It was quite spooky as we set off in rather thick mist to complete the final mile of the Oxford Canal to Hawkesbury Junction. Where this canal joins the Coventry Canal there is a stop lock - known as Sutton Stop after the first lock keeper - which falls only a few inches to control the direction of flow of water. This is a reminder of how important the supply of water was to the canal companies when carrying large amounts of freight traffic.
We turned south along the Coventry Canal, heading into the city centre. Not far from the end of the canal are the famous Cash's Hundred Houses, built to house workers, although not all of the hundred were ever completed. Along with the Electric Wharf a little closer to the terminus, these have all been converted into apparently smart apartments. The mist cleared and the rest of the day was sunny and pleasantly warm.
Once we were moored in the canal basin - again a modern development of mostly offices - and dealt with rubbish etc, we walked the short distance into the centre to visit the cathedral. It is a very long time since either of us was here last, with only dim and distant memories. Christine recalled coming to the adjacent college (now Coventry University) for a meeting when we lived in Milton Keynes.
The ruined cathedral is still most spectacular with many monuments to the efforts after the war with Germany to build peaceful relationships, both between these two countries and elsewhere in the world. Mike tackled the climb up the tower - 180 steps - whilst Christine visited the modern building that replaced the bombed ruins. Much of it, especially the stained glass windows, remains beautiful but the overall design has very much a Sixties feel and one wonders how well the concrete will survive in a hundred years.
After a quick top up of supplies in Sainsburys, it was back to the canal basin to make a speedy return along the arm for our rendezvous with Andrew, travelling up from Worcester. On the way down we noticed a large Tesco Extra close to the canal and Christine made a quick foray, principally to replace the cafetiere which was broken yesterday. Also, having noticed, belatedly, that there is no water point at Marston Junction where the meet was planned, we were forced to stop at Hawkesbury Junction to fill up.
On then to Marston where we met Andrew, who had been dropped of from his lift, along with suitable liquid supplies! We held a quick conference about route planning - the upshot of which was to miss out on the Ashby Canal (which turns off at Marston) and head on up the Coventry. The main aim seems to be to make for Kinver where there is a canal boat furniture supplier which has been recommended to us.
With clear skies as the sun set and with Andrew now at the tiller, we decided to press on through Nuneaton to find a quiet rural mooring for the night.
We turned south along the Coventry Canal, heading into the city centre. Not far from the end of the canal are the famous Cash's Hundred Houses, built to house workers, although not all of the hundred were ever completed. Along with the Electric Wharf a little closer to the terminus, these have all been converted into apparently smart apartments. The mist cleared and the rest of the day was sunny and pleasantly warm.
Once we were moored in the canal basin - again a modern development of mostly offices - and dealt with rubbish etc, we walked the short distance into the centre to visit the cathedral. It is a very long time since either of us was here last, with only dim and distant memories. Christine recalled coming to the adjacent college (now Coventry University) for a meeting when we lived in Milton Keynes.
The ruined cathedral is still most spectacular with many monuments to the efforts after the war with Germany to build peaceful relationships, both between these two countries and elsewhere in the world. Mike tackled the climb up the tower - 180 steps - whilst Christine visited the modern building that replaced the bombed ruins. Much of it, especially the stained glass windows, remains beautiful but the overall design has very much a Sixties feel and one wonders how well the concrete will survive in a hundred years.
After a quick top up of supplies in Sainsburys, it was back to the canal basin to make a speedy return along the arm for our rendezvous with Andrew, travelling up from Worcester. On the way down we noticed a large Tesco Extra close to the canal and Christine made a quick foray, principally to replace the cafetiere which was broken yesterday. Also, having noticed, belatedly, that there is no water point at Marston Junction where the meet was planned, we were forced to stop at Hawkesbury Junction to fill up.
On then to Marston where we met Andrew, who had been dropped of from his lift, along with suitable liquid supplies! We held a quick conference about route planning - the upshot of which was to miss out on the Ashby Canal (which turns off at Marston) and head on up the Coventry. The main aim seems to be to make for Kinver where there is a canal boat furniture supplier which has been recommended to us.
With clear skies as the sun set and with Andrew now at the tiller, we decided to press on through Nuneaton to find a quiet rural mooring for the night.
No comments:
Post a Comment