Weathering the weather on the Coventry Canal

Tuesday, 03 March 2009 17:47

We had a late start this morning as we only planned to cruise for about 3 hours to take us near to the Atherstone Top Lock, ready to do the flight on Wednesday.

A number of boats passed us - I am sorry to say we were left wondering if the phrase "slow down for moored boats" is now an anachronism. We are old fashioned enough to still respect this courtesy of the cut, but we seem to be in a shrinkng minority.

We looked out to see Nb Apollo passing us. Nigel and Sally were our neighbours in Devizes Marina so we managed to exchange a few words. If we see them again maybe we can catch up on news!

The canal skirts Nuneaton, passing estates and some well tended gardens. Nuneaton, an old mining and colliery town, has at least one claim to fame: it was the birth place of George Eliot. It is said that the hollows on the site of the Old Griff Colliery Arm are the origin of the Red Deeps in "Mill on the Floss".

I didn't spot any hollows!

Boot Wharf, just past Boot Bridge 20, is the home of Starline Boats. Boat building, repairs and a large crane feature prominently. It was rather a squeeze to get past all the moored boats here.

Starline moored boats

Continuing through the outskirts of Nuneaton we wondered where the Spanish influence came from at Wash Lane Bridge 21. It was definitely not from the weather, as it was beginning to blow and rain!

Wash Lane Bridge

Nuneaton "broke our duck" - we managed to get half a rug wrapped around the prop. The first such incident since we started Continuously Cruising. A quick step onto the bank with the mid rope and John was down the weed hatch! it did not take long to clear and we were on our way again.

Soon we left Nuneaton behind and came into open countryside. The Coventry Canal allows good views of the River Anker valley with the railway running through it. On the left are the remains of extensive quarrying, now returning to nature and leaving mountains and valleys of their own.

After Woods Bridge 27 is the attractive Springwood Haven Marina. Valley Cruisers hire fleet are based here. Moored here today was BW's Waterscape narrowboat and on the hard alongside was BW's Hydrographic Survey Craft "North Star".

Looking back at Springwood Haven Marina

It was sad to see the once bustling BW Yard at Hartshill deserted and folorn

By now the weather was foul - it was blowing a gale and the rain was almost horizontal. Not at all pleasant! It was time to think about mooring.

We looked for a mooring with a little shelter, not too many trees and a pleasant outlook. We did not want to get as far as Mancetter as the railway comes close there. Not long after Mancetter Bridge 36 is Purley Park on the off-side. Perfect - we moored with springs to prevent the boat moving too much in the wind and thankfully retreated down below: not before time, as the weather really closed in!

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