Rowington

Today's Canal - Grand Union

The stats at the end of this blog tell almost all there is to say about today! (Apart from the reasons)

The forecast was for rain all day with, in some parts of the country at least, sufficiently heavy to warrant flood warnings. It was not really that heavy where we were but plenty to get a steerer soaked through in quite a short time. Added to that, we (well at least one of us) over slept and we were in no hurry.

Eventually we cast off not long before eleven o'clock and twenty minutes later came on to the visitor mooring just before the Shrewley Tunnel so that we could visit the village shop. Christine set off but came back a few minutes later to get more information as the path seemed to peter out. With more details, she tried again and, helped by further directions from a local, she made it to the shop where,. in addition to he weekend paper she also bought a couple of savoury turnovers which we enjoyed at lunch time.

Our plans were now a bit confused a, with the late start, time was against us to make it to the top of Lapworth by the end of the day. The next place for a church in the morning would be at Hockley Heath, three quarters of an hour further cruising. On the other hand, we do have a bit of a schedule as we need to be back at Droitwhich marina with enough time to give the boat a good clean before driving back homer at the weekend - and there are rather a lot of locks between here and there.

So, we set off but with an expectation that we would stop for lunch at Rowington where the church is very close to a canal bridge and there are good moorings. We would review our plan when we reached there.

Through the tunnel and we could look back at the northern portal with its oft-featured horse tunnel. Actually, it does not go very far, emerging even before the path reaches the summit and the main road. Hence there is no matching entrance at the southern end.

We moored up - at least temporarily - at Rowington, for lunch which turned into an extended stay whilst we warmed up and dried out. During this time our enthusiasm for wet cruising, and even more wet locking, evaporated.

Mid afternoon the rain eased a little and Mike walked up to Rowington Bridge which carries a bridle path that runs up to the village.

There is an old-looking distance marker at the spot where the bridle path meets the main road.

The church stands on a bend in the road and the grounds are well manicured. Alas the main door was closed so Mike was unable to take a look inside. That will have to wait until tomorrow.

On the way back to the canal, Mike found this view - that's our boat in the distance - which shows just how much of an embankment we are moored on. (The canal in the other direction from the bridge enters an equally substantial; cutting) It is always salutary to muse on the effort involved when only picks, shovels and wheelbarrows were available as tools.

2.8 Miles - 0 Locks

Hatton

Today's Canal - Grand Union

Today's blog may be a bit shorter as there is less to day - the target for the day was to arrive at the top of the Hatton flight before it was dark. The main flight is 21 locks but just before there is, to get you in the mood, the couple of Cape locks. Added to that it was very grey, gloomy and at times depressingly wet.

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. With our target in mind an also that we wanted to call at Morrisons alongside the canal at Leamington, Mike made an early start, preparing to cast off just after 8.30. As can be seen, our overnight stop is a good place to moor and in the spring and summer usually very busy so the huge gaps were a bit of a surprise.

This winding hole shows a variety of the seasonal colours in the trees and shrubs around.

We were at the supermarket just after 9. One of our aims was to stock up on logs. We had bought a single net some days ago and found them better than other supermarket brands, well dried hardwood. We loaded up four nets into our trolley - which made it full! We then went to the customer service desk and asked permission from a very helpful young man to take the trolley out of the car park and across the road to the boat. He agreed, especially when Mike offered Christine as a hostage! With that done we could complete the food shopping, including some swordfish steaks for tonight. Probably with a sauce using the blackberries and crab apples that Christine spotted alongside the boat yesterday.

Re-stocked, we set off once more, through the rest of Leamington and then the outskirts of Warwick. At Kate Boats we spotted Mad Hatter, our locking companion from yesterday, all tucked up on an inside mooring.

These trees again emphasise the season but the colours will soon be gone as the wind today was bringing many of the leaves down. The canal is not yet clogged up, nor our propeller, but much more of this and before long . . .

Just after 11 we reached the two Cape Locks.

Above the second lock is a popular pub The Cape of Good Hope, and we guess that there is a boater fan of the Beatles not far away.

A short distance beyond, just after the turn into the Saltisford Arm and we were ready to start up the Hatton 21. By now the rain was much wetter and we were glad to pause for a quick lunch after the fourth lock. The lower locks are separated by longer pounds but the separation becomes ever closer the further up we go.

Fortunately, although it remained very gloomy the rain stayed away for the afternoon as we gradually worked our way up the flight.

This is the iconic view of Hatton, even if only 6 locks look like this.

We continued with our usual technique: Christine going ahead to set the lock and then Mike bringing in the boat, climbing the ladder to open the top paddle. These locks are much kinder on the boat as the design of the top paddles is such that the water inflow holds the boat firm against the lock side. That offsets the all too frequent over-stiff paddles.

Part way up the flight Christine met a couple of CaRT staff who were conducting a survey on the locks, measuring the force required to open the gates and the paddles. The present regional manager is keen to look at ways of making the canal system easier to use and the survey will inform plans for future work. The two staff were keen to spend time with Christine to explain what they were about.

From the top of that section, looking back down, the tower of the parish church is directly in line on the horizon.

The top lock was a welcome sight even before completing the penultimate one! The well used cafe just below the top lock was just closing up so we could not even be tempted by their scones! We pulled onto the service mooring above the top lock for the usual processes. We only went a little further before mooring as darkness was about to surround us. As a result we had to accept a mooring that did not have a tv signal.

7.7 Miles - 23 Locks

Radford Semele

Today's Canal - Grand Union

The day began misty and gradually turned to rain, sometimes light and sometimes a bit heavier although it never reached the point at which we needed to retreat inside rather than continue cruising. However, it never became a photogenic trip!

A number of old boats are regularly moored just before Tomlow bridge. This tug boat must have seen considerable arduous work in it life time and, with careful and loving restoration could become quite some sight.

Also moored here is for former working boat Corona that was enthusiastically restored by Trevor Maggs when he bought it in 1968 for £600 in a very sorry state. He kept and maintained it for the rest of his life - sadly he died in January last year - and was well know for running it at weekends as a coal boat in the Midlands area. Just shows what can be done with older boats!

At some moorings a little further on we saw this boat with very unconventional bow windows. No doubt inside there is a great view - all the better for protection when raining.

After about half an hour we arrived at Stockton Top where a boat coming up filled the lock for us. Although the locks on the northern Grand Union mostly have these 'candlestick' paddles which can look somewhat intimidating, the locks fill or empty very quickly even using the paddles on one side only. Some can be a bit stiff and they do take 24 turns to lift. Also the gates are very well balanced and refuse to open until the last moment when you can feel the water level release them and then they open smoothly.

There was a steady stream of boats coming up (some more pleasant than others!) so out of the 8 Stockton Locks we only had to close up three of them after going down. we completed the eight in 75 minutes.

Below the locks is the famous 18C inn The Blue Lias. Actually, when it was built it was a farmhouse but the early canal users stopped here for stabling their horses overnight and for food. As a result, it became an inn. Blue Lias is a particular type of stone which is quarried locally to convert into cement. The pub sign features a dinosaur - a tenuous connection but dinosaurs lived in the period when Blue Lias was laid down! We have never been to the pub - perhaps we will have to find an excuse some time.

At Itchington Bottom Lock, Christine popped to a small shop nearby which she has visited almost every time we pass this way, mainly for a paper and they have so far not let us down! Another boat, nb Mad Hatter caught up with as we were completing the lock and we said that we would wait for them at Bascote Staircase. In the end, we worked through all of the remaining locks before Leamington Spa together. A couple of grandparents had daughter and three able bodied grand children on board for the day so we did not want for lock operators.

But before we reached Bascote we passed this very large field of ripe pumpkins. As they are almost only bought for Halloween, if they are not harvested very soon they will not reach the shops in time. We did wonder if this was an example of the recently reported loss of seasonal crops because there are insufficient migrant workers around, supposedly concerned about the impact of Brexit.
#

Gradually in the afternoon the rain eased off and cruising and locking became a bit pleasanter! #

Bridge 33 is just before the last lock and we have included this picture because of the range of colours and textures in the old, well weathered, brickwork.

So, here we are at the bottom lock, with a view back to the old railway bridge which once carried the Rugby and Leamington branch of the L&NW Railway.
#

Our lock companions were aiming to back at their mooring in Warwick before dusk so they pressed on once we were out of the last lock - although it was relatively early to stop we planned to take our overnight mooring at Radford Semele, just on the outskirts of Leamington. From here good moorings are not so easy to find until the other side of Warwick.

A permanent mooring shortly after the lock looks as if it is trying to compete with Charity Dock on the Coventry!

Just over half a mile later we pulled in - although this is usually a popular mooring with limited spaces at the end of a day, we had ample room to choose from. For a few moments just before sunset, the clouds cleared a little and let a few glimmers of sunshine through!

8.3 Miles - 20 Locks

Calcutt

Today's Canals - Oxford, Grand Union

We were off once more, now heading back to our winter mooring at Droitwich. First thing, Mike went to the nearby Tesco for a top-up shop before reversing across to the opposite bank to fill up with water. By 10 o'clock we were ready to set off properly.

The morning was still very foggy - at times it was not easy to work out whether a boat in the distance was either moored or coming towards us until rather later than we would like.

Very gradually the fog thinned out and the sun struggled its way through.

As we passed Clifton Cruisers it seemed that they had just completed a lift with their large crane - but we could not work out what. Probably not a boat.

A short distance further and we came under the new Houlton Bridge which looks pretty much complete. The new road is well advanced as well - the 30 mph speed limit signs were being put in place.

Just below Hilmorton Locks a banner calls for support for work on the old canal bed as a feature for an event in 2022. Named Brindley 250 it aims to celebrate the date when Brindley's last canal reached here on the day he died in 1772. Although the banner refers to a web site for more details we could not find them, perhaps the banner is very new and the webmaster is out cruising!

One of the bottom locks is having quite a makeover - the gang today were removing stop planks from the tail of the lock but looming at the amount of equipment and materials there is still a lot more to be done.

There were two volunteers on duty today and they efficiently helped us through. We had to do the work ourselves at the other two! Christine exchanged several books at the Book Swap. By the time we emerged from the lock the fog had finally cleared and was replaced by bright blue skies.

We paused above the first lock to empty the elsan cassettes (we had two to do) as the facility at Rugby is still out of order.

Both locks were operational today at the next two pairs - reports have suggested that recently the flight has been down to one of each pair so hopefully the stoppage is fixing that. As a result we were able to work up to the top alongside another boat using the other side.

Shortly after leaving the lock we could see that house construction on the new Houlton development is proceeding apace - this the south east corner of the estate.

We could now see ahead of us a queue of three boats nose to tail - the one at the front was moving very slowly and even on tickover we soon caught them up. The slow boat made no attempt to allow anyone else past, keeping resolutely to the middle of the canal. Even on the long Barby Straight, no quarter was given.

We passed an example of what is becoming quite a controversial matter - the arrival of wider beam boats on what is really a narrow canal. They can only cruise up from the Grand Union as far as Hillmorton where they have to turn around. It seems that the new Dunchurch Pools marina is offering wide beam berths.

We continued like this for around two hours - although one of the boats gave up and moored up. By now clouds had arrived and the temperature was markedly colder.

Only when we reached Braunston Junction were we able to make better progress as - thankfully - the slow boat went straight ahead when we turned right onto the Oxford.

Our relief was short lived as we now found ourselves behind yet another slow boat! However, it pulled in before we reached Napton Junction. Here we turned right to continue our journey along the northern part of the Grand Union. (The section between Napton and Braunston was originally the Oxford Canal but eventually was widened when it linked the two parts of the GU)

After dropping down the first of the Calcutt Locks we reversed in to the service point where we filled up with diesel and also picked up another bag of coal. We don not use too much but it does help to build up the fire. As always, they folk here are very friendly and helpful - others must think likewise as there were three other boats being refuelled or pumped out.

After completing the other two locks, accompanied by a single hander who moors in the Calcutt Marina and who is not really familiar yet with boating, especially locks, we pulled in to moor for the night.

15.5 Miles - 6 Locks

Another break in cruising

On Sunday morning we walked into town down - about half and hour - in order to go to the main service at the town centre church. At present the parish is without a full time minister and the service was led by a retired priest as well as a reader. There were around 70 people in the congregation including a small choir.

Mike left fairly quickly after the end of the service - Christine stayed longer to chat - as he was going to the station to catch a train to Stafford, and then to Stone, so that he could collect the car from Aston Marina where we had left it. The two trains ran much to time and Mike arrived as expected - at Stafford he was able to book a taxi rather than take the long walk out of town to the marina (about two miles)

The drive back to Rugby, largely down the motorway took just over an hour and Mike was able to park overnight just opposite where the boat was moored.

And the reason for collecting the car? Mike had a meeting in Truro first thing on Tuesday so on Monday he drove down and stayed the night at home. We did look at trains but from Rugby it is not straightforward and it would not be possible to get back on Tuesday.

The journey was straightforward and traffic light - no delays other than the long term road works (we are working hard to improve your travel experience)

After he meeting it was back on the road and back up the A30 and then the motorways. However, we decided that it was best to leave the car at Droitwich where we are now heading to our winter mooring. Once off the motorway Mike booked a taxi from the marina to the station. It was efficient and dropped him off just in time to catch an earlier train than expected.

The first train was to Birmingham New Street followed by a change onto a London-bound train to alight at Rugby. From here it was about 20 minutes easy walk back to the boat. As Christine had been kept up to date with progress, she had a meal ready and waiting.

Whilst Mike was away Christine caught up on cleaning and other housekeeping but also walked to some of the nearby large stores although mostly she could not find quite what she wanted.

Rugby

Today's Canals - Coventry, Oxford

Today was sunny and comparatively warm from setting off until we moored.

Mike is returning home on Monday for a meeting in Truro on Tuesday, returning to the boat later that day. e did look at doing the journey by rail but the connections from the area we are ion do not make that very feasible. Hence he well need to collect the car from Stone tomorrow - with the consequence that tonight we need to moor as closer to a train station as possible. In order to achieve this he made an early start, casting off from the overnight mooring around 8:45.

Although the immediate surroundings look natural, until recent times there were plenty of quarries, with the occasional waste tip emerging above the sky line.

Sunshine!

Passing Springwood Haven Marina - we left Take Five here for a short time a few years ago.

In order to comply with an unwritten rule of canal bloggers, no-one is allowed to pass this way without the obligatory photo of the lonely telegraph pole!

From the canal there are few reminders of the former quarrying, but this bridge is one of the few.

Next, we cruised around the outer edge of Nuneaton. A particular feature is the number of allotment gardens - more than almost any other town we have seen.

W continued straight on at Marston Junction, with the lock-free Ashby canal beginning its journey up to the coal fields of Moira under this bridge.

As always, Charity Dock is a challenge to spit which characters have been her for ever (the Stig) whilst others are new since we last passed this way!

We arrived at Hawkesbury Junction where we needed to complete the usual servicing. The Coventry is to the left whilst the start of the Oxford is to the right, with a sharp, almost 350 degree turn, to the right. The stop lock - our only lock today - rises just a  few inches but controls the flow of water between what were once two separate companies.


As we came under a road bridge a shirt time later - the l

ong standing fishing tackle shop seems to have at last closed down - we could look back and see looming storm clouds. However, they ended up keeping well away from us and never threatening the lovely autumnal day.

The Oxford was an early canal and built following every contour. As a result it was very much longer than 'the crow flies' and much later work was done to straighten out many of the bends, with plenty of straight sections - as here, underneath the bridge, where it continues into the distance.

Over time, the original line has all but disappeared except for a few reminders at some of the junctions. In this photo, the line of shrubs and trees was where the canal ran but oit would be hard to tell without relying on a map.

More sunshine and straight lines.

At Stretton Stop a boat ahead of us left the tiny footbridge for us to close behind us. The lock, with its minimal change in level,  was built to protect the embankment just to the north but also developed as a gauging stop where tolls were collected.

The next straight length runs through a cutting - reminiscent of the Shroppie but quite unusual on the Oxford. It seems that it too has problems with the stability of the banks.

We continued on towards Rugby - here at All Oaks the canal is very pretty and wood-lined.

By the time we passed through the short Newbold Tunnel we knew that we were not far from our target. Although the moorings closer to Tesco were quite busy we managed to find a suitable spot, more open than some places.

After a .little bit of paint maintenance we walked to the supermarket for a few items.

20.7 Miles - 1 Lock