Water Voles and Unfriendly Neighbours.

 Monday 9th June 2025 in Rugby.

 Sutton Stop was one of the main locations for working boats that waited here to be given instructions to pick up coal from one of the many local collieries to take back to London. The Greyhoud Pub was then the centre of life and it still is one of the most welcoming pubs on the Cut. This is where the North Oxford Canal joins the Coventry Canal and the 180 deg turn is one of the more challenging ones on the network.

There is a six inch deep stop lock here to prevent the Coventry Canal from stealing the Oxford Canal Water, evidence of the fierce rivalry between canal companies. Originally, when the two canals met they ran alongside each other for over a mile because they couldn't agree where to join!

Next to the stop lock is the former lock keeper's cottage with its beautifully kept classic cottage garden.

This part of the North Oxford is a haven for Water Voles and special habitats have been created all along the canal. R was even lucky enough to see one.

Antsy has a strip of houses that run alongside the canal but the locals really don't want you to moor where you might be able to see into their houses. So, large notices forbid mooring along this whole stretch. It is extremely unusual to see this.

 Finally, we arrived in Rugby and were lucky enough to find our favourite mooring by the small park under a willow tree.

 The day was topped off with a visit to the very large M&S in the nearby retail centre for a snack and a "Few Bits".

 Today: 15 miles, 1 lock and 5.9 hours.

Trip: 64 miles, 22 locks and 29.5 hours.