Rugeley here we come.....

We waited until it had stopped drizzling before setting off yesterday, only to get a couple of miles down the canal when it started again. This would be a good project for someone....(not you Greg!)

 

I've never seen the water going down this overflow before,,,its usually dry with ducks sitting all along it.

This new housing estate has popped up right next to the canal...it certainly wasn't there last year.

You can just see Pooley Hall through the trees. 

As we left Glascote locks we went over the River Tame .

We carried on towards Fazeley junction , hoping to get near Hopwas village to moor up for the night.

I thought Scully had got off the boat until she appeared behind me....it could have been her twin-just imagine 2 of her!!!

We had an early start today...the sun was shining and it looked lovely. As we left we could see the River Tame had flooded its wide flood plane and lots of farmland around it and was flowing very fast down its main channel. I was glad we were on the canal!

This poor cat was having a lovely drink until we went past and Scully barked.

Guess what Greg found? At this rate we will capsize...

No ..we re not stopping for any more....

There were lots of people out walking near Fradley junction- they were having a family day with easter eggs and hook a duck.

Perfect timing!

We could only just see the windmill in the distance today.

The Armitage shanks factory in Armitage which makes toilets and wash basins sounded like it was in full production even though it was Easter Sunday.

One day I'm going to stop at the Plum Pudding for lunch!

I don't know who these dodgy characters were-they looked like they were going skiing.

Just over the River Trent and we decided to moor up...the sky looks really black over Cannock Chase way-time to get the fire lit again.

Happy days.

Off on our travels again......

 

We finally left the Marina at 3.30 on Thursday afternoon....Just as we went under the bridge the heavens opened.

Surprisingly we didn't see another boat until we got to Hawkesbury Junction where we stopped to fill up with water.

We went past Charity dock where they had all the bunting out.....

Anyone for gas?

Carolyn have you been here already?

 We moored up about 5.30, soaking wet and lit the fire. Scully snuggled down for the evening ....not even wanting to get off for a walk!
Next morning was dry and a bit warmer so after wrapping up warm we carried on towards Atherstone and the locks.

 

Luckily for us there were lots of lock keepers on duty as they were expecting quite a few boats through so we soon got through them.

As we reached the last 2 locks the black clouds were close behind us so we decided to call it a day and moor up before getting soaked again....just in time !

Happy days

BRRRRRRR,,,,,,,,,

 We set off up the Ashby canal still covered in snow...We passed several boats who hadn't even seen any and were amazed at the top of the boat.

 The wind was bitter and we found a nice quiet place to moor and settled down for the night with the wood burner roaring.

 This sheep didn't look very impressed at a boat mooring near his field!!

 When we set off in the morning there was a thin layer of ice covering the canal...

 While I was having a quick cup of coffee in the warm, the boat came to a sudden stop...when I went up to check everything was ok Greg passed the camera to me and pointed up a nearby tree......there were 3 spotted woodpeckers  in it..(yes emma 3!!!!)
We stayed there for a good 15 minutes watching and taking pictures...its a good job there's not many boats around!

 These ponies were snuggled up keeping warm by the hay.

 Greg wasn't very happy when these2 ducks came knocking on the side of the boat looking for something to eat.....

Time to get the fire roaring and the coffee on...Ive heard its going to snow tonight.
                                                     Happy days.