Great Haywood to Bridge 68 to Great Haywood

SmartGauge read 90% in the morning, from 94% before bed. Solar panel already giving 3 amps at 8 a.m., even though it was not as sunny as yesterday. Got going after 10 and stopped at the Taft Wharf for 39 litres of diesel @ 57p/l. Winded at Bridge 68, lunch between the locks watching Andy Murray at the French Open, then home by about 6.30.

7 miles, 3 locks, 3 hours engine.

Great Haywood

After a bit more clearing out and coffee, got going about mid-day. Engine started fine, and headed out towards Rugeley. Picked up water at Anglo-Welsh and queued at Haywood lock, so it was lunch-time by the time we got through. Tied up between Haywood and Colwich locks for lunch and then decided to stay the night.

1 mile, 1 lock, 1 engine hour

Great Haywood – packing up

Ran out of water first thing, so filled the tank using both long hoses. After breakfast packed up and made the first trip home.

Great Haywood

Used the central heating in the morning as the Pureglow had not kept the boat warm overnight – there were a lot of partially burned briquettes in the grate. There was also more ash than I'd been led to expect.

Filled up the water tank and then turned Erin Mae round, so I could get at the bit of paintwork I'm treating under the window. Added a second coat of primer to the patch. It occurs that this may be the best orientation for the pramhood over the winter, given the prevailing wind, providing we can tie the lines to stop the boat from moving too far towards the jetty.

0 miles

Rugeley to Great Haywood

Rain in the morning, but dried up by the time we set out. Intermittent during the day. Stopped at Rugeley to shop. Filled the diesel tank at the Taft Wharf. 169 litres @ 60p/l. Gas bottle @ £22 – result!

Got home in sunshine.

7.7 miles, 2 locks, 4.5 engine hours.

Huddlesford to Rugeley

Grey but dry day. Got going just behind the Chimney Company boat, but they quickly pulled over. Up through Fradley where there was help on the locks. Got past Kings Bromley marina just as another boat was coming out. Tied up outside The Ash Tree on the Armitage Road at Rugeley, and decided to have our evening mean there. That meant not running the engine in the evening, but we turned off the inverter while we were out.

10.3 miles, 3 locks, 1 swing bridge, 4 engine hours

Tamworth to Huddlesford

Yet another sunny day, though a large bank of cloud keep us in shadow for a while. Got going just after nine to ensure we got first crack at the Glascote locks. Fuzzily junction was a disappointment, but we took on water. Strong, cold wind most of the time in spite of the sun. Had enough of the wind by Huddlesford, so moored just north of Brudge 83, in spite of the proximity of the railway track.

8.4 miles, 2 locks, 4 engine hours

Coventry Canal Bridge 50 to Tamworth

Wet morning, but promised to dry up, so we planned a lazy start. Ran the engine for charging and hot water first thing, and got away around 11. Canal was shallow, and I often had to put the engine into reverse to clear the prop of leaf litter, etc.

Tied up above Glascote locks to walk into Tamworth for a prescription. That took so long to collect, because it was not complete and we had to ring the surgery, that we decided to stay above the locks for the night. Ran the engine again in the evening, because we'd had a wash-load running as we travelled.

5.7 miles, 0 locks, 5 engine hours.

Mancetter to Coventry Canal Bridge 50

Lovely sunny day. Came down the Atherstone flight just behind Vic & Sue on NB No Problem. Watered at Bradley Green and tied up out in the sticks, just after Bridge 50.

Cleared out the paint locker a bit. Rubbed down the corrosion under the dinette window and applied Exit Rust. Then did the right hand side of the boat with Showroom Shine. Results still a bit smeary.

4.5 miles, 11 locks, 4.5 engine hours

Nuneaton to Mancetter

Set out on a grey morning, just ahead of a boat which then tailgated us to Nantwich. tied up by Bridge 19 and walked into town to post a letter and do some shopping. Turned out a very long walk, and a very boring town centre.

When we got back and set out, we got a carpet round the prop. Then we got a lot of dog-dirt on our shoes from the spot where we had pulled in to get rid of the carpet..

Eventually tied up just short of Mancetter, with the railway within hearing distance, but a very nice view through the side-hatch up a sloping field to woods.

6.6 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 engine hours

Ansty to Nuneaton

Thought about getting water at Ansty but someone else was there, and the site was messy. Near Hawkesbury we crossed with NB Auriga and bought two 25 Kg bags of PureGlow for £10.50 each. Just before the stop lock we found NB No Problem and chatted with Sue. Got water from a slow tap just round the corner onto the Coventry. Decided to moor up before getting into Nuneaton, so stopped just after Bridge 18. Ran engine in the evening for TV use.

7.7 miles, 1 lock, 5 engine hours

Rugby to Ansty

Cool day got brighter in the afternoon. Went to Tesco first thing, and set out around noon. Did a wash on the way. Got to Ansty much earlier than CanalPlan had suggested, and were able to tie up on rings there

9.4 miles, 0 locks, 1 swing bridge, 5.5 engine hours

Barby to Rugby

Cool and cloudy but dry. Got a pump-out at Grantham Bridge Services in the middle of the Hillmorton locks (£15 with blue), and tied up at the Boughton Road picnic area just after Bridge 59. Really nice mooring.

Went to Tesco's just down the road from Bridge 58 to meet Claire, and she brought us back, plus shopping, for lunch and the afternoon on Erin Mae.

6.6 miles, 3 locks, 4.5 engine hours

Welton Wharf to Barby

Cloudy, cold but dry day. Braunston tunnel behind NB Little Egret, slowly, passing the Coal and Diesel Boat half-way through. Shared the Braunston locks with Little Egret. Picked up water at the junction and headed north up the Oxford. Moored up on armco a mile before the M45. Ran the engine again while making the tea.

6.2 miles, 6 locks, 5 engine hours

Yelvertoft to Welton Wharf

Brilliant sunshine early, with scarcely a cloud, though it got overcast later. Very cold out of the sun. At Crick missed getting in front of NB Conqueror by a few seconds, but fortunately they were pulling in to take on water before the tunnel. Had to pass an oncoming boat in the tunnel. Came down the Watford flight and didn't even have to queue. Saw NB Oldfield at Norton junction, turned right and tied up on rings opposite Welton Wharf.

9.6 miles, 7 locks, 4.5 engine hours

Welford to Yelvertoft

Fine day for cruising, and we're now generally feeling like heading towards home, rather than holing up and seeing the sights or going for long walks. Straightforward run to Yelvertoft, and tied up on the 14 day moorings. Walked to the village for some bread, and met the four painters in the Reading Room.

9.9 miles, 1 lock, 5 engine hours

Theddingworth to Welford

Beautiful morning, but very chilly. Set out around 10.45. Through Husbands Bosworth tunnel, and then decided to go up the Welford arm. Winded before going to the end, and reversed to the basin, in case reversing out was too difficult.

Went for a walk through the village and across the fields to Welford reservoir – looking depleted.

6.6 miles, 1 lock, 5 engine hours

Foxton to Theddingworth

Fine day, sunny at first. Wind got up a little. Cruised down to the winding hole at Bridge 52 to pick up Andrew & Anna and the children. After coffee, winded and went back to Foxton for lunch and a walk round the site. Then filled the water tank and went back to drop them off – about 6 p.m. eventually. Tied up 50 yards beyond Bridge 52.

7.7 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 engine hours

Foxton

Generally fine but cloudy day. Came up the Foxton flight as one of a group of three, crossing at the half-way point with a single boat descending.

Tied up at the second water point, took on water and gave the roof and the front of the boat a good scrubbing. Then moved round the corner to the visitor moorings for the night.

1.3 miles, 10 locks, 1 swing bridge, 5 engine hours

Smeeton Westerby to Market Harborough to Foxton

Fine morning, though a heavy dew. Jim came at 8.45 and replaced the leaking seal on the prop shaft lubrication unit. Then we were lowered back into the water, and settled up with Debdale.

Blacking for sides and base = £12 / foot = £720, inc VAT.
Replacement seal + an hour's labour = £114.50, inc VAT.

Arranged last night to see Andrew and Anna & family on Sunday, so went on a shopping trip to Market Harborough, before coming back to Foxton and tying up on the 7 days moorings before the swing bridge at the basin.

12 miles, 0 locks, 3 swing bridges, 4 engine hours