North to Fradley Junction

 Tuesday 28 June Rugby to The Greyhound at Hawkesbury Junction

Up at 8, showered and walking into Rugby town along this long straight footpath past Tesco’s, enjoying the decent weather. Found a statue dedicated to Sir Frank Whittle, jet engine designer.

We collected our new glasses from Boots Opticians and had a good coffee in the Bacca Lounge, very shabby/industrial  chic!

On the way back we moved the car to a quiet parking space, then had smoked salmon bagels on the boat. Lianas watched tennis on tv while John fell asleep. Lots of boats passed in both directions.

Setting off after 2pm, refreshed, we passed fewer boats. 

Under heavy skies and windy, the scenery was ok but not inspiring, John felt. The last miles after Ansty are noisy next to the M6 and M69, so we were glad to reach Sutton Stop. Lianas urged John to take the first available mooring, but he continued. We were in luck, as the mooring nearest the stop lock and Greyhound was free!

We were soon in the pub.  John scanned the table code and managed to order and pay for beer and meals over the internet - a first! Quietly proud!! John’s curry was good, apart from burnt onion bhajees, which they replaced. Liana’s Hunters Chicken was fine. 

Back to the boat for more Wimbledon!

Thursday 30 June Atherstone  to Alvecote

Hoorah, a sunny, blue sky morning! Shorts and sandal time. Lianas did housework while John drove the mile to Atherstone top lock. We moored at the services and filled up with water. Half a dozen CRT volunteers and workers were busy gardening and repairing the rubber edge near the lock. It was all action!

Eventually we set off, with help at the top lock. Further down, there were several low pounds, so maybe CRT workers could have sorted that before gardening? Just a thought.

Friday 1 July Alvecote to Glascote and on to Hopwas

At Glascote there were four boats waiting to come up, but we only had one boat ahead of us descending. Liana  helped out at the locks while we waited, and we chatted with other boaters. Once through, Liana spotted fuel boat Auriga, so we stopped and replaced a 13kg propane Calor Gas bottle. £43.

At Fazeley Junction, two boats had breasted up at the water point, making it a tight squeeze to get past, especially when a boat came out  of the bridge hole from Birmingham. Thank heavens it turned North, as there was nowhere to go , otherwise!

We moored beyond Whittington Bridge and walked into the village to shop at the Coop, past lots of scenic gardens. Football practice was keeping the children busy on the playing field. We came back via the next bridge and back along the towpath. 

Past a busy Streethay Wharf, alongside the noisy A38, we were glad to bear away from it. Eventually, passing lots of new housing on the old Fradley aerodrome, we reached Fradley Junction. John had thought to go down the lock backwards to the services by the tearoom, but Liana motioned him up the locks. Appt, it was chockablock below the junction. With help from CRT volunteers, we ascended Muddle and Shades Licks  to moor a few hundred yards beyond. Liana took rubbish and phoned her mum, but got back before the torrential rain started. We watched Wimbledon.