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Monday 25th September
| I reversed up to the Marina to get some water and on finding the tap outside unavailable went in a pulled right to the front to fill from the tap there. With the water tank full it is back into reverse to leave the pontoons and wait outside the Marina for the shop to open; I knew I needed stern tube grease but I find I also need something to light the gas as the sparker has given up the ghost. I eventually leave the Marina just after 9 and take about two and a half hours to reach the top lock at Marston Doles. As I arrive the Hotel Pair Snipe and Taurus have just gone the other way. There is no where to moor except the water point so as there is no-one around I tie up for just enough time to let the bitches have a comfort break before starting down hill. Another two hours sees Touch and Tell leaving the bottom lock where there is a pile of wood that I am told is to be a new lift bridge to fit above Banbury Lock. |  |
| On the way down I had passed
Draco with all her doors open but there was no sign of
anybody around. After a break for lunch on the 48 hour moorings I set off again. The sky which had been clear had turned grey towards the end of the morning and by the time I reach Napton Junction there are spots of rain in the air. Another couple of hours takes me to Braunston but as there are no moorings I go straight through and moor a little way up the north Oxford. |
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Tuesday 26th September
| There had been rain overnight and the forecast is not good but at just after eight as I set off at least the sun is trying to break through. I am not the first to be underway as a couple of boats have already gone the other way this morning. At Hilmorton top lock I am helped down by the crew of Sundance who have just come up but are waiting for a following boat. In the pound above the bottom lock I find Stokie and stop to get some Diesel £15 worth. I take the time to have a look around the shop though it is awkward getting there around Stokie, I am used to a wide side deck and a grab rail! I made a cup of hot chocolate to drink on the way down - by the time I get to it in the Bottom lock it is luke warm. Below the locks there is a side weir that is running strongly and the fields alongside look rather wet. I stop for lunch and some shopping at Rugby at the offside visitor moorings. Workmen are busy fitting an information board and I notice that the grass undulates - this must once have been ridge and furrow fields. | 
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After a suitable break, just as the sun goes in, I set off again stopping at Falls Bridge. Laplander and Monarch are amongst the boats moored here, both are steam powered and their owners regularly post on news:uk.rec.waterways. Having raided the cash machine I can afford to fill the diesel tank right up another £28 worth at virtually the same price as from Stokie. Prices are a lot higher than the last time I remember filling up but with a three week trip I am going to need it. |
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| At Bridge 43 the canal turned green - the dreaded Oxford weed. Shortly after this I spot "Iron" who use to moor with us at Fenny Compton - long time no see. As I pass Stretton stop I wonder how late I will have to travel if I want to get to the vicinity of Hawkesbury. The weed is not to bad at this stage but when I get to Ansty embankment it is so thick it completely damps out my wash even at full throttle - it seemed like navigating through treacle. |  |
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| It is five o'clock before I pass Coronation tied up near the Ansty working men's club and it takes nearly another hour to make it to the Elephant and Castle where I stop for the night. When I take the dogs for a walk I admire the painting on the boat "Silver fox", Inka seems like my own silver fox so tomorrow I will have to take a photograph to show Jacquie. |  |
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Wednesday 27th September
| I am going to make an early start so to avoid disturbing those on the boats moored here I move Touch and Tell a few lengths by hand before starting the engine. The weather if fine but forecast to deteriorate so best gets some cruising done before it breaks. When I reach the stop lock there is someone with the same idea coming up so I have to wait, they say the weed is not too bad below. There is some so that the area in front of the Greyhound, however, and it looks like a green carpet spreading under the cast iron bridge. As I move on down (up) the Coventry the weed becomes patchy and I notice a new patch starting just below a side weir. There are a lot of these weirs on the Coventry, could they be used to skim off the weed by raising the water level a bit? | 
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| I pass the Ashby at about half past eight and wonder when we will get a chance to cruise the canal. It is the one near stretch we have not been on yet having been frustrated by rain and electrics problems last Easter. As we are planning to move our mooring, to the Worcester and Birmingham, next year getting to the Ashby will be a long cruise. About two hours later I am passing the new marina at Springwood haven, (www.valleycruises.co.uk) Valley cruises have moved their base here but there are no signs of any of their hire boats. I carry on to Atherstone where I have to wait for a boat to go down the top lock. I am lucky it seems he has had to wait three quarters of an hour for the boats in front of him to go down. I stop below lock five for lunch, the pub here has a sign saying to let. It rained over lunch but had stopped when I moved off again. |  |
| I set off for lock six to find the side pond paddle is locked off, a pity as it was a good water saving measure and the only one working on the flight. When I get below I see why, the side arm has been let as a boat yard and they obviously do not want him starved of water as used to happen in this pound when the side pond was working. I get held up at lock nine waiting for a boat that got stuck entering the lock to come up. There are no more hold ups to the bottom of the flight where I let the "ladies" off for a walk whilst the boat descends and pick them up again at the bottom. As I cruise along I make not of possible stopping points for the way back when I need to be in a location suitable for a train trip home for a day. I reach Alvecote in the early evening but it takes me quarter of an hour to pass from the old ruined priory to the other side of the new marina. Passing the marina I slowed down for the moored boats - lines of Canaltime boats - but as I approached the old basin the wind across the now open ground picked up suddenly and blew me into the side. It took me a while to get the bow out so that it would clear the bridge hole into the basin as it kept blowing back in again. The short shaft was snapped in the attempt to get off and a man with an American accept appeared from one of the moored boats to offer advice and comment on the viscous wind. I carry on and tie up for the night opposite the Gate Inn, a welcome sight as after the chores I deserve a pint! |  |
Thursday 28th September
| An early start in the morning and the water is clear before boat traffic stirs it up, this allows me to notice the off side canal wall being pushed over by the vegetation behind it. How long before this has to be rebuilt? At Glascote locks I fill the lower lock whilst Touch and Tell descends the lock above speeding my passage slightly. I pass through Fazely without stopping and onto the Birmingham and Fazely Canal to head up towards Fradley, before nine I am passed all the moored boats. Just after Hopwas wood I have to find my sunglasses, as it has become bright and then just before eleven I am back on the Coventry canal at Wittington brook. Half an hour later I pass the Litchfield canal entrance - currently only moorings but it will make a good through route when it is eventually restored (Birmingham Northern Relief road permitting). I stop for lunch at Fradley and go to see Swan line Cruisers - I might have been imagining it but the engine felt like it was vibrating more than usual and I wondered if the shock mounts were about to go. I cannot budge the bolts myself and they cannot help but suggest a mobile boat doctor who I eventually reach by telephone. He agrees to meet me two locks up so I move off and tie up again at the top of the flight, as far from the lock as I can manage. | 
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The engine mounts changed for the spare old ones I had in the
drawer I am off again at just after four o'clock - it might mean
working late, as I hope to make Rugely, so I have a hot drink and
give the "ladies" a break before we leave. At wood lock
there is queue to go down but this makes it easier for me going
up - straight in and straight out. An hour later I see one of the
crew from Bumble fall in - they had been gathering wood from a
dead tree without tying up and the crew member ashore slipped
between the boat and the bank as it moved away from him in trying
to get back aboard. I like to time myself between mile posts to
see just how fast I am travelling but usually have to change
throttle setting for a moored boat, fisherman etc. Today I manage
all bar a few feet between posts without a speed change - it
takes me 18 minutes, if the posts are accurate about 3.33 miles
per hour without creating an unacceptable wash. I make it to
Rugely just after 7p.m. and tie up for the night on the visitor
moorings. I use the opportunity to do some shopping for supplies.
Friday 29th September
| A slightly later start as I
continue northwards meeting boats on the move at Colwich
Lock, two had just come down but another had the lock
full and was about to descend. When I get up the lock
there is yet another boat waiting to go down making life
easy. Great Haywood junction is full of boats as I pass
just before eleven. One coming out of the junction, one
through the bridge towards me and all the service mooring
full. There are even a number of canoes to watch out for
as I make my way slowly past all the moored boats. At Hoo
Mill lock I am again lucky having a boat waiting to
descend as I leave whilst at Weston lock I arrive just as
the gates open for a descending boat to come out. There
are no bollards to tie the boat to on leaving the lock so
I wait for a while and let the "ladies" off for
a break but no luck so I close the gate on a full lock
and continue on my way. At Sandam Lock I have to wait for
another boat to go up and again have no one to go down.
?? lock is full and it takes me fifteen minutes to work
through - there are no leaflets about Stone in the box. I
tie up in Stone above Star lock in the mid afternoon - I
shall be staying here to meet Jacquie tonight. I ask
around about parking and find a council car park next to
the boat yard where we can leave the car for the week. |
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Saturday 30th September
| With Jacquie and all the dogs we leave a lot later today, it is almost midday before she moves the boat off while I work the locks. At the top of Yard lock I notice a sign advertising where the launderettes in Stone are. About fifty minutes later we are leaving Stone behind, I had walked the "ladies" up to here yesterday afternoon. We have a late lunch stop for us and the dogs using mooring rings by the ??? pub at ???. When I move off a gain Jacquie is resting tired from working all week and yesterday's driving, she says to wake her for the Stoke on Trent flight. She had thought she might surface for Trentham lock but in the end I work through on my own using the boatman's passage and the split bridge to manoeuvre the boat in but hand. Just after five Jacquie's voice appears on the log for the first time as we enter Stoke bottom lock. Seventy minutes later we have reached the top, turned round and are tying up for the night. |  |
Sunday 1st October
| I set off just before nine with Jacquie still below and start our passage of the Caldon Canal - new waters for us. Thirty five minutes sees me leaving the Etruria staircase and another twenty to ascend lock three. A little further on we stop by bridge 8 next to the Bridgwater factory - I have checked and this will be a good access point for me to go off to Mass. When I return from the Church Jacquie and I both go to look at the Bridgwater factory shop, I feel the prices are very expensive when a discontinued platter that appears to be a transfer print is £100. We do not get far when we set off again as the prop is fouled just before Ivy house draw bridge. It appears to be a holdall as I have to cut away canvas and zips. It is nearly half an hour later before we are through the bridge. Just before 2p.m. and just before we reach bridge 15 there are horses running loose on the towpath. Jacquie wants to see if she can do something to get them under control but they run ahead of a man walking along and duck down under barbed wire back into the field. We cruise on for a bit stopping to walk the dogs in the middle of the afternoon. There is a little rain in the late afternoon early evening and we stop for the night between bridges 28 and 29. | 
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Monday 2nd October
| The day starts grey but dry as I walk the dogs although the towpath is wet from overnight rain. By the time we move off, mid morning, it is raining and Jacquie takes the first stint on the tiller. An hour later I take her a cup of coffee and take over. The scenery is as good as people say as we wind round the valley side. Eventually there is an open piece of water and a hole in the hillside - leek tunnel. We pass through and on the other side find a couple of boats tied up just the other side of the turning point. We decide to go on to the terminus but turn first going there in reverse. It is still raining but a photograph is taken to prove we made it before we tie up on a convenient mooring ring. Jacquie has to take Edith down the towpath to catch Brandy who has jumped off the boat. When she returns I walk into town to do some shopping - it was a long way with heavy bags, perhaps I should not have bought so much! | 
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It is mid afternoon before we set off again and it takes us about an hour and twenty minutes to get back to the junction and turn down towards Froghall. It seems funny to be going under Hazlehurst aqueduct that we had gone over about an hour before. We stop for the night opposite the Boat Inn where we go for a drink in the evening. |
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Tuesday 3rd October
The weather forecast is not helpful so Jacquie is persuaded to an
earlier start leaving just before 9 a.m.. We descend into the
river section which appears to be safe although other have told
us that it has been up recently. It is a very pleasant section
and a pleasure to cruise. When we turn off back onto the canal
there are some very narrow sections, even the railway station is
cramped for space with a building built hanging over the
navigation. It takes us almost exactly two hours to reach the
winding hole before the tunnel and turn round for our return
journey. There are no obvious moorings so we do not stop to
explore. (Touch and Tell will not pass the tunnel profile 5 ft 6
in wide at 4ft 8 in above waterline) Another hour and a half sees
us back on the canal above Oak Meadow Ford Lock where the warning
says the river is dangerous if the level is above the six inch
mark. The mark is not too obvious going down but I saw it better
coming up. It makes me wonder if a scale should be deployed and
the measurements converted to metric to help young people and
overseas visitors. At the top of the lock Jacquie gets off to
take Edith and Morsom for a walk. She walks them in shifts
changing the first pair for Brandy. At bridge 47 she ends up
chatting to a BW employee who is mending a fence to keep cows off
the towpath - he borrows our club hammer to help with the he
work. When she gets back on board she explains to me that he had
told her of a stolen boat. Lunch is taken on the move as we pass
our overnight mooring. We pass Oak tied up outside the ??? pub
looking like they are getting ready to leave. They are travelling
with Sycamore who has gone on ahead. At Hazelhurst locks they
catch us up and help us up the flight. Talking to the crew as we
work the locks I discover that they had spent the night at the
Black Lion Consall Forge as they could not get under the bridge
and had to wind by the weir. Another half hour sees us back where
we had moored on Sunday night - about eight miles from Etruria,
the sun is trying to break through but the wind is getting
strong. We keep going until about five thirty and tie up on the
straight below ??? lock where we had walked the dogs on Sunday.
Wednesday 4th October
The days starts sunny like a spring day and Jacquie takes Inka
and Edith for a walk whilst I steer the boat. In a couple of
hours we are back on the Trent and Mersey having turned left to
head north. We stop at festival marina to get some gas but the
gates look locked so I walk around and find it a very long way!
When I get back I am told the gate was open all the time it just
looked locked and I had not tried it properly! Leaving there just
after midday we carry on to bridge 126 where we tie up and head
off to find lunch. The Pack Horse provides quick service and
serves an acceptable meal so that we are back on board and on our
way in about forty minutes.
When we reach the tunnel we have to wait for boats coming towards
us so we take the time to walk the dogs and top up the water
tank. It is ten to three when the doors close behind us on our
journey through. The tunnel is easy and quite pleasant without
the very low stretches I had been led to believe. There were a
lot of changes in roof level and most were marked by fluorescent
yellow paint. We leave the tunnel about half past three and
proceed up to the junction with the Macclesfield canal where we
turn left. Only a short while later after passing moored boats
the canal turns over the Trent and Mersey to cross it on an
aqueduct so we had in fact turned right! We stop for the night
near and I go off in search of supplies. There may be somewhere
nearer, and certainly we later found signs advertising a fish and
chip shop, but I eventually find a small shop on a main road.
Thursday 5th October
We set off at about nine thirty to explore a bit more of the
Macclesfield, unfortunately it will not be much as we will have
to set off back. We turn round in a winding hole near - at just
after midday. Lunch is taken an hour later when we stop on
mooring rings in a cutting. At the top of the cutting is a pub
and access to local facilities. We enjoy Moroccan lamb in the
Queens head and do a little shopping including some puppy food
for Edith who is expecting puppies soon. When we return to the
boat Four No Trumps is just puling in the girls on board met the
dogs. On the way back I try to take some photographs of the
scenery and in particular a lovely turn over bridge. The weather
is changeable with sunshine and rain and this brings out a
spectacular rainbow - the first time I have ever seen a complete
double rainbow. Unfortunately the camera dos not have a wide
enough angle so I have to photograph it in sections. We also spot
the horse boat Maria tied up waiting to continue her journey. The
scenery along her e is very good - as was the Caldon but it is
spoilt by the rain and resultant poor visibility.
When we get back to our overnight mooring spot we find the work
boat that had arrived as we left was now full of large pieces of
wood where the hedgerow had been savagely pruned. At Hall green
lock we have difficulty getting out - the gate will not open
fully and we got stuck on the first attempt to leave We tie up
for the night between two aqueducts, there is a wide towpath
where we can walk the dogs.
Friday 6th October
We leave our overnight mooring at about a quarter to nine and
move round to the tunnel entrance where we join the queue. After
a wait of about half an hour we are on our way through with the
passage taking about forty minutes. We cruise on until the
festival marina site where we tie up opposite to go and explore.
Visits are made to an antique china shop (almost a museum) a
china shop where we get a cheap dinner set, and a supermarket.
Back at the boat we have lunch before continuing our journey.
Descending the locks we meet a coal boat coming up at lock 38 and
find the following lock slow to fill although there is no
noticeable leak at the bottom. When we reach the end of the
flight there is nowhere to moor - no rings and a solid towpath -
so we move round the corner to a concrete cutting where there is
grass between the canal and towpath. Having tied up we leave to
visit Spode which has changed a lot since our last visit. We find
a few items suitable as Christmas presents and take them back to
the boat. After walking the dogs we set off again cruising for
another hour to stop just outside town at about six o'clock. This
is a pleasantly isolated spot with just one boat a hundred or so
yards ahead of us.
Saturday 7th October
The day starts with pouring rain so that after walking the dogs I
am already wet. I therefore decide that I might as well stay out
and move us on in the hope of better weather later. Cruising for
an hour we tie up again at Burlaston just before half past nine -
we want to visit Wedgwood. This place has changed as well and
having seen the tour before we head straight for the shop. More
presents are bought and we return to the boat leaving the mooring
about two and a half hours after we arrived.
We are back in Stone in the mid afternoon and as we come out of
Yard lock water Herald is just leaving so we take the mooring she
had vacated - the only one available. Time for more shopping and
exploring although the computer shop has not managed to get the
adapter I had asked them for on the way up.
Sunday 8th October
As a contrast to yesterday the day starts bright and sunny. I
make my way to Mass and on my return help Jacquie with the dogs.
She then brings the car round loads up and heads for home. I am
on my own as she has taken all the dogs with her. Touch and Tell
moves off at just after ten thirty. At Aston Lock Minstrel is
waiting to go up. I am asked if I am single handed and when I
admit to it I am told to stay on board. I do so but only after
opening one of the paddles for them. At Weston lock I find I need
a mooring hook to tie up as the lock needs setting and there is
no bollard. As I leave the lock there is a Canal Time boat ready
to ascend - why could they not have been just a little earlier. I
make Great Hayward by mid afternoon and press on stopping at the
Tom Pudding Inn just before six. Later I go for a drink -there is
a quiz going on but I do not take part.
Monday 9th October
Rain is forecast so I make an early start at 7:08 hoping to make
it past the locks before the rain. An hour and a half later I
reach Wood End Lock which is set but needs the paddles lifting to
open the gate. I have just seen the first boat on the move today
although there have been a number tied up.
Another hour sees me back on the Coventry after photographing a
Heron lockside a few locks up. The last lock and the swing bridge
were easy as boats going the other way provided assistance. I
have just made it in time! Less than ten minutes after joining
the Coventry it starts to rain - as I have no lock to do I can
put on the good waterproofs. Huddlesford junction is passed at
about 11 and Wittington Junction (with a BW boat Leawood tied
across it) is passed half an hour later.
I stop for a late lunch and a rest for an hour and a half at
Fazeley, hoping it will stop raining. There was a break in the
rain but it did not last. I plough on regardless and eventually
stop below Atherston locks at about half past six. A long day but
a god deal of ground covered to make it easier tomorrow.
Tuesday 10th October
I leave early again and move into the lock by hand so as not to
disturb the crew of the other boat moored for the night. Engine
checks are undertaken whilst the lock slowly fills. By 7:30 I am
leaving lock ten and two hours later Touch and Tell inches along
past Inching Along moored at the top lock doing a self pump out.
The paddle to the side pond at lock six was still padlocked. This
give the lie to assertions that restoring side ponds would waste
water! They obviously have to stop it being used so the pound
below remains high for the boatyard that is now there.
Hartshill is passed and I look at the map which suggests another
three hours to the Oxford, not as early as I would have liked to
be. At Springwood haven I stop in the bridge hole to put on a
sweatshirt as the wind is now quite cold - earlier it had been
warm enough to be just in a T shirt. Marston Junction is passed
at midday - will T&T ever get to go up the Ashby? - and an
hour later it is back onto the Oxford through the stop lock.
Travelling on I take T&T round the corner to the Elephant and
Castle where I tie her up securely. Then it is out with the
folding bicycle and the A to Z for a trip to the railway station.
Jacquie meets me at Castle Cary Station after a journey courtesy
of Virgin, Thames Trains and First Great Western.
Wednesday 11th October
I have a meeting today at the Bath and West Showground which is
why I came home overnight. After the meeting on of the attendees
kindly gives me a lift back to the station saving the cycle ride.
I eventually get back to T&T at 20:20 to find that there are
still two other boats moored at the Elephant that had been there
when I left. I nip into the pub for a drink and a couple of
batches (they do not do full meals at this pub) but unfortunately
they have run out of cider.
Thursday 12th October
By the time I leave at 8 a.m. there has already been a boat on
the move the other way. The green wed is patchy and increasing
towards Wyken Basin. Outside the basin there is a clear area but
beyond it it seems solid. An hour later at Ansty I allow
Jimsonweed to overtake. The embankment had been solid with weed
on the way out and I hope they can open up a path for me. No such
luck they are soon pulling ahead coping better with the weed
which closes up quickly behind them as though they had not been
there. Passing the moorings at Newbold at about midday I am
hailed by a boat going the other way that has recognised the
name. It is Jemima D but they are well past before I even
realised it and recognised the name. Lunch is take on Rugby
embankment moored just in front of Stokie. Before stopping I fill
up the tank - 142 litres since the week before last and the price
has gone down by 0.5p per litre.
As well as lunch I nip off to Tesco shopping and listen to the
afternoon play on radio 4 so it is mid afternoon before
re-commencing the journey. At Hilmorton I wait in the bottom lock
whilst taking the rubbish to the disposal point. At the middle
and top pairs of locks I find both empty so as there are steps to
make life easier in both cases I choose the older lock to ascend.
There is another boat following before I leave so I open the
bottom gates of the other lock for them. At bridge 80 I sound the
horn because I cannot see through and almost immediately a boat
appears so I need full reverse. On the Willoughby straight I
notice some tubes attached to trees - they appear to be Bat
boxes. Shortly afterward I tie up for the night between bridge 87
and Braunston.
Friday 13th October
I am off a bit earlier this morning and make Braunston turn
before 8 a.m. It is nearly 9 a.m. before I see a boat on the move
- going the other way. At the Folly moorings I spot Laplander -
she has moved since I last saw her on the way out. Carry straight
on to the locks starting the flight shortly after 10 a.m. - the
new Banbury lift bridge is still not complete but is more
recognisable. I wait in the third lock for a boat to come down.
When I went to empty the fourth it was nearly full and I could
see a descending boat in the distance so I topped it up for them.
They took a long time arriving as it turned out to be a boat and
butty (moon 1 and 2). A young couple with a baby in a carry frame
were working the pair down the locks. At the lock before the half
mile pound the crew of Omnia tell me they have been leapfrogging
the pair since Cropredy. At Adkins lock the towpath side top
paddle will not close properly it seem to be jamming on
something. There does not appear to be any leakage as the boat
behind manages to empty the lock without to much difficulty. I do
my good deed by phoning the canal line to report the fault but it
cost a lot on the mobile phone as it takes a long time to get the
operator to understand what I am telling her. If she had just
written it down exactly as I stated and passed the information on
I am sure there would not have been any problems. Despite the
hold ups it is less than two and a half hours from bottom to top
of the flight. I stop for a break near bridge 130 and finally
reach the visitor moorings at Fenny Compton at a little after 4
p.m. Tomorrow is a dog show so Jacquie will be joining me and we
shall then go home - the trip is over.
©Michael Cobb 2001
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This page last updated 19/02/02
