Back to Crick

Monday night was cold, so cold that we woke to ice on the canal.  The day started sunny and warmed up quickly, but still cold enough to require coats, woolly hats and gloves.

We decided to aim for Crick by Thursday, with our first stop at Hillmorton Locks, second Norton Junction then home.  The sun shone all day and the chug down to Hillmorton was the best for days,  on arrival we met a guy who said that the weather was going to deteriorate, and there would be gale force winds by Thursday.Flo suggested we might consider continuing towards Braunston, then an early start on Wednesday and heading back into Crick by Wednesday evening.  This was sensible as under high winds Crick marina is a bugger to negotiate.

We plan on spending a couple of days living on the boat to do services and general cleaning.  All part of the joy of boating.

This is us signing off now until our next outing, which should be with the family up towards Banbury and back in April.

Ashby and back to Hawkesbury Junction

It's been 4 days since our last blog due a lack of a decent signal, so let's catch up.  We spent half a day looking round Coventry, visiting  the cathedral and Spon Street, but not much else to say about it, although the Basin itself is very good mooring and probably very colourful in the summer when more boats are about.  Just short of Hawkesbury Junction we were delayed for 45 minutes as BW were electrically stunning fish for removal to re-stock a local reservoir that had been emptied. See Pics. 

Chugged back down and turned on to the Ashby Canal, spending the night moored near Burton Hastings before going on up to Shenton, visiting the station and Bosworth Field visitor's centre.

Next day, to the top of the Ashby Canal at Snarestone before turning round and returning to Shenton for the night.  Now, the 7th, back at Hawkesbury Junction, visted the Greyhound again and this time tried the Lock Keeper's grill. What a plateful and  once more can can certainly recommend it.

Good to see some sunshine today hope it lasts for tomorrow's chug to Hillmorton Locks.

 Mooring at Coventry Basin

En route down the Coventry Canal

Since our last blog we have overnighted at Hawkesbury Junction, after enjoying a pie and chip dinner in the Greyhound Pub.  Came recommended and we can say it did not fail. 

This morning saw us setting out for our chug down what can only be called a floating land tip of the Coventry Canal.  A real mess all the way down to Bridge 3, cleared up a little into the Basin.  Not sure who should be responsible for clearing the canal, but it certainly doesn't do Coventry any favours.  All the rubbish bins along the towpath were full and overflowing.

We had been chugging for about 20 mins out of Hawkesbury when we saw a narrowboat across the canal.  Someone had kindly slipped its bow mooring rope.  We assisted in getting it back to the bank and securing, only to be told by a walker that it is not an unusual happening, and further down we would see a burned out boat!!  Jolly days.  Off up the Ashby tomorrow.

Oxford Canal

Weather improved Monday and we chugged down to Braunston and stopped the night.  Tuesday looked even better, though still overcast and cold. Turned north onto the Oxford Canal through the three pairs of narrow locks at Hillmorton to Newbold on Avon on the outskirts of Rugby, where we moored and met the Meek family off nb Intrepid.  They invited us on board and showed us the restoration work they had done on the boat and engine room, they also gave us a magnetic holder for hanging extra fenders, which will come in very handy at some mooring points.

Heading for Hawkesbury Junction tomorrow.