Hartshill yard to Limekiln bridge 51, Polesworth

30 August - Lock day, haven't seen many for awhile

A slowish start to the day with a load of washing done before we moved off. After 2 miles we arrived at Atherstone Top lock where we unloaded rubbish and loaded water, there followed 11 descending locks with short pounds in between them, some with boats coming up and some not, but lots of boats on the move so help at most locks.

 Pete spotting lots of interesting things on the side of the canal - yeah right ;-)

Mum on guard while the babies sleep

We followed Nb Tixall for most of the way - another Steam powered boat set up, very similar as Whistle Down the Wind, who we ran with on the Leeds Liverpool canal all those months ago. Except Tixall burns wood blocks - sort of wood chip compressed into bricks that seems to burn very clean and hot.This was the 1st time that the crew on Tixall had done a lock flight and at the bottom were pleased how it had gone, lots of stopping and starting, as opposed to straight  running. Tixall was built in 1986 but the current owners only took her over this year, though they have had boats for 30 years - just not steam.

Tixall allowed us to pass earlier as they were obviously enjoying plodding along. shortly after we passed another boat with solar panels on its roof. We asked if they were selling back to the grid and they said nearly. We think this maybe an electric boat. Boats can be powered differently.

Shortly after we arrived at Atherstone which is the start of the locks for the day. Unfortunately we needed to get rid of rubbish and fill up with water and who comes in - Tixall they take the lock - oh well you win some and you lose some.

 2nd lock of the day and lucky last - 2 hours later

 The weather was slowly getting worse and the Harvesters in the Wheat fields were stopping and parking up and the forecast is not good for the next 20 hours.

We moored up at 3.30pm and Vicki was stung by a wasp again this time on the leg, those wasps have it in for her, it happened as she stepped off with the rope, we moved 100 metres up and found a wasp free spot,  hopefully. Rain slowly starting constant by midnight

TOTAL - 7 miles, 11 locks, 1 wasp and 1 load of washing

31 August - awoke to rain - day off

Raining on and off all day, quite cool today also so we are having a day off. My leg is really swollen now and with a few aches from yesterdays locks can honestly say I am glad. A day being very lazy.
Boat turned on at 11.30am to charge batteries and toys and heat water.

TOTAL 0 miles - cold and raining

Ashby canal Limekiln bridge to Hartshill moorings

29 August - Back to the Coventry Canal

Up and about and Rental Car returned. We moved across to the water point and filled up and then cruised the 5 miles back to the Coventry canal at Marston Junction where we turned right.

We wandered along to Nuneaton where we stopped for lunch and blog publishing. After that we moved on past allotments,houses, farms, boatyards, the Tardis,[ yes that's right the Tardis, no sign of the Doctor though he must have been off saving the planet].

We cruised on to Hartshill yard moorings, a set of very attractive buildings with a cafe and blacksmiths shop and moored for the night at 4 pm.

 Hartshill Wharf and BW Yard on Coventry Canal - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Canal

 And later in the evening what a spectacular sunset, it just kept getting better and better. 

TOTAL - 11 miles, 0 lock, 1 spectacular sunset  - below our route for the day

Mt St Bernards

28 August - Day off visiting Uncle George

We left boat moored opposite Lime Kiln Inn and visited Brother George in a rental car, (very easy to organise Enterprise Car hire come and collect you for your vehicle and drop you back). We got to Mt St Bernard's just before 12 and had a chat before lunch. Lunched with other guests at the Guest House - Fish and Chips (Friday). We spent a pleasant afternoon with George in a private room that was set aside for him. We spent time looking at pictures on the laptop and he enjoyed looking at places on the Thames that he remembered from his boyhood.

The first time I visited Uncle George at this Abbey was 1975

Mt St Bernards Abbey - http://www.mountsaintbernard.org/index.html

The Abbey was a hive of activity outside preparing for the gathering of the Nigerian community in UK celebrating their Saints Day -17th Annual blessed Cyprian Tansi Pilgrimage at the BL Cyprian Shrine on guest house lawn. This is an annual event and they were busy putting marques and setting table and chairs.    http://www.mountsaintbernard.org/7.html

We left George about 4.30 and drove back to Hinckley and did a shop at Morrison's (much easier with a car) and back to the boat. We moved boat across to pub side to unload and then went in to have dinner - just as well we had booked.

 View for the night - The Lime Kiln Inn, rental car parked in car park

 Vicki had Chicken and Leek pie (9/10) and I had a tender 16oz Steak - rare and melt in mouth (10/10). The Lime Kiln have great staff, a bit of humour and good food. Highly recommend - it would pay to book though which is a good sign.

TOTAL - 1 car drive 45 miles and 1 grocery shop

Ansty to Limekiln bridge

27 August - 3 in 1 day

Up and about blog posted and daughter messaged, we moved off and completed the Oxford canal at Hawkesbury junction, a stop lock there with a 1ft drop down to the Coventry canal level.

 On the way to the junction we saw a very interesting back yard, must be a VW cemetery

At the Hawkesbury Junction (Sutton Stop) there is a stop lock, which were the boundary's between different canal company's and safeguarded their water and gave them a place to collect tolls as boats passed. There were boats queueing up at both sides and it took an hour to get a turn to go down, ha! small drop long wait.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawkesbury_Junction

 I wondered up to see how long the queue was and look what I found waiting at the start. He is going to get rid of this boat next year as he has another one being built and after talking with him he said this was boat named because a mate of his is from NZ, farming in McEntee Road, such a small world. 

 Queueing for the lock

After that we carried on for about a mile and stopped for lunch, scones again 10/10 but not as good as yesterdays, [Vicki said that not me honest].

 Through the junction - only took us an hour but it is always good fun talking with other boaters

 Now off up the Coventry canal

 More interesting back yards and cemeteries for vehicles

After lunch we carried on and turned sharp right onto the Ashby canal , 3 canals in one day, we cruised 5 miles up to Limekiln bridge and filled with water, went on about 1/2 a mile and turned and came back and moored on 48 hr mooring rings opposite the Limekiln pub.The plan is to hire a car tomorrow and visit Bro George tomorrow at Coalville which is not to far from here.

 Turn on to Ashby and the countryside changes

The bridge at Lime Kiln carries Watling street across the canal and is a very busy road, it is also very old as it is a Roman road and has most of 2000 years of history, as I watch trucks, cars and yesterday a horse and rider pass by the sense of history is very strong, something we as Kiwis don't get at home.

 Lime Kiln Pub and Lime Kiln Bridge - view for our night

TOTAL 11 miles, 1 lock