Monday 1 July Braunston to
Brinklow after bridge 35 (miles, 5 locks)
Liana, Dave and Phil moved cars this morning, leaving two at Alvecote
and returning in the third. Meanwhile, John and Jan moved Annie down
the two bottom locks in the sun, then filled up with water by the
Stop House. John moored Annie briefly at Midland Chandlers to get oil
filters, then we set off Northwards, once Liana had passed Jan her
camera! After lunch, Dave steered Annie to get practice with a longer
60 foot boat, ready for their new boat, soon to be revealed. John
steered Python for the first time, with Phil keeping a careful eye.
John took Python through the three Hillmorton locks smoothly. We had
a good chat as we went along, and things went fine, with only one bit
of excitement: As John was close to a bridge hole on a corner, a hire
boat appeared, moving quickly on the wrong (ie our) side. He
discovered that Python, being ballasted light at the front to get
close to the bank for vegetation cutting, veers to the left when put
hard in reverse! As it happened, this worked well, and John signalled
the other boat to continue passing on the wrong side, while we stayed
near the left side bank. Clearly, reversing needs to be alternated
with a bit of forward gear to steer in the right direction. Dave said
Annie was a dream in reverse, as she just slows down in a straight
line!
John took Python through Newbold Tunnel, and was impressed with Annie
headlamp, looking back.
Dave and Liana moored Annie just past bridge 35, and John breasted up
Python with her, as it was too shallow next to the bank. Liana's
chilli con carne with rice and a couple of beers went down well as we
all chatted before bed!
Tuesday 2 July Brinklow to the
Anchor Inn, Hartshill (miles, 1 lock)
This mooring is a lovely setting, looking across to a pretty farm.
John saw granny taking grandson to feed the livestock, before we set
off in the sun. We have moored here before. We started the day with
Liana's bacon butties. Dave, Jan and Phil steered Python, while John
followed with Annie. We all moored before the stop lock at Sutton
Stop/Hawkesbury Junction, and ate Liana's ham and cheese toasties for
lunch again – yum! After homage to Bacchus at the Greyhound Inn, we
moved the boats through the lock, turned through the bridge and
reversed to the services, where John had help from Liana and Jan to
carry all the loo holding tanks to the Elsan point, and we dumped
rubbish and recycled glass. John led the way northwards, past the
Ashby canal junction and through Bedworth, where we all marvelled at
the dummies and decorations at Charity Dock. We all enjoyed the sunny
day, passing old mine branches, quarries and spoil heaps. Nuneaton
looks quite tidy as you pass through. We passed the photogenic CRT
yard at Hartshill, happily still used, and moored outside the Anchor
Inn, as recommended by Jan & Dave. They were right! Three of us
had a great meal of local butcher's faggots, Phil had Hunters
Chicken, while Liana had tasty chicken a la crème with (soggy) chips
underneath it. Mine host was full of good humour, and we all had fun.
Wednesday 3 July Hartshill to
Bradley Green, below Atherstone Bottom Lock( miles, 11 locks)
Thursday 4 July Farewell to
Python and crew. Bradley Green to Hopwas (miles, 2 locks)
Friday 5 July Hopwas to Fradley
Junction and on to Rugeley 14 miles, 3 locks)
No comments:
Post a Comment