Monday 12 October 2009

From north of Yelvertoft to Crick, Leicester Arm and onto Braunston, Grand Union Canal

We have now made our way back to Braunston ready for dry docking next week, and becuse a trip home for a few days is also beckoning. Absolutely perfect boating weather by day, and we are certainly not alone in enjoying the October sunshine. very cool overnight and our thoughts are turning towards installation of a wood burner, we should have sorted out ages ago.

We have to say that at Yelvertoft on our way along the Leicester Arm ,we discovered a very good village butcher, with excellent meat and time to talk - highly recommended and well worth a visit. We shall return to him most certainly. Unfortunately, the visit to the village stores was memorable for different reasons.

An easy trip down the staircase of locks at Watford in the sunshine, assisted by helpful BW personnel, but as we were leaving the final lock, 'a jobs worth' element came into play. As another boat approached to go into the lock and on to a passing place, BW closed the gates in front of them and promptly refilled the lock. Unfortunately, every boat must speak to the lockkeeper who is at the top of the flight. Haven't these BW people heard of mobiles or walkytalkies? What a waste of water and energies.

Be back soon.

Saturday 10 October 2009

From above Foxton Locks to just north of Yelverton, Grand Union Canal, Leicester Section


Top hats, long tail coats, lace bonnets and shawls, flat caps and hob nail boots were the order of the day for many boaters we saw dressed in period costume setting off in a parade of boats from Foxton to Market Harborough to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the opening of the canal arm. VAGABOND, an elderly cruise boat containing a brass band, lead the procession away, to the sound of "for all those in peril on the sea"! There was a slight delay to the proceedings due to the late arrival of the horse for the horse drawn boat , but things went to plan after that.

So it was mid morning before we set off from Foxton, and true to form the weather forecasters got it slightly wrong today, as a fine drizzle fell, but all was quickly forgiven as lovely, warm, sunny afternoon soon materialised.The thermals must have been good too, as several gliders were circling overhead.

We have a feeling that today we passed "Indian Jo", on his boat Lakota Dream Spirit, who was slightly known to us as a fellow boater on the Mon and Brec when we had our hotelboats. He certainly looked familiar, but we hesitated to call out to him incase ......... May be we shall encounter him again and have a chance to chat.

Friday 9 October 2009

Foxton Locks, Leicester Section, Grand Union Canal



Well, after a 2 week holiday at home we have returned to the boat and made our way to Foxton, primarily to see the restoration work done here over the last 20 years since our last visit. Now it is a very tidy and well kept site with interest too as the remains of the inclined boat lift plane now very evident, plus the canal museum alongside is open. Plans are in place to fully restore the lift which will ease congestion of boats waiting to get upand down, in fact history will repeat itself.

We have spent the day here as we also wanted to take in a walk we had seen in the D/Tel - thankfully we were able to substitute some tarmac walking with paths across farmland and taking in well signed footpaths. A good 3 hours - need a dog! - made complete by some very enjoyable Theakston Black Bull ale at the pub below the lock staircase.


On our way to Foxton we boated down to Welford, down the pretty canal arm reopened 40 years ago. Rather a dreary place at the end of the canal, but Welford is an attractive village with, thankfully, a good little shop.

So tomorrow we will not proceed down the locks, but turnround and retrace our steps. There is a promenade of dressed boats and boaters in period costume tomorrow, to mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of canal arm to Market Harborough. We will probably watch them leave and then make our way back towards Braunston.

Sorry no pictures this trip, left the camera behind, we hope!

Saturday 19 September 2009

From Kings Sutton to Fenny Compton, Oxford Canal

Well we have now passed through Banbury and that boat we saw being craned out must have been the submerged wreck we saw a couple of weeks ago. Banbury was very busy with boaters as we moored by the Castle Quay centre and lots of folk enjoying the autumn sun. Lunch with Mrs T and then off to find a quiet mooring out of the town.

Great excitement as we spotted a floating black lap top case! On retrieval we didn't find a lap top, but an absolutely sodden A4 notebook crammed with info and numbers plus some case notes, all barely readable by now of course, but obviously important to the author. We handed it over to the Police Station in Cropredy (ie the Village Stores) who will ensure it gets passed on.

Above the locks at Cropredy, there is an American landowner chap who has boat moorings, sells hens eggs and who had all these pumpkins stacking up, presumably for Thanksgiving.

Now we are back at Fenny Compton and would you believe it - as we were tying up, we struck up a conversation with a couple on the towpath who were admiring the boat and it transpired that they had hired from Cambrian Cruisers a couple of years ago. I don't think any of the 4 of us could recall one another!

Thursday 17 September 2009

Upper Heyford to Kings Sutton, Oxford Canal

An early start today to ensure we were ahead of the rest! We were still afloat, but the level was not quite what it should have been. It was at least mid morning before we saw a moving boat and it was rather pleasant to have the water and locks to ourselves for a time, even though it was a grey, still, bland sky all day.

After a brief stop at Aynho Wharf for lunch in The Great Western, (new owners since our canal pubs guide was published), we pushed on to Kings Sutton to moor up, making sure there was a goodly distance from the nearby railway.

En route this afternoon, we found Tuckeys (presumably working for British Waterways), craning out a cruiser that must have sunk - it had a valid licence and may well have been the navigational hazard we had to steer round, when we came through Banbury last week. We shall see tomorrow.

Wednesday 16 September 2009

From Kidlington Green to Upper Heyford, Oxford Canal

A normal start to the day proceeding northwards along the canal, until we got to Thrupp, where the canal was temporarily blocked by 'Dusty', the cheerful coal and diesel carrying chap who was off loading early winter supplies to boats.

We threaded our way through the maze of boats, and moved on through pretty Shipton on Cherwell, and onto Lower Heyford where a short queue of boats built up. As often happens in these situations, the lady crews quickly sort it all out and do the hard work, and the men just stand and wiggle the tillers!

This evening, after a short walk uphill, to the only pub in Upper Heyford, we carried out some quality control of Fullers ales, and returned to the boat, and as the water level was low, we have left the ropes a little slack. (Our last lock had a faulty top paddle, and so the pound is now down on where it should be.) As often happens overnight, water levels sort themselves out, and we will not have any problem tomorrow, certainly not if we get away early, after the bacon sandwiches!

Tuesday 15 September 2009

From Bablock Hythe, River Thames, to Kidlington, Oxford Canal

Some old territory and some new today - we retraced our passage down the Pinkerton and Eynsham locks, and then branched right, and on down to the King's Lock where the lady lock keeper had this helpful facility for cyclists - see picture.

Our route then took us on downstream to Godstow, and through our first electrically controlled lock (just like enFrancais), and out onto a very wide, fast flowing and extremely windy stretch of the Thames, we were fighting with the elements all the way until the shelter of Fiddlers Island, and then to the refuge of the Sheepwash Channel linking us via Isis Lock (picture) to Oxford and the canal again. Wending our way out of the urban area northwards, not an attractive aspect of the city, and we quickly realised we were back under the auspices of British Waterways, overhanging trees, and long stretches of linear moorings.

Thankfully we have found a mooring spot just outside Kidlington - autumn is most definitely here - a cool, windy, overcast day, and the barometer is falling!

Monday 14 September 2009

From Radcot to Bablock Hythe, River Thames

Where have all the boaters gone - back to work we think! Just a handful of boats moving and alas we get to our first lock today and it says "Self Service" so we had to set to and think about which sluice had to be opened and closed, and when.

At the next lock, Rushey Lock, the lock keeper and Bob had a fascinating half hour conversation about the merits of paddles and rymers! These are historic hand operated weirs still in use at many of the locks on the Thames, that are under threat of being replaced because of our old friend 'elfundsafety' .

Eventually we moved off , and this evenings mooring is beside the Ferryman Inn at Bablock Hythe, where there was an ancient foot ferry across the Thames, unfortunately, no longer operating.

Spotted this record of the Thames flood level of 2007 - a good treasure hunt clue!

Sunday 13 September 2009

Lechlade to Radcot, River Thames (or Isis)

A much cooler, overcast day - 2 out of 10 compared to yesterday.

Our day started when we heard the strange sound of some young heifers licking the side of the boat, to get the dewy moisture! One really took a liking to Bob, look at those eyes! (Bob's were a bit dewy!)

Sunday papers purchased, and so we made our way to the limit of navigation, just beyond Lechlade, and turned by a pretty house, as you can see. This is where the Cotswold Canal trust are trying to restore the Thames and Severn Canal to Saul Junction on the Glos and Sharpness Canal.

Then back down 3 locks with a new set of cheery lock keepers, to moor at Radcot, where there is just a pub and a post box AND we think at last, we have seen some bank voles! they were messing about in a quiet corner of a camping field, under some moored boats.

Apparently the boat Elizabeth dates from about 1870 and is probably one of the earliest narrowboats still in use. Shame about the motorbike thrown on it.

Saturday 12 September 2009

From Kelmscott to Lechlade, River Thames

A fantastic day, bright blue sky, sunshine from the start. Happy fishermen as we leave our mooring - apparently fish like to hang about around where boats are!

Just 2 locks today, Buscot Lock and then St John's Lock where a large stone statue lies alongside the lock, of Father Thames.

Lechlade church spire can be seen in the distance for quite some time as the river twists and turns, and the steerer needs to keep alert as some of these plastic cruisers certainly move at speed.

Lechlade itself is a very attractive riverside town, with pub gardens to the waters edge. Lots of people enjoying the day, watching the boats moving about, trip boats, canoes, rowing boats, cruisers, narrow boats, boats towing boats and .......... even a lady swimming!

There are antique shops crammed with so much stuff, it would take a week to see it all. Lots of nicely dressed people going to a wedding at the Church - is it Lord Frederick Windsor? Doubt it.

Yes, we like Lechlade - somehow it was all very English - just a shame about the cars and noisy bikes passing through.

We are staying here tonight as it is a pleasant mooring , edging a grassy field - we await the farmer visiting for his mooring fee - it does happen.

Friday 11 September 2009

From below Dashwood Lock Oxford canal to Kelmscott, River Thames

Yes, we are back on a river, having continued down the Oxford Canal, passing through Thrupp, where we enjoyed a happy evening with the crew from Worthy Fox, and then on down almost into Oxford. We then turned right and moved through Duke's Cut and on to the River Thames (or River Isis). So big locks again, and very sociable lock keepers cheerfully working alongside very attractive lock houses beside the Thames. One lockkeeper specialised in topiary as pic shows!

There are very few bridges across the Thames, and those that there are, are very low and narrow, as you can see!

We saw a Vulcan bomber take to the skies again!

We aimed for Kelmscott as this where William Morris lived in the Tudor Manor House until he died in 1896. Unfortunately, the Manor opens only on Wednesdays and alternate Saturdays. So, instead we visited The Plough in the village, and reminisced about a meal we had there 20+ years ago that we had to share with the landlord's Great Dane!

The weather is currently just perfect and the barometer is rising!, but it is chilly at night, but we are resisting putting the heating on. Red sky bodes well for tomorrow, as we reach the end of the navigable Thames just beyond Lechlade.

Tuesday 8 September 2009

From Grant's Lock to below Dashwood Lock, Oxford Canal

Well today was full of surprises! First boat went past at 7am, so our day started early too.

We set off down the Oxford Canal narrow locks and found ourselves approaching a lock where a hotel motor boat was just coming through. It became quickly evident that the butty boat of the hotel pair was also coming up, so out with our camera. Low and behold, I said to a lady standing beside me watching the activity that we used to do this, pulling boats through locks, she asked where and I said Wales and it turned out that she and her friend with her, were some of our own hotelboat guests, from way back, and to top it all one of these two ladies today was wearing a Mon and Brec kingfisher sweatshirt!

So our other shot shows the happy exchange at the lock side.

Onward for a little way and then we joined a queue of 9 boats to use the deep lock at Somerton. It took ages as the lower lock gate was leaking torrents, and whilstnthere were lots of boats, there was little coordinated teamwork unfortunately. The day just got hotter and hotter, and sapped our strength.

Looking forward to an easier day tomorrow.

8 locks; 12 miles

Monday 7 September 2009

From Cropredy to above Grant's Lock south of Banbury, Oxford Canal

We are off again, having delayed our start this morning to allow the congestion of boats and people and dogs to thin out. We are in no hurry!

We threaded our way through Banbury encountering many long term moorings and through narrow stretches. We steered around this sunken boat on the outskirts of Banbury, with a valid licence still visible!

A few moments wait to use the lock in the middle of Banbury, but no chance of Woolworths opening of course!

A little way out of Banbury we realised we were number 6 in the line for Grant's Lock and as queueing is not our favourite pasttime we moored up for the evening and enjoyed a glass of Bin 53!

5 locks; 6 miles

Saturday 5 September 2009

Fenny Compton Wharf to below Claydon Flight of locks, Oxford Canal

A perfect morning, blue sky and bright warm sun as we wait for Trinders Taxis to take us to Tesco Banbury for a big shop.

Shopping done, lunch over, we proceeded down the canal and down the locks at Claydon to moor ready to tackle the Cropredy flight tomorrow in good time for a Sunday lunch at one of the pubs there, when the Trinder branch of the family may be able to join us.

The bridge picture shows the Stockton Road bridge, the first canal bridge Vagabond travelled over! after being born in 2007, and leaving the steelfabricators.

Our photo today was of this unidentified breed of duck - any ideas?

Tuesday 1 September - Friday 4 September 2009

From Buckby Top Lock Grand Union Canal to Fenny Compton, Oxford Canal

We have been bone idle over the last few days, and boated a very short distance, and been through just 15 locks. We decided to turn left at Braunston and proceed towards the Thames at Oxford via the pretty Oxford canal.

Before leaving Braunston we encountered a lady canal trader - see picture - who is moving along the waterways providing a range of boating essentials like coal, logs, diesel, gas, Brasso etc We also visited Braunston Marina and reserved the cute little historical dry dock for DIY hull blacking next month

Now we are well down the Oxford Canal looking at winter marina possibilities as we go. Enjoyed a good meal at The Bridge at Napton visiting on a Wednesday which is their pie night. We made ourselves walk into Napton village for supplies, and found a very neat and attractive village with excellent shop. The other picture shows the well known windmill landmark on Napton hill.

So now we are moored beside The Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton, and have high expectation of a good evening there - food and company as our springtime crew girls is able to join us!

Bank Holiday Monday 31 August 2009

From Nether Heyford to above Buckby Top Lock, Grand Union Canal Main Line

A dry bank holiday! We travelled up 7 locks mingling in with a slowish trail of boats in both directions. Everybody very pally and patient. We met a boater going the other way who we have encountered quite a few times this summer. Its a small world on the waterways!

Our picture shows some waterside topiary we brushed past, shaped to resemble an animal taking a drink. Bob reckoned an elephant?

We are not looking forward to tomorrow as we shall have to make a decision as to which direction to take, either towards Leicester or Braunston. May not move at all the weather is going to be awful.

7 locks; 7 miles

Sunday 30 August 2009

From Gayton Junction, Northampton Arm to Nether Heyford, Grand Union Canal

We finally made a decision, and turned right at Gayton Junction, and suddenly we were back into very busy canal waterway life, boats appearing from all directions. A fruitless stop at Bugbrooke village for a Sunday paper resulted in a beer in the pub garden opposite the boat! Then the rain started to fall steadily, and after lunch on board, we moved off for a very short way before we gave in to the dreary conditions.

Never mind, the weather people have promised a good day tomorrow!

No photos to-day due to weather conditions!!

Saturday 29 August 2009

Weston Favell Lock, River Nene to Gayton Junction Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal

Our picture taken before setting off today, shows the Northampton washlands, a flood defence area, along the river Nene, complete with early morning rowers. It also shows that the new camera that we had to buy does panoramic views.

A much less windy day today, and after a brief stop in Northampton, we retraced our steps back up the locks to Gayton Junction. Just as we reached the final lock we spotted a Vulcan flying in the distance - this must be one of the privately restored planes, probably visiting a nearyby air display. Unfortunately it had flown out of range to get a picture.

We were helped up the lock flight by a man and his hyper-active border collie, the only thing that the dog hadn't been trained to do was open the lock gates.

Moored back at Gayton marina and watched a few hireboat crews setting off on their holidays. It brought back memories of Saturday turn-arounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday 28 August 2009

From Wellingborough back to Weston Favell Lock, River Nene

Yes, well spotted, we have turned round!

After doing last nights blog, we became aware of the Police having been called by another boater, as some local lads had apparently been carelessly casting their fishing lines into his boat. This inspired lots of inter-boater chatter which revealed that we were very likely to encounter intimidation and vandal problems a few locks ahead. Overnight we decided to avoid the chance of confrontation now and possibly again on our return, and so we have backtracked yesterdays journey. Extremely strong winds today, made it a very different experience and even the Environment Agency boys trying to cut river weed gave in to the elements. Our picture shows their very manoeverable machine - and why hasn't BW got something like this?

10 guillotine locks; 8.3 miles

Thursday 27 August 2009

Weston Favell Lock to Wellingborough, River Nene

What a different day - blue sky, warm sun, ALL day, just like summer.

We pressed buttons and wound paddle gear and managed to negotiate the forbidding guillotine locks. Only a couple of boats passed us in each direction, as we progressed along the crystal clear waters of the Nene, with spectacular countryside all around. Mooring places are few and far between on this route, and somehow we passed Billing Aquadrome without spotting the entrance, so we shall have to visiit on the way back.

Our picture shows some ponies at our first a lock, one of whom who became very interested in our flower box but he couldn't quite reach it!

We are moored this evening in the sunshine, in Wellingborough, beside a park, with masses of swans all overfed with naughty white bread from the 24 hour Tesco across the road. Unfortunately we have picked a spot adjacent to a flour mill which will probably be processing all night.

10 guillotine locks and 8.3 miles

Wednesday 26 August 2009

From Gayton on Grand Union Canal, Northampton Arm on to Weston Favell Lock, River Nene

We are back afloat again and plan to explore the Fens and drains and sluices in East Anglia this trip. Sounds delightful doesn't it!

We dithered at the start of the day as to what to do as hurricane Bill was expected today, but the sky didn't suggest he was imminent, so we set off with 17 locks ahead. It was dry and we struck up quite a pace with the use of the folding bike (with big wheels) between locks. Very narrow passage through the water reeds as you can see!
At lock 13 Bob did his good deed for the day by rescuing a small weasel that was shivering on the lockladder, having exhausted himself swimming frantically in the lock as we filled it. The weasel very trustingly got into the fishing net and then galloped away into the undergrowth.

As we moved down on to the River Nene, after a late lunch and a chance for the cycling legs to recover, we found ourselves on the outskirts of Northampton. As we are now in Environment Agency waters we have a different key to use at the locks . This is where hurricane Bill caught up with us, and after a few more locks we felt we had done enough battling against the wind and driving rain, so we are moored against a winter time emergency fens flood jetty, below Weston Favell lock, which looks as if it is push button operated - such power!

Grand Union 4.8 miles 17 narrow locks

River Nene 2.9 miles 3 wide manual locks

Tuesday 25th August 2009

Stoke Bruerne to Gayton (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

Following an early morning start to traverse the Blisworth tunnel in relative peace, it's time to hand back the boat and resume our normal lives. It's been a great couple of weeks, helped by excellent weather for boating.

5 miles and no locks today. Weather OK.

Monday 24th August 2009

Cosgrove to Stoke Bruerne (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

We stayed at Cosgrove for the night; it's a lovely village consisting of a pub, church, school, canal and a road that leads nowhere, so it is really quiet even in the 'centre'. All neat and tidy in a 'proper' sort of English village way, unlike the artificial Milton Keynes style. There is also a small foot tunnel under the canal that joins the pub to the towpath - very convenient!

After a prolonged wait for a much needed pump out (including turning the boat twice to get the correct side of the boat against the quay), we ascended the first five Stoke Bruerne locks, and stopped in the Navigation Inn (photo) for lunch. We then did the other two locks, complete with a large audience taking photos like they were going out of fashion.

We briefly visited the museum at Stoke Bruerne, which was interesting.

6 miles and 7 locks today. Much cooler than yesterday though still partially sunny, but no real rain.

Sunday 23rd August 2009

Water Eaton to Cosgrove (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

Yet another day of brilliant sunshine, though at times with what the nautical types call a "freshening wind".

An uneventful day; the usual chaos at the locks, not so much people not knowing what they were doing, more poor communication.

We've finally escaped from the clutches of Milton Keynes and its surroundings, and are now back in "normal" countryside.

We are currently moored up for the day looking at a beautiful bridge (probably) made of Cotswold stone.

11 miles and 2 locks today. Hot sun for most of the day.

Saturday 22nd August 2009

Water Eaton to Leighton Buzzard and back (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

We picked up some friends today and took them to Leighton Buzzard and back, stopping off in the town centre to have a good pub meal.

Leighton Buzzard marks the most southerly point of our journey; from now on we'll be traveling back up the Grand Union canal.

We passed Rosanne, the Bromley Youth Trust's boat, familiar from a trip many years ago! It was crewed by the Orpington Scout Fellowship and included several mutual acquaintances.

The photo shows some of the locks at Soulbury, showing also a very conveniently located pub on the right.

There seem to be many herons in this area; it's marvelous to watch them.

12 miles and 10 locks today. The weather was a nice mixture of sun and wind.

Friday 21st August 2009

Great Linford to Water Eaton (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

After a sunny start, it soon started to rain, and finally we had the sort of rain where everything gets wet. Still, the outside of the boat needed a wash, especially after some helpful people strimming along the towpath covered one side of the boat with grass while we were moored!

We did stop for a few geocaches throughout the day (see http://www.geocaching.com), but they were too well hidden for us to find.

The sun shone again in the afternoon and we had a gentle cruise along the manicured tidiness of Milton Keynes. We also passed the proposed start of the Milton Keynes and Bedford Waterway.

Our one lock today was at Fenny Stratford, only 1' 1" deep but notable for having a swing bridge inconveniently placed across it - the photo shows the open bridge just to the right of the lock itself. We also had some trouble with shutting the gates - something about pins and clogs; the details are hazy but the people in the pub garden seemed to know what was wrong.

This afternoon, we amused ourselves by playing a game of scrabble.

7.5 miles and one lock today. Weather was mixed; a wet morning but sunny and a bit windy in the afternoon.

Thursday 20th August 2009

Blisworth to Great Linford (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

An early start this morning; we went through 3057 yard Blisworth Tunnel at 7am... It was definitely worth it, though, as there were no diesel fumes and we met no other boats.

We stopped for breakfast at Stoke Bruerne (photo on right); the place seems to be the local canal tourist centre, so we quickly left to go down the seven Stoke Bruerne locks. At this point, we had the first daytime rain of our trip so far, but the sun was shining a few locks further on, so it wasn't too consequential.

Following the locks, the canal was flat to Cosgrove. As we move south, everything is becoming just that bit more neat and tidy.

After a single lock at Cosgrove, which was interesting due to a strong broadside wind, we crossed the Great Ouse aqueduct and then entered the Milton Keynes area.

13 miles and 8 Locks today. Weather was mixed.

Wednesday 19th August 2009

Welton to Blisworth (Grand Union Canal, Main Line)

After a week of ascent, we are finally going downhill.

After a bit of chaos at Norton Junction (I still don't know what one boat was trying to do), we successfully descended the seven locks at Buckby. The photo shows an interesting trinket shop by one of the locks, where we acquired two buckets, a blanket badge and a pirate hat!

Toward the end, there were enough boats coming up to have the locks set for us, which saved a lot of time and effort. Going down with another boat and sharing crew also helped as one pair could go on to prepare the next lock.

Unfortunately, the bottom lock had a leak half way down, which just lined up with an open window in the boat. As my crew were busy elsewhere, there followed an interesting period maneuvering the boat so the leak was away from the windows!

After lunch at the bottom of the locks, we had a rather boring afternoon cruise to Blisworth itself, ready for the tunnel first thing tomorrow.

14 miles and 7 locks today. Weather was sunny all day and far too hot...

Tuesday 18th August 2009

Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore (Oxford Canal) to Welton (Grand Union Canal)

Another gentle day. We had a few locks straight after breakfast going up the Hillmorton flight, then a peaceful cruise along the Oxford Canal to Braunston. We'd expected Braunston to be very busy, but everyone must have been somewhere else as there was little traffic either way.

We had lunch in "The Admiral Nelson", which provided a nice break halfway up the Braunston lock flight.

After lunch, we ascended the remaining Braunston locks, and finally tackled the Braunston Tunnel, which was smokey as usual but thankfully not too busy. For any interested: the tunnel was opened in 1796 and is 2024 yards long.

We are now moored in a quiet cutting just east of the tunnel as further on, the canal joins the M1 and West Coast Main Line. Passing boaters have mentioned that the Grand Union Leicester Section is "heaving" with boats, so we will definately be heading south along the Grand Union Main Line tomorrow.

12 miles and 9 locks today. Weather was warm and dry, but with slightly less sun than previous days.

Monday 17th August 2009

Hawkesbury Junction to Clifton-Upon-Dunsmore (Oxford Canal)

Much to our surprise, it's been yet another lovely sunny day, albeit with a few spots of rain early in the morning.

The Oxford Canal has had a lot of northbound (and novice) traffic, which always seem to appear at the narrow places on the canal, so progress has been fairly slow. We also had to stop several times for supplies, so we haven't made it as far as we'd hoped.

We went through our first tunnel today; the 250 yard Newbold tunnel. I was amused by a sign right at the entrance with the notices and restrictions - by the time the helmsman has reached the sign, most of the boat is in the tunnel - far too late to do anything about it...

We noticed some ducks picking blackberries at the side of the canal today - a strange sight! We also had an opportunity to pick some of our own from the side of the towpath when we stopped for supplies in the mid afternoon. It's just the right season for blackberries - they're all perfect - fat, sweet and juicy.

We also saw a kingfisher.

The photo shows one of the many iron bridges constructed when the canal was 'streamlined' in the 1820's.

13 miles and no locks today.

Sunday 16th August 2009

Nuneaton - Coventry (Coventry Canal) - Hawkesbury (Oxford Canal)

In the end, we decided to miss out on the delights of the Ashby Canal and went to Coventry instead. It was a very pleasant detour, with a lovely modern canal basin at the end. We arrived to find some form of entertainment laid on at the quayside, though I suspect not specifically for us.

Instead, we gave the audience in the basin a good laugh whilst attempting to turn the boat. Thankfully, we didn't actually hit anything and in the end, a kindly local explained the way to do it and it all worked perfectly.

Coventry was nice and quiet, being a Sunday, but it's a shame about the Cathedral... The old, ruined Cathedral was moving, but the new one was a bit of a disappointment.

Our single lock today was at Hawkesbury; it was all of 4" deep - this may be the shallowest lock on the canal system.

Again, it's been a lovely sunny day. We have been lucky!

14 miles and one lock today.

Saturday 15th August 2009

Alvecote to South of Nuneaton (Coventry Canal)

We spent the bulk of the morning ascending the eleven locks in the Atherstone flight. Lovely boating weather, though occasionally, at a critical moment a cross wind would put the boat where we didn't want it.

Half way up the locks, boaters coming down were muttering about water shortages and closed locks, but as we continued, all seemed to be fine and we finished the staircase without a hitch.

The left photo shows a train on the Trent Valley main line - rail enthusiasts will know that this line has been upgraded recently.

This afternoon was a lock free meander along the canal; we've stopped just south of Nuneaton (which itself didn't look too inviting). The right hand photo shows our final mooring for the day, a lovely spot in the evening sunshine.

Tomorrow we must decide to either take a detour on the Ashby Canal or continue our route south.

14 miles and 11 locks today.

Friday 14th August 2009

Alrewas (Trent & Mersey Canal) to Alvecote (Coventry Canal)

The four locks on the Trent & Mersey Canal were very busy this morning; there wasn't a dull moment between locks. Then an extreme change as we went onto the Coventry Canal, where for the first half an hour, I thought we were the only boat there. It was all beautifully green and pleasant, winding through woodland and farmland for a long stretch of the journey.

We stopped at Hopwas for lunch - the village seemed to consist of two large pubs, a canal bridge, some suburban housing and not much else. The food was unremarkable but the beer was good!

The photos show the busy scene at Fradley Junction and our lunchtime pub. Look closely at the latter (click for a bigger image), and you just might see a familiar boat...

15.5 miles and 6 locks today.

Thursday 13th August 2009

Willington to Alrewas, Trent & Mersey Canal

Well, there goes another day of pleasant boating. No boat lifts, no lock flights, no tidal locks, only half a mile of peaceful river that crossed the canal.

This bit of the Trent & Mersey is really nice, mostly wide enough to navigate with ease, but with one or two interesting "squeezes" to keep the attention in place. The first few locks were double ones, but now we are in the single lock section. Now we know that the "broad beam" boat can't be following us!

On the subject of following boats, we ended up meeting another boat several times at a couple of consecutive locks, which gave us a little amusement whilst we waited our turn. We also got to grips with the walkie talkies - or "banana phones" as we have taken to calling them. They've been extremely useful for everything ranging from avoiding trees to synchronising working the locks.

Since we brought the sat nav with us, we've been able to find a couple of geocaches near the canal as we passed them, which has been an added bonus. We plan to do more!

The weather has been lovely! Knowing English summers, we're enjoying it while we can.

8 locks, 15.5 miles.

(PS - We saw the Mon & Brec boat from Sawley Marina again!)