Back to the more conventional grey skies with a typical Bank Holiday forecast - strong winds and rain! Although we did have some patches of light rain, the wind to a while to arrive. By the time it was afternoon steering was just that bit more 'interesting', especially when moving slowly between locks.
It took about an hour and a half to reach Hawkesbury Junction but just before we arrived we passed the burnt our remain of a boat that was recently caught on camera as it blazed away. Reports suggest responding to the 999 call was quite a challenge of the fire service, but as can be seen, there was little for them to do except to make sure that no-one had been trapped inside. Removal is going to be some challenge especially if CaRT are unable to track down the insurance company for the boat's former owner. It would help in the meantime if a trailing rope could be cut away as someone is bound to catch it with their propeller before long.
At the junction we made a quick trip to the sani station as we turned onto the Coventry Canal. The stop lock was probably a water control measure and is still known as Sutton Stop after the first lock keeper. No doubt as it was a junction between different companies the collection of tolls would have been an important task.
The next section passes through an area that was once very busy with coal mining and quarrying. A number of former canal arms can be spotted although most have been filled in.
There then followed a long straight section in a slight cutting. On the right of this photo the housing of Bedworth comes right to the edge of the usable space but from the canal is invisible apart from one place where a garden makes itself known.
Right at the end of the straight, at what perhaps was the newest part of he housing development, a series of small bungalows really appreciates the canal and each has been provided with a landing edge - or just for sitting in the sun. Perhaps the difference in dates of the two developments marks the point at which it was recognised that canal frontages can yield premium prices!
Shortly after, comes this designer-house - was it built like this or substantially extended during renovation?
On a sharp bend is Charity Dock, a very ramshackle boatyard that never seems to have any signs of life. However, its quirky arrangement of dummies continues to change - there seem to be more than when we last came this was a year and a half ago.
At Griff Arm, another former colliery, there is a turnover bridge just to one side and today carries what seems to be a well used footpath.
At Nuneaton, Andrew hopped off the boat to search for a newspaper shop whilst we continued under the next bridge aiming to fill up with diesel at Boot boatyard. Although the signs indicated that they should be open - 7 days it says - we could not initially see or hear anyone. A sign instructed Christine to ring a bell - one if the hanging type - and eventually someone emerged.
They still build boats here and are obviously proud of their work as he insisted that we look at their latest boat in the workshop. This 70 ft boat Isa replica of an existing smaller trip boat and will join it on the Regent's Canal. He explained some of the complications of having to design and build a passenger boat compared with a more normal leisure boat. They also have seen a significant upsurge in demand and have a order book for five boats - they normally build around four a year and had been down to barely one a couple of years back.
At Bridge 28 there was an elaborate floral arrangement - looks like it is a tribute to someone, but the details were too small to see as we passed by.
Hartshill, although still a small maintenance base for CaRT, was once a busy and important point on the network.
Eventually we arrived at Atherstone Top Lock, just after a hire boat which we followed down, They were somewhat inexperienced and valued Christine's instruction for the first couple.
Tomorrow is Easter Day and we plan to go to the 8 am service in Atherstone so we pulled in at the Visitor Mooring by the A5. From here it is a short walk into town.
15.8 Miles - 6 Locks
That big house used to be a pub, and had been closed for a long time before the building was converted. The boatyard is Boot Wharf.
ReplyDeleteThanks Adam - I forgot to go back and put in the Boot name! What comes from trying to complete the blog whilst cooking the evening meal!
ReplyDeleteI would have guessed that that house had been a pub - it sort of looks like it but great to have that detail confirmed. Now just have to remember that next time we come this way . . .