SATURDAY. Coventry Canal, Br 82.
The 2008 trip thus far: 445 Locks; 800.5 Miles; 74 Swing\Lift Bridges. Bus pass journeys 36
The mist was covering the surface of the canal and the low lying fields as we made a 7am start today. The cobwebs were clearly visible along the canalside weeds and made a wonderful sight; together with the hint of Autumn in the air, this must surely be the best time of day to be moving along.
We saw no sign of movement until reaching Hoo Mill lock, when a boater walked to the top end and started to open the gate on a full lock for us. This is another reason to be moving early; you still meet proper boaters with canal manners and common sense – it does make a difference.
Filling with water at Great Haywood, the other tap was in use by the owner of a boat, not a boater, washing his boat down with the hose. We filled our tank and I moved off to do Haywood lock whilst Myra went to buy the pie from the farm shop. As I approached the lock, a boat was coming out, they left the gate open for me to go straight in, every little helps!
On Myra’s return we headed for Rugeley where she would go to Morrisons for some more food. A lot more boats moving along this stretch, more than we had seen since April.
Passing Armitage, home to the well known manufacture of sanitary wear (sorry ware), Shanks Armitage I feel sad that they have removed the large signs that once adorned the wall facing the west coast main line.
The wall was graced with the words London and Glasgow with an arrow indicating the direction of each city; together with the mileage to each one in large raised letters. Another part of history consigned to the scrap heap in the name of progress. For membership details of the Luddite party, please contact me.
Having had lunch on the move we arrived at Wood End lock to find a queue of ten boats waiting to go down. This was at 2pm. I chatted to the boat crew in front of us whilst Myra went off to find out what was causing the delay. On her return she told us that no one was helping each other, they were just standing at their boats and waiting for each crew to do the lock.
On elderly man approached the four strong crew of the boat behind him. He said that he may be a bit slow, because he had to work the lock on his own owing to the ill health of his wife. Myra did not hear their reply, but the net result was that no assistance was offered and they continued chatting amongst themselves. Myra helped him whilst she wondered why people like them are coming on to the canals.
We moored up and let the conga line plod its weary way. At 4.50pm, having had dinner early, we moved off and had a good run down all of the locks to Fradley junction. We carried on and finally moored up at the bridge just past Huddlesford Junction.
Weather – Dry and sunny all day.
