Newbold on Avon from Rugby on the North Oxford canal

Saturday, 31 January 2009 20:48

The above was our short journey from Rugby to Newbold on Avon on Friday. We decided to move to Newbold as it would be a more pleasant mooring if the ice and snow forecast stranded us for a few days! It looks as if this scenario has been downgraded but it will still be cold!

We reversed back to the water point to fill up and then set off. Said goodbye to Nb Combs Lass (Ian and Sue) who had been moored behind us. We have seen the boat on and off for the last couple of years as they were on the Kennet and Avon for a while and then like us have come north to explore more of the Inland Waterways. It was good to finally have a chat with them and introduce ourselves!

The journey to Newbold is pretty uneventful. We passed over the small aqueduct and then by the Old Rugby Arm. The typical Oxford Canal iron bridge guards the entrance to Willow Wren Cruisers now housed in the arm.

The Old Rugby Arm

Four bridges later and we approached Newbold moorings. First come the permit holders' moorings. These are followed by a short stretch of 14 day moorings and the 48 hour moorings begin just before bridge 50. We found a spot on the 14 day moorings, it was just our size!

Epiphany moored, taken from bridge 50

The canal is up above the village and to access the village is a short walk to the Wharf. We both remember this wharf vividly with it's two pubs next to each other and then a couple of moorings before Newbold tunnel. We have moored there in the past and visited both pubs!

We had lunch and then went to explore! We found the Wharf and the pubs!

The Barley Mow and The Boat

We wandered on, to the tunnel

Some may think this use of light is OTT

However the storyboard explains!
In case you want to read the above - all the photos on our blogs are "clickable" and will open in a new window

We then went across to look at St Botolph's church. Unfortunately it was locked but we had a good wander around the churchyard

Spotting our first snowdrops

Proving yet again that "in the midst of death there is yet life". We will return on Sunday for a service!

We then a walked down into the centre of the village. I was on my Family History Trail again! My Grandmother was born here and the Hitchcox family lived here from 1891 - 1899.

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