Back home

 We completed the final sage of our month-long travels this morning.  We left the mooring at Hilmorton at 8:50 and arrived at our marina entrance about 1.5 hours later.

Long straight stretch of canal

It was then the fun started.  There was a strong wind blowing from the direction of the marina entrance when we arrived.  There was also a boat leaving. This meant that I had to try and stop Densie being blown well of course until the departing boat had left - canal boats are very susceptible to be blown around by side winds.

To add to the complications, behind us there were 2 or 3 other boats wanting to carry on down the canal but they could not move forward until we were out of the way, so they were also being blown around.  Plus the boat which had left the marina was also trying to go up the canal, but could not easily get through.

When we had a clear path through the entrance we went straight in leaving everyone else to  sort themselves out.  Ideally we would have wanted to stop at the services wharf to empty our waste tank and dispose of the rubbish but it was already occupied and manoeuvering in wind was impossible so we went straight into our berth and will visit the servces tomorrow when the wind is forecast to be much calmer.

Moored at our home berth

Today's Statistics

Distance: 4.04 miles
Locks: 0
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

Total Journey Statistics

Distance: 156.05 miles
Locks: 97
Movable bridges: 1
Duration: 85.1 hours over 28 days

Hilmorton Locks - nearly home

 Our 4-week cruise is now nearly complete. We could have got back to the marina today but there was no need to push ourselves when a return on Saturday was always the plan.

During the night we had heard rain falling on the boat roof but it had stopped by the time we woke.   As in the past few days the weather started off grey and cool but brightened up during the morning.

We started moving at 9:45.  A  mile later we reached Newbold Tunnel.  A boat could be seen in the tunnel approaching us so we waited for it to emerge.  Although the tunnel is wide enough for 2 boats to pass we were in no hurry. At only 250 yards it is the shortest  one on our journey, and it only took about 3 minutes to reach the other end. One point of note is that the tunnel is only one of two  on the whole system to have a towpath on both sides of the waterway.

We wait for an on-coming boat to leave Newbold Tunnel

Looking back through Newbold Tunnel as another boat follows us

The canal then continued through Rugby where there seemed to be very few boats moored.  Most times we have been there it has been difficult at times to find somewhere to stop.  Beyond Rugby the 3 pairs of locks in the attractive and well-kept Hilmorton flight  lift boats by 18 foot. Luckily there were volunteer lock keepers on the 2 bottom pairs.

We moored for the night soon afterwards at lunchtime.

Moored near Hilmorton Locks

Today's Statistics

Distance: 5.65 miles
Locks: 3
Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes

Back on the North Oxford Canal

After leaving our mooring at 9:20  It was only a few hundred yards to Hawkesbury Junction where the Oxford Canal branches off the Coventry Canal in a hair-pin turn. This will take us all the way back to our marina.

To enter the Oxford Canal one has to ascend a stop lock about a foot high, the only lock on today's journey.  It is needed as the Coventry  Canal was created slightly lower than the Oxford Canal preventing the Oxford Canal using Coventry Canal Water.

After leaving the Coventry Canal the Oxford Canal follows a route through the hilly countryside similar to those later used by the West Coast Main Railway Line and the M6 which in places create background noise  on an otherwise peaceful canal.

Unusual design of bridge near Hawkesbury Junction

Approaching Stretton Stop, boats everywhere

About 2/3 of today's journey the canal passes through through Stretton Stop where there is a busy boatyard, moorings and hireboat base.   This is followed by Easenhall Cutting where poor design 200 years ago has led to frequent landslips.  A major one in January 2024 blocked the canal for several months.

Repaired landslip in Easenhall Cutting

It took us longer than planned to find a mooring spot as our usual one near Brinklow was full but we were able to find somewhere suitable at 13:45 out in the countryside near the hamlet of Cathiron close to the West Coast main line.

Moored at Cathiron

Todays Statistics

Distance: 10.47 miles
Locks: 1
Duration: 4 hour 25 minutes

Through Nuneaton towards Covewntry

 Another cold grey morning with a spell of rain was a bad start to todays travels. However the weather quickly cleared after we left Athetstone at 8:55. Our route took us past the 19th century Hartshill Yard and on through Nuneaton.  

Hartshill Yard

In the past the town has looked rather drab from the waterway which keeps well away from the town centre.  However, this time it looked much improved since our last visit with many new houses, older estates hidden by trees and very little litter on the towpath.  Beyond Nuneaton lies Marston Juction where the Ashby Canal leaves the Coventry Canal. 

Marston Junction

We moored for the night 2 miles further on near Hawkesbury Junction on the outskirts of Coventry. So with no locks to delay us and what turned out to be reasonable weather we had an enjoyable cruise despite the lack of major points of interest.

Moored near Hawkesbury Junction

Today's Statistics

Distance: 10.76 miles
Locks: 0
Duration: 4.5 hours

 11 Locks to Atherstone

The clouds were grey and the wind gusty when we set off at 8:40.  It felt cold so we were both wearing sweatshirts and a fleece.  On the plus side the canal was reasonably deep and we were able to keep up a good speed.

Atractive tree-lined stretch of the Coventry Canal

Just over a mile later we arrived at the first of the 11 locks which lead up to the small town of Atherstone. Now that we are on the narrow canals 11 locks in a day is not a major task and we reached the top in less than 3 hours helped in the last 5 locks by a team of volunteer lock-keepers who did most of the heavy work. By this time the grey clouds had cleared and the weather began to get very warm.

Waiting to enter Atherstone bottom Lock

We moored for the day conveniently near the main route into the town centre at 12:00. The mooring is opposite a former hat factory which has been derelict for many years.

Moored in Atherstone

Today;s Statistics

Distance: 3.41 miles
Locks: 11
Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Tamworth and beyond

 After 2 nights stay in Hopwas because we had a visit from Denise's sister we need to make good progress to get home by the weekend.  Having woken up at 6:30 we were ready to move out of Hopwas by 8:25. The weather was comfortably cooler than last week but with strong gusty winds.

Entering Tamworth - Bonehill Road Bridge 

2 miles further on we entered the large busy industrial town of Tamworth.  The canal does not go anywhere near the centre but rather keeps to the suburbs.  First stop was the tap at Fazeley Junction where we filled our water tank for the first time since our stop in Willington on the 18th June. This took over 20 minutes as the water flow was fairly slow.

At Fazeley Junction the Birmingham  & Fazeley Canal leads south to the cenre of Birmingham whilst the Coventry Canal continues on eastwards.  We are now definitely on the Coventry Canal, no confusions (See Saturday's log). After an aqueduct over the River Tame we quickly reached and ascended the 2 Glascote locks, the only locks on today's journey.  

Crossing the River Tame

Waiting to enter the first Glascote Lock

2 miles further on the canal left Tamworth and passed by Alvecote Marina where several old but restored ex-working boats can be seen.  The canal then passes below the M42 into the village of Polesworth.  Perhaps unfairly I always feel this place is somewhat boring with no incentives to moor for a while.  We did moor 2 miles later out in the countryside.

2 ex-working narrowboats

Moored at Meadow Lane Bridge 50

Today's statistics

Distance: 9.56 miles
Locks: 2
Time: 4 hours 35 minutes

On the Coventry Canal

 Another early start to minimise travelling in the hottest part of the day. Straight after leaving our overnight mooring we ascended the only lock for the day. This took us up to the Junction where a left turn took us off the Trent & Mersey and on to the Coventry Canal. 

Approaching Junction Lock at Fradley

Entering Junction Lock

Immediately after the junction there is a very small swing bridge that gives pedestrian access to a few houses near the canal. Not that interesting, but there are few other points of particular interest on the canal. It is  very rural only passing through the outskirts of 3 small villages.  The scenery is quite attractive but this is  difficult to show in a photograph.

Looking back at a following boat and typical scenery

One of the small villages mentioned is Whittington where a carved stone marks the boundary between the Coventry Canal and the Birmingham and Fazeley canal, a  complication arising because different sections of the canal were built by different competing canal companies. You can still see the effects as the Coventry Canal sections have bridges identified by a number whereas the Birmingham and Fazelley bridges have names, a difference that has not been harmonised in the past 200 years.

Moored in Hopwas

We arrived att the small village of Hopwas at 12:15 and will spend the night and much of tomorrow here. Lucky that we did not continue as the weather would have been uncomfortable - rain plus overheating.

Today's Statistics

Distance: 8.74 miles
Locks: 1
Swing Bridges: 1
Time: 3 hours 55 minutes