SUNDAY. Ansty, Oxford Canal
The 2008 trip thus far: 459Locks; 834 Miles; 74 Swing\Lift Bridges. Bus pass journeys 36
Today was misty and beautiful when we made a start today at 6.20am. It was almost too misty on some of the twistier sections, but by keeping in the centre of the canal, I managed to pass moored boats without mishap.
As you pass through Whittington, the canal winds around two side of a field. It is usually producing strawberries and covered with polytunnels. They have been moved to a new location two fields away; the field is now covered in some thin wispy plants about two feet high. They look a bit like overgrown shepherd’s purse.
The sunrise across the Trent Valley was a bonus as we skirted the MOD firing range in Hopwas Hays Woods. They had a moment of fame when some pigs escaped from a slaughterhouse (who can blame them) and headed for these woods. I seem to remember that the press nicknamed them ‘The Tamworth Two’. We saw no pigs today, but we did see a gentleman of the road sleeping in a disused quarry next to the canal.
The mist was quite thick as we went through Hopwas, there were more boats tied up there than I had ever seen before. The mist was clearing as Fazeley loomed up and had cleared completely before Glascote locks.
Passing Alvecote marina, only two canaltime boats were at their base; we had passed a lot of them since Rugeley. The sun was getting hotter and a good day developing, it was time to change into shorts before tackling the eleven locks at Atherstone. We were fourth in line behind two private boats and a hire one from Valley Cruisers.
It was 2.20pm when we cleared the top lock and we were putting some distance down today; we would aim to stop at Ansty, a little further if we made good time. In the event, we did!
About a mile before the M69 bridge, we saw a boat moored up owned by David. He was a lifetime boater; we had met him seven years ago on the Ashby canal in company with Tony Cross on Kilgerran Castle. We stopped for a while and updated on each other’s news.
As the engineers have possession of the West Coast main line each weekend, stopping by the golf course and the railway line is considerably quieter than is usually the case. We took advantage and moored up near ‘Wildwood’ who belongs to another boater friend, Phil Ratcliffe. He is an electronics engineer; he designed and built the battery management system which is fitted to Martlet.
After our dinner, Phil came aboard and we spent an enjoyable evening chatting. At the instigation of one of his friends, Phil is teaching himself the piano accordion; Myra was able to add her threepenn’orth and Phil tried out both of her Concertinas.
Weather – Dry and sunny all day.
