The weather forecast suggested that we would remain dry for most, if not all, of the day until a strong low arrived from the Atlantic with heavy rain evening and night. However, it was reasonably warm until lunch time but only a very rare blue path broke through the otherwise unremitting greyness.
Last night we analysed our timetable, taking into account various constraints (like Mike going back home for a couple of trips and Andrew needing to do a car shuffle) As a result we opted to make an early start so that we could go as far as possible today and tomorrow before reviewing again.
The canal was rather narrow at first, with vegetation encroaching on both sides and barely room to pass. Just as well that nothing came towards us - although very soon we were encountering a surprising amount of traffic.
Several more indications of the original line of the canal could be seen. Here, the first section is a cruising club mooring. Not noticed before but the Oxford canal first joined with the Coventry about a mile south of the current Hawkesbury Junction. Looking at maps it seems that this old arm was that route.
Just before the stop lock, along side the towpath and at a lower level is a patch of ground that looks as if it is being developed as some sort of garden or allotment but we could not make too much sense of the muddy holes in the ground!
However often we pass the same stretch of canal there are always new things to spot. Not noticed either the cat or the engineer's name on the splendid roving bridge across the junction.
We were now on the Coventry Canal - the city itself is five miles south, but we turned north along the through route.
Just after the junction we spotted nb Waiouru, one of the blogs we follow. http://www.narrowboat-waiouru.co.uk/
Alongside Bridge 14 there was once a pub - The Navigation Inn - but it has now been re-developed into a modern style home - looks quite palatial!
This boat has found an unusual use for its boathook!
Charity Dock provided its usual entertainment - the displays do seem to keep changing - but the price of fuel is stuck at this remarkable level! Sad, however, to reflect on the realisation that a number of the small boats are actually homes for some people.
North of Marston Junction, Bridge 18 is listed as Turnover Bridge. This initially seems odd as the towpath clearly continues on the same side both north and south of the bridge. However, a track is visible on the opposite bank, leading to the bridge from the former Griff Arm. The OS map seems to suggest that this is perhaps a right of way footpath. In fact we did spot a man walking his dog as we passed the start of the former colliery arm.
We were now approaching the outskirts of Nuneaton although the canal remained very pleasant.
Coming around a wide bend we spotted a notice that seemed to indicate a site related to Boudica. Andrew dropped Mike on the towpath and left him to find out more! It seems that the Romans used the slight hill, now above the canal, to swoop down on the British who were annihilated in large numbers.
We arrived at the top of the Atherstone Flight of 11 locks well ahead of our schedule and made good progress down the locks, unlike our experience last year when it took three hours. Christine left the boat at lock 5 to do some shopping, including milk, paper and salt, whilst Andrew and Mike continued down the flight.
The lower part of the flight is characterised by locks in pairs, separated by somewhat longer pounds. After nine locks and with no sign of Christine returning, we decided that perhaps it was better for the boat to wait until she caught up - Andrew walked down to the final two locks to prepare them. As a result we took a little longer than the hoped for hour and half to clear the flight!
Mike had a long phone call during which the rain arrived - we were pressing on a little longer than planned to find a suitable mooring spot. so no more photos! As we finally tied up it was heavy indeed. But we did have a tv signal!
22.8 miles - 12 locks
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