This is one fishermans tale that will do the rounds!

 I forgot to mention the New Year Resolution....I didn't make one! That's not to say I'm not going to try my hardest to lose a few pounds, hoping that may help with the knee problem and as to dry January, well my idea of that is to use a smaller wine glass and make sure that at least half of the wine is still left in the bottle before I go to bed. Will I succeed? Hmm, fingers crossed I keep with it.

Today we crept past The Candy Boat and then pulled onto the facilities. Water had been used with gusto, two showers and two machine washes plus the usual daily usage meant the tank was almost empty. Expected to be there some time, but boy was this a fast tap! Within 10 minutes the tank was full!

Just before Grendon Wharf this derelict and partially sunken boat has been lying here for years. Every time we pass it more foliage appears from the inside as well as the hull. It's quite a feature of the canal network now and long may it remain so. One way of recycling a boat, make it into a waterside garden!

Blimey this seen on an accommodation bridge. Bit worried about the crack appearing. There must be a weight limit even though it is only used by the farmer.

Reaching Alvcote Marina, and who should we see? James and Debbie, The Pen Maker's Boat. Their new boat is called Ernest, we sailed straight past and asked where the boat was? Of course, we had it in our minds that Lois Jane was still theirs, but that had been sold in 2020 They were out walking Dudley who was looking very dapper in his shaggy winter coat. Should have got a photo, very remiss of me. I did get a photo of one very irate fisherman though.

It all happened in an instant. FS had just been put in gear after having stopped to talk to James and Debbie and had about reached tickover speed when by the bridge three fisherman had their rods out. Now this is where it gets a bit silly! You would think that seeing a boat coming, the lines would be  reeled in. Well not so the first fisherman. Consequently, we picked up his line on our stem post. A shouting match ensued between him and me. He said he had asked me to stop, I said with the engine noise and me wearing earmuffs (to stop the wind) I hadn't heard him and anyway it was up to him to bring his line in before the boat arrived not when it arrived! "You should have stopped immediately" he argued, Ian then put in his two cents worth saying a narrow boat does not have breaks and can't be stopped at a moment's notice! He chose not to hear or acknowledge what had been said instead keeping on about how he had asked us to stop and we must have heard him. On and on and on and on, blah, blah blah!!!! I started the reverse still having to listen to his moaning and finally he got his line and lure back! I'm sorry to say I then saw the funny side, started laughing and said that would be the biggest thing he would ever catch in his lifetime, something to brag about to his fellow fishermen. His mates started laughing too and as I eventually went past, told him he should thank me for reversing because if I hadn't, he would have lost not just his line but maybe his rod as well. Begrudgingly he did thank me and when I said today was too nice a day to be grumpy, a smile appeared and a Happy New Year shouted back. Then we caught up with a dog walker. He started laughing too having witnessed it all. The fisherman was a mate of his and couldn't wait to get to the pub that night to regale the tale.

I was still chuckling to myself, Ian had gone below to make a drink when suddenly a branch came crashing down on the offside. OMG. I was not 100 yds from where it fell, would there be any more? Suddenly a chap appeared, he tried o grab the branch, slipped and almost fell in!

He was trimming the branches from the tree

 His wife came to help and she nearly fell in too! Finally, the branch was retrieved, I continued past and more laughter from us all. She mentioned not a boat had been seen and wasn't it typical that the moment the branch was ready to fall, a boat comes along! 

Glascote locks and the set of two that always seem to have boats either ascending or descending. Even today, with us not having seen a single boat on the move, two boats were at the lock. One day we will do these locks without having to wait!  I had dropped Ian before the landing and was holding back waiting for the gate to open. Judging by the state of the towpath again, I expect he would have preferred to get off on the landing.

 Taking a photo of the lock I was dismayed to see the bottom gates open. Not another inconsiderate boater, thought I. 

Then Ian was seen on the footbridge giving me the signal that a boat was coming up. Oh, so that was why the gates had been left open.

Oh, and I remembered to get a photo of that brass plague on the fence. The tale of the leaky lock.

At Fazeley Junction turned right to join the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. 

 

Not half a mile from the junction the Little Chimney Co boat was moored. A sight for sore eyes because only yesterday our cowl gave up the ghost. The weld holding the plates together had sheered. I held FS while Ian went to see Kym. I cannot recommend him enough. Within 10 minutes the plates had been welded and was as good as new.

Between the junction and Hopwas, not many mooring oppertunities show themselves. One which was suitable was so near to the traffic and the noise with the wind blowing toward us was not welcome so we carried on. It was at Hopwas then, that we finally stopped.

Hopwas mooring

 And today's wildlife,

 

Quite a hold up at Atherstone!

 January 2nd

 That rain overnight, woke us up in the wee hours. Good...I wanted that stern rope to have an extra drenching, make sure all that dog poo was out!

It was nice to get up at our leisure and take our time setting off. Just 7 miles to do before the Atherstone locks and a further 2 miles down the flight. But we hadn't anticipated the delay at the locks! If we had we would have set off earlier.

Passing Boot Wharf the usual amount of boats on the offside as well as those moored on the towpath side. This time of year meeting another boat would be sheer bad luck indeed. There is not enough room for two boats to pass by, you see. Thankfully it was clear, still a bit of a challenge though.

 Has anyone ever wondered about those orange blobs on the grass or cladding along the towpath? It baffled us for a while until Ian had a light bulb moment. Of course, it's to show where trees need cutting back on the offside. You're all probably saying how on earth didn't you realise that? Well we didn't because when we first saw them during the summer, no offside veg had been cut back. Now of course, it's pretty obvious.

And heard the call of a parrot, just the one. Unusual for them to be alone.

It was nearing Atherstone that a boat pulled away in front, but hang on, it was closely followed by another. Blast it was a boat on tow. That scuppered the quick descent on the Atherstone flight we thought!

L

So we made a decision, let them get ahead whilst we stop at the facilities. The time was 11.45. How long would it take us to do 11 locks? Before we could get to the facilities first we had to wait by the bridge. The towed boat was taking up all the canal. Ah but then the realisation, gosh it's the Candy boat.

 

Once the way was clear we headed to the left and the facility mooring. Bit hang on!!! Oh blast, a boat was already on it! Into reverse and pulled onto the landing. Looked like we would be following them down after all.

 

 It was slow-going...very! After 15 minutes it was finally my turn to descend. And then gosh again, who should turn up behind us but Paul and Viviee Barber with their historic boat Whitby. Paul is a boat builder at Sheetstores on the Erewash Canal. Click HERE to see his Facebook page. And behind him yet another historic boat, didn't get the name but it all meant the locks would be busy now for quite a while.

Ian helped Trevor on the Candy Boat as much as possible to keep the whole cavalcade moving. Then at the bottom lock by Atherstone town moorings they pulled over to allow us all to get past. 

 

Now we could get a move on, and with Ian lifting a paddle for Paul, we had all descended to the bottom lock by roughly 14.45. Crikey, that was 3 hours to do the 11 locks! It usually takes us about 2 h 15!

 

One thing with all the boats descending, a vast quantity of the water was flowing from bywash. No way could one get out unscathed. Banging the wall and getting pinned, that was my lot today!

We stopped below the final lock 11, waved Paul and Vivienne farewell and within an hour, the Candy Boat had also arrived. They moored near to us but we didn't get to speak to them again.

And wildlife

Thats a first...being shouted at! And inconsiderate dog owners!

 New Year's Eve, been and gone I know, but I'm that behind with the blog, thought I might as well continue where I left off.

December 31st

Not a bad day, no rain for a change, that came overnight. The plan was to shop at Rugby, provisions were critical, most having been taken across to our sons for the Christmas festivities. Before Rugby, we had Hillmorton locks to do, very quiet with just one other boat going down with us. We got to them first and Ian lifted a paddle to help ease their passage.

 Rugby was very busy. It's always worrying whether a space could be found and in the direction we were heading, no chance of seeing if anything available near to Tesco. Just before the Rugby moorings started a boat passed us. I asked if moorings were available and with the reply that one by the Tesco walkway was still vacant, we hoped that it would still be free when we arrived. It was, just, a boat came through the bridge as we turned up also looking for somewhere to stop. They pulled onto the water point and was still there with no hose out when we left an hour later!

Newbold tunnel, short compared to Braunston and no boats coming through, but one was seen coming toward us. Turns out it was the diesel/coal boat Auriga. We were to see him again, on New Year's Day, following us through Old Oaks Wood.

 

Old Oaks Wood is one of our favourite moorings, so very quiet....usually. Not tonight 'cos 8 pm and the bangs and whizzes were heard. Rushed out to watch but we had all but stepped onto the back deck when it was over. Makes one wonder just how much a box of fireworks are these days. 5 minutes of oohs and ahhs and it was finished. Might just as well stick a couple of tenners in the fire instead!

 Jan 1st 2022

What a night, we partied, just the two of us, polishing off two glasses of Baileys each, one bottle of 19 Crimes Shiraz and a bottle of Cava Brut bubbly to toast in the New Year. A few more fireworks seen nearby but what surprised me the most was the firework display in London, I had thought it to be cancelled. It was excellent with the laser display and narration. Bed for us was about 1 am and surprisingly we both awoke round 8 am without a hangover!

It was late when we did finally get away and still amazingly mild. 13 degrees at 10 am. Old Oaks Wood with the trees lining the canal, really lovely at this time of year. 

 

Not so good was the rubbish that had been left in the car park. Disgraceful!

 

It was on reaching the car park that Auriga was seen again, well not so much seen at first but heard! Gosh his engine was noisy! It was also as we passed the Old Oaks visitor moorings that we got shouted at! Us who are the slowest of boats when passing others. He told us to f**king slow down! That boat of his rocked and banged against the side but ever a wonder. It was secured only by a center rope. Not a bow or stern rope to be seen. Ian lost it with him, swearing back and telling him he should learn how to secure a boat properly. I watched as Auriga went past, this boat with a much deeper draught than us, made the boat rock and roll again. He didn't come out to swear at him! No the diesel boat services may have to be used at some point, so no doubt thought better of it. 

 

Remember those black bags with yellow ties in the canal? They've gone, every last one of them! As had that burnt out boat. Good on CRT.

Toward Hawkesbury Junction and at the lock a boat was just exiting. Bit confused as to why they closed the gate in front of us, turns out they didn't look ahead but to give them credit, when they did see us, one jumped off the boat and hurried to get the gate open. How nice was that. 

One of the cassettes had to be emptied, so Ian went off to do that job, whilst I took FS through the lock. He got back just in time, I was about to do the right-hander onto the Coventry Canal and again managed the turn in one go.

Sutton Stop

 And that wasn't the only boater who didn't look to see what was coming. Having passed the water point I suddenly saw the bow of a boat swing out. Surely not, I thought. Did that boater not see me? No was the answer. By the time he did, the bow was now right in front of FS's bow. Into reverse went I, that made the boat owner look up! I could see the panic as he tried to turn the bow back toward the bank. It was okay though, we did miss and a sheepish apology followed. Laughingly I told him it happens to the best of us and with a Happy New Year, we both went on our way.

We had planned to stop at Hawkesbury but still early we decided to push on, past Charity Wharf with the jumble of steel and mannequins,

 

Past the Ashby canal had it really been two weeks since coming off? And stopped past bridge 15. 

The wind was still a problem, so while Ian held the center rope, I grabbed the stern rope, threw that down on the bank, got the nappy pins and proceeded to secure FS. Unknowable not only had I walked in dog sh*t, but dragged the rope through it as well, It was over my shoes, hands and back deck. Bl**dy inconsiderate dog owners! I'd love to drag you lot through it! Bag the sh*t up why don't you!!! Boaters understand all too well this issue and although the public think it's us lot are to blame, the majority of boating dog owners always pick it up! So shoes off to go in and wash hands, rubber gloves on, I had to untie FS again, wash the rope in the canal, scrub it with clean water before retying! Then it was trying to get that muck out of the treads on my shoes...it was not pleasant and I hope those owners will be caught and fined! No way of removing the sh*t from the grass, so well squished it was, instead Ian put ash over it. At least we won’t be treading in it again! 

 Other than that this was a lovely mooring, really, really quiet and we had it all to ourselves.

 

And wildlife today

A New Year Dawns

 Happy New Year one and all.

 

A selfie today. So mild for the end of the year. Ian with just a T-shirt and me with no coat!