A bright and sunny day although when we set off, the air was rather chilly but balanced by warm sunshine.
Shortly after leaving our mooring we passed under Ansty Village Bridge and then had this view back to the church spire, across the intervening fields. We have not spotted this before and it was really only after studying the map for a church for Sunday that we knew about this one - but as far as we could discover it did not have a service that week. In the end we stopped at Brinklow which was a more realistic target for Saturday.
Just after passing under the M69, comes the rather older Bridge 13 although, as the inscription on the arch indicates, it was a 20C replacement for what was there earlier. Not sure why the highway authority was responsible for it as the 1944 OS map does not show Noonhill Farm connected by road - there is now a proper track that passes under the motorway and joins onto Grove Road, alongside the No Mooring embankment. As an aside - we were amused to see a poster in one of those houses campaigning to keep Ansty Green Belt. Those houses and the road serving them are not to be seen on the 1944 map and so were themselves in living memory built over green spaces!
A little before Hawkesbury these two splendid vehicles can be seen. Not sure what the connection between them is!
The area around Hawkesbury was once dominated by mines and quarries - this waste area looks rather splendid now, reclaimed by nature and covered by a variety of autumnal colours.
When we arrived at Sutton Stop it did not seem too busy, at least in our direction, so we stopped at the water point just before the lock (there are several more just around onto the Coventry). However, as we were filling - our tank was rather low - a queue of at least four boats built up but we were on the opposite side to the lock landing. Christine went to the lock to see how matters were progressing - most of the boats were inexperienced hire boats and she was able to negotiate that we slotted in after the next boat to go through.
She was also approached by a woman from one of the later boats who was rather nervous as this was their first lock after leaving Clifton Hire Base, armed only with a piece of paper that tried to explain lock working to them. The real thing looks very different from the diagrams - not least because they were drawn in section which, of course, cannot be seen from the lockside! Although a shallow stop lock is not the best place to explain the finer points, at least the new boater was a little more informed for when her turn would come!
The former toll office was open today as a Welcome Centre, no doubt staffed by CaRT reps trying to recruit more Friends.
After a brief stop for the sani station we continued northwards along the Coventry Canal. Another look at Charity Dock as we passed and this sign caught our eye. According to a website this is an old sign dating from when the local county council was called Yorks and West Riding. That was replaced by reorganisation in 1974.
Just after passing the entrance to the Ashby Canal at Marsworth we stopped for a lunch break. before leaving Mike walked to a nearby small shop that, at least on Google Street View, called itself a newsagent. Mike was quite pleased that he was able to pick up their only copy of our newspaper as well as a lettuce - but no tomatoes.
It was only later that Mike's delight was punctured when - having set off once more - Christine took a look and spotted something not quite right about the paper!
As we came around Nuneaton - the canal follows the outskirts of the town whose centre is a mile distant from the canal - we began to think that this must be the Allotment Capital. We saw at least four sets of plots right alongside the canal.
OK - this photo (again) just because we can!
Shortly before Springwood Haven Marina we found a pleasant rural spot for a mooring, with good piled edging and hopefully a tv signal. Although the temperature was falling quickly, it was a bright and splendid evening.
The busy main railway line is not far away but inside the boat we could not hear it. This photo was meant to show a passing train but somewhat failed in that respect - yes, it really is there in the background. But we included it here entirely for decorative purposes! And to act as a reminder always to check the viewfinder and not just take what you think you can see . . .
10.6 Miles - 1 Lock
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