Ashby Canal

Our friends from the midlands had told us the Ashby was awful so we decided to go and see for ourselves. We had wanted to take a trip on the Battlefield line railway but, as usual, we were delayed so the dates didn't coincide and we were a bit short of time.

Wednesday 26th September 2007

Onto the main line

Slow trip out to the boat, redeemed by seeing a stoat cross the road near Corby, so arrived just after two o'clock. Last time we left the boat we taped round the engine hatch covers with duct tape. This has been completely successful in keeping the rain out but has left a bit of a mess on the stern deck. The engine didn't want to start, so we tried out the new jump-start kit, which was 100% successful.

Threw everything into the boat and had lunch, then set out about twenty-five past three. Called in at the Hythe to check order for anchor rope so we have it ready for the rivers trip later. Then went on to main line of Grand Union but decided to stop early so moored just before bridge 6.

Engine on 2 hrs 30 mins, 2 miles, no locks.

Thursday 27th September 2007

To All Oak Woods

Engine on with no problems at ten to nine, away at nine o'clock. Saw a kingfisher just before going into the tunnel at ten past nine. The far end of the tunnel is still nearly blocked by the landslip but there was no traffic and we reached the top lock of the Braunston flight about five to ten. Ric locking this time - Jane has pulled muscles and is finding handling things painful.

An hour later, before the bottom lock, had to wait for a motor/butty pair coming up to the dry dock. Ric heaved a few ropes to help. Reached Braunston Turn by about a quarter to twelve and set off up the North Oxford. Edges not too good for mooring and bridge 80 looking distinctly sad. Moored for lunch just past bridge 79 on the first bit of good edge we'd found.

Stopped for about an hour, under way again just before two o'clock. Saw a pair of buzzards circling about two o'clock just before the M45 bridge, and a fox in a field to the east of the canal around bridge 75.

Reached Hilmorton locks about a quarter past three, down them in about 35 minutes but then stopped for water. Away from the locks at twenty past four with a full tank and a clean foredeck. Drizzle has started again. Decided to press on past Rugby so started looking for a mooring after Newbold tunnel. Nowhere really good so pressed on, and on... Jane got cold and went below to start cooking the gammon. Ric eventually stopped about ten past seven just past All Oaks Wood, where there is a good mooring near a car-park.

Engine on 9 hrs 20 mins, 17 miles, 3 locks. Long day...

Friday 28th September 2007

Onto the Ashby

Not raining for a change, in fact bright sun. Set off a little later about a quarter past nine with mascots on deck. Intended to try to get into the centre of Coventry but slow through Slang Spinney (unstable cutting) then held up at Stretton stop and again at extensive bank works rebuilding the towpath near bridge 13. Saw a flock of long-tailed tits near Coventry Cruising Club's side arm at bridge 5. Sutton stop lock was also interesting, with Jane on the helm in a wind and a glass-fibre cruiser waiting to come in and geting blown about. Finally free of Hawkesbury about half-past twelve, so decided to leave the centre of Coventry for another day, turned north and stopped for lunch.

Set off again just past two o'clock. More towpath works just past the Parrott's Basin site, but no delays. Reached Marston junction before three and turned onto the Ashby canal. Mooring seems easier than the guide books had led us to expect, certainly at the south end.

Saw something swin across the cut just before bridge 12, perhaps a vole though not a good enough view to be sure. Spotted a kingfisher just before the Limekilns. It kept a hop or two ahead of the boat from bridge 14.

Pressed on through Hinckley. Bridge 17 is low but although "House Sparrow" is quite tall we had plenty of headroom. Passed Trinity marina, quite big, and moored just past the Triumph works just after half-past five.

Engine on 7 hrs 10 mins, nearly 18 miles, 1 lock.

Saturday 29th September 2007

Up to the terminus

Better weather again, and a day for wildlife. The edges look OK for mooring but we didn't try so don't know about depth. We seem to have more water in the canal than our friends reported.

The trees were just getting excellent autumn colours. We saw a lot of swallows, mostly tail-less juveniles who we assume have been left behind on the migration - they usually follow on later. Saw another small creature swimming across the canal just before bridge 36, and a jay between bridges 40 and 41.

We stopped for lunch about half-past twelve at Bosworth Wharf, under the balconies of a (surprisingly sympathetic) warehouse-style development. Ric took the time to put some undercoat on the pole, which was a typical piece of untreated hire-boat woodwork.

On again at about twenty to two. Jane spotted a heron in a field just past bridge 56, and we saw another kingfisher perched just before bridge 57. Snarestone tunnel is low at the north end but again no problem even for our tall boat. We reached the end of the canal just after half-past four. A very helpful member of the canal society opened the kiosk for us and we ordered a plaque and certificate to say we'd made it this far.

Wound and set off again just before five o'clock. Stopped just past Snarestone tunnel to check out pub for supplies but they don't hold a great stock despite notices by the canal. Spotted a heron again near bridge 58, probably the same one we'd seen on the way up, then several squirrels in Shackerstone Park Coverts, then another on the parapet of bridge 54. It's been a warm day for the time of year!

Moored in Shackerstone just before bridge 52, opposite a farm which appears to have moorings. Walked up to pub in village but they were fully booked (Saturday night).

Engine on 8 hrs, 18 miles, no locks.

Sunday 30th September 2007

Back to Hawkesbury junction

Woke to vociferous ducks but have run out of duck bread. They quietened down when the farmer over the other side of the cut fed them. Ran out of gas during breakfast so switched cylinders. Away about twenty to nine.

Passed the length of the Battlefield line before lunch, including the particularly sharp corner by the moorings. Spotted a buzzard just before noon, a little before bridge 32.

Moored for lunch at Dadlington wharf. A heron flew past as we were eating. Ric put more undercoat on the pole before setting off again about half past one.

Spotted another ex-Alvechurch boat, "Storm Petrel" (with the name painted out) at bridge 27. Maybe we should have an ex-Alvechurch owners' club? There was another heron over Trinity marina. Then, between bridges 6 and 5, Jane (on the helm) tucked in a bit too far to avoid an oncoming boat and went onto mud a fair distance from the bank. Ric then took some undercoat off the pole...

Reached Marston Junction at half-past five, Jane on the helm making the tight turn look easy. Saw a jay between bridges 14 and 13 before mooring for the night about half-past six on the approach to Hawkesbury junction.

Engine on 8 hrs 40 mins, 21 miles, 0 locks.

Monday 1st October 2007

Back to Barby

Warmer night, but overcast and rained a bit later. nb "Jubilee" came past at twenty-five past eight, whilst we were having breakfast. We set out about five to nine, having decided again to miss Coventry centre on this trip. We cleared Hawkesbury junction about twenty past nine after threading our way through the moored boats and waiting for the stop lock.

Steady progress down the North Oxford. There seems to be less rubbish to hit than last year when we brought the boat back from Wrenbury Mill, and after the Ashby it seems quite wide! Spotted the first coot of the trip just before bridge 11, and another kingfisher near the M6 bridge. Stretton stop, around Rose Narrowboats, was crowded - probably having a changeover day - but at least there was someone there to operate the swing bridge!

Stopped for lunch in All Oak Wood about a quarter to one, just after passing a boat "Utrecht" flying a Dutch flag. The crew told us that they'd hired "House Sparrow" a few years ago. Small world.

Under way again about ten to two. Saw a heron, then a kestrel, near bridge 37. Stopped in Rugby to take on water. The edge at the water point is badly eroded and shallow. We couldn't get the boat right in. About twenty minutes to fill the tank completely, then moved the boat under the bridge to a point next to the demolition site and went shopping at the Tesco stores. On again at about half past four.

Reached Hilmorton locks about half past five and cleared them by ten past six, and started a long trek looking for a suitable edge to moor against. We eventually stopped on the Barby straight at a quarter past seven in rapidly failing light. The edge here is slanted concrete blocks, so it's impossible to fend the boat without something soft that will sink. Should maybe invest in a couple of tyres?

Voltages during the last section make me suspect that at least one battery is failing. Given the difficulty starting, it's probably the starter battery, but it's difficult to tell from the voltmeter because the engine has a single alternator and a couple of big diodes to split the charging current.

Engine on 8 hrs 30 mins, 19 miles, 4 locks.

Tuesday 2nd October 2007

The last leg

During engine checks Ric had a quick look at battery electrolytes. No hydrometer so just visual. Leisure batteries look OK but starter is a sealed lorry battery so suspect. Under way just after ten and promptly spotted a heron, then some much better edge we could have moored on, though very close to M45. Saw a green woodpecker in flight just after bridge 81.

Reached Brauston Turn about half past eleven and decided to turn towards Napton since we haven't done that section yet and we are a little ahead of schedule for a change. Very slow past all the boats moored along Puddle Banks, but rewarded by sight of a pair of jays just before bridge 97.

Saw a buzzard, then a kestrel just before bridge 103. Bridge 104 was largely obstructed by a work crew who had driven in piling edges and were backfilling with soil. The result is to leave a sudden step out in the bank just beyond the bridge. We waited for an oncoming boat then threaded our way past.

Stopped for lunch just before bridge 107 and the winding. By now we'd decided that we didn't have time to get to the junction, so after lunch we wound and retraced our steps back to Braunston Turn. On the way we saw a kestrel at bridge 100, then a buzzard being mobbed by jackdaws. They were probably the ones we saw earlier.

Reached the bottom of Braunston flight just before four, and the top at a quarter past five. Uneventful passage through the tunnel - the second oncoming boat was an Alvechurch boat full of anxious hirers but no drama.

Moored up almost exactly where we had been on the way out and Ric took the chance to re-mastic a couple of windows that have been leaking. This just leaves the final run of a couple of miles and no locks tomorrow. After calling in to the Hythe for a pumpout, a new gas cylinder and a fuel top-up, back to the mooring, pack up and off home.

Engine on 7 hrs 25 mins, 16 miles, 6 locks.