Meeting friends at Lowsonford

Tuesday 29th August.
Last Thursday (24th August) it was a nice morning as we set off and it wasn't long before we stopped to fill with water just after Turners Green Bridge.

Leaving our mooring last Thursday morning.

Approaching Turners Green Bridge.

While Kev filled with water I took Jaz for a walk and then once we had the water tank full we headed towards the turning for the Stratford canal.

Ahead is our turn onto the Stratford canal.

Just through the bridge ahead is the Stratford canal.

We then turned left and pulled over just before lock 22, there was a boat waiting to go down the lock but Kev wanted to empty the cassette but as there were boats moored at the sanitary station & water point I had to hold the centre line of the boat while Kev walked over the lock to empty the cassette. By the time he was back the boat that was waiting to go down the lock had gone down so I moved up onto the lock landing and Kev filled the lock ready for me to take the boat in.

In lock 22.

We dropped down the next 2 locks and moored not far from the next lock 25. We had come onto the Stratford canal to get to Lowsonford where we were meeting some friends on Saturday and also meet up with Mayanne (My friend Pam's daughter) who lives at Lowsonford as she works for show jumper Robert Smith. We rang Mayannne after we had moored to see if she wanted to meet up and luckily she was on her day off so we arranged to walk towards her with Jaz and met her not far from Lowsonford! Anyway she had her dog Stan with her and we all walked back to the boat and then  Kev worked the locks down to lock 30 while Mayanne stayed on the boat with me. We moored just before the lock as we didn't know if there would be any moorings opposite the Fleur De Lys pub where we were hoping to moor for the weekend.

Mayanne & Stan.

Mayanne asked if I would like to go and see the horses at Roberts yard and I was glad to go, Kev said he would walk to the Fleur de Lys pub with Jaz while I went with Mayanne, her car was parked close by so we left Kev at Lowsonford bridge and drove to the yard. After I had been shown around, which I thoroughly enjoyed Mayanne took me back to meet Kev & Jaz at the pub. He was sat in the beer garden in glorious sunshine so we all sat and had a drink.

On Friday morning we dropped down lock 30 and got moored exactly where we wanted and it was a beautiful sunny day so once we had got moored and sorted we sat in the sun for the day.

Perfect mooring!

On Saturday we spent another lovely day in the sunshine, we were going to meet Mayanne and our friends Maureen her husband Shaun & their 2 boys Harry & Freddie for a meal in the Fleur De Lys pub. Mayanne had booked a table for 7.30pm. Maureen & family had been to Warwick castle for the day and had a room booked in Coventry so they were only about 20 minutes away from their hotel.

Good fun & a good meal too!

On Sunday morning we waited for Maureen, Shaun & the boys to arrive as we had planned to take them all for a cruise. They all arrived about 11.30am and we were soon on our way.

Kev showing his crew how to work a lock!

Shaun waiting to push the bow off & let go of the centre line.

Maureen & Harry taking photos of Shaun!

Look at these two sat doing nothing!!

When we got to Wootton Wawen we turned around and headed back, it had been a super day with laughs all day and the sun didn't let us down either it was glorious. We managed to get moored back at Lowsonford about 6.15pm and so we all had a walk to the pub hoping to have a meal! Oh no they were stopping serving at 7pm and the pub was closing at 9pm! Well that was a surprise as it was a bank holiday weekend we didn't expect that, as we were all hungry Maureen drove us to the Durham Ox at Shrewley where they had a hog roast, singer & pub quiz going on and food too!! We all had lovely meals. We were dropped back on board later on in the evening and said our goodbyes to Maureen, Shaun & boys an thanks to you all we had a great time.

Yesterday morning was another sunny start to the day, after I had put a wash on and it had finished we left  Lowsonford.

Passing this lovely little shed.

Lapworth bottom lock just before M40 motorway.

Going up the Lapworth flight of locks.

This lockie kindly helped us up all the locks! Kev is at the next lock emptying it for me.

A lovely cottage at the next lock, the lady told me they have been there 43 years!

The lockie left us at the top but we still had 4 more locks to do, by the time we had got to the Wharf Inn at Hockley Heath we moored and went over for a pint and took Jaz with us, it was lovely sat in the beer garden. Then while I was just taking a mouthful of my lager I got stung on the inside of my bottom lip by a wasp that had got into my glass and I didn't notice it! My god did it bloody hurt! One of the lads that was collecting glasses was very kind to take the glass which was still quite full & had the wasp in it back to the bar and they gave me another drink free. I kept my eye on that one!!

Sat in the beer garden

We had a walk over the road after our drinks to a Rolls Royce & Maclaren dealership to window shop.

This morning we left Hockley Heath about 8.50am, and what a difference in the weather, it was cooler and we had a bit of drizzle too. We made our way to Kings Norton Junction and turned right towards Birmingham.

Through the lift bridge at Shirley.

Entering Brandwood tunnel 352yards long, with 3 boats coming the other way.

Guillotine lock which is open.

 Turning right onto the Worcester & Birmingham canal

 A heron sitting patiently.

Bournville station.

Moored here briefly to empty the cassette

Gas street basin

Heading to moor close to Sea Life centre.

A long day up the Hatton Flight

Wednesday 23rd August
Last Wednesday when we were moored before bridge 79 and though that Jaz had been stung, she had! Kev went to take her into the field and as she was going to go up the slope she stopped and wouldn't go! She jumped back on board and then Kev shouted to me to show me a hole that just looked like a mouse hole but it was an entrance to a wasp nest and there were loads of wasps going in & out.

The wasp nest!

After that we decided to leave and try to get to Braunston but wasn't sure if we would get moored as it was quite late in the day. We did manage though and moored opposite the Boathouse pub.

 On the way to Braunston we passed the new marina

 Dunchurch Pools

 Quite a few boats moored in there, with work still ongoing.

 Braunston  church steeple!

 Not much left of this burnt out boat.

Moored opposite the Boathouse.

It was a lovely day and we sat at the stern having a few beers, Kev had seen someone he thought he recognised earlier and it was Barry Nb Areandare, who had gone to the Boathouse pub. Kev went over to the pub to see him and he stayed for a few beers. Barry was with another couple from a boat that makes pens, but we can't remember their names. Sandra, Barry's wife wasn't with barry as he had dropped her off earlier to get a train to go see relatives.

On Thursday we stayed in Braunston and we had a walk to Wharf chandlers as Kev wanted some paint but unfortunately they didn't have any. He bought a new water pump though as the present one was on its way out! He also bought a water filter for under the galley sink which he will replace at another time.

On Friday morning we needed to top up with water & empty the cassette so while Kev took the boat to the water point I took Jaz for a walk and then met Kev back at the boat. We then went to Braunston marina where we turned and headed for the junction and turned left onto the Grand Union Canal.

Passing the boat belonging to the couple who make pens.

Barry & Sandra's boat close to the junction.

Looking back at the junction at Braunston.

Our first bridge on this canal, last one if your coming the other way!

Wigrams Marina and we turn right here.

Napton Junction, I am on look out to make sure no boats are coming through as we turn.

Calcutt locks, the first of 3 going down.

We managed to share the 3 locks with another boat so that wasn't too bad and there were some boats heading up the locks so it wasn't too long before we were down all 3 and on our way.

we didn't got too far before we moored between bridges 19 & 20.

On Saturday morning we left early and headed for Stockton locks and we were through all 10 locks and moored just before The 2 Boats pub at Long Itchington.

Loveley little caravan.

Passed Barry again moored outside The Blue Lias pub!

A novel name! Club Top Lockicana!

Later on in the day there were lots of people sat outside the pub and shortly after we had moored here another boat pulled in front of us to moor directly outside the pub, we learnt later that this boat was the Micron Theatre boat and that there was going to be a performance in the evening ouside the pub. It wasn't my cup of tea but plenty of people were there. However Kev & I had a walk into the village to the pubs there. We had one in the 2 Boats pub first then had a bit of a pub crawl as there are several pubs here! We did however end up staying in the Buck & Bell pub as there was a pool table! So quite a good night, well for me at least as I got to play a few games of pool with the locals!

On Sunday morning I managed to get 2 loads of washing done before we left Long Itchington about 10 am. We didn't have too long a day and after Bascote staircase locks and the next 2 locks we moored once again for the day after Welsh Road locks between bridges 30 & 31.

It was drizzling with rain when we left our mooring on Monday about 8am, and after the lock at bridge 32 we stopped once again and emptied the cassette whilst topping with water. We then carried on through Leamington Spa and moored for a short while to go to the Morrisons for shopping and have a bite to eat.

Only 2 more locks that day and they were cape locks where we managed to go up the 2 locks with a nice couple on a hire boat, they moored on the visitor moorings above the locks and we moored just ahead of them. The last time we were here was on our first boat 4EverMoore in 2010  and the boat was frozen in outside the cape pub for about 4 months!!

Kev talking to the man on the hire boat! 

Yesterday the couple on the hire boat behind us had met up with a couple on another boat who had asked if they would share the double locks on the Hatton flight so we looked like being Billy no Mates going up all the locks!

However when we got to the Hatton flight Kev had spoken to a man who was at the second lock and he had let the hire boat & other boat go on ahead so asked if we would do the locks with him & his wife, which we were pleased to do and so he helped Kev with the first lock gates and I went up on my own and then joined his wife on their boat Nb Myrtle.

In one of the locks on the Hatton flight.

Waiting for a boat to come out of the lock.

Thanks to Les & Carley on Nb Myrtle, who were good company up the flight and we had a good laugh! After the last lock on the Hatton flight Les &Carley stopped at the water point and we carried on until we got to some nice moorings between bridges 61 & 62. 

This morning started off quite dull but has brightened up and is quite warm and we now have the chairs out on the stern as the towpath is a bit too narrow to sit on with people wanting to pass.We will leave tomorrow. 

We are now on The North Oxford Canal

Wednesday 16th August
RIP Elvis 40 years😢
Well on Saturday 12th August after I had put a wash on & Kev had cleaned the boat we left our mooring just after 9.20am. It was drizzling a bit but brightened up later in the day and we moored opposite Samuel Barlow pub.

Travelling through Hopwas.

Crossing the Aqueduct over the river Tame

Looking back from Glascote lock 1

Kev waiting for lock to fill, quite slow(the lock not Kev lol)

Moored opposite the Samuel Barlow pub.

We had a walk to the pub in the evening and wasn't impressed so we only had one drink and left, we sat in our cratch and had a few drinks and there was a better atmosphere than in the pub! There was a 30th birthday party going on upstairs in the pub and so we had music playing until late, which was fine. While we were moored here I noticed that there were some apples growing on a small tree on the towpath so I picked what apples were left.

Not many but enough for a small pie!

On Sunday morning we were up early and on our way heading for the Atherton flight of locks, and as we were approaching the bottom lock a boat was just going in so we had to wait for them to go up and leave the lock so Kev could empty it again for us as there wasn't a boat waiting to come down.

Going up  bottom lock 11.

Once we were through the last lock of the Atherton flight, Kev got Jaz off the boat and walked her for   a while and I followed on the boat. I picked them both up at one of the bridges, we wanted to get to The Anchor pub at bridge 29 Hartshill to have Sunday lunch. When we got to the moorings close to the pub there was a day boat moored there with a nice bunch of people on board celebrating a 50th birthday.

The birthday girl.

We had a lovely Sunday roast at the Anchor and then when we had finished we left and continued cruising in the sunshine and moored through the bridge passed Springfield Haven Marina.

On Monday morning as we were leaving it started raining but only very fine and cleared again while we were cruising.

Passed this boat with a novel mannequin on his bow!!

When we got to Ansty we moored and Kev managed to do an oil change, and I took Jaz for a walk, then just chilled for the rest of the afternoon.

Yesterday was a nice morning although it did feel a bit cool it soon warmed up nicely, As Kev was letting go of the ropes ready to leave I took Jaz walking on the towpath with Kev following on the boat. I kept walking for quite a way and then realised there wasn't a bridge where I could get both myself & Jaz back on board! So I ended up walking as far as bridge 26, Grimes Bridge!

Rose Narrowboats, swing bridge ahead.

We wanted to get moored at Barby straight but there were some boats moored there and so we carried on and just around the bend we found a nice mooring with an open field just alongside of the towpath which is great for Jaz. Although when Kev let her off the boat about 6pm last night she ran up into the field and then spun around a couple of times and ran back and jumped aboard after she had been stung by a wasp! I couldn't find where exactly she had been stung but she just laid under the table for an hour or so but she is fine today. We are staying put here until tomorrow, I have done some washing and made an apple pie with the apples I picked on Saturday, so we will have that tonight. It has been very busy today with plenty of boats passing.

Moored just before bridge 79.

Saturday 12th August

On sunday 6th August we travelled to our marina @ Shardlow, we arrived there about 11am, we unpacked the car and Kev took Jaz for a walk while I put things away. We then went into Long Eaton for some shopping and then when we returned to the boat we had a bite to eat packed the shopping away and then left the marina about 2.30pm.

Our new Cratch Cover

And Pram Canopy!

We had these fitted by AJ Canopies at the end of July, Kev had been to the marina to meet them while they fitted the new ones.

Leaving the Marina

When we got to our first lock which was Shardlow there were 2 boats in the lock coming out and a hire boat on the lock landing ahead of us waiting to go in, so we shared the lock with them.

Waiting to go into Shardlow Lock.

We shared the next 2 locks with the hire boat, Aston Lock where there were 2 lockies on and then Weston Lock and we moored for the night above Weston lock.

On Monday morning we left Weston and headed towards Swarkestone lock and as we were approaching the lock the hire boaters that had shared the locks with previously came up so we shared the lock with them once again and finally shared the last of the double locks with them which was Stenson Lock. When we left the lock the hire boaters moored for a late breakfast and we carried on to Willington and stopped at the services to top with water etc.

Kev waiting for the water tank to fill.

 Passing over the River Dove, work to clear channel was going on.

We didn't pass many boats and it was quite a peaceful day cruising and we finally moored after Branston Lock.

On Tuesday it was pouring with rain and we stayed put and I did some cleaning, but then about 1pm the rain eased so we decided to move and set off about 1.30pm.

We didn't go too far, we wanted to moor above Barton Lock as we were expecting Kev's brother Ade & his wife Jane on Wednesday. They arrived on Wednesday afternoon and were spending the night with us, and so once we had got them a bite to eat we set off towards Alrewas.

Ade on the tiller

Jane on the tiller, but we are already moored lol!

We had a pleasant cruise in lovely sunshine and managed to moor in Alrewas, later we went for something to eat in the William 1V pub which was very good. 

On Thursday morning after we had a cooked breakfast we headed off to Fradley , it was another lovely sunny day and plenty of boats about in fact Fradley was very busy. Kev & Ade had been working the locks but in Fradley there were Lockies on so it was a bit easier for them. As we got up through the lock at the junction of the Coventry Canal, there was a boat waiting to come down so I turned the boat around and waited at the lock to go back down. We had a lovely day with Ade & Jane and we finally got them back to Barton about 3pm. Kev managed to turn the boat round at Barton Turns Marina and reversed back towards barton lock and moored close to where we had been moored previously there. Ade had left his car near the Barton Inn so I said my goodbyes to Ade & Jane & Kev walked back to their car with Jaz and I stayed on the boat. 

Once Kev returned we set off back to Alrewas where we managed to get moored close to the footbridge.

Moored in Alrewas below the footbridge.

Yesterday morning I put a wash on and then popped for a few things at the Co-op shop and then we headed back to Fradley where we stopped at the water point to fill up with water, empty the cassettes & get rid of the rubbish! The water was very slow and we were on the water point for about half an hour! I then went to the lock and Kev moved over to the lock landing to wait as there was a boat ahead of us going into the lock.

Passed this lovely wooden boat on the Coventry Canal.

Once we were up and out of the lock we turned onto the Coventry Canal, and we finally moored after Tamhorn Farm Bridge.

A fellow boater is selling their boat

Friday 7th July

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57 foot Trad style liveaboard aboard narrowboat fit out.
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