Friday 15 June
saw us heading northwards to Hawkesbury Junction (aka Sutton Stop) where we negotiated our only lock of the day - all of 6 inches, so needed to prepare some lunch soon after for sustenance. Now on the Coventry Canal, the weather turned increasingly showery, and after a lightning stop in Nuneaton for newspaper, we headed towards our intended destination of Cherrytree Farm Bridge (which our regular readers may remember from last October.)
However, seeing moorings empty at the Anchor Inn, Hartshill seemed like fate, so there we stopped, and later had a meal. Absolutely superb. Two happy bunnies.
Have made my first loaf.
19 miles, 1 lock, 1 swing footbridge
Wildlife seen: 1 deer, 1 heron, 1 wolfhound, the size of a small pony (though I don't think it was actually wild)
Saturday 16 June
and it rained, and it rained....
We went soggily down the 11 Atherstone locks at a more than sedate pace thanks to the hire-boat in front whose crew insisted on tying off all three ropes at every landing. Luckily they moored halfway down the flight so we passed them and progress was faster thereafter.
At lock 9 the boat waiting to come up seemed familiar - yes, it was Halcyon, our former share-boat! We exchanged brief pleasantries with former co-owners Geoff & Ro, though none of us had recognised each other at first thanks to our universal garb of anorak hoods.
After a brief stop at Polesworth to eat some lunch we battled on through the by now howling winds (though the showers were becoming less frequent) to Fazeley Junction, where we replenished the water tank.
Having rejected (somewhat unjustly) all the moorings in Fazeley as "too urban", we continued to Hopwas, where we settled down to listen to the rain and the wind, and watch highlights of Trooping the Colour (for tonight we have a TV signal for the first time!). We had a beef casserole with the boat-made bread, and it was good.
Went to bed to the sound of distant dance music, which was still going at 3 am. Deja-vu(entendu?) Martin?!
16 miles, 13 locks
Wildlife seen: 1 heron, 1 kingfisher (yay!!)
Sunday 17 June
Being Sunday, we made a late and leisurely start. More sunshine and fewer showers today. We pootled along, meeting surprisingly few boats for a not-bad Sundaay, until we reached Fradley junction where boats and gongoozlers were out in force.
Up the locks following a Scots couple aboard an Anglo-Welsh hireboat. The paddles were easy enough but the gates were murder - Mrs Scot and I could not shift them together and needed to call for assistance from passers-by.
At Wood End lock a small black creature shot out from a bush and headed for the water - looked like a mongoose, could have been a polecat or ferret, or perhaps a mink?
Made a mixed-grain loaf today which we ate with Cumbrian Lamb Hotpot. The breadmaker is a Morphy Richards Daily Loaf - makes a teeny loaf which is just right for two of us.
Moored at a pleasant countryside location. Though within sight of Rugeley Power Station and as ever not far from a railway line, it was nevertheless peaceful and we even got a bit of a sunset.
17 miles, 3 locks, 1 swing bridge
Wildlife seen: 1 heron, 1 polecat/ferret/mink (or possibly a mongoose)
Monday 18 June
Another late start as today, in contrast to the previous three 8+ hour days, was scheduled to be "leisurely".
Just over an hour's cruising saw us arrive at Great Haywood, with the sun breaking through and glimpses of Shugborough Hall
Gave Shugborough a miss as we visited last time we were here - but it's very much to be recommended. After a quick trip to the local Spar and a slower trip to the superb Canalside Farm Shop, we returned to Bonjour for lunch, before heading to the junction and turning onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal - and so we joined the Four Counties Ring!
A brief stop at the Anglo-Welsh boatyard for the other necessities of life aboard - diesel & pumpout - delivered, we must record, with exceptional efficiency and courtesy. Then we progressed the short distance to Tixall Wide. The canal here widens to lake-like proportions - allegedly to placate the owner of the long-since demolished Tixall Hall (where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned for a fortnight in 1586). Only the gatehouse now remains, but it is quite an impressive one, and this is our view for the rest of the day
To celebrate the final arrival of summer (apparently it will be 3 days this time) we have had our first barbecue.
3 1/2 miles, 2 locks
Wildlife seen: ducks (several), swans (several), cows, pigs, sheep....bit disappointing, this
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