Chugging........

It was a really grey and miserable day when we set off on Monday...and there was an eerie colour to the sky. Luckily there were a couple of lock keepers on to help us through Curdworth Locks.

 

This little chap was singing away at the top of his voice.

 

It took us quite a while to get along the canal as there were loads of fallen leaves that kept blocking the propeller.

The sun turned a funny red.

Before long we arrived at Birmingham and Minworth Locks. The canal follows along the M6 motorway. The graffiti has got really bad along here  since we came along here a couple of years ago.

Under the motorways and past Star City.

Still a funny colour sky...and now a very dirty dusty boat!!

We finally got to Catherine de Barnes and moored up for the night.

Tuesday was completely different...the sun was shining and it was lovely and warm.

We arrived at  Knowle Locks....I had problems here before when we came through so I wasn't looking forward to these at all...

and the wind blew.....luckily it was the mans boat that was coming through the locks with us that was caught this time, he spent the next 10 minutes battling to get into the lock.

I only just got this one...hiding in the bush.

We turned up onto the Stratford Canal.

Stratford was straight on under this narrow little bridge followed by a quick left.

All along this canal are theses lovely little barrel roofed cottages. .apparently they ran out of money whilst building them so had to use materials which were used to build bridges.

We didn't stop till late last night ...we heard a deer barking nearby and tried to get a picture of it....no chance!!

This house had lots of unusual sheds.

We moored up 2 minutes away from this sign...I had visions of some lovely fresh milk and Gloucester old spot sausages.....until I read the sign which said they were only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays!!

The locks are nice and slow...both to empty and fill.

Yarningdale  aquaduct  was just  before the lock.

 

We carried onto Wotton Wawen and stopped about 1.30 as it was drizzling and had turned really cold.  The fires going nicely and Greg's going to make bread. Just off the canal is a place called Yew Tree Farm ..I'm definitely going to have a look tomorrow before we set off again.

Happy days.

Lazy Sundays.....

It was a bit misty when we set off this morning.....Opposite where we had moored for the night was a field which had had potatoes in it...Greg decided to go a pick up a few to have with tea. He finally came back with a bag of stones (to help me with my diet he said!!!) to go in my painted jug on top of the boat so it doesn't get blown away by hurricane Ophelia.

 

There are hardly any other boats moving this week....We ve seen 2 today.

Curdworth Bottom Lock by Kingsbury Water Park...

 

We didn't go very far today...Scully found it hard to get up after spending yesterday charging around and just past Curdworth Locks you go through Minworth and Castlevale and mooring is a bit dodgy. Tomorrow we should get a good run through all the locks past Tysley and towards Knowle.

Happy days

Warwickshire Ring

We set off on Friday 13th ....not that I'm superstitious. We headed towards Atherstone and moored up just before the locks.  We saw loads of Jays around (and some very noisy pheasants!!)

All the leaves are changing colour and it looks lovely.

 

We arrived at the locks in the morning....to find another couple were just in front of us who were on a go slow....so it took us quite a long time to get through them.

This butterfly was having a good munch on some bread by one of the locks.

 

 

 

Greg chilling out and waiting for the lock to fill.

 

 

Scully is raring to go....and is driving me mad diving off the boat every time we get to a lock.

 

We went past this farm with 3 young alpacas and some gorgeous Shetland ponies.

 

 

We turned left at Fazeley Junction and headed past this enormous old factory.

 

 

 

 

This footbridge was covered in ladybirds when we went past. We moored up about half a mile on where it was lovely and quiet...Scully was just nodding off to sleep on the bank when another boat came past and moored up just behind us!!!

Happy days.

A few of my favourite pics from the last trip which I didn't get on....