Hatton and Lapworth lock flights

We came up to the boat last Wednesday after the Jubilee but the bad weather kept us tied to the pontoon for a few days.During this time we went to the Bicester Shopping Village, the GWR Society at Didcot and by car to Warwick to meet some friends-it took 30 minutes.We finally left on Saturday and managed a few fine days to get us as far as the Saltisford Arm at Warwick-this took us 2 days!-an excellent place to stay close to the centre. With the help of nb Friendship we went up the Hatton flight of 21 wide locks in the pouring rain on Monday. Tuesday was much improved and we then went our own way up the Lapworth flight towards our destination-Birmingham for the first time.

An interesting piece of history in the GWR museum at Didcot- as they did own the Kennet & Avon Canal

Looking back up the Stockton flight of wide locks with the old narrow lock on the right hand side acting as an over spill now. The large white cylinders are the hydraulics for the paddles which do take some effort - but were originally going to be automatic but they ran out of money in the mid 1930's

Working boats at the Warwickshire Fly Boat yard near the Kays Arm

Our mooring for Saturday evening at Long Itchington

A lovely lock cottage as you approach bridge 32/lock 7 on the Lapworth flight

Mid way up the middle section of the Lapworth flight with two boats coming down

Now it takes all sorts- this is different perhaps a stealth boat

We stopped last night -Tuesday at Hockley Heath-one canal guide described it as featureless-its claim to fame now is that it has a Rolls Royce/McLaren cars garage.

Another one of my pet theories is that caravans are taking over the canals-but the plants do look nice.

Jubilee Thames Pageant

What a fantastic weekend of television. We watched the Thames Pageant on Sunday and managed to get these photos of the event. They really give a flavour of the day and also shows how bad the weather became towards the end of the day. A really tough and wonderfull day for all those afloat on the river, made easier by the fact that the Thames Barrier was closed all day and therefore they didn't have to fight the tide as well.

The LMS Princess Royal Class loco - Princess Elizabeth which was on Chelsea Railway bridge to start the Pageant

War Horse on the roof of The National Theatre South Bank

The start of the Pageant with Gloriana leading with man powered craft behind and the Royal Barge on the right just about to move off.

A picture on the side of Sea Container House

The weather closes in

The People's Monarch-BBC SE art project

Really looking forward to watching the Thames Pageant on the television tomorrow and keeping everything crossed that the weather is not to bad for everybody taking part.

The BBC South East has organised a giant artwork made up of 5000 photographs submitted by members of the public to create a unique portrait of the Queen to celebrate Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee. It has been on display in the Towner Art Museum in Eastbourne. It is fantastic and the story's of the people who have submitted the pictures very moving indeed.

Bridge100 Oxford Canal

We have been busy over the last month with visits to the dentist for Anne and hospital for me to finally sort out my prescription for my right eye to stop the double vision following my latest bit of laser surgery. All is now well and looking good for both of us. We did manage to get a few days last week on the boat in the glorious sunshine. During which we did our usual short cruise into Braunston with stops near bridge 100 and 103 for R&R and jobs. In fact we washed, T cut, polished and sealed the boat both sides- that's 8 times 50ft=400ft of boat!

Hotel boats Duke and Duchess passed with a full load of customers

A picture taken from the old LNWR Weedon to Leamington Spa line which marched across the landscape in straight lines. Compare that to how the canal winds its way through the landscape.

Ashby and Oxford canal back to Napton

The Ashby Canal once you get past Stoke Golding is really lovely and remote-its a real pleasure to cruise although a little shallow in places.We managed to get out for 2 weeks of very mixed weather, we only cruised in the rain three times,and on a few occasions we had warm sunshine.

A nice group of canal cottages as we approached Snarestone

Our mooring at Conglestone a really lovely spot with the sound of steam trains on the Battlefield Line

A mobile chicken run which I assume provides fresh eggs.

An interesting structure  which I think is made from willow,its at the entrance to the old goods yard,now an industrial estate, at Stoke Golding.

These two male Mallard ducks were fighting next to the boat for about 20 minutes. 

This female mallard duck has decided to nest in a plant tray on the roof of the boat moored near ours at Wigrams

Nine hours to Hinckley and beyond

I had problems trying to post entries to the blog after Hillmorton so have had to post a few now we have got back home. Don't know what the problem was but it seems ok now.We had after we left Hillmorton a really long day for us- it was 9 hours and we covered 22.5miles and 1 lock- to Hinckley Bridge 16 on the Ashby canal where we met Pip and Richard.The weather has been very changeable- heavy showers,sunshine,cold winds and the odd sleet shower.- ah proper spring weather at last. The water levels from rain run off are going up -but probably only in the short term.

A lovely Mural on an old railway bridge as we passed Rugby

A swan nesting on an old wooden narrow boat hull near Charity Dock at Bedworth

If only more tunnels on the canal system had lights like Newbold Tunnel

It was a cold damp morning and this donkey seemed to sum it up well- I do hate mornings!!!!

Following nb Fino on the Ashby Canal

Another boat caravan

Big brother is watching

The end of the Ashby just north of Snarestone.It finishes just past the swing bridge although they are very well advanced on restoring the next section

Hillmorton Locks

We have managed to get out for a couple of weeks as our plan for a 3 month trip has been put on hold. My brother had a serious operation in March and was in ICU for 4 days- the NHS have been wonderfull, in a crisis they cannot be beaten. He is now home and making good progress but Anne and I both feel we need to be able to get down to Somerset if we need to.The other issue that I need to resolve is my right eye. Its still not right (sorry) in that there is some scarring following the cataract operation that needs to be lasered away.Hopefully this can be resolved in the next few months as it has gone on since May 2008 and is part of the detached retina saga.

Well thats our woe at the moment but it was lovely to get out boating today in the sunshine although a bit chilly in the wind- but that is the pleasure of spring boating and seeing everything coming alive.Had planned to leave yesterday but the engine battery gave up the ghost.I had planned to change it anyway and managed to rearrange the engineer to come to the marina this moring to do it and we were on our way by noon.

We are heading to the Ashby Canal to meet with our friends Pip and Richrd on their boat and have managed to get to Hillmorton locks near Rugby ( a long day tomorrow of 9 hours should get us to them). The locks are interesting in that they are the first set of working paired single locks to come across going north.The Trent & Mersey canal north of Stoke on Trent has some as you drop down onto the Cheshire Plain.

The canal from Napton to Hillmorton is about 5 inches lower than normal with volunter lock keepers on hand to ensure best practise at the locks with one set closed overnight. Its going to be a long hard summer.

 

The double Hillmorton locks

A new Barn Owl nest box which has a good view over the surrounding fields

Bridge 80 on the North Oxford canal which needs some much needed tlc from the new Canal & River Trust