The Final Day of a Wonderful Year!

 Thursday 4th November 2021 back at Aston Marina.

Today, the last day of our summer cruise, began with a clear blue sky as the sun rose.

The first order of the day was to move MM to the water point and fill up with water, so her tank will be full over the winter. Then we moored up again in time to walk over the bridge to the Canalside Café, which opened at 9:00am.

R was their first customer and he was greeted cheerfully by the staff.

We had arranged to meet Bridgett and Peter at the café for breakfast. As ever, we had a super time together, put the world to rights and laughed a lot! The breakfast was exceptionally good and very welcome on such a cold day.

MM looked beautiful in the early morning sunshine as we  walked back from the café. All around was a carpet of copper coloured leaves from the overhanging beech trees. Lovely.

R got MM ready to leave on the final leg of our 2021 cruise. Eight miles and three locks to Aston!

Three hours later, we passed through Sandon Lock, the last lock on our travels this year.

The final mile post, just one mile to go. 

This year we have hardly seen any Kingfishers, but today we saw no less then five at various points along our route. Five is the most we have ever seen in one day.

The sun stayed out all day, but it was very cold and we were so happy to turn into Aston Marina entrance with Lock No. 26 in the distance. The legendary restaurant at the marina is named after this lock.

We had to wait a while to get on the service bay so that R could fill MM up with diesel. It is always better to leave the tank nearly full as it reduces the amount of condensation that can build up in the tank over the winter. There was quite a strong wind which made backing into our space "interesting" but MM slid in very sweetly. (note from M - it was all down to the skill of the skipper!).

This is the first time that we have cruised into November and it is clear that most of the narrowboats that moor in the Marina have come back for the winter already.

We watched the sun set over Aston Church. Tonight we will treat ourselves to dinner at the No. 26 Restaurant here in the marina.

Tommorow morning, we will take the train back home.

It has been a fantastic year filled with wonderful people and great cruising, starting with Mel and Peter on the way down to the River Wey, all the lovely people who came to visit while we were around Guildford, Richie on the Thames, the many boaters that we met, and - very importantly - Simon, Matt and Tasha who did such a brilliant job repainting MM. 

Next year we plan to go north to Skipton starting at the beginning of May. In the meantime, we send love to everyone, keep safe and see you next year. (to M's astonishment, another moorer just wished us a good Christmas!!!).

Today: 8 miles, 3 locks and 4.9 hours.

This Year: 590 miles, 290 locks and 290.8 hours.

Since MM was launched ten years ago: 4,829 miles, 2,985 locks and 3,253.8 hours.

Great Haywood and the Temptation of the Canalside Café

Wednesday 3rd November 2021 at Great Haywood.

After the rain last night, which forced M to bring the washing in, we wanted to get to Great Haywood quickly as sun was forecast and M was keen to have the maximum time for the washing to dry.

Unfortunately that meant leaving in the rain, which persisted all the way to Great Haywood. So R got wet again. Fortunately, as we arrived at Great Haywood, so did the sun - M put out the washing and then treated R (and herself) to second breakfast at the Canalside Café. Brilliant!

After breakfast, we walked down to the Post Office in Great Haywood and back via Little Haywood Lock. The railway bridge framed the village street.

"Essex Bridge" was built in the sixteenth century across the River Trent. A romantic legend says that it was built by the Earl of Essex to allow Queen Elizabeth I to visit him without getting her feet wet crossing the ford. Slightly more substantial than putting your cloak over a puddle?

Just above the bridge is the confluence of the River Sow, on the left, and the Trent on the right. It was here that there used to be a ford before the bridge was built.

The famous and much photographed finger post at the junction of the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Staffs & Worcs Canal.

We had moored up just next to the junction and, after visiting the Canalside Café (yet again but this time for tea and cake!), we watched the sun set. It gets dark so early that it feels like it is late in the evening but it is actually still very early.  Confusing!

Today: 4 miles, 2 locks and 2.4 hours.

Trip: 582 miles, 287 locks and 285.9 hours.

Fradley, Rugeley and Vanishing Cooling Towers.

 Tuesday 2nd November 2021 at Brindley Bank.

Another early morning sighting of the rapidly waning moon.

Approaching Fradley Junction, M opened the swing bridge as MM drew near.

Fradley Junction and the historic Swan Pub, better known to the old boat people  as the "Dirty Duck".

We were lucky that a boat was coming down Fradley Middle Lock, so we were able to go straight in.

The canal above Fradley Top Lock ("Shade House") is beautiful, with mature oak woodland on both sides stretching into the distance.

At least, it used to be. Now, half way along, the woodland has been destroyed on both sides to make way for a certain white elephant railway line.

Wood End Lock has always been a favourite and the teapots next to the top gates are always a talking point. Unfortunately, that railway line will run parallel to the canal right behind this beautiful isolated haven.

This Cotoneaster was so colourful in the sunshine. The autumn colours this year have been spectacular.

M decided to walk this part of the canal. It was here in the spring five years ago that M got up before dawn to sit and listen to the dawn chorus. The birds may have been quiet today, but it is still very beautiful.

This kingfisher played "tag" with us, then sat on the fence and watched us go past. Unfortunately the sun was behind him, so all we got was his silhouette.

We often have photographed these houses in Rugeley that look as if they have huge chimneys. The chimneys actually belonged to Rugeley Power station in the background. We photographed them in May as we passed - but since then, the cooling towers have been demolished.

Now you see them, now you don't!

We moored up on Brindley Bank just north of Rugeley and put the washing out on the line, but no sooner had M finished pegging it all out, when the rain started, so it all came in again. Bother!

Today: 12 miles, 3 locks and 5.6 hours.

Trip: 578 miles, 285 locks and 283.5 hours.

Wind, Rain and Sun, Take Your Pick!

 Monday 1st November 2021 at Lichfield

November already? This is the first time ever that we have continued travelling this late in the year and, as the hour has now changed, the evenings get dark (and cold) so very early!

The moon was still high when M got up. At least the hour change means that the early mornings are lighter.

The view from our mooring as the sun rose.

M is very happy with her (very pink) new hat, scarf, jumper and socks. They will all help to keep her warm as the temperature drops over the next few days. "Worth every penny" she has declared since!

The wind continued to blow fiercely, pushing MM back on to the bank. In order to get off, and miss the boat moored in front, R had to push the bow off with the long pole and then run back and start off before the wind blew her back again.

Through Fazeley Junction and heading on towards Fradley.

A rainbow in the distance warned us of rain to come.

Indeed, the skies darkened and the rain began in earnest. Fortunately, we were approaching Hopwas and so moored up outside the "Tame Otter" pub and had our lunch on board while waiting for the rain to blow over.

Along this part of the canal, the bridges are named instead of numbered. They all tell a tale of local history, many of them agricultural in nature.

We loved this weather vane of an old grey Massey Ferguson tractor.

This is the junction with the former Lichfield Canal, which is the subject of a very active restoration programme. Due to massive pressure from the restoration group, an aqueduct was built over the M6 Toll when that motorway was built. At present it stands in magnificent isolation but one day it will allow the Lichfield to go from here into Birmingham over the motorway.

We moored for the night up just past here, outside Kings Orchard Marina.

Today: 14 miles, 2 locks and 5.7 hours.

Trip: 566 miles, 282 locks and 277.9 hours.

Eleven Locks in Exactly Two Hours.

 Sunday 31st October 2021 at Polesworth.

An extra hour in bed last night (hooray!), so our early start was a bit lighter this morning - and Hallowe'en tonight, which we will sadly miss at home as it is always fun when all the children come knocking at the door in their spooky costumes. M normally dresses up in her witch's outfit and the children love that!

Not so welcome was the early morning rain. Guy was not impressed and sensibly hid under his hat. 

R, on the other hand, made a start in the rain to get to the top of the Atherstone flight when the sun was forecast to come out after lunch. Sure enough, as we approached Atherstone, the sun came out behind a rather wet R!

The heavy rain washed lots of soil down into the canal and turned the canal a tasteful colour of pink to match M's new hat, scarf and jersey.There must be sandstone present in the soil to turn the water such a colour.

The top lock of the eleven locks of the Atherstone flight. It being the end of the "season" today, there were no volunteers to help us.

Bridge 42 is an agricultural "accomodation" bridge in a lovely setting, made even better by the fact that a boat was coming up the flight, so the next lock was ready for us.

At each lock, as soon as MM was in the lock, M walked on to set the next lock. Looking back, R was resting on the lock beam waiting for the lock to empty.

A lovely footpath called to M as it stretched away between neatly trimmed hedges. Yet more spring cabbage growing on each side!

The bench beside Lock 10 is one of M's favourites and a great place to sit and contemplate.

Lock 11, the bottom lock of the flight at last. Looking at the watch (actually our phones) we left the bottom lock exactly two hours after we arrived at the top lock, despite the fact that more than half the locks were against us. We make a good team!

We moored up for the night a mile or so further on. A good day's boating.

Today: 12 miles, 11 locks and 5.7 hours.

Trip: 552 miles, 280 locks and 272.2 hours.

On to the Coventry Canal.

 Saturday 30th October 2021 near Bedworth.

More heavy rain overnight and it was still raining as we set off for M&S. The recent cold, wet weather made us both aware that we are short of warm clothing on MM. R bought a thermal vest and M bought a wooly jumper, hat, scarf and thick socks. But first - breakfast!

Then provisions and back to MM, where we filled up with water before leaving in what had turned out to be a lovely morning.

This pretty row of cottages used to be the "Boat Inn" in the days of the working boats.

The approach to Brinklow through "All Oaks Wood" is lovely at this time of year.

The trees in the wood really are mainly oaks and their autumn colours were resplendent in the sunshine.

The signpost at Hawksbury Junction, better known to the old boaters as "Sutton Stop". Here they used to congregate, waiting for orders to be told where to load coal for the return trip to London.

All the trees were begining to turn and the colours were glorious.

We moored up near Bedworth, finding a nice open mooring with no trees.

Previously, we had moored under trees in the rain and the roof was plastered with leaves. So, R cleaned off the leaves and then washed the roof.

A lovely sunset was followed by a night sky which was astonishingly free from light pollution, given the proximity of Bedworth.

Jupiter was very bright indeed and we could see Saturn, The Plough, the Pole Star and Orion's Belt. And an owl hooted from the hedge on the towpath. Magic!

Today: 14 miles, 1 lock and 5.5 hours.

Trip: 540 miles, 269 miles and 266.5 hours.