Left at 08:30
arrived at 16:30
Had a really good nights
sleep, which makes up for last night, Derek up and at em,we were off for 8:35. Boats had already gone by,NB Cormorant (a
very shiny new boat we first saw at Braunston) went through at 7:30, we don’t think
he likes to mix with the common boaters like us, he trys not to scratch the
boat and washes it when he stops, it certainly has a mix of odd balls on the
canal. The weather is bright and cool
much the same as yesterday, so it may be a scorcher by this afternoon. At lock 1, it was empty so I had to set it up
for us, I remembered this place, the houses etc had long gardens with lots to
look at in them. At the side of the lock,the
pound, had a moorhen family, as we started to enter the lock a duck popped its head up as if to say,
is it that time already, I better get the kids up When I had a closer look, it
was duck and moorhen town? There was a
little platform with two houses on it, boxes with lids and plant pots on the
top, a bridge with Moorhen and Duck painted on it, and another bridge leading
down into the waterD!! The Duck had three tiny babies, I was worried when I
first saw them that they would struggle through the winter, I think they will
be OK living in their very own little
village. How kind was that of someone, I
assume the people in the lock side cottage, to make a haven for a few birds,
there are some kind and caring people in the world I’m pleased to say, it
really set the mood for the day. At locks 2 to 5 we had assistance from a volunteer
lockie, he was lovely, we chatted about allsorts, he said Alvercote (our
destination) had a pub with an Aussie owner, so talk of travel ensued, he had
been to Australia last year and we had been a long long time ago, he retires in
April, today was his day off and he is planning his travelling itinery
already. There had only been 2 boats
coming up and both were pleased that we gave them a hand up, saying that there
were lots of boats going down as there is a festival at the weekend. At lock 8 we hit the traffic jam,so I took a
chance to make a cuppa. There was a man
coming up, he had a beautiful barge, I complemented him on its appearance, he
said it was his pride and joy but he did have an advantage, he used to work for
Braidbar Boats, they do make lovely boats and we have noticed quite a few on
our travels, we helped him through, entered the lock and another lady came up
to the lock, she was walking the dog, ahead of her boat. They were with the single hander, I let Derek
out and closed the gates after her boat had arrived and gone in the now empty
lock, I had a little ride to the next lock.
No 9, when we got there, there were 3 boats in front of us waiting to go
down, one came up and now we are waiting for our turn, time for another drink
and snack. Derek got chatting to the
lady from the boat in front of us NB Rose Alice, the festival is in Alvercote, so may be we wont be staying
there!!! Apparently it August Bank Holiday? We had no
idea, it starts to melt your memory a little when you are out on the waterway
for so long? We had done the 11 locks by 12:44, phew!! We left with a queue of 3 in front waiting to
start the locks and 3 behind us waiting to come down. Some people were having a beef about the wait
but Derek and I enjoyed it even if it had taken 4 hours to get to the bottom.
We arrived at Alvercote and it was full of boats, lots of historical
working barges, the Candy Boat, the Cheese Boat (last seen in Stratford) and we
had passed the Shop boat from Braunston earlier, it was heading here too. We decided to go on probably passed Tamworth
(someone told Derek that one of the locks there will be shut from 5 to 9 as it
needs dredging) so we will probably go through those 2 and see where we
land. Got to Tamworth, I remembered it, Derek didn’t, he couldn’t decdide wether to stop on moorings
at the top of the locks, so I made him have a walk down to get his bearings, he
spoke to a couple on a boat at the water point, decided to do the locks and see
where it took us. I remembered the tall
canalside properties here, they didn’t disappoint my recollections of them,
still pristine, so well maintained and with lovely little front gardens, some
with seating in them and lots of pot plants full of lovely bright flowers, gorgeous. Well done those owners, you brought a smile
to one face today and triggered a fond memory from 2 years ago. As we passed Glascote Cruisers Club moorings
on the left hand side, very tidy, under a bridge, we met a very large dredger,
It was reporting for work at the lock, it was very dirty and looked menacing. Brige 75 was a little brick one and on the
towpath side, I noticed that there was a little alcove with an iron grill on
it, I cant remember what, I’m sure they had a use in time gone by, we must look it up
later. We finally stopped just before
Fazeley Junction at 4:30, 8 hours after setting off, we have tele and are both,
to say the least, quite tired!!! I asked D what the little grill covered alcove
was, he says its to put tools or stop planks in ????
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