Fazeley

We made a remarkably early start - pushing off a few minutes after eight o'clock with Alice ready to help with the first of the three locks up to Fradley Junction. Several boats had already passed us on the way back and it was the sound of yet another entering the lock just below us that prompted Andrew to make a quick start to join the queue.

Yes, the reputation of Fradley for congestion seems well justified - even at this time the second and third locks had a queue of three! Around the junction itself, boats seemed to moor quite inappropriately, ignoring the signs that designated a water point as no mooring - that is supposing that the boat at that spot had not needed all night to fill up! It was certainly making no indication of an early departure!

By the time we reached the third lock, Jess was also ready and willing to assist - she and Grandad went for a walk around the lock to the BW base (shop to close at the end of the month) whilst we waited our turn. meanwhile, Alice fed some of the local wildfowl. (Adding a photo of the Swan Inn is too passe!)

Now we entered the detached portion of the Coventry Canal and a long level pound for eighteen miles. we stopped at Streethay boatyard to fill up our diesel tank and purchase a spare alternator belt and a possible bolt for the rear doors.

Swans are nesting at the moment and one male was disturbed by a passing canoe, making a loud noise as it flew down to ward off any intruders.

Andrew set up his laptop to give Alice a chance to spend some time watching Bolt. Jess joined in later!

Christine was keen to find a shady spot to stop for lunch but, alas the sun, which was by now pretty hot, was entirely in the wrong position! In the end - after having already cooked Jess some fried eggy bread - Mike managed to spot a two metre stretch with just about shade and moored up so that the bow of the boat was in that unique spot!

After lunch, Christine and Alice set off for a walk along the towpath to look for more wild flowers. They re-joined the boat a few bridges later on and then used the internet to help identify some of the flowers they had seen. We also passed a huge polytunnel farm - the first section was used for growing asparagus - picking was well underway.

At Fazeley Junction, after we had filled the water tanks, Andrew went to a Tesco shop nearby and returned not only with some much-needed blue-top milk but also some delicious ice cream. After we set off down the Birmingham and Fazeley this was quickly shared out and, almost as quickly it disappeared. Well, there was no room in the small freezer compartment of our fridge! Soon we passed the unusual Drayton Footbridge, with the Drayton Swing Bridge just behind.

It was around half past four that we arrived at Curdworth Bottom Lock where Christine took local advice on mooring - not wanting to spend the night too close to the motorway. Hence, despite the 'early' hour, we moored for the night above the first lock. There were bollards - presumably because of the adjacent country park. As soon as we were tied up, Christine and Alice went off to explore the park leaving Jess to rest before tonight's barbecue.