I've had it with all this - back to boating for me

Tuesday, 10 January 2012 14:20

This will not be popular with my Editor, but I am really fed up with all this politicking! My blog is a journey blog so I will go back to what I know best, writing about what we see and do on our cruises around the canals and rivers of our wonderful countryside. 

These narrowboats are moored ahead of us

Yes I know that the next few months are important and boaters may be right to worry about a change from BW to CRT. Some need to be involved, but now I have said my piece. Here's to cruising on our narrowboat Epiphany.....

Ha, but not today, as John is playing golf! But tomorrow we are off again and here is a taste of what is ahead as I walked the towpath a bit yesterday. I saw no boats on the move - that is why so many of my photos have reflections!

Draw Bridge 26

I hope this lift bridge is not as heavy and difficult to open as number 28. But the good news is that BW are going to be working on number 28 soon - the bad news is that this will close this bit of the canal! Lots of complaints over the summer have galvanised them into action.

Old lifting gear at Bridge 26 - it is now hydraulic

There are 48H moorings above Hockley Heath Bridge - the first one is a "free mooring for patrons of the Wharf Tavern" which is beside the bridge.

Hockley Heath Bridge 25

The Tavern has made the old coal arm here into a bit of a feature, with a terrace running alongside it. The arm once led to a wharf - hence the name of the pub, I suppose! Hockley Heath was effectively the terminus of the North Stratford Canal for a while. It reached here in 1796. The next stage was to Kingswood Junction, opening in 1802. The final stage to Stratford was not open until 1816. 

Old Coal Arm and terrace

I walked on a bit further - and the canal leaves Hockley Heath behind, with a bit of countryside and farm land both sides. However, the built up outskirts of Birmingham are not far away and the noise of the M42 encroaches on the peace. 

Winter along the North Stratford Canal

Now here are some more tree reflections - it was so still but a noisy digger started up nearby so I wanted to run away!

On my way back

I saw an otter! A very good likeness except it was rather still and lazy - now that is an appropriate name for a narrowboat ......

Otter on Lazy Otter

Back on the Draw Bridge I couldn't resist this photo of narrowboat Ware

Narrowboat Ware on reflection

So tomorrow we leave Hockley Heath behind - its shops, a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker, and a Spar, hairdresser and Rolls Royce garage! I took an author's licence - the candlestick maker is a actually a posh lighting shop. Now why do these kind of shops set up in little villages? 

It is goodbye to here - and hello a new garden, outlook and place to explore, possibly!

Moored above Swallow Cruisers