Yesterday we made the short hop into the Marina, bit of a squeeze for a 70ft boat, we will be able to set up the RBOA stand today ready for the 3 day show. The internet signal is weaker here than it was out on the Canal so we will not blog again until we are in a better area.
We are now at Crick, moored on the Towpath side and hope to go into the Marina on Thursday. Monday we moved from Hillmorton in gale force winds and found a mooring close to the Pub at the top of Buckby Locks, yesterday we came up to Crick, Short blog as the signal is very weak, hopefully it will improve when we get into the Marina.
Sunday, 22nd May 2011 No Miles No Locks Moored half mile below Hillmorton Locks.
We had heavy rain in the night so I needn't of watered the flower boxes when we moored up yesterday. This morning was bright sunshine then cloud and a bit of rain, the wind is still very strong, so the decision was made to stay on this mooring until Monday, not a problem as we will still be at the New Inn on Monday afternoon and then get up to Crick on Tuesday.
Historic Narrowboat Sickle which was moored at the bottom of the Atherstone Locks when we past on Friday came past us today, ( thanks to Brian/Diana and Adam for pointing me to Sickles blog ) I had read that it was for sale but didn,t know that it had changed hands already, we will see Sickle again at the Stoke Bruerne Gala and Braunston Historic Boat Gathering when I can have a good nose around it.
We have been watching two very busy Moorhens opposite the boat tending to there nest and eggs, one is sat on the eggs and the other one is bringing bits of reed to strengthen the nest.
You can just see one egg in the nest, don't know where the other Moorhen is, possibly on a comfort break
Saturday, 21st May 2011. Atherstone to Hillmorton. 23.5 Miles, 1 Lock.
Got going early today and managed to cover a good distance, being the weekend it was busier that yesterday, we hit something underwater going through Nuneaton, the boat rolled to the right and then back, no sound or anything visible but it gave Jayne a fright as she was just getting out of bed.
Passed Boot Wharf where No Direction was taken from the boat builders on a very big lorry and lowered into the water by a very big crane.
It was then cruised along the Coventry Canal to Springwood Haven Marina where Onboard Energy finished off the generator installation.
Boot Wharf, No Direction was craned in here but not by that crane.
Past Charity Dock, one word to describe this place "Mad".
All the other bloggers post a picture of Charity Dock so we will too.
After making the hairpin turn at Sutton Stop we were on the North Oxford Canal, after a couple of miles we past Bridge 15 which was in such a bad state that it has had to be demolished, during the demolition the Canal and Towpath were closed, today the contractors were still at work although the Canal is now open.
What a mess.
After passing through the Newbold Tunnel and Rugby we moored for the night about half a mile before Hillmorton Locks.
Newbold Tunnel, floodlit with coloured lights.
Weather today was sunny and very windy which has left me with a bit of a Lobster look.
Tomorrow we may have a short day cruising to Braunston depending on the weather, then on Monday evening Jayne wants to be at the New Inn pub at Buckby top lock, she says she is going for a meal there, hopefully she will take me as well.
Friday 20th May 2011 Fazeley to Atherstone 10.5 Miles, 13 Locks.
Sunny start this morning so on with the shorts, by lunch time it was back to trousers and fleece jacket, as it clouded over the wind turned very cold.
We are now moored on the 48 hour visitor moorings above Atherstone top Lock, we did not have an easy trip up the 11 Atherstone Locks as most of them were set against us and only 2 boats coming down.
Leaving Atherstone top Lock always a good sight, the gate is being closed by a crew member from a following boat
Moored below Atherstone Bottom Lock we passed Historic Narrowboat Sickle, the owner has compiled an interesting website detailing the History, Rescuing and restoring of the boat.
So much effort goes into restoring and maintaining a boat like this.
Tomorrow we have a long run without a Lock for 4 hours so I can get going leaving Jayne in bed.
Thursday 19th May 2011. Kings Bromley Marina to Fazeley. 13 Miles, 3 Locks 1 Swing Bridge.
What a cracking days cruising, we left Kings Bromley Marina at 9.15, we met boats coming out of the 3 Locks at Fradley so we were able to glide straight in, even Fradley Junction was quite.
The Marina Swan family, doing well.
Other Narrowboaters will know about the strange forces at work which ensure you only meet oncoming boats at bridges and narrow sections, today we met 3 boats as we tried to wriggle past Streethay Wharf but all past without incident, just after passing Streethay we came across the site of the future Kings Orchard Marina, quite small compared to some Marinas, it's planned to hold 80 boats.
It looks an easy place to build a Marina as the site is lower than the Canal so not much digging required, it's on the Tow Path side so that will need a bridge.
We stopped on the Visitor moorings at Hopwas for lunch, sorry to say the Towpath is still blighted by Dog mess, another blogger complained to the Parish Council.
We are now moored at Fazeley, I was amazed that there was so much space available, a local said that British Waterways had shifted all the overstayers, some of the boats had been here for months, well done B.W.
Tomorrow we have 2 Locks at Glascote and then 11 at Atherstone, that should give us an appetite.
Just a couple more days now before we leave the Marina and it can't come quick enough for me, we will probably be off Wednesday lunch time or even Thursday morning for a slow cruise to Crick.
Yesterday saw a lot of boats returning to the Marina after being out during the recent good weather however that seems to have gone now replaced by heavy showers, just what I don't need whilst trying to touch up a few paint chips on the boat.
On the wildlife front there is good and bad news, the duck that was sat on 7 eggs failed to hatch any but the Swans hatched 5 cygnets last week and the Moorhens have 4 hungry little mouths to feed.
There were 7 eggs, 2 didn't make it, but these are fine.
It's a big dangerous world.
Sitting here on No Direction typing this at 8 o'clock on a Monday morning watching the ducks floating past and the birds feeding make me appreciate how lucky I am to live on a narrowboat and not have to go to work. Weekends tend to get very busy at Kings Bromley, it usually starts late on a Friday afternoon when the weekenders start to arrive after a stressful week at work and battling it out on a Motorway to get here, first thing we notice is that they drive around the Marina twice as fast as they should, then out come the baggy shorts and Barbeque's, Sunday evening it starts to calm down and by Monday morning peace has returned.
