Enjoying the sun

Yesterday we left Blisworth at lunchtime with the sun beginning to break through the clouds.

Into the tunnel, where we met one other boat coming through fortunately in the middle section where there is plenty of room.

Once through we chose not to stop as the sun was now shining and beginning to feel warm and we wanted to work down the locks.

At the top lock there were the usual gongoozlers watching and waiting to help.

On the way down the flight we met Graham and Jill from NB Matilda Rose, walking up the flight on the way to the pub. Good to see you again guys.

The bottom lock with rather attractive cottages alongside.

There are side ponds beside some of these locks, with viewing platforms and information boards to aid spotting wildlife there.

Maybe they should be brought back into use to ease the water shortage problems.

Matilda Rose soaking up the sun.

Enjoying these reflections.

This morning we moved on through Cosgrove, under the rather lovely stone bridge in the village,

on the way to the lock

over the aqueduct

We stopped to take a closer look at the aqueduct.  Recently painted, it was looking very grand. It was designed by Benjamin Bevan, an iron trough made up of sections, supported on brick abutments and a stone pillar, rather like a smaller version of Pontcysyllte. This was the second aqueduct, built in 1811 after the first one collapsed!

However originally the canal crossed the river Ouse via a series of 9 locks, down and then back up but the risks of flooding meant the aqueduct was needed.

A mock lock is set up to show the line of the canal and locks as they once were. You can just make out the lock gates in the middle of the picture.

At Wolverton new building along the canal have improved the area since we last came along here.

With some art in between the blocks of flats,

And the trasport mural along the wall has been restored.

Very soon we were on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, where the canal twists and turns through the new town. There are no locks, but lots of bridges, old brick canal bridges, new wooden footbridges, and busy concrete road bridges. The developers have made good use of the canal with lots of green spaces alongside the water, making it a very pleasant cruise and popular walking and cycling paths. 

We made a quick stop at Great Linford, a very attractive village with medieval history.

And tonight we are moored at Fenny Stratford.

Sunday and Monday

Blisworth to Fenny Stratford

19 miles, 8 locks, 1 tunnel



Flowers for Mother's Day

It felt a bit strange this morning to think that we were not going to be seeing our Mums, or our children for Mother's Day. But we have spoken to them all on the phone and sent flowers and cards and will see them soon.
At Blisworth Baptist Church this morning each of the ladies were given a beautiful primrose Mother's Day gift.

This evening as we took a walk round the village of Yardley Gobion we saw these lovely violets of different colours along the canalside.

And then a host of golden daffodils.

These were especially poignant to us as today is also our daughter's 21st birthday and she knew from a very young age that when the daffodils were out in the garden, it was her birthday.

Happy Days!

Two thousand miles and counting

Yesterday during our journey from Barby down to Weedon, we clocked up our 2,000th mile in our travels around the canals and waterways of Britain. It was another dull day and the camera didn't come out, we just got on with locks and tunnel til we got there.

Tacet under the new footbridge on the Coventry Arm



The forecast for today was not good, so we planned to just get to Blisworth.  In actual fact we had rain early this morning, we were still abed, and after that we have even seen the sun at times. So after a wander down to the village of Weedon this morning for the paper, bread and milk, and for me to have a look in the lovely patchwork centre, The Bramble Patch, we set off on the next few miles of our adventure. 

Friday - Saturday
21 miles, 13 locks, 1 tunnel

Hidden Spring

Yesterday we had a quick look round Rugby,

outside the famous Rugby School is a statue of William Webb Ellis who is credited for starting off the modern game of rugby when during a football game he picked up the ball and ran with it.

The close where the event took place,

As I looked at the school building I couldn't help feeling what an austere looking building it was, and wondered how small 7 year olds must have felt being delivered here for their schooling.

Round the other side the driveway in looked a little better alongside the close, even in the mist.

Back to the boat and we set off towards Braunston again. The weather has been cold and misty, but Spring is still in evidence.

Clifton Wharf through the Willow, its leaves coming out.

A bank of violets.



At the bottom of Hilmorton locks I found a piece of guerrilla knitting!

Also know as yarnbombing when pieces of knitted or crocheted works of art are left in public spaces. I first saw some examples of guerilla knitting at the visitor centre at Standege in the summer. Has anyone else seen any?

Further up the locks there is work on the locks happening so one of the pair is drained and you get a good view of the ground paddles.

8 miles, 3 locks







 





Coventry to Rugby

First of all a quick look around Coventry Basin.

Behind us the clock tower entrance into the basin just beside the ringroad.

In front of us the warehouses alongside the basin where once cement, food and grains were stored.  I don't seem to have taken a photo of the other side of the basin which once had vaults for coal, now there are shops, offices and flats. It makes a good quiet mooring with easy access to the city and not too far from Sainsbury's.

Leaving the basin this morning we set off back along the 5 mile stretch to Hawkesbury Junction passing Cash's Hundred Houses (actually there were only ever 48, now 37).

Cash's is that firm which makes woven name labels, I'm sure you all had them in your school clothes! The company is still producing them although not in this row of houses which had the weaving looms on the upper floor. There was a steam engine in the middle of the row which drove a shaft to run the weaving looms. They are much grander than the weavers cottages we saw when in Yorkshire.

According to Wikipedia:  The company was founded by two brothers, John and Joseph Cash. The brothers, who were Quakers, were philanthropists and model employers.   In 1857, Cash's commissioned a series of three-storey weavers' cottages on a plot of land alongside the Coventry Canal, then in countryside, outside the city boundary.  Each had a garden. On the top floor of each cottage was a well-lit work area, known collectively as 'Cash's Topshops', housing a Jacquard Loom powered by a central, steam-powered beam engine. 

They opened for business on 12 October 1857, and the individual workshops were combined into single, large, workspaces in 1862. The houses still stand, and were Grade II listed on 10 October 1975.

WikiMiniAtlas

Back at Hawkesbury we turned into the basin

and the stop lock marking the start of the Oxford Canal.

On our way to Rugby we met Gosty Hill the fuel boat and stopped for a couple more bags of coal.  Don't think we shall need much more now the weather is getting warmer. We haven't let the fire out yet, just keeping it burning low.

17 miles, 1 lock, 1 bridge, 1 tunnel

Sent to Coventry

We like Coventry. We have been here before, by boat, for a weekend by car, and visited the Uni twice on open days. Today we have had a wander round the Transport Museum, it is well laid out, with displays changed and rearranged since last time we came, and so much to see. So busy looking, I forgot to take photos.
The history of bicycle, then motor vehicle manufacture is charted through streets set out in the relevant periods of history.
We also found Spon Street, an old medieval street with reconstructed shops from the period. As long ago as the 12th century Spon Street played an important role in the prosperity of Coventry.

A Spon Street shop with the modern IKEA behind.

It was here weavers made high quality woollen cloth and dyers and tanners worked next to the river.By Georgian times Spon Street was an important centre of watchmaking. Now it has exclusive independent shops and businesses.
Next stop the Cathedral.  We love the way the new modern cathedral sits alonside the old bombed out shell of the original.  The old is a very special place where the focus is one of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. I took loads of photos here, come and enjoy a walk around with us.

The two cathedrals across University square.

The old spire still standing

Inside the ruins

Charred wooden beams made into a cross.

FATHER FORGIVE

Stained glass inside the new

Graham Sutherland tapestry

Cross of nails sculpture