Long Ichington

In much need of a rest after the long flight of locks we decided to stay put for a while.  Long Ichngton is a small village with some lovely old houses. 

We walked up into the village where there was a bank holiday country fayre.   A lively fayre it was ,  lots of working dog displays, vintage tractors and motorbikes. There was a great atmosphere. 

Everyone having a fun and something to interest all.

There donkeys and small ponies too. 

On our walk back from the village we stopped to admire a garden .  The lady who had been busy tending her garden , trimming her topiary trees was pleased to talk to us.  She was quite tearful when she told us how she had recently lost her husband of 63 years.  They had lived in the same home since their marriage.  His parents owned land in the village and had given this plot for their home. 

Th lady who was called Ruby showed us a book which had a photo of their house in , it was a book on the best gardens in Great Britain.  They had won the best garden  in the village many years ago. After winning they were asked not to enter again as nobody else would enter if they did.

I felt very sad for Ruby her husband John did not wish to have any children and Ruby was never to be a Mother. He said he loved her so much he did not want to share her with anyone. 

Is good that she can still do the gardening to keep herself busy now she is on her own. 

It was a real pleasure to meet and talk with Ruby.    

Knowle , Warwick, Leamington Spa and the Hatton flight of 21 locks

After leaving the lovely countryside we travelled through the sad derelict buildings of the suburbs of Birmingham. So many of which could look great if restored and turned into restaurants or apartments.

Graffiti  everywhere 

Graffiti can look good but not here.

 It is sad to see so much rubbish in the canal,  old chairs and lots of plastic bags 2 of which have ended up around our prop. I think someone may have lost his fight I hooked this glove out of the canal.

 

We also encountered a problem as we did not have a anti vandal key for the locks.  Luckily there were fellow boaters that could help.  This is the first time we had needed these keys and we shall be prepared next time having now bought a key from a canal boat trader who is moored up on the side of the locks. 

We really enjoyed our visit to the lovely Knowle.  Such a beautiful place with many luxury properties. We called by to say hello to an aunty of our friends Pat and Derek. Aunty Joan made us very welcome. She was an amazing lady and seemed much younger than her years.  Knowle has some very posh restaurants and an Artisan bakery, which had the largest meringues ever !

Pats Aunty Joan 

Knowle Parish Church

Our quiet mooring at Knowle

Before we reached the Hatton flight we had a tunnel to go through at Shrewley just 443 yards long so not such a challenge as some of the other ones we have encountered.

Our overnight mooring opposite these lovely creatures. 

Our next mooring was at the top of the Hatton flight.   The word flight is used to describe a series of locks .  In this case 21 locks.  When travelling through locks of this quantity it is advisable to find another boat to share the locks with you.  It saves water and also halves the work.  We walked down to take a look at the locks and see what was to be ahead of us the next morning. After introducing ourselves to another couple we agreed on a start time of 8am.

We woke early to heavy rain,  so donned our wet weather gear and set off.  Our companions on canal boat Laughing Gravy , Carole and Roy were helping their daughter by collecting and delivering the boat  for her.

The locks were heavy and large. It was quite daunting seeing so many locks ahead of us.  The rain stopped and eventually the sun put in an appearance.  At the end of the 21 locks we stopped for a shared lunch of fresh crusty bread and homemade soup with our new friends.  Then onwards to 2 more locks before we bid Carole and Roy farewell and promised to stay in touch.

Carole hard at work 

We decided we would stop overnight at Warwick.  We moored alongside a huge Tesco supermarket.  

Shortly afterwards decided that this mooring was not for us.  Too many other boats around and no TV signal,  a good enough excuse to move on.  Also I have to say I was quite disappointed when looking up on the Internet the admission charges for Warwick Castle. £60 for the 2 of us !  Extortionate , an unbelievable amount of money.    So onward to Leamington Spa.  A good choice as we have had a really lovely morning walking through the Jephson Park and looking and the Regency style buildings.

Jephson Park

Also in the park is a lovely memorial to Samuel Lockhart. He was a famous elephant trainer and was commanded to perform with his elephants in front of Queen Victoria.  The elephants were known as the 3 Graces.  Their names being Wilhelmina , Hattie and Trilby. his elephants bathed regularly in the the River Leam. 

a very impressive Town Hall 

The old Spa Baths which is now a museum 

The museum 

A Very inviting restaurant 

The Interior 

We have passed under many amazing bridges and seen some very interesting  things on route.

Now we are moored up at Long Ichington, having done another 10 locks !  No more locks please.  I feel exhausted now.  They are tough going and I feel as if I have been to boot camp !   I have walked in between the locks too.  Tomorrow hopefully an easier day.  We plan to walk into the village , it's just a mile away and we have read its worth visiting.  I will keep you posted.

Today I counted how may full winds I made on one of these paddles.  51 !    The average is about 25 winds up and then down. 

Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and its locks !

We have had a very full day.  We left our overnight mooring and passed the entrance to Drayton Manor, and a large RSPB nature reserve.

After the first lock we moored next to the outer edge of the Kingsbury Water Park, which has over 600 acres of waterside and woodland walks.  We walked into the park through the woods and then back along the canal path, the walk was 5k.   It's a beautiful park and ideal for families. 

We did not pass anyone on our way into the park, I guess most people would be arriving by car.

There were numerous lakes and ponds , once the site of gravel pits.

The park offered water sports and an extensive play area for children of all ages, and a very large track for a miniature train around the park.

After our walk we had lunch before the 10 locks ahead of us.  Some of them were very heavy and stiff.

After passing through the Cudworth tunnel we looked for somewhere suitable to stay for the night.  We  moored near the next set of locks at Minworth.  We had been advised not to stay over night further along the canal !   The area ahead of us being very built up and the suburbs of Birmingham. 

After securing Bluemoon we walked a short way along the canal and then headed up the high bank and onto a busy road which we crossed with great care. Our destination a real huge Asda superstore.  

A good nights sleep needed now as plenty more locks to encounter tomorrow. 

Atherstone to Tamworth

Left Atherstone on Sunday morning and travelled until 7pm making just two short stops for lunch and afternoon tea !  Which was taken at Polesworth where walked through the country park, mooring just below the monument to the miners.

The park was formed on both sides of the canal. A small heritage centre on the left with children's play park. 

The 2 locks at Tamworth were like a piggy bank,   Slow to fill up but very quick to empty.   Although we had been travelling for some time we felt that we should go through these 2 final locks before mooring up for the night, we had heard a rumour that the locks were going to be closed during the daytime due to maintenance.  In fact there was a sign saying that this would be the case of the last lock.  However work must have been done before the deadline and the locks were open today but the queues long,  so we made the right choice.  

We walked into Tamworth this morning ,  the castle was looking grand and the gardens very well cared for.  After our walk back and a sandwich we moved on further along.

We walked to the Ventura shopping  centre, a little further than the map showed, a total round trip of 7k.

Then onwards to tonight's mooring on the Birmingham and Fazeley canal, we had been traveling previously on the Ashby Canal then Coventry Canal.   We are close to an old disused mill.  

The old mill on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

Tonight's mooring. 

Off we go again !

We are now back on Bluemoon.  We had a good journey back from Samui.  We went back home for 4 weeks and travelled via Singapore.  Having a one night stopover on our way back to the UK. 

I have been rather slow starting the blog off again, our Internet connection was not too good and to be honest I had not feeling 100%. So apologies to those of you have looked at the blog and thought I had given up!

When we first arrived back a the marina, Les set to rubbing down and painting the boat. We also applied our next picture , not an easy task, so many bubbles.  the last one was much easier to do.

We did not leave the marina until Thursday. We had a little captains mate aboard with us , granddaughter Lexie. 

Lexie had a great couple of nights away on Bluemoon and was keen to help with the locks and the ducks certainly did not go hungry whilst she was with us.  Nor did we as Lexie picked lots of blackberries.  

Our first night we spent on the outskirts of Atherstone.  Just before the start of the locks.  The next day we went through 5 locks before mooring up for 2 nights then completing the next 6 locks.

The weather was great until Saturday when it was wet and windy.