Hawthorn blossom at Armitage, Trent & Mersey Canal

After overnight rain the day started out fresh and clear. Of course, as that was the first rain for a long time it was full of dust and the boat was covered in the stuff.
The clear sky continued throughout the day but the wind did get up a bit. This is one of my favourite times of the year as long as the weather stays good. The reason for this is the arrival of the hawthorn blossom. It covers the hedges in clouds of white and really lifts the spirit.
As we approached Fradley Junction it became clear that our decision last night to moor up well before it was a good one. The place was its usual packed self and we even had to queue for the water point. Having waited to use it we found the thing was so slow that we decided to give up after half an hour and only getting about 10% of our tank capacity.
Turning onto the Trent and Mersey towards Rugeley we joined the queue for the 3 locks. The long weekend and good weather seem to have brought out a lot of boats.
We were soon clear through and running along the 10 mile pound which includes Rugeley where we decided to stop for the night and do some shopping.

Friday 29^th April

The day dawned cool and overcast. We set off intending to get to Fradley Junction. As we dawdled along the day slowly brightened up. Very slowly! In fact the sun didn't really come out until we were ready to moor up near Fradley.

On the way this morning we passed 'Sanity Again', our friends and erstwhile neighbours from Great Haywood. They were going the other way and the wind was blowing a bit too strongly to stop for a chat so we just had time to wave and yell greetings.

We decided to moor up before Fradley Junction because it's usually crowded there and getting a mooring is never assured. We got a nice spot quite close to Fradley village and I decided to take a walk to the shop for an ice cream and a look around. It must be some sort of public holiday because it was shut up tight. I think someone's getting married today.

Thursday 28^th April

On Wednesday we walked into Polesworth for a spot of provisioning before moving off. It started out quite cold again but it finally warmed up around midday.

The Coventry Canal remains very pretty throughout this length, even entering Tamworth outskirts the properties backing onto the canal are in general well kept.

We decided not to carry on into Fazeley Junction and have moored up in fairly open country just short of it.

On Thursday I made an appointment with the local surgery as I needed to renew some of my medicine. I then took a bus into town. As usual the doctor was running late and it wasn't until 2.30 pm that I got back to the boat so we decided not to bother moving today.

WHEEEEE

Monday 25^th April

We had a terrific weekend up in Leeds. Thanks to John and Sara for picking us up and ferrying us around all weekend. Saturday night's party was a cracker. The venue was Bibi's, an Italian place in the city centre. Very good food and service.

Sunday we went to Kirkstall Abbey park for a picnic. There's a lovely children's playground there and Daniel really enjoyed all the equipment, and so did some of the adults!

Sunday afternoon saw us pounding down the motorway again, on our way back to Hawksbury Junction where we had left the boat. This is the first time in all the years we've owned Lyra that we have left her overnight on a public mooring, but we needn't have worried as she was safe and sound.

Today we moved the boat to Atherstone, allowing us to run the engine for 8 hours which charged the batteries well and getting two wash loads done as well.

Tuesday 26^th April

What a change today. We've been spoiled lately with all the unseasonal sunshine but today it was cold and windy. We set off down the Atherstone flight of 11 locks, dropping us 80 ft. This gave us a chance to try out Cath's new lock handle. It's a great success and Cath is very pleased with it. This one combines in one unit the ability to use it as both a short and long handle version so that if a paddle is very stiff the longer throw makes life easier, but on some locks the long handle fouls because there isn't enough clearance so instead of carrying two handles you can just use the different sets of holes in the one.

We've now moored up at Polesworth for the night and will walk into town tomorrow for some shopping.

Moored at Hawksbury

Pretty cast iron bridge at Hawksbury

Friday 22^nd April

Happy birthday to Liz for today, we'll see you tomorrow. This morning, after a slightly disturbed night we set off hoping to get a mooring at Hawksbury Junction (Sutton Stop) so that John can pick us up and take us to Leeds for the weekend.

Yesterdays decision to move into the basin in Coventry wasn't a great success. Cath was worried all night about someone might come and do something to the boat, as can happen in city centre locations. There was some sort of club close by which I hadn't noticed when I decided it was OK to stay here, but actually there wasn't too much noise and the party goers were no problem at all. The only real disturbance was at 6.30 in the morning some charmless nerks banged on the boat yelling I'll have a coffee with 2 sugars. Not too bad for the location I suppose. Sometimes you just wish you could push them into the canal whenever they do something like that.

Our run to Hawksbury this morning was calm and peaceful in the glorious sunshine, which is promised to continue for some time yet. We managed to get a very good place, only a few yards from the Junction itself and within easy reach of the road for when John comes to pick us up.

The Tyrell 6 wheeler & Thrust SST

Wednesday 20th April

Yesterday we finished travelling down the Ashby and rejoined the Coventry Canal heading for Coventry itself.

Passing Hawksbury Junction we entered the last part of this canal as it dead ends in Coventry at The Basin.

You are soon aware that you're approaching an urban area. Rubbish in the canal increases dramatically and supermarket trolleys don't appear to make good boats no matter how often people try to float them.

The last time we were here was over 10 years ago with a hire boat. The canal has definitely improved since then, despite my earlier comment it is cleaner than it used to be.

We continued all the way to the basin at the end then turned around and have moored up just outside.

This morning we walked into the centre to do some shopping, Cath bought shoes and I got another pair of trousers to wear to Liz's birthday party on Saturday. In the afternoon I returned to town and visited the Motor Museum. This is a great place for petrol heads like me and I've included a couple of pictures from it.

Monday 18th April

A long day today. We rose before 8.00 and because we had a lot of washing to do decided to travel a long time in order to get two loads out of the way.

The sun shone brilliantly as we set off and it looked perfect as we wound our way southward. Our first stop was Sutton Wharf where we availed ourselves of the services, water etc., and I couldn't resist an ice cream of course. Setting off again we intended to make it to Hinckley for the night and we arrived here about 4.00 o'clock and were lucky to get the last mooring spot. Unfortunately we can't get tele here so we will just have to feel deprived and find something else to do.