Narrowboat Aussies

Month: November 2015

  • Ashby distractions 13/11/15

    Ashby distractions 13/11/15

    Swadlincote, Leicestershire DE12, UK

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After setting off from Hopwas on Tuesday morning (3rd November) we made our way through the mist and fog and overcast skies through Tamworth and more pretty countryside to find good moorings near bridge 50. These type of moorings are always good to find as there are views across both sides of the canal as well as pretty reasonable television reception due to the openness of the landscape.

    We are in no hurry at the moment since we have secured our winter moorings and know our date of departure for Australia, but want to see a little more unknown territory of the Ashby Canal in between the rather typically unpredictable weather. A contradiction in terms perhaps, but it has not been cold (generally) and any day can bring sunny calm weather as well as high winds and heavy rain with any combinations and severity. This means that we might travel well for a day and then be holed up sitting out a bad spot for a few days. This is England after all!!!

    On Wednesday we took advantage of a reasonable day to get through the Atherstone locks with no troubles and found another good mooring near Hartshill where we remained for a couple of days waiting out poor weather. Then off again to get through Nuneaton and onto the Ashby to eventually moor in Hinckley near a closed bridge. We needed somewhere safe to leave our beloved Celtic Maid so that we could avail ourselves of the wonderful hospitality of our dear friends (and travelling companions) Julia and Malcolm at their home near Leicester.

    Julia arrived on Sunday morning to pick us up while Malcolm remained at home cooking up one of his amazing full English breakfasts. Malcolm and Bob moved onto their usual Sunday afternoon ritual of a “swift half” (or three) in Malcolm’s local pub before returning to cook us a wonderful roast for dinner. Meanwhile Julia took Bron on a drive to visit their new grandchild (who was born somewhat early while we were still in Liverpool – he is looking great!!), and then for a good natter over coffee and cake. I think we had all missed each other’s company.

    After a slow start on Monday we finally got going to complete a stock up with the luxury of a car before being returned to Celtic Maid who was patiently awaiting our arrival. It seems that in our absence someone decided that they needed our solar lights from the roof a lot more than we did but that is ok – they only worked intermittently!!!

    We left Hinckley on Tuesday after a quick walk to the Trinity Marina, and enjoyed the very rural setting that pervades the length of the Ashby Canal. This is what we enjoy most and despite the at times poor weather it is still a stunning landscape. With a couple of stops near Stoke Golding and Congerstone, we finally arrived at Snarestone just before the tunnel and almost at the end of the navigable section of the Ashby Canal. A highlight along the way was finally seeing a kingfisher. Now that we know where to look they are easier to spot but alas not easy to photograph. Our very poor attempt is in the gallery.

    Really not sure of what next but the wind today has been so strong (due the the influence of the low pressure cell, Abigail) so we think we might just sit here and see what happens next!!!![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Autumn on the move 2/11/15

    Autumn on the move 2/11/15

    Hopwas, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78, UK

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We are sitting near the Tame Otter pub at Hopwas near Tamworth on our way down the Coventry Canal. Our wonderful friends/relatives, Julie and Phil have just spent the weekend with us having transported many parcels all the way from Maldon for us. We are now the proud owners of a galvanic isolator to protect our metal boat whilst in winter moorings in a marina, two ammo boxes for storing our mooring gear, some patches to repair our tears in the bow and stern covers, and lots of presents for our children and grandchildren when we return to see them in Australia in just a few weeks.

    The weekend was both relaxing and productive as we ate and drank, took long walks for exercise and purchased groceries, a conduction radiator to keep the boat warm and dry (to reduce condensation) whilst we are away, and lots of vacuum bags to better store our spare bedding and coats – again particularly while we are away. With that job now done we can plan the next few weeks.

    We finally pulled pins in Stone on Thursday 22nd October and made our way down the Trent and Mersey finding moorings for a couple of days just before the Sandon Lock to wait out some predicted very wet weather. We were blessed at this mooring with stunning sunsets and misty mornings with our first frost one morning. Photos capturing these beautiful weather events can be found in the gallery.

    On Sunday we decided to use the fine weather to make the journey through Great Haywood – making use of the services along the way and picking up some pretty cheap diesel from the pig farmer near Taft Bridge – and mooring opposite the cemetery in Rugeley for a few days to avail ourselves of the shopping and to wait out yet more rain – is this autumn in England???

    Our next stretch took us to a lovely spot above the locks at Fradley Junction where we rested before positioning ourselves just onto the Coventry Canal in readiness for a quick trip to our current location on Friday to prepare for Julie and Phil’s arrival.

    We have increasingly noticed the impact of the falling leaves at this time of the year on our progress. Whilst they look quite beautiful when so many fall into the canal they collect around the propeller and rudder necessitating frequent stops to clear. Fortunately a good burst of reverse does the trick and we are on our way again. Our “quick” trip to the Tame Otter took slightly longer as we had to stop and undertake this clearing exercise about every 300 meters! We still got there long before our visitors thankfully.

    We got great moorings just outside the pub with a break in the hedge right next to our boat to the car park making transfer of parcels from car to boat very easy. And there were hardly any other boats around. This has been Halloween weekend with people also practicing their fireworks for Guy Fawks night on the 5th November so noisy at times but still very convenient.

    We were also well entertained by some ducks that frequent the canal opposite our mooring, splashing around very early in the mornings and diving frequently for the acorns that the pigeons and squirrels drop off the overhanging oak tree opposite. Never seen such sustained, frenzied and unusual activity by ducks before. And then there is the 3 legged cat that frequents the garden, and the naked women who stands in the middle of the lawn. Quite an interesting mooring really.

    Sadly we bid farewell to Julie and Phil last night but we will be visiting them in a few weeks to celebrate Julie’s birthday and an early Christmas before we leave for Australia.

    And then today we got started on preparing our boat and possessions for the winter and caught up with the ever present washing before we head off tomorrow for the next exciting installment of our adventure.

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