UK Canals - Journey reports

Hillmorton Bottom approach

 

The temperature is much cooler now and the stove appreciated.  Also the wind is getting up again.  First job was to wind which meant using the stop lock twice, winding easily with the bows under the bridge at the junction.   The we started back to Barby, expecting to arrive tomorrow morning.  Starting before 8:00 am we encountered one or two boats, unusual for us, then a few more after Ansty but it was only after Rose Narrowboats that we came up against the flotilla, culminating in 7 successive opposite directions needing swift decisive action to get through Easenhall Road Bridge, then great care past the offside vegetation and moored boats on the bend by the car park.   After that, plain sailing.  There were spaces at Newbold but Rugby was largely full.  The last boater before we moored on the first bit of piling after Bridge 69 advised us that the “is a long wait at the locks” not surprising for a bank holiday weekend with only one side of the pairs working.   A good wind for the wind generator when we got it up.

Hawkesbury Junction

Heavy rain first thing but by the time we departed it was just light rain and stopped altogether  after an hour or so with blue sky patches evident.  Just before Ansty we encountered an almost continuous stream of opposite direction boats.  One can only assume that they had all left Hawkesbury when the rain had stopped, so we were hopeful for a decent mooring spot near to the pub.   So it emerged.   We found the last bit of straight free in the run up to the stop lock.   Lots of puddles which have the children much delight and covered the side of the boat with mud spots as the water dried.   They were soaked of course and few reserves of dry clothes.

Easenhall Road

The weather is getting cooler, so on balance we decided to light the fire.  Good job too.  Rain is forecast for later.  Needing gas and a diesel top-up we aimed for Armada Boats.   The wharf at Clifton Boats was empty and I’m sure we could have got both there, but the diesel there was quite expensive last time we stopped there.  Moorings near Tesco at Rugby were also full, so that eliminated that stop and Newbold was also fully subscribed.  It’s a busy time, all hire bases we have passed have had all their boats out.   The wharf at Armada was vacant fortunately and we got prompt service.   I had already disconnected the gas, so it was just a case of swapping the bottles over.   Then we moved on.  Our intended mooring in the straight before Easenhall Road Bridge was almost empty so good news there.    As predicted it started raining after lunch and continued fort he rest of the day and probably night.    No wind!

Grand children

We arrived at Barby with Lilly and Harrison at 8:40, met the Alpacas, still grazing on our grass, and unloaded the car.  It took 2 hours to slowly get everything organised, then with much ado and in quite a strong wind left in the direction of Hillmorton.   Our objective is a slow passage to Hawkesbury aiming to return on Monday for drive back to Chatham on Tuesday 1st Sept.  Trying to spin things out a bit we stopped for lunch at the top of the locks.   As soon as we decided to move, three boats appeared behind, which resulted in a slow transit, queuing at every lock.   Only lone of each pair was in operation one of these, two has u/s paddles on the bottom gates.   Wouldn’t take much to block the whole flight.  Moving on again from the bottom lock we had to go as far as just being in sight of the new road bridge before finding a decent mooring.  It was 14:10.   A slow day indeed.   It’s very sheltered where we are, but temperatures around 16 degrees.  No rain thus far.

Oxford Canal:Barby

Now that the bow thruster problem still remains, I took the opportunity to remove the test wiring while the engine was cold. The problem must just be the sticky solenoid.   Our run unaided up Hillmorton Locks took 30 minutes and by 8:40 we were waiting at Barby for a space on the pumpout wharf.   That done, we packed up, closed the boat down and left for home.

Oxford Canal:Hillmorton (bottom)

An uneventful run from Hawkesbury really.   Came up behind another boat after Ansty on the long straights, but never caught up except to have had the Rose Narrowboats bridgelet opened by them and left for us and to be closed after us by a boatyard employee.   The offside vegetation at Newbold has become a problem again.   Not that it bothered us this time because there  was no opposite direction traffic but had there been it would have been tricky.  At least one boat width on the Newbold side of the bridge has been encroached upon by bushes and boats can be moored on the water point opposite, as this time.   There is no visibility through the bridge until almost there. Rugby was busy and Clifton Cruisers was a bit messy with returned hire boats and opposite direction stuff.   Scattered cloud but cool wind.  We are in position for an early start tomorrow.   

Coventry Canal:Hawkesbury Junction

Still here!  Jim turned up as expected with all the kit and set to work changing the gas regulator.  All done by midday and can recommend him if anyone interested.  Now Pat is happy and able to use the cooker once more.  We shall stay here today and make an early start for Hillmorton tomorrow.   Pat, sitting out the front felt that there are quite a few “undesirables” about.  One group of lads thought it would be fun to jump the narrows.  The first tried and failed, so they gave up.  But we had no trouble and a quiet evening.  Friendly passers by.   Meal onboard tonight with a glass of wine.  Nice!

Coventry Canal:Hawkesbury Junction

An early start.  As we are moored right at the end of the line and as our gas is off due to regulator failure I felt it was OK to run the engine at 6:00 to give Pat a cup of tea.   We left at 7:00 and had a good run through to Marston Junction.  Almost made the turn in one go.  YoU need to be really slow coming out of the narrow bridge and there isa little recess in the edge un dear the bridge to just allow the early start of the turn before the stern is fully out.   On arrival at Hawkesbury we took the first obvious mooring on the Coventry side and went for a recce.  We are expecting Jimm Boat Services tomorrow to replace our gas regulator and it would be helpful to be as close to the car park as possible.  As it turned out there were no nearby moorings round the corner on the Oxford Canal side, but the first 7 day mooring by the footbridge opposite the pumping station was free, so we moved.

A quiet afternoon!  Having worked out how to book online at the Greyhound yesterday (£5.00 fee refundable on the meal) we turned up at the appointed time and were shown to our table in the marquee out front.  Very helpful charming staff who explained that we order online, and then food will appear (half hour prepping time).   So we finally got round that - took us about 15 minutes I think, but not really difficult, just unfamiliar.  Excellent food, top rate as always here.