Coventry Basin

Today's Canals : Oxford, Coventry

We began the day by going through the Sutton Stop Lock. Only a tiny fall but it made all the difference to the Coventry Canal as it meant that the Oxford Canal could not steal its water, in fact the reverse was the case! As can be seen, the day was generally grey but noticeably warmer than the past week.

It can be a tricky manoeuvre from the lock onto the Coventry, under the elegant towpath bridge, especially if another boat is moored waiting to come up and also when turning right, as  most boats do. However, no-one was waiting today and we wanted to turn left - easier because the boat is naturally at the right angle for that turn. (This picture is from yesterday afternoon, in case yiu were thinking that our weather reporting was a tad unreliable!)

We called briefly at the services around the corner to empty the elsan and to dispose of rubbish. It seems unfortunate that CaRT have not posted instructions about using the new food waste bins. Is is apparent that a wide variation in assumptions is around, including adding cardboard and drinks cans! It is also  not clear whether 'real' food should be dumped in a bag or 'au naturel'.

Once through the chores we could start on or cruise down to Coventry Basin. We have gradual change over the years and now it is a pleasant, leafy route. There several designated mooring places (although at one almost all the rings have been removed, perhaps as the towpath edge is in need of repair) The canal was very clean, almost no floating rubbish. The immediate vegetation is now well matured and only a few gaps yield glimpses of what lies beyond the hedge. The Arena is barely visible, just the tops of the towers, whilst you would completely miss the two retail parks if you did not know beforehand where they are.

The first bridge has an interesting sculpture of fish and birds but it needs better sunshine to be more readily visible.

As we saw four year ago when we last came this way, Exhall Mooring Basin may still have bright shiny notices but nothing seems to have changed from its abandoned state. The CaRT Waterside Moorings web site says From once being an important transhipment site for goods being loaded from barges on to rail, Exhall Basin is now a thriving residential mooring site off the Coventry Canal. However it also say that there are no vacancies! It seems likely that it needs extensive dredging before it can be used again by boats. 

Under the M6 again, from a different viewpoint!

Alongside the canal, The Longford Engine has been a pub since 1772 and has had various engine related names although in 1984 it changed to Canal Boat and then back again 23 years later! Not found much about the origin of the name but as there were a number of very active coal mines nearby it could reflect the development of engines for that use.

Various attempts have been made to enhance the canalside environment on the way onto the city centre. This one is unlike anything else we have seen on a canal (more usually a former soft sofa dumped into the canal!) We did not stop to test out its comfort rating.

We have seen the area either side of the canal just south of Bridge 8 over the years and it now seems well developed. One of the waterside 4 bed properties is currently on the market at £300,000. (see)

At first we made good speed with no weed to slow us down and plenty of water. However, after Bridge  6 we found the going somewhat slower - still able to make over  2 mph in most places.

At the start of the 20C, the area to the west of the canal at Stoke Heath was open land. By mid century it was well developed with extensive industrial activity. We have not found what was here at first but Bates Timber took over part in 1992 and remains a family run business.

Another small amenity area.

Four years ago we noted that the conversion of this former Courtaulds mill was just completing and tenants for the office space were being sought. It now seems that Federal Express Europe are based here.

The vegetation growth means that even Cash's Hundred Houses can only be glimpsed in part and the full scale of the innovative approach to workers is difficult to see.

And so we arrived at the terminal basin. We had been told by a departing boater earlier that there were a couple of spaces free (plenty just outside the basin as well) which proved to be the case and we pulled in to what turned out to be the same spot as four years ago! (see)

The crew of a local fire service were just completing a training exercise - to get a new recruit a tick in the box 'pumping from open water'. The team leader was very chatty as his colleagues completed packing away. Earlier in the day they had to attend a house fire where over enthusiastic cooking nearly led to a disaster.

This fingerpost is a bit odd - shows three different directions but there is only one route out!

5.9 Miles - 1 Lock