Atherstone

Today we stayed in Atherstone and walked the Arden Parish walk. 

It was amazing!

Through woods 

Then a huge quarry 

 

Then an amazing view point

That picture is a panorama one. The path is actually straight!

Finally the canal came back into sight and yet another new marina. 

Fifty not out

Today we cruised past Tamworth and made it to the Atherstone locks. 

They are very sedate and take a long time to fill which makes for an easy, if time-consuming, passage. 

Then we tried every eatery on Atherstone to find one serving gluten free food. There was only one!

Being a coeliac is not a life choice and not providing for people with this condition has to be some sort of discrimination. 

But the King's Head was superb. 

Gluten free beef chilli and cheese nachos. 

And didn't he enjoy them. 

And a happy 50th birthday meal for Alison. 

Heading slowly for home.

After spending a few days in Willington we then stopped in Burton for a while. It has the advantage of an easily available cooked breakfast. Of course our resident coeliac complained that the gluten free Freedom Breakfast was only available in standard size not large and insisted on having two of them. Can't believe he looks so miserable about it but he did devour it all. 

We did get some nice new neighbours but their early morning antics drove us quackers. 

Today we came through Fradley junction. 

where there is a new marina under construction. 

We are now moored up and bracing ourselves for at least one day of heavy rain and staying put. 

Burton-on-Trent and Willington

At long last a sunny day. We are now at Willington having moored in Burton-on-Trent yesterday. 

The canal is beautiful. 

With nice moorings. 

Burton is much less beautiful and the breweries dominate the town. 

Willington is lovely and we think will mark the end of this summer's exploration of new waters. 

Alrewas

No signal in Alrewas to blog yesterday but we made it there. They have a wonderful butcher who gave me 6 sausages to try free gratis. I'll go back there. 

It's always a very green approach to Fradley junction on the Coventry Canal. 

The first time we have ever turned right there. Different direction similar locks. 

Progress to Tamhorn

A little progress yesterday to Tamhorn, now on the Birmingham and Fazeley section of the Coventry Canal. 

This is a great mooring for a train spotter. 

Enjoying Fazeley

We have now been moored near Fazeley for three days. 

Tesco is about 30 minutes walk away and the weather has been pleasant so no rush to move on. 

Yesterday we walked to Middleton Hall. 

The building itself is still closed due to Covid-19. 

But the courtyard shops are open and we enjoyed a lovely Flat White. 

Then a nice walk home, passing Aston Villa's training facilities and Kingsbury Water Park. 

And stopping at the Dog and Doublet in Bodymoor Heath for our first canalside pint of the year. 

Leaving the city

10 hours at the tiller today as we travelled the full length of the Birmingham and Fazeley canal. 

A 7AM set off meant no queue at the locks. 

But industrial canals with their own beauty did mean a trip down the weed hatch to remove several plastic bags and some underwear!

I'll show you the workers instead. 

The railway and tramway bridge is a superb photo opportunity. 

Although we have had lockdown, cruising listening to TMS is a sure sign it is summer. 

Now well into the country. 

And a well earned rest. 

Made it to the Drawbridge

4 hours cruising today and 4 locks. 

There are also 2 manual lift bridges and one electric one. 

The electric one broke but we are safely through. Then food at a pub. That's a novelty. 

More boats about

We have not moved far today. Up the Grand Union and then onto the Stratford Canal. 

Up the Lapworth flight and all moored up before lunch. 

Restrictions eased

Not much to report today. The canal has been busier but we just stayed moored up near Rowington and watched the world go by. 

Emerging from lockdown

We can now go out on the boat and from tomorrow virtually all restrictions are lifted. 

Day trips are permitted now as long as we don't stay on the boat overnight. But the boat does not need returning to it's home mooring so can stay canalside overnight unoccupied. I still find it absurd that when we are moored miles from anywhere it is deemed safer for us to walk to the nearest conurbation, get somebody to drive to our location, pick us up, drive us home or to use public transport and then to make the return journey the following morning. But the plus side is that by doing all the journeys we know we have checked our eyesight!

Here we are on the Stockton flight

Cape of Good Hope

Hatton flight

 and finally resting.