Approaching D Day.

We enjoyed our afternoon in the sun here with the lovely open views over the fields.  

We set off the following morning not too early carrying on southwards.  In my opinion this is the nicest section of the Coventry canal and this mooring is the nicest mooring of this section, south of the locks at Atherstone and well north of Nuneaton.

Some years back, we found ourselves mooring up on this canal north of the junction with the Ashby canal, we were completely on our own on a post industrial section of the canal with only a few dog walkers passing by, it was scrubby land but oh my goodness not anymore. 

Open fields, great for the solar and lovely views (No owls though were heard)

Definitely a landmark.

I meant to have counted the porcelain cups? but got distracted.

This is what hove into view, a zonking great set of offices.  Its not a surprise it got planning permission as it hasn't spoilt an area but it was just a big surprise since we were last here a couple of years ago.

On we went to where...?  Obviously The Greyhound at Hawkesbury Junction.  

A place I cannot pass by on the boat without visiting.

Fairly busy with moored boats when we arrived and we got on quickly at the end of the line of moorings but on armco, after we were settled we trotted along for a 4pm booking at the pub, there were a few mooring spaces left but we were just fine at the end.  

It was still sunny and several outside tables were available.  So instead of the bar staff just crossing off our indoor table booking, I cancelled the booking on the website as instructed but oh people my age were very happy with a book and a pencil and a rubber.

 Supper was for me calamari with honey and soy sauce, gorgeous then chicken korma very generous with the chicken too.  

No room for dessert and home to the boat for coffee in the cratch.

By now the remaining mooring spots were all taken and the pub was as usual excellent for people watching.

Women in heels and dresses, boaters, men in high-vis jackets, couples with prams but not so many now old men in flat caps nowadays but all the same fantastic.

 

The next day pretty early we topped up the water and made the sharp turn now onto the North Oxford canal.

Did I tell you already that some years ago while visiting friends on their ocean going yacht in Dartmouth,  (Indeed they had recently crossed the Atlantic from the Caribbean) we popped into the small maritime museum there and there was a display all about the engineer who was local to the area who had invented the steam pump that was located here in this building below at Hawkesbury.  Quite a surprise.

The pump building and WaL coming past it. 

WaL coming round the bend

The Greyhound pub last night.  If you haven't already been there I suggest you go quickly.

This was taken from the ideal spot the previous evening for us to give points to the helming as they passed by, not many boats and a high standard of helming.

He he comes.  I was judging him too Reader.

 

This next section I find deadly dull so I went inside to clean up.

So today was Friday 17th May...... remember what's happening today?

Yes correct, the land slip was due to open.  Suddenly there was a boat coming towards us, then another and another and a whole line of narrow boats who must have been ready and waiting.  I called to one man and he said it was absolutely fine.  This was correct.

First glimpse of the work achieved.

The fallen trees and it must have been many had landed on the other side of the cutting so much work had been done to clear that debris.

This is the vast space that's been left.  

The other side of the cutting

Two landslips in all.

More work to be done to stabilise the whole site.  But a tremendous job.

Oh and another tree here....

I understand that for this weekend it was free passageway then on the Monday it was restricted opening to allow the contractors to continue the work.

We managed to get on the moorings at All Oaks Wood just down the way from here.  The boat we were following kindly bunked up a bit to let us in to what proved to be the two of the best spots.

We got the chairs out in the sun and what was right in front of us?  Three cardboard boxes, two carrier bags of boaters rubbish, a life rubber ring all pushed into the hedge.

Nice,   

Boaters rubbish, what's wrong with people?  There are rubbish point in both directions from here.

Supper was chicken salad in the sun, with the fabulous view over the countryside.  We moved our chairs away from the rubbish.