Hawkesbury

Today's Canal : Coventry

The early mist was, if anything, even thicker than yesterday but it burnt off almost as soon as we started to move.

Before we reached the bridges below the first lock - looking backwards this is the main line railway - we were in bright sunshine and blue skies. It remained absolutely delightful until sunset.

The first lock was No 7 as we had competed the first four yesterday. Unfortunately a boat had not long passed us on the way up so we were faced with having to empty all of them before being able to open the bottom gates. Would there be any volunteers lockies and if so how far down would they venture! Although these locks are not difficult, the annoying (don't know why it generates this reaction) feature is that they take very much longer to fill than to empty - at least twice if not three times.

There were actually four lockies on today and we met the first - a trainee but very good - at Lock 5. We then had help  through to the top, different ones in the team as we proceeded upwards.

There were two on the top lock - perhaps one is needed to keep the score that they chalk up on a board beside the lock. With us it was 2 up and 2 down, compared with 8 and 10 yesterday but there was time to catch up, Judging by the number we passed, they should make it by the end of play.

We still had a way to go before we cleared the edge of Atherstone - plenty of people enjoying their gardens in sunshine - though why this trio were wrapped up in such warm clothes we do not know!

Oak Tree Farm keep alpacas as a business alongside doling bespoke boat joinery. Which side pays the bills, we wondered?

Rothen are one of the major contractors to CaRT for engineering work on the canals and the have been steadily developing this site at Mancetter. Most of the craft sitting here seem to be designed for a different purpose. Doubled up, they do take up quite a bit of the canal.

However, as we came around the corner we had to stoop quickly when we spotted a couple of boats across the canal. By the time we drifted up to them they had easily moved out of our way. They explained that they were constructing the long line of moorings for their work boats.

Christine was keen to look put for a bag or two of solid fuel as we have little left. If the weather continues for the next two days as it has been today and yesterday we will not need it until the next trip. So, when Mike spotted a fuel boat as we approached Hartshill, he pulled alongside only for Christine to spot a CLOSED sign. In addition we could see that the hold was empty. We later discovered that Bargus is currently not trading, alas.

Hartshill Maintenance Yard was originally the main repair centre for the Coventry Canal Company. NOt sure how much it is used now but it looked resplendent in the bright midday sunshine and a backdrop of blue sky.

Between bridges 29 and 30 is what seems to be the remains of a former loading wharf. Indeed, OS maps from the start of the 20C show that there was a tramway linking Hartshill Quarries with both a wharf here and also the main line just to the north of the canal. remains of the two bridge abutments can also just be seen, albeit now very overgrown.

We used Springwood Haven Marina for a temporary stopover back with Take Five.At that time there was also an enthusiastic and well respected business specialising in boat electrics, notably Victron equipment, but that has now gone. Recently the marina was sold to the ABC Group who seem to be focussing entirely on their core marina business. It does not look as if they yet base any hire boats here other than a single electric day boat for hire.

Some significant quarries once operated on the land just to the west of the canal. Vegetation has not all but hidden the view from the canal - we did not even spot Mount Judd (so called) which is a large hill, the result of piling up all the spoil left over from quarrying. There are the remains of several bridges that once connected into the quarry, rail and road but when we have  come here in the past they all seemed disused, even derelict. So it was startling to here, just we went under one bridge, the rattling sound of a large lorry overhead. A little later another also passed overhead. We subsequently discovered that when the quarry ceased operation Warwickshire County Council purchased the 'hole' which became the county's largest landfill operation. This too ended in 2009 but is now an important recycling centre and the local authority seeks to minimise the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

We paused for lunch alongside The Dumbles, a small but apparently popular open space between the canal and the railway.

Moving on we passed Boot Wharf, still in operation even after much of its land was sold for housing. 

Our original schedule listed for tonight a stop close to Marston Junction, the start of the Ashby Canal. However, the estimated time to arrive at our destination, Brinklow Marina, was quite near to their closing time so we now set our target to reach Hawkesbury for tonight. The canal between Nuneaton and Marston is very green, sometimes hiding industrial activity behind the trees and shrubs.

Charity Dock is still as eccentric as ever, even if perhaps a little less chaotic. Although the tableaux still keep changing they felt a little jaded and maybe lacking new inspiration? Let's hope they keep entertaining passing  boaters - they are, after all, a memorable landmark on this canal. As we have recorded, others have followed their lead but still not on the same scale.

We opted to stop for the night just before the junction where we could enjoy the last of the afternoon sunshine. Once we had spotted a good stretch of Armco mooring we did not want to tempt fate as it can sometimes be difficult to find a mooring just after the junction and onto the Oxford Canal.

11.6 Miles - 7 Locks