge to the moorings just the other side. Although part of the space is reserved for those using the water points we conclude that enough of the rings were outside this restriction for us to pull in.
Time then for a late lunch after which Mike attended to one or two small maintenance tasks including touching up the paintwork on the rear stern doors.
We walked into the shops for a paper which we readily found. To do this involved crossing the high footbridge over the inner ring road. It made Mike feel a little unsteady - on the way back he definitely did feel a slight wobble. It seems that this is actually a well know feature and some people have even tried to see how much movement they can induce!
We passed the old Grammar School, founded by Henry VIII using a building that started as a hospital in the mid 14C.
After wandering around the shopping centre - Mike bought a new gilet at M&S that Christine spotted last night on their web site - we had about an hour to visit the free Coventry Transport Museum. There is an amazing collection of old transport vehicles, from bicycles to cars and buses. It was well laid out and interesting although we did not really have enough time to do all of it justice. Here are just a few of the exhibits.
We did wonder if Trevanion House Holidays (our former business) might want to replace its fleet of minibuses with replica of this very early version!
12.2 Miles - 0 Locks
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