Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Trip Summary

I have done the initial stats. on our summer cruise.
We were on the boat for 7 weeks and 1 day
We travelled 552 Miles
We went through 279 locks
One Long Tunnel ( Harecastle both ways)
One Short Tunnel ( Newbold)
Two Opened out Tunnels (Armitage & Fenny)
We used 281 ltrs. of diesel
We have been on the Rivers Churnet, Cherwell and Tames.
The canals we have travelled along were:-
Macclesfield Canal
Trent & Mersey Canal
Coventry Canal
BCN
Northern and Southern Oxford Canal
Grand Union Canal.
I didn't get shouted at to slow down.

M still has some washing to do and I have lots of gardening to catch up on.

End Post

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Bosley Bottom Lock to High Lane

Three posts today again as I catch up on the days where an internet connection was not available.
Miles 14.4 Locks 12
We set off at 6.15 this morning as there were several boats who arrived last night pointing our way. We reached the top by 8.00 just as it started to rain. It didn't stop until Bollington and even then there were heavy showers. We had a short wait when we reached our mooring when a boat had to be moved off . I had been checking all week and our mooring was clear so I didn't bother to ring the moorings officer to let him know when we were to get back.
One final panic as we got home I realised I had left my cameras on the roof of the boat so I had to go back to collect them. Good job we are only about 4 Miles from the moorings.
Trip summary will be published as soon as I sort out my GPS which decided to pack in a few miles from home (It gives me the daily mileage)
Ends Post

Barleston to Bosley Bottom Lock

Miles 22.8 Locks 7
We are on the Macclesfield canal at last. This is the view of Bosley Lock No 12 looking North. 12 locks to go before home.
Waiting to enter Harecastle Tunnel
Leaving Harecastle Tunnel
Who would have thought it would be raining by 9 pm
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Rugely to Barleston

Miles 18.9 Locks 14
A good run up the Trent and Mersey canal passing through Stone where we were going to stop to look round but the locks were in our favour so we carried on to Barleston to moor near the Wedgwood Visitor Centre. It is also by the railway so there was an additional attraction.
In the sun at Barleston.
End Post

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Polesworth to Rugely

Miles 24.4 Locks 4
Tonights mooring at Rugely
Travelling alongside the A38 between Streethey and Fradley
There had been a gathering of boats at Alvechurch last weekend and most of the old working boats were still there when we passed this morning.
End Post

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Hawksbury Junction to Polesworth

miles 15.7 Locks 12
We are moored on te visitor mooring at the southern end of Polesworth Village. We normally moor at the northern end so we thought we would have a change. There seems to be an interesting walk through the flood meadow we might try after tea.

I have waxed lyrical in the past over the working side pound at lock 6 on the Atherstone locks so here is a photo.

End Post




Monday, July 11, 2011

Napton Junction to Sutton Stop

Miles 26.7 Locks 3
Our mooring for tonight about 200 yds from Hawksbury Junction where the Northern Oxford Canal meets the Coventry canal North of Coventry. A signal post that was left behind when the Great Central main line was lifted.
Our Mooring neat Napton junction this morning just to prove that those who don't realise that there is a 7 o'clock in the morning
End Post

Banbury to Napton Junction

Miles 22.3 Locks 21
A double day today with M working us to the summit level of the S Oxford Canaj and G working down the Napton Flight after that long tedious run between Fenny Compton and Marston Doles.
I spotted this pair of cast iron gates at the tail end of the Clayton flight, I have passed through several times but this is the first time I have noticed the gate construction. The gates seal quite well on just the cast iron faces.

End Post

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Nell Bridge to Banbury

Miles 5.4 Locks 3
Welcome James to our Followers
M's delight we are moored right outside BHS
And right by the foot bridge
Two more unusual shots of the boat
we put the cover up in the hope that it would ward off the rain...... but it didn't work
End Blog

Friday, July 08, 2011

Thrupp to Nell Bridge

Miles 14.5 Locks 10
I wasn't sure whether to catch up with one long update or add one for each day . In the end I chose the latter so scroll down after this post to catch up since we arrived at Abingdon.
Well on the Southern Oxford canal now about 2 hrs cruise from Banbury. At Thrupp we were joind by Bones of canalworld fame up to Bakers lock and later we passed R&R in DICSOVERY No 1 moored at Ahyno. They had stopped because of the Rain. The forecast sunny periods and showers turned into Showers and then rain as the afternoon wore on. Todays pic is of the warning gauge at Bakers lock where the canal joins the River Cherwell. It shows that if the river rose another 2 inches it advises "Navigation With Caution" this at a time when the river is low due to the lack of rain it appears to be far too low in the water to be of practical use. Do I detect an over-cautious approach from BW on River Navigation. They will have to get used to river navigation if they are ever to manage the EA rivers in 2015 when they join the waterways trust. At this showing they will be shutting the rivers to navigation when normal flows return.

End Post

Osney to Thrupp

Thursday 7 July 2011
Miles 8.5 Locks 6
Our last day on the River Thames and we meet a lock with propper balance beams as we reach Kings lock just before we turn off of the river.
On the 48 hr mooring at Thrupp
Another view of the mooring at Thrupp
End Post

Abingdon to Osney

Wednesday 6 July 2011
Miles 9 Locks 4
We have moved up to Osney today and instead of visiting Oxford centre we decided to go the other way into Botley. We found that just beyond the laundrette ther were several "Out of Town" style shops and a small shopping precinct in Botley itself.I stopped off at Aldi on the way back from Botley and stocked up the wine celler which had run dry.
Later we walked the Thames path downriver to Folly Bridge then into town to catch the bus bacy to Osney.
Walking up into town from Folly Bridge
On Folly Bridge

The buildings on Folly Br Island



Looking downstream towards Folly Bridge


End Post








3 4 5th July at Abingdon

Lazy days at Abingdon with one day visitingOxford on the bus . No pics as we were just sitting by the boat reading or watching the world go by.
End Post

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Long Wittenham to Abingdon

This is the first time I have had a connection good enough to post the blog with pics so her goes with an update since reading.
Miles 5.5 Locks 2
We did get to see the Pendon railway Museum but it was only a fleeting visit arranged by the landlady of the Plough Pub after she told us we couldn@t stay on the mooring s this afternoon as a wedding reception had been booked and the mooring was required by the 100ft Salter Steamer that was delivering the guests to the pub. The asked one of the Pendon volounteer operators if we could enter earlier than the published opening time of 2 pm We had a threequarter hour guided tour with lots of looking into areas not usually seen and we were given complementary tickets as well. The donation I made was generous.
http://www.pendonmuseum.com/

End Post

Wallingford to Long Wittenham

Miles 8.7 Locks 2
Friday 1 July 2011
We have come up the weir stream to the moorings at the Plough with the intent of visiting the Pendon Railway Museum tomorrow afternoon. The museum only opens at weekends in the afternoon and a bit of planning was needed to be in the right place at the right time and get a mooring. So far so good.

On our way between Days lock and Clifton Hamdon we spotted this little gem.


http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/littleegret/index.aspx


End Post

Goring to Wallingford

Thursday 30/6/11
Miles 6.2 Locks 2
We stopped at Wallingford again as the laundrette is so close to the moorings and M says that the machines complete the wash quite quickly. I had my first lesson at driving a Laundretted machine but I think I will need lots more training before I am left to do it myself - then there arethe dryers!!!
The pub where we ate that evening.

Moored on the opposite bank to the pub.

End Post




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