Christmas Cruise - Day 5

I arrived at the boat at around 8pm last night. I got the 1903 train from Euston, and pulled into Rugby station 47 minutes later. I wish my commute to work was that quick. I got a taxi to Tesco, and Adrian met me with a torch so we could see our way along the muddy towpath. It turned out we had visitors on board too: a couple of Adrian's colleagues, Nicola and Alex, who'd been working at the Warwick office, had come over to Rugby to have a look at the boat. It was lovely to see them.

This morning, the boat was nice and warm -- the fire had stayed in, and was easy to get roaring again. After porridge, we prepared for the off, and had a chat to Dot from Gypsy Rover moored over on the park side. We slipped away just before nine, in grey drizzly conditions. We were soon at Hilmorton Locks, where we passed Hadar on the water point, and shouted greetings to Jo and Keith. The right hand lock was empty, so we went straight in. I then noticed that Hadar was heading out way, so lifted a paddle on the other lock. Eventually, we got to the stage where we were going up side by side.

Going up the locks gave us a great opportunity to chat to Jo and Keith, and it was nice to meet them having followed their blog for so long. Once at the top of the locks, we let Hadar pass us, as they were clearly going quicker than us.

We got to Braunston at around 12.30, and moored just before the turn. We walked up into the village, and (as the Gongoozler's Rest is closed for Christmas) went to the Old Plough for lunch -- very good baguettes with bacon (for me) and sausage and onion (for Adrian). Then it was along to the butcher to pick up our stuffed turkey breast. This must be one of the most famous turkey breasts around this Christmas, as everyone keeps asking us about it! It fitted in the fridge OK, and I think it will go in the oven, with space for veg.

We set off again just after 2pm, and carried on for almost an hour to a mooring spot we've used several times at Bridge 101. We've never stayed here facing in this direction, though! We know this mooring will be dark and quiet (neither of which could be said for the one in Rugby). A few boats have been past since we stopped, including Gosty Hill, the coal and diesel boat.

12 miles, 3 locks. (40 miles, 9 locks)

Spring Cruise - Part One

Day 1 - Friday March 14

We arrived at Stockton Top in early afternoon, in unexpected warm spring sunshine. Debdale was on the front of the marina (with two boats outside her), making loading very easy. She was also, unusually, pointing in the right direction. When we were ready to leave, we asked a couple of the OwnerShips helpers to hold the centre line of the boat outside us, while we reversed out into the middle of the canal and set off.

We hadn't been going long when we spotted the Norwegians, Bente and Pal, on their Black Prince boat. The Calcutt Locks were shared with a Kate Boat out for the weekend, and heading for the South Oxford. At this point, we discovered there was no coal on board, so we made a quick diversion into Wigram's Turn Marina to buy a bag. Then it was a right turn onto the shared Oxford/Grand Union section. The sun had gone in and drizzle had started by the time we moored for the night in a now customary spot, just before Bridge 101.


6 miles, 3 locks.

Day 2 - Saturday 15 March

There was rain overnight, but it was dry if murky by the time we set off at about 8.45. After the Braunston Turn, at lot of work has been done on the hedges on the towpath side. They've been skillfully and beautifully laid. They're also about a third of their old height, which means that by the long term moorers, the road is far more visible and intrusive than it use to be.

We stopped at the water point by the Stop House, and while Adrian filled the tank I walked up to the village to buy meat for the next few days from the butcher. Then it was up the six locks in the company of another Kate Boat, who were planning to go only as far as Norton Junction before turning.
At the top of the locks, I spotted the bloggers One Way of Life. When we came back later in the week, the boat was moored down in Braunston.

We turned left at Norton Junction onto the Leicester Line, stopping just past Bridge 2 for lunch. Then it was on to Watford Locks. A couple of boats had just come down, so we were allowed straight up with everything set in our favour.

Halfway up the staircase, the rain started. We continued getting wet through Crick Tunnel.

We moored for the night opposite Crick Marina, on what are technically winter moorings (although there's a sign saying they don't mind people staying overnight if there's room. And there was plenty of room). Adrian and I walked up to the village shop before settling down for the evening as the rain came down hard.

11 miles, 13 locks. (17, 16).

September Cruise: Part One

Day 1 - Friday 7 September

Arrived a Stockton Top at lunchtime, and the friends Brian and Mike who were joining us for the first part of the trip arrived about an hour later. We unpacked, took a delivery from Tesco, and set off at about 3.30. We were quickly up the Calcutt Locks as there was plenty of traffic coming down. Turned left at Napton Junction, and moored up just before bridge 101 to enjoy the evening sunshine in the Warwickshire countryside.

6 miles, 3 locks.

Day 2 - Saturday 8 September

A fry up for breakfast, then we set off heading for Braunston. We'd left at around 8, so the canal was quiet and still as we approached Braunston Turn.

We moored up in the first space we came to, and walked up into the village for papers etc. Returned via the church and a footpath and bridge over the north Oxford. It was about 10.15 when we set off again. This turned out to be peak time for the locks, as there was a long queue. The canal was pretty crowded, as the Union Canal Carrying hire fleet was moored up two abreast. I noticed that the boat behind us, another OwnerShips boat called Silhouette, had a camera mounted in the front window. I thought this could only mean that Nic was on board. He makes time lapse films of his trips, which are posted on his website. I went to speak to him, to confirm my suspicions. We ended up sharing the locks with Silhouette, and Nic has posted a film of us in the queue and ascending the locks.

We stopped for lunch shortly after Braunston Tunnel, then made the turn onto the Leicester Line. When we got to the bottom of Watford Locks, we found a long queue: we were about twelfth in line, and the feeling was that ww wouldn't get up the locks that evening. So we decided to abandon our plans to go to Market Harborough and instead go down the Grand Union, which would be virgin territory for us. We winded, stopped for water at Norton Junction, went down the top Buckby lock, and moored for the night. Went for a drink at the New Inn.

11 miles, 7 locks. (17, 10)

Day 3 - Sunday 9 September

A misty, atmospheric morning as we made our way down the Buckby flight. While we were preparing the first lock of the day another boat arrived, so we had company to help with the work and were at the bottom in about an hour and a half. Shortly afterwards, we spotted nb Sanity coming towards us. I waved and shouted - they must have thought we were mad!

Stopped in Weedon Bec for shopping, using the moorings on the offside. There are steps down into the church yard, giving access to the village which had a very well stocked shop. Next stop was Bugbrooke, where we had lunch at The Wharf.

The boatmanship of Alvechurch hire boaters left a lot to be desired as we approached Gayton Junction. One came flying through a bridge hole and hit us before crashing into the curved edge of the canal. There was a smashing sound from inside their boat, so I hope they had some crockery left. The second apparently hadn't been told to move to the right to pass other boats.

Blisworth tunnel didn't take as long as we'd expected, but was very wet inside. Although it's longer than Braunston, it seems easier because it's straight. Moored up just south of the tunnel and walked the few hundred yards into Stoke Bruerne. It was packed with gongoozlers enjoying the sunshine. I was glad we weren't doing the locks until the next morning, because we'd have had to have fought our way through to open the gates.

16 miles, 6 locks. (33, 16)

Day 4 - Monday 10 September

Stoke Bruerne was much quieter at 8.30 on a Monday morning. There wasn't a gongoozler in sight. By the third lock we caught up with a single-hander, Kevin on nb Limelight Crew. He was returning from the IWA National, where he'd been technical director. Stopped for water at the bottom of the locks, and the sun came out. Next stop was just after Cosgrove Lock, for lunch. In the afternoon, we went over two aqueducts, one over a river, the second over a dual carriageway on the outskirts of Milton Keynes.

Just the other side of the aqueduct, we winded and began to retrace our steps. This time we stopped in Cosgrove itself, to look at the horse tunnel under the canal, and the elaborate bridge across it.

We carried on for another hour, mooring up for the night in the middle of nowhere, just within sight of Grafton Regis church.

17 miles, 9 locks. (50, 25)

Day 5 - Tuesday 11 September

Woke to a beautiful morning, and set off about 8.45 towards Stoke Bruerne. Brian and Mike walked the two miles to the locks. Some of the pounds were very low, and we had to flush some water down from above.

Brian and Mike also walked over the top of the tunnel, while we got wet inside. At Gayton Junction, we stopped at the water point, and while Adrian filled the tank, the res of us walked down the Northampton Arm to have a look at the first few locks. Having been on the Grand Union, the narrow locks and reedy canal looked very small.

Our mooring for the night was Weedon Bec. We used the same offside moorings as earlier in the week, and walked down to the village for a meal at the Plume of Feathers.

14 miles, 7 locks. (64, 32)

Day 6 - Wednesday 12 September

Our ascent of the Buckby Locks was efficient, even though we had no-one to share with. I walked ahead and got each next lock ready. At one lock, two boats were coming out as I arrived, so they left one gate open and I sat on the balance beam waiting for Debdale to arrive. A boat called Catnap arrived at the top of the lock, and the lady came over to say hello. Shortly afterwards, her husband joined her, to remonstrate with me about setting the locks too far ahead. I told him I hadn't had to set the lock, two boats were just leaving as I arrived. I was flabbergasted when he told me I was lying! I had to smile when he had to rush back to the boat as he he hadn't tied it up properly and it was drifting out to the middle. As I walked past him a couple of minutes later to go to the next lock he had another go at me. his wife just looked embarassed.

We reached the top at about 11.30, and said goodbye to Brian and Mike. They were being picked up at the little BW car park by the top lock to begin their journey home. Adrian and I had lunch on board before setting off for Braunston Tunnel and the locks. Halfway down we caught up with a tiny Ashby hire boat called Badger, and shared the rest of the flight. All went well until the bottom lock, when the wife disappeared into the canal shop. The lock was emptied so I opened the gate and closed the paddle on my side, and Debdale slipped out. As his wife still hadn't reappeared, the man on Badger followed us out of the single open gate. The people waiting to go up must have wondered what on earth was going on.

We moored up in Braunston, a little further down than we would have liked, and went to the marina to do some washing. While waiting, we talked to a Canadian lady who with her husband spends each spring and autumn crusing the canals in the boat, nb Prairie Crocus, and to Julian the owner of nb Vulcan.

9 miles, 13 locks. (73, 44)

First week on board

Friday 10 August

This was our first sight of Debdale since the OwnerShips show, way back in February, and was an unexpected extra week on board. The boat happened to be free, and some rearranging of shifts meant we could have an extra holiday on board.

Having arrived at Stockton Top marina on the Grand Union on schedule at 3pm, we quickly unloaded the car and began to unpack. We were then shown how everything on the boat worked by one of OwnerShips' "Dirty Hand Gang", Guy.

We were concerned that the Tesco shopping we'd ordered online didn't seem to have arrived at the marina. No-one seemed to have seen it. We resigned ourselves to not having much to eat that night on the following morning, and decided to set off. Leaving the marina proved to be quite tricky, and involved reversing out onto the canal and then turning. Halfway through the turn, a member of Kate Boats staff said they thought they'd got our shopping -- so we moored up to the service point and took three crate loads of food and drink on board.

Once properly underway, we spent the time getting used to the boat. The three Calcutt locks were shared with a private boat, and we then turned left onto the shared Grand Union/Oxford Canal section. We carried on until around 7pm, when we moored up in a quiet spot just before bridge 101 and cooked on board.


6 miles, 3 locks.

Saturday 11 August

This was the day of the naked man. He was walking along the towpath just before Hillmorton Locks, wearing nothing but a rucksack (and presumably some shoes, but I wasn't looking at his feet), and carrying two divining rods.

Hillmorton itself was chaotic, with lots of boats, most of them going down. We had lunch on board, then stopped at the water point in Rugby. While Adrian filled the tank, I took the three home delivery crates back to Tesco as we didn't want them on board. There was a queue of four boats at the Hawkesbury Junction stop lock, and it took almost an hour to get through -- madness for a lock with a fall of less than a foot. I was annoyed at making a bit of a hash of the turn, but felt slightly better when I saw others do worse! We moored up shortly after the turn, and had dinner.

Later in the evening, we walked down to The Greyhound for a drink, and saw the motor boat GLASCOTE with a butty, GOSPORT, coming through the lock in the fading light. Returning to the boat, we found them slotting neatly into a space which had just been vacated right behind us, and marvelled at the crew getting a 70 foot boat into a space of no more than 72 feet.

24 miles, 4 locks (30, 7)

Sunday 12 August

After two hot sunny days, we were prepared to believe the forecast of heavy showers. However, the only one was mid-morning and lasted all of twenty seconds. There were lots of boats going our way down the Atherstone flight, so the going was slow. The locks were exactly as I remembered them from a couple of years ago: attractive, but very frustrating. They empty quickly, but take an age to fill -- and as we had to fill many of them ourselves, the whole thing took a long time. With a brief lunch stop in the long pound after lock 5, the flight took around four hours.

As it was a lovely evening, we decided to keep going, aiming for Fazely Junction. When we got to the Glascote Locks, I feared we'd be frustrated just short of our target. The bottom lock has a problem with the bottom cill, which means it takes 15 to 20 minutes to fill. The woman who lives in the cottage alongside the lock said BW had been providing a lockie during the week, to help smooth boats through. Part of the problem is that each lock load of water coming down into the middle pound adds about 5 minutes to the filling time.

We weren't delayed unduly though, and were all tied up just before bridge 77 at Fazely Junction by 7.30. We discovered that the pub by the canal doesn't do food on a Sunday evening, so we tried the Peninsular Chinese Restaurant, which turned out to be excellent.

19 miles, 13 locks (49, 20)

Monday 13 August

A lock free day today. Normally, this would be my idea of a boring day on the cut, but this one had two redeeming features: it would be virgin territory for us (the stretch between Fazeley and Fradley being the only part of the Coventry Canal we hadn't done); and Fradley Junction is a favourite place, and always worth a visit.

It turned out to be a lovely stretch of canal, and very busy. This made some of the bridge holes interesting, particularly the ones on bends. We cruised through Hopwas and Wittington, enjoyed the busyness of Streethay Wharf, and were fascinated by the work going on to make the Trent Valley railway four tracks, which has involved building two new bridges over the canal: one for the two new tracks, and a temporary one for access for the contractors.

We arrived at Fradley at lunchtime. Adrian turned the boat in the junction and we moored at the start of the Coventry. The BW cafe had virtually nothing on the menu actually available, so we went up to the Kingfisher Cafe instead, and had an excellent lunch, followed by a few purchases in the junction shop before heading back to Fazeley, where we moored just before the juntion.

20 miles, 0 locks (69, 20)

Tuesday 14 August

Excitement in Atherstone. Not at the locks, which took a long while as usual, but at the Co-op. We'd left Fazeley straight after breakfast, and made slow progress in heavy rain through the Glascote Locks, Tamworth, and the Atherstone Flight. It was 4pm before we got to the top, moored up, and went into town in search of somewhere to buy a late lunch. We discovered a big Co-op, complete with a cafe serving soup and a roll, where there'd just been a crash in the car park. It was the talk of the store, and clearly the most exciting thing to happen there for some considerable time!

Back at the boat, we made the decision to stay put and lit the fire to help dry ourselves out. Then of course the rain stopped -- until we decided to go out for a walk in the evening, when we got drenched!

9 miles, 13 locks (78, 33)

Wednesday 15 August

Very wet again today, with torrential rain and thunder. Adrian's turn to try to get round Hawkesbury Junction in one: a better effort than mine, but we still need more practice.

We made a stop at Ansty for lunch, and another at Rugby for water and a dash to Tesco. It was here that the engine wouldn't turn off with the ignition key. A phone call to Guy helped us locate the lever which stops the engine manually. We continued a bit further, mooring below Hillmorton Locks.

25 miles, 1 lock (103, 34)

Thursday 16 August

All the Hillmorton Locks were in our favour, and there only boats we saw were coming down, so we were through quickly. Adrian polished the mushroom vents while we were on the move. Reaching Braunston at about 11am, we moored up before the junction and walked to the Gongoozler's Rest for tea and fruit cake. We bought bread at the shop by the bottom lock, and a tin of grease for the stern tube at the chandlers on the other side of the bridge. Adrian had a lesson from the man in the chandlery on the best way to fill the stern tube, which he did on our return to the boat while I cleaned all the windows I could reach. The sun was out, so we had lunch on the well deck.

We'd only been going again for a few minutes when the rain came down again -- not for long, but heavy enough to bring the waterproofs into action. The rest of the afternoon was a mixture of warm sunshine and heavy showers. We filled up with water at Calcutt, then went down the locks in a huge convoy of boats. We arrived back at Stocktop Top just too late for services, so were asked to moor on the services point ready for the morning. Then it was just a matter of cleaning the outside of the boat, packing up, and loading the car. To avoid the worst of the traffic, we went for a meal at The Boat next door to the marina before heading home at the end of a great week.

11 miles, 3 locks (114, 40)