A Very long Day to Atherstone.

 Sunday 7th June 2026 in Atherstone.

 Today, the weather is forecast to be fine but tomorrow rain is predicted almost all day. As a result, we decided to do a long day today so that we could relax and not travel far tomorrow if the forecast proved to be correct. We set off at about half past seven, leaving Rugby behind.

At Brinklow, there is a very narrow cutting built by Thomas Telford when he straightened out much of Brindley's original very circuitous contour canal. The bridge before the cutting was receiving some attention.

 

The cutting has always had problems with land slips and when we came through last year there were two major ones which had buried much of the towpath. Since then, the whole side of the cutting has been cut right back to prevent future problems where each of the landslides had occurred. Major, and expensive, work.

There was only one lock today, the six inch "Stop Lock" at Hawkesbury Junction designed to "stop" the North Oxford from stealing the Coventry Canal's water. This was common practice when rival canal companies competed for trade. For the same reason, there is a former Toll House at the junction.

 

M has always admired the garden next to the lock but today it looked  a tad overgrown and neglected. Some weeding needs to be done! It was still pretty, though.

 

The turn from the North Oxford on to the Coventry Canal is renowned for being a very tight 180 degrees but MM went round without any problems (thanks to R's excellent skills, says M!)..

 

 Most of today was just cruising, so not a lot of photographs or drama. At the junction of the Ashby Canal we had to hover to allow a boat to turn into the Ashby, another tight turn, especially when approaching from the south..

This nostalgic sight is a relic of a bygone age and now stands alone, unconnected to any friends. In its heyday it might have carried twenty-four telephone conversations alongside the canal. Today, it is all fibre optic cables buried below the towpath capable of carrying tens of thousands of calls at the same time. 

The site of Roman Mancetter is believed to be the last battle of Boudica against the Romans, which took place c.AD 60-61. A sign identifies the spot although with a ? in the title to acknowledge that many other places also claim the same!

When we eventually arrived at Atherstone, we were told that a floating market had taken all the visitors moorings, so we moored in the last available spot half a mile from the town after nearly nine hours travelling.

Today 24 miles, 1 Lock and 8.7 hours.

Trip 107 miles, 68 Locks and 51.2 Hours.