Today was a great example of how one can change plans at the very last minute and wonder why one had not considered the plan earlier!
When we arrived at Braunston on Wednesday we worked out that however far we now travel, we must turn around on Tuesday to get back to Braunston by Bank Holiday Monday. Looking at the canalmap we had decided we could get to Fazeley Junction, near Birmingham but that this would involve 30 or more locks, a rather daunting prospect with just the two of us. The majority of locks are at a place called Atherstone so an alternative would be to turn the boat before we reached the first of the locks. That didn’t seem much of a journey although we can elongate it by taking the Coventry arm into the centre of the city. Then this morning, looking again at the map I realised we could take a right turn off the Coventry canal onto the Ashby canal, and travel for up to 16 hours without one lock in sight! Far more relaxing with plenty of turning spaces for us to cut the journey short if we don’t feel like covering such a long distance. I think I am a little nervous, after the Marston Doles stoppage, of a lock breaking, us getting stuck and not being able to return the boat in time. This new option seems far more relaxing and hopefully will enable us to also have time to go into Coventry.
Before the ultimate decision we joined the Coventry Canal at a place called Hawkesbury Junction. We had to pass through a ‘stop lock’ which only had a height difference of 6″! It was originally created as a toll barrier at the point where the two canals joined. Moored up at the Junction to make use of the Elsan, we spied a pub. Although it looked closed from our direction it was infact doing a roaring trade in the back garden and we took advantage of a cooked lunch.
My one concern, knowing nothing about the Ashby canal, was to do with its depth and weed proliferation. Images of the Aylesbury Arm came to mind and I really didn’t want to chug along for hours not knowing how much debris would be wrapped around the propellor. However as we were about to join the Ashby canal a boat turned out of it and I was able to get the rundown of what it is like. I was reassured that they had really enjoyed the experience so now I feel a lot happier. We have moored near a small village. We didn’t find a church or a shop (although looking at Google there is a Spar shop somewhere nearby!) but there is a school and then row after row after row of houses. Very manicured gardens and neat houses, many looking identical. It was easy for R and I to be judgemental – where was the life in this village, the community aspect. It all felt a bit pedestrian with everyone behind closed doors, minding their own business. And then we came across the village pub, not a building of beauty, but buzzing with lots of people sitting at tables of six in the outside area, enjoying a Friday night drink. Here, I realised, was the community and it was so good to see some life happening. Lots of chatter and laughter with a feeling that this was where the locals came to hang out.
Not much more happened after our evening constitutional. A light supper of scrambled eggs as we had eaten well at lunchtime followed by an episode of ‘First dates hotel’ (recommended by a friend as light entertainment!) and ending with ‘Endeavour’.
NarrowboatTLC 