Back in the marina

On the Coventry Canal near Streethay

We are now moored back in our marina after a 4hour 40min voyage from Tamhorn Park Bridge, not counting the stop for lunch at Fradley Junction.  We will stay the night here and go home in the morning.

On our way back after a couple of walks around a nature reserve

Moored near Curdworth Bottom Lock

For the second morning the fire failed to last the night so when we awoke the boat temperature was showing 10 degrees.  Easily solved - turn on the central eating and go back to bed for a hour.

After breakfast we walked around the lake next to our moorings.  It was created from gravel workings and now forms part of a water park.  There were a large number of very noisy black headed gulls and a few teal, tufted ducks and a gadwall.

Middleton Lakes RSPB Nature Reserve

Having returned to the boat we cruised a mile back towards Tamworth and moored again next to further lakes, this time an RSPB reserve.  Another walk was rather more fruitful providing good views of tufted ducks, shovellers, teal, another gadwall, various geese, shelduck, great crested grebe, little egret and best of all, a group of 4 avocets, the delightful bird used for the logo of the RSPB.

Then back to the boat and on with the cruise.  Back to Fazeley, left towards Fradley arriving in the early afternoon where we had moored on Monday night.  The wind was getting stronger and colder so we decided to call it a day.

Out again - a short 4-5 day trip

After what seems a very long winter we are out again for a short trip.  It gives us a chance to check that the new alternator fitted a couple of weeks ago performs as well as the engineer predicted and reduces the amount of time we need to run the engine in order to recharge the batteries.

Swan nesting at Hopwas

We set off yesterday from our marina, turned right at Fradley Junction onto the Coventry Canal and moored out in the countryside at Tamhorn Farm Bridge.  This morning we cruised the couple of miles to the Ventura Park shopping complex in Tamworth to stock up with groceries.  After lunch we set off again turning right at Fazeley Junction down the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal where we turned round at the winding hole at Curdworth locks and moored up for the night.

The alternator seems to be working well.  Its charging voltage rises to the maximum within a minute from starting the engine whereas the old one took two hours or so.   However we dont have any way of checking how well the batteries are charged other than checking the voltage the following morning.

Back home

Autumn scene just beyond Fradley

After packing whilst moored at Fradley we set off at 9:40 and arrived at the marina at 11:30 after a pleasant autumnal day, seeing another kingfisher en route.  By 2pm we were back home home.

More voyages next year!!

Overall journey statistics:
38 hours travelling in 13 days
82.58 miles
48 locks

Statistcs for 2016
233 hours travelling in 72 days
439.82 miles
336 locks
16 moveable bridges

Our final full day

We awoke early as we are still on BST to a misty still morning.  Such mornngs often make for atmospheric photographs so here's a couple.

Densie moored at Branston

The island at Branston Water Park

We left Branston at 9:30 and cruised steadily along this pleasant canal in the mist which cleared by mid-morning resulting in sunny and unseasonally warm weather.  After 8 locks and nearly 7 miles we reached Fradley Juction at 1:30 and have moored up for the day.

We plan to arrive back at our marina tomorrow morning and so the final blog entry for this year should ne online tomorrow or the day after.

Branston, where the pickle comes from

Last night we ate out again, at the Dragon Inn in Willington.  It's the first time we had been there and I am sure we will go again.  The food was very good - I had some halibut off the a la carte menu whilst Denise had fish and chips.

This morning we awoke to find the fire still alight and the boat warm.  The weather outside was much like yesterday's - very damp without actually raining.  Before setting off we walked to the local Coop supermarket to buy a few groceries.  On our return to the boat at 10am we left Willington and cruised back through Burton upon Trent arriving at the good moorings at Branston Water Park at 1pm.  The weather was drier but much colder.  As there aren't any further good moorings for some time we have decided to stay here until tomorrow. 

Willington

After my comments yesterday about keeping our fire alight I am embarrassed to report that it went out overnight.  Fortunately the weather this morning was surprisingly warm, but this was spoilt by it being dark and damp - no real rain, just dampness condensing out of the air onto the boat.  Today was a routine journey, starting at 10am and moving continuously until we reached Willington at 2:30.  We ascended the 3 big locks at Weston, Swarkestone and Stenson without any difficulty, this needs some experience to avoid the force of the incoming water throwing the boat around from one side of the lock to the other.  Just before Stenson, Denise saw a kingfisher, but I missed it as I was preparing lunch.