Cloudy day, but only a few, occasional spots of rain. Came down the Glascote locks with help from a boater who helped us yesterday, and had decided to turn volunteer for a day. Tied up on Fazeley visitor mooring just beyond the junction.
Noted that the thermostat is behaving itself admirably.
Finished the primer on the front right locker.
7.6 miles, 2 locks, 3.8 hours
Met Office website promised serious rain. But around noon it looked as though it could be worthwhile going down the bottom 6 locks of the Atherstone flight, so we did. Picked up water at the service point at Bradley Green. Then the rain returned so we tied up by Grendon dock, just after Bridge 49.
2.3 miles, 6 locks, 3 hours engine
Had to wait for a conversation with Streethay before setting out. Nigel confirmed they could do the radiator system early next week, so we turned right at the end of the Ashby.
Mixed sun and cloud, no rain, quite strong winds at times. Had a lot of help going down the Atherstone locks.
Wanted to use the moorings above lock 1, but they were full, so went down and tied up in the 48 hour moorings below lock 5.
10.4 miles, 5 locks, 4.9 engine hours
The weather forecast had not looked good, so a heavy shower at 9 a.m. did not bode well. But it soon cleared up and we went across to the Trinity Marina wharf for a pump-out (DIY @ £20). The warning light had not come on (16 days in) but it felt as though it was due so we took the opportunity.
Tied up on the 2-day mooring just after Bridge 5. They have a rather broken, concrete block edging, but the rings are good. Arrived about 1 and had lunch on the towpath in the sun. Then it became a bit showery. Enough of a gap to get some more primer on the locker, the latter part sheltering beneath a tarpaulin.
5 miles, 0 locks, 2.6 engine hours
Had to stop at Hinckley again, to pick up parcels from the Amazon locker. Also got Amazon to send me a QR code for returning via the Post Office the Lepy amplifier whose loudspeaker terminals had broken within a week of installation. That was easy – a good solution.
Then I went into Hinkley on the bus to do a Sainsbury's shop. In the evening we went over to the Brewer's Fayre restaurant for one of their before-6 p.m specials.
3.4 miles, 0 locks, 1.8 engine hours
Wanted to tie up at Sutton Wharf, but all the spaces were taken, one length with a couple of day boats. Came on to the moorings at Stoke Golding between bridges 28 and 27.
On the way got grounded in the shallow section around Shenton, trying to stop so I could get down to the farm shop. Needed a lot of work to get off.
Ran a wash load. Water from the services outside Bosworth marina.
7.6 miles, 0 locks, 4.3 engine hours
On-line service from BCC. Lunch at the Horse and Jockey. First coat of primer on the base of the front right locker.
Batteries were on 94% at 6 p.m., so didn't feel the need to run the engine.
No travel.
Winded by the ACA shop. Cloudy morning – wore a fleece! Sun eventually came out.
Tied up on the 2 day moorings at Congerstone. Once it was cool enough, finished the (rather inadequate) prepping of the front right locker, and put down Fertan over the corroded surface.
5.1 miles, 0 locks, 2.2 hours engine.
Cloudy day – actually quite cold after the week's heat. Decided not to do a pre-emptive pumpout at Bosworth Marina, and eventually stopped briefly at Shackerstone for lunch.
Continued all the way to the terminus at Snarestone and tied up on the 48 hour moorings. Walked up to the Wharf and the shop of the Canal Society, and then on to the end of the navigation at Bridge 62.
10.5 miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel, 4.5 engine hours
2 hours again enough in the heat. Thermostat continues to be OK.
Water at Sutton Wharf, then onto the 48 hour moorings just beyond the water point. An odd jetty on the off-side, with not enough rings in a composite plastic construction. Had to use thinner rope to make loops to run the mooring lines through. Had to use a spring, but even so it was not very satisfactory.
Nice iced latte from the café boat at the wharf.
5.7 miles, 2.5 hours engine
Set out before 9 to avoid the worst of the heat. Water at Bridge 15. 48 hour mooring just after Bridge 15 – very good mooring but no shade.
Abortive visit to centre of Hinckley – not realising the museum is only open on Saturdays.
5.3 miles, 0 locks, 2.5 hours
Came through Nuneaton – canal really shallow at times. Stopped just after Bridge 21 and walked to the Sainsbury's Local 200 yards from the bridge. Stopped for lunch just a bit back from Marston Junction.
Turned left onto the Ashby and found a shady mooring on a bend just after bridge 2.
7 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 hours
Up the remainder of the Atherstone flight and out into the countryside. Good help from others and the volunteer at the top lock. Very hot again. Very little towpath shade to be found. Ran the washing machine.
Felt like we were very isolated. But the tractor was busy till late, the traffic on some major road got going, and in the evening it seemed as though a whole kennel of dogs was barking.
2.5 miles, 5 locks, 2.2 engine hours
Even hotter, even though we set out by 9.30 to try to beat the heat. Inside the cabin this afternoon it reached 33.5˚
Came up the first 6 locks of the Atherstone flight, and tied up on the 48 hour moorings that offer good access to the town itself. That was enough for today.
3.75 miles, 6 locks, 3 hours engine time
Another really hot day. Came up the Glascote locks and took on water at the slow point above them.
Stopped for lunch after Alvecote marina in the shade. Tied up after Bridge 51 in Polesworth after seeing a notice about the Abbey, to which we walked (but couldn't get in). Found ourselves in front of Liz and Graham (BCF members) on NB Reeve, so had some nice fruit-cake with plenty of water.
6.2 miles, 2 locks, 3.25 hours engine
Very hot. Stopped in the shade for an hour for lunch. Engine temperature mostly 90 - 95. Hit just under 100 at one point.
New gas cylinder from Fazeley Mill Marina (£32.45)
Tied up opposite Kew, and went for a cuppa with John & Jane Pescod and David and Mary.
7.8 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 engine hours
Called in at Streethay Wharf:
(a) Chimney repair. Nigel said he would check availability of parts. Agreed that we would postpone the repair until beginning of September, dependent on:
(b) Radiators: check integrity of the system. Check with Nigel for a clear date once we've been up and down the Ashby Canal.
(c) Overheating engine. Nigel checked for airlock in the coolant. Concluded the overheating was probably due to a sticking thermostat valve. He thought it would sort itself out – meanwhile monitor it. They don't normally do Isuzu engines, so probably find an alternative boatyard if the problem continues.
Water at Fradley. Tied up at the moorings just before Bridge 83 (Plough Bridge).
5 miles, 3 locks, 1 swing bridge, 3 hours engine
6 miles, 0 locks, 3 hours engine
Engine overheating (just over 100˚). Oil and Coolant seemed OK.