The Smallest Bridge?
Coventry Canal Artwork
The Greyhound at Hawkesbury Junction
Ah! Note the Mountain Goat!
Light Show in Newbold Tunnel
Frederick on test, and the C&O canal
3 days ago
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Off to the Ashby Canal
Unfortunately we're still having trouble with the dongle so unable to upload the promised photos yesterday- and we are still in the same boat today.... in more ways than one.
However, we are on a different canal, having left Coventry Canal Basin at 0755 in lovely sunshine. Weather ok; stopped at Bridge 10 to go to the nearby PO/General Store.We entered in to the Ashby Canal about 11 o'clock. It is a lovely quiet canal- great! Moored near Bridge 15 and after lunch we walked all the way into Hinckley, had a coffee and then got a taxi back! Tonight we are going to sample the delights of the Lime Kiln pub.
However, we are on a different canal, having left Coventry Canal Basin at 0755 in lovely sunshine. Weather ok; stopped at Bridge 10 to go to the nearby PO/General Store.We entered in to the Ashby Canal about 11 o'clock. It is a lovely quiet canal- great! Moored near Bridge 15 and after lunch we walked all the way into Hinckley, had a coffee and then got a taxi back! Tonight we are going to sample the delights of the Lime Kiln pub.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Catch up time!
Unfortunately, we have been having Dongle trouble recently but it seems to be ok at the moment so here goes.....
Back to Monday, when we set off from our idyllic spot at 8am, with the temperature rising fast. Suitable weather for a strappy top even at that time in the morning. What a change! The canal passes through a very peaceful, rural area for quite some time. The Hillmorton locks are duplicated, so we went through quickly and then continued on to Bridge 58, where we tied up and walked the short distance to Tesco's for a couple of items. As it was lunchtime and there was a cafe, we decided to have a panini, which was very tasty and also reasonable. Although it was extremely hot and humid, and looking as if it were going to rain any second, we were very lucky and missed the terrible weather which many places endured that afternoon.
The Newbold tunnel- only 250yards - gave us a surprise with its unusual coloured lights display, some of which can be seen in the photograph. We moored at 5pm near Bridge 14 at Ansty, where we later went over the bridge to the Rose & Castle and enjoyed excellent meals! Two different sea bass main courses -and both superb!
Yesterday we set off at 9am for the Coventry Canal. Soon afterwards, we saw some animals at, and on, a haystack in a field. There were lovely, kid goats and some donkeys and they made a very pretty picture. As I was watching, one kid jumped on the back of a donkey and walked along it!
We continued along to the stop lock to the Coventry Canal, where we had quite a delay as a crane had been transferring a wooden bench from one side of the canal to the other. Eventually there were four boats waiting at each side to use the lock when the operation was finished. (We were the third on our side). The Hawkesbury Junction was very pretty with its two iron bridges and the renowned Greyhound pub. Haven't tried it yet...
As we cruised down the Coventry canal we noticed a lot of artwork, including metalwork on bridges, sculptures along the canal side and decorative fencing. Photos enclosed.
We passed through the urban area before squeezing under Bridge No. 1 and into the Coventry Canal Basin. This bridge is the smallest one in the canal system- and we had to bend down to almost the same height as the boat in order to avoid serious damage to our heads. Even holding the camera up to take the photograph was a bit of a risk!
We tied up there at 1pm; there are about eight or nine available moorings in the Basin but there were only four boats here when we arrived.
Later on we went into the town, only a few minutes' walk away, and had a look round the old cathedral ruins. We were impressed with the way in which the craftsmen, artists, parishioners etc. had worked together to make the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness so visible to visitors. It was rather too late to visit the 'new cathedral' by that time, so we managed to find one of the two Pizza Expresses and enjoyed a good meal, before returning to the boat and sitting out in the lovely evening sun. We met the owners of the boat moored next to us- Herbie- who also write a boating blog.
Today, Wednesday, we went into town again and visited the modern cathedral. I had heard about this very new cathedral all those years ago, from a College Lecturer who was fascinated with it. The students were shown many colour slides and we were told so much detail about it that I felt I knew it. All those years ago and today was the first time I'd seen it. We loved all the old buildings here too and were glad we decided to make this a part of our trip.
Back to Monday, when we set off from our idyllic spot at 8am, with the temperature rising fast. Suitable weather for a strappy top even at that time in the morning. What a change! The canal passes through a very peaceful, rural area for quite some time. The Hillmorton locks are duplicated, so we went through quickly and then continued on to Bridge 58, where we tied up and walked the short distance to Tesco's for a couple of items. As it was lunchtime and there was a cafe, we decided to have a panini, which was very tasty and also reasonable. Although it was extremely hot and humid, and looking as if it were going to rain any second, we were very lucky and missed the terrible weather which many places endured that afternoon.
The Newbold tunnel- only 250yards - gave us a surprise with its unusual coloured lights display, some of which can be seen in the photograph. We moored at 5pm near Bridge 14 at Ansty, where we later went over the bridge to the Rose & Castle and enjoyed excellent meals! Two different sea bass main courses -and both superb!
Yesterday we set off at 9am for the Coventry Canal. Soon afterwards, we saw some animals at, and on, a haystack in a field. There were lovely, kid goats and some donkeys and they made a very pretty picture. As I was watching, one kid jumped on the back of a donkey and walked along it!
We continued along to the stop lock to the Coventry Canal, where we had quite a delay as a crane had been transferring a wooden bench from one side of the canal to the other. Eventually there were four boats waiting at each side to use the lock when the operation was finished. (We were the third on our side). The Hawkesbury Junction was very pretty with its two iron bridges and the renowned Greyhound pub. Haven't tried it yet...
As we cruised down the Coventry canal we noticed a lot of artwork, including metalwork on bridges, sculptures along the canal side and decorative fencing. Photos enclosed.
We passed through the urban area before squeezing under Bridge No. 1 and into the Coventry Canal Basin. This bridge is the smallest one in the canal system- and we had to bend down to almost the same height as the boat in order to avoid serious damage to our heads. Even holding the camera up to take the photograph was a bit of a risk!
We tied up there at 1pm; there are about eight or nine available moorings in the Basin but there were only four boats here when we arrived.
Later on we went into the town, only a few minutes' walk away, and had a look round the old cathedral ruins. We were impressed with the way in which the craftsmen, artists, parishioners etc. had worked together to make the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness so visible to visitors. It was rather too late to visit the 'new cathedral' by that time, so we managed to find one of the two Pizza Expresses and enjoyed a good meal, before returning to the boat and sitting out in the lovely evening sun. We met the owners of the boat moored next to us- Herbie- who also write a boating blog.
Today, Wednesday, we went into town again and visited the modern cathedral. I had heard about this very new cathedral all those years ago, from a College Lecturer who was fascinated with it. The students were shown many colour slides and we were told so much detail about it that I felt I knew it. All those years ago and today was the first time I'd seen it. We loved all the old buildings here too and were glad we decided to make this a part of our trip.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Braunston JunctionSunday 26th June
Half packed the car on Saturday evening, in preparation for our forthcoming trip on Tranquility. Completed the job on Sunday morning and we left home at 10a.m. for our second trip down to Calcutt. Had only travelled for twenty minutes down the motorway when the car ‘informed’ us that something was wrong and that we should ‘go to the workshop’. So, we went back home and transferred all our gear into our other car and by the time we left, for the second time, it was 11a.m. Not the best start for our two-week holiday but the journey to the boatyard passed without further incident, fortunately.
It was extremely hot when we arrived at Calcutt and inside the boat it was sweltering. Not easy getting everything unpacked again and put away in the right places!
We set off into the lock at 4:15p.m. in the direction of Braunston Junction. We were told that it was still very busy there; a boat rally had been held there this weekend and 120 boats had taken part in a parade. Most boats were of the old cargo carrying type- very interesting, with Fellows, Morton & Clayton boats, GUCC etc. The canals were indeed very busy all around that area.
We continued on down the Oxford canal and moored in a very quiet, peaceful area about 7p.m. Only the cows with their little calves, sheep, coots, flying geese and other birds with their songs kept us company- it was beautiful. We had a meal outside on the boat and we sat there in the wonderful tranquillity until after 10pm. Super!!
Half packed the car on Saturday evening, in preparation for our forthcoming trip on Tranquility. Completed the job on Sunday morning and we left home at 10a.m. for our second trip down to Calcutt. Had only travelled for twenty minutes down the motorway when the car ‘informed’ us that something was wrong and that we should ‘go to the workshop’. So, we went back home and transferred all our gear into our other car and by the time we left, for the second time, it was 11a.m. Not the best start for our two-week holiday but the journey to the boatyard passed without further incident, fortunately.
It was extremely hot when we arrived at Calcutt and inside the boat it was sweltering. Not easy getting everything unpacked again and put away in the right places!
We set off into the lock at 4:15p.m. in the direction of Braunston Junction. We were told that it was still very busy there; a boat rally had been held there this weekend and 120 boats had taken part in a parade. Most boats were of the old cargo carrying type- very interesting, with Fellows, Morton & Clayton boats, GUCC etc. The canals were indeed very busy all around that area.
We continued on down the Oxford canal and moored in a very quiet, peaceful area about 7p.m. Only the cows with their little calves, sheep, coots, flying geese and other birds with their songs kept us company- it was beautiful. We had a meal outside on the boat and we sat there in the wonderful tranquillity until after 10pm. Super!!
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