Wednesday 30 May 2012


Atherstone Locks, Coventry Canal to Alrewas, Trent and Mersey Canal


We have enjoyed lovely sunshine since our last blog, and we have been boating in the mornings and finding shady spots in the afternoon, mainly for the dog, as he is quickly exhausted in these conditions.

Yesterday, we were moored at Fradley Junction, still on the Coventry Canal, and enjoyed walking around the junction and visiting the refurbished Fradley Marine shop and their new art gallery,  where there are some extremely attractive paintings, including one of a pair of certain hotelboats. A most restful display with some £plendid waterway artworks.

In the evening, we strolled back down to the Swan pub at the junction, to watch the Green Man's Morris and Sword Club from Lichfield, performing in the sunset. As soon as they started, the dog started barking and wailing to the music, so he was taken back to the boat PDQ! Unfortunately, the dance routines were frequently interrupted by cars and bikers driving down the roadway, but it did give the old chaps a chance to get their breath back! We enjoyed some Black Sheep ale, and returned to the boat before the heavens opened.

 This morning, we turned right at Fradley, and onto the Trent and Mersey canal, and down a couple of locks and headed off for Alrewas. We recall from last year that this is a very lovely village with nice people living here. We are not alone, as this evening all the moorings in the village are taken, and boats are still arriving rather disappointed there is no room for them.(They should have got up earlier!)

Saturday 26 May 2012

Hartshill to below Atherstone Locks, Coventry Canal

Free Beer TODAY!

Set off  before 9am - quite late by some boaters standards as boats were passing before 7am, no surprise as it was such a perfect morning.

Made our way steadily down Atherstone Locks, and it is easy to see why water levels cause concern at busy times, as the pounds were getting low. Moored up for lunch and to watch the Grand Prix qualifying at Monaco when a 70ft barge passed by with banner promoting Marstons Pedigree 60th year of production. The boat and crew were on their way to the show at Crick, taking  some barrels of beer with them. Have you got a glass they said? of course we had and they very kindly filled 2 tankards for us to sample the Pedigree straight from the cask.

Friday 25 May 2012

Springwood Haven, Nuneaton to Hartshill, Coventry Canal

Put The Flags Out!

Yes, we are afloat again after an earlier dreary start to the season when we just messed about on the Coventry and North Oxford Canal. Now it is time to get serious, and so a swift decision to turn left out of the marina at Valley Cruises, and off we went! Extremely hot afternoon, and so we found a mooring at Hartshill, just beyond the BW yard, and let the dog cool down - he is soooooooo the wrong colour for this sort of weather.