22 - 29 October 2005
Calcutt to Carlton Bridge, Asby Canal & back
(94 miles, 14 locks, 41.3 engine hours)

Saturday 22 October

Well, we're on board Per Angusta - eventually. Friends Des & Liz met us at the moorings, having travelled up from Kent. Only problem was Ian and I were about 3 hours late setting off from home and we had to ring Des & Liz to say stop off at a motorway service station for a break. Approaching the moorings, a car flashed past us going in the opposite direction - somehow I recognised Liz in the passenger seat. Fast dial on the mobile 'You're going the wrong way' says I, 'I told him we should have turned' says Liz. A little while later and we're all on board. Soon have everything packed away, the obligatory cup of tea and then we're off. Just a short cruise up to Wigram's Turn and along towards Braunston. Des & Liz are amazed at the size of the new marina at Wigram's Turn.

Moor up for the night just past Bridge 103. This is a good mooring spot, with a decent edge where you can use the nappy pins. Space I reckon for about 10 -12 boats. There's also a good edge just past Bridge 102. I plan to take pictures of our evening views each night, but forgot this evening, so here is the view in the morning.

2.5 miles, 3 locks, 1 hours 40 min travelling

Sunday 23 October

Pull the pins at about 9.40 and head up to Braunston Turn. On the way pass "Willow" another Darren Aldridge boat. We know that Willow was only sold about 10 days ago, so maybe this is her maiden cruise. We make steady progress, Des & Ian on the tiller, Liz & I walking the dogs and supplying tea. Through Hillmorton Locks and then a stop off at Clifton Cruisers for a pump-out and a chat with Victoria who runs the wharf there. Since taking the business over earlier in the year, Victoria and her parents have smartened the place up. They have also set up a small internet cafe. Victoria is another Darren Aldridge Boats client - she is having a Josher style liveaboard built, the shell was delivered a few weeks ago.

On past Rugby to I'm not sure where, as I didn't make a note of where we moored, but I'm pretty sure we didn't get as far as Hawksbury Junction. Given our travelling time (5 hours 50 minutes) I suspect we were somewhere around Ansty. Anyone recognise this mooring?

? miles, 3 locks, 5 hours 50 min travelling

Monday 24 October

Heavy rain overnight and drizzle when we woke up - didn't pull the pins until 11.20 this morning. On up to Hawkesbury Junction and a right turn out of the very little lock there. A hire boat followed us through - this was their first lock and they were quite nervous. Couldn't work out why they hadn't done the Hillmorton Locks, until they explained that there had been some children out and about who had done the three locks for them and got some extra pocket money for their troubles - I think this is what is called 'lock-wheeling'.

Having turned onto the Coventry Canal, we didn't stay long as we soon reached Marston Junction and our turn onto the Ashby Canal. Although there is quite a big expanse of water here, the entrance onto the Ashby is narrow, I think this must have been a stop lock at one time. As we started late we pressed on without stopping for lunch. We began looking for somewhere to moor at around 4.30, but it was 5.30 before we finally managed to get Per Angusta moored up. The banks were very bad and the edge shallow. Liz & I had been walking the dogs and had to keep going as the boys couldn't get the boat in close enough to pick us up - the towpath got worse and worse and the dogs got dirtier and dirtier; I wasn't looking forward to the havoc they would wreak with their long-haired tails when they got back on board. When we finally managed to moor up by Bridge 5, the dogs were whisked straight into the shower - hope we haven't clogged the pump with all that mud. Again, I forgot to take a picture of our 'backyard' that night, but here's the morning view.

? miles, 1 lock, 6 hours 10 min travelling

Tuesday 25 October

We realised that we would not get to the Snarestone Tunnel at the end of the Ashby as today was our last day before winding. As we progressed along the Ashby, BWB were in evidence preparing to do quite a lot of work on the towpaths. There were notices saying that stretches would be closed and already pilings were being put down a good three or four feet out into the canal to create a wider towpath. At the Visitors' Moorings by Bosworth Field the canal was actually higher than the towpath, held back only by the metal edges. There were some very good stretches of towpath prior to Bosworth Field and I think that once BWB have finished this Autumn, this could be a very pleasant lazy cruise in the Spring - there certainly look to be plenty of good walks. I reckon we did about 14 miles today and got as far as winding hole at Bridge 44, turned and then moored for the night.

Here is the crew, waiting to be fed - not sure why Ian is doing an impression of someone's granny with shawl round his shoulders!

14 miles, 0 locks, 6 hours 30 min travelling

Wednesday 26 October

Here we are setting off on a bright morning's cruise. Got a bit snap-happy with camera walking along in the sunshine and took lots of close ups of leaves, twigs, etc. Thank goodness for digital - Kodak shares would be a lot higher if I had to get this lot developed. Probably only one or two decent shots in the whole lot - I'm still learning how to use this camera.

The weather was kind to us all day which was just as well considering this was the state of the towpath after two days without rain. That centre track of mud was a bit like quicksand!

We moored by Bridge 8 for the night.

12 miles, 0 locks, 5 hours 40 min travelling

Thursday 27 October

We pulled the pins at 9.20 this morning as we wanted to get back fairly close to Rugby by this evening. We retraced our steps along the Ashby and rejoined the Coventry Canal at Marston. We pondered about going into Coventry Basin but decided we didn't have time. (Have since heard that Coventry Basin has been done up very nicely and it is, apparently, worth the diversion from Hawkesbury Junction to the Basin.)

Rubbish had been piling up on Per Angusta - we couldn't seem to find anywhere to get rid of it on the Ashby. Got rid of the rubbish at Hawkesbury. Ian managed the sharp turn off the Coventry very well and we were soon through that little lock. I must look up how deep it is - my guess is about 8 inches. Stopped at Rose Narrowboats for a look round and moored up short way past them for some lunch. Having read that there was a fish and chip shop at Newbold, we decided to head on for there for the night. Just before the village is Newbold Tunnel - this is only 250 yards long and has coloured lights, so I didn't have to worry about the motion sickness I normally get going through tunnels (only time I ever get travel sick!)

17 miles, 1 lock, 6 hours travelling

Friday 28 October

Left Newbold Wharf for a short trip up to the Willow Wren Arm. Left Des & Liz on board enjoying mid-morning coffee whilst we walked down to see Darren Aldridge Boats and have a look at what was in the workshop - there was Victoria's liveaboard Josher - Archie - which already had a coat of paint on and another shorter boat. Darren wasn't around, but had a chat with Matt before rejoining Per Angusta and setting off again.

Made steady progress all day except at Hillmorton Locks where a convoy of 4 Black Prince hire boats insisted on keeping together and went through the locks wasting water as they wouldn't wait for boats coming in the other direction to use the water. The Black Prince crews always managed to get to the locks and start emptying them before the crews of the boats coming down. Stopped off at Midland Chandlers - still haven't got over the thrill of mooring MY boat at the Chandlers and going in to buy something. Then right at Braunston Junction and heading for home.

We moored for the night at Bridge 99 and were treated to a spectacular sunset.

13 miles, 3 locks, 6 hours 40 mins travelling

Saturday 29 October

The weather this morning was as glorious as last night's sunset - here's the same view taken in the morning. It was a lovely trip down to Wigram's Turn and then home to Calcutt. The sun shone all the way and made us wish we were staying out for longer. We were moored by noon thanks to very efficient two way working at Calcutt Locks, had some lunch and then waved Des & Liz on their way back to Kent.

Friends will know that this trip had been in doubt for a while because of my health, but the doctors had said to give it a go - which I did and succeeded. Hope things continue to improve.

5 miles, 3 locks, 2 hours 15 mins travelling

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