Hawkesbury to Ansty

Arrived at Ansty at lunchtime, after taking on water etc. Moored opposite the Rose and Castle, which was convenient for booking a taxi for Claire and Jason to get them back to Hawkesbury.

 

Serenity & Windsong moored at Ansty

Hawkesbury Junction

Claire and Jason arrived to spend a couple of days with us, due to the weather we have decided to stay put for the night at Hawkesbury and pay a visit to the Greyhound. We then leave the Coventry canal taking a very sharp left turn and head down the Oxford.

Cast iron roving bridge made at the Britannia Foundry in Derby in 1837

Still early, not used to seeing it this empty

Stop lock leading onto the Oxford canal

Atherstone Flight

Picked up friends of Pip and Rog at lock 5, another 6 to go to complete the flight of 11. Then mooring at Hartshill at the Anchor pub for our overnight stop.

Total lock count to date: 36

Ian having a well earned rest

Daffodils at the top lock

Access over the locks

First bbq of the year

A short cruise from Alvecote to Bradley Green in the sunshine. Stopping for shops at Polesworth, then the essential water, bins and loo. As we arrived at our overnight stop early and the sun was still shining, we dug out the bbq and had a very pleasant afternoon.

Pooley Hall

Facilities at Bradley Green

Hopwas to Alvecote

From Fradley we moored overnight at Hopwas on our way to our next overnight stop at Alvecote. Mooring just by the priory ruins. Having previously passed Fazeley junction and through Glascote locks. On the approach to Glascote locks we had a scary moment. The boat tipped as we hit something under the water, but then carried on tipping to a very alarming angle. I thought it was a wheelie bin, Pip thought it was more like a car, Ian then discovered that there used to be a Reliant Robin car factory next to the canal, you never know.

Passing through Fazeley Junction

Fradley for the weekend

A pleasant few hours cruising to Fradley where we have decided to stay put for the weekend. It is another favourite spot and we like to take the opportunity when we can to visit the The Swan, otherwise known as the mucky duck.

As from Monday we will be officially heading south.

Coming into Fradley

Cheers

 

Looking towards the Coventry canal

Visitors

Mark and Anneka met us at Branston water park to travel with us to Alrewas. Passing through Barton and Wychnor. Giving Mark an experience of four locks.

We had adventures along the way as we came round a bend to find a boat had come loose from its moorings and was blocking the canal. Eventually with a little help from a passerby we managed to manoeuvre it back to the bank.

Windsong entering Tattenhill Lock

Wychnor Church

Another fine day

Although we have had the busy A38 as company for most of our cruising today as we made our way to Burton on Trent, it was very enjoyable. It was a very nice feeling not to be part of the traffic mayhem.

As we got closer to Burton we were greeted with the familiar smells of malt and hops from the well known brewery.

Marston’s Brewery

 

Branston lock

 

We are moored at Branston water park, waiting for our visitors tomorrow.

Sunshine at last

Hopefully this is now the start of the better weather with spring just around the corner, the sun has been shining and everything else I could say would sound rather gushy, so I will leave it at that.

We have had a lovely day cruising to Willington, passing through Swarkstone and Stenson. No more broad locks now until the Thames.

First night …

Saturday, arrived at our first night moorings, just outside Shardlow above Derwent Lock.

Kelly, Claire and Jason came over to visit for mothering sunday and we had another surprise as friends Pip and Rog – nb Windsong arrived ahead of schedule to join us. We plan to travel together for the summer.

The Clock Warehouse, Shardlow

Serenity and Windsong together in the first lock of many

Not travelled too far today, we have been through three locks, Shardlow, Aston and Weston and moored above Weston lock for the night.

Start of the Great adventure….

We are at the start of our new adventure and have decided to keep a travel log of our journey.
Having just left our moorings at Kegworth, we made the short trip to Zouch marina for blacking and will now be continual cruising until October. We will be heading south to cruise the Kennet & Avon to Bristol, then back into London.

Up in the air at Zouch