On the move

Sunday 8th June.

After Saturdays rain we were pleased to find Sunday morning dry and bright for our trip down from Kings Bromley marina to Fradley junction where the dry-dock is situated. Only 2.3 miles, and 3 locks to deal with so we were not in a hurry, although i was a bit apprehensive about Fradley Junction. The junction is where the Coventry canal meets the Trent and Mersey canal and is a notoriously busy area with boats coming and going not to mention the hordes of sightseers, (known as 'gongoozalers')  that congregate round the White Swan pub, (locally known as the 'mucky duck'). On nice sunny days the area can be heaving with boats, cars, motorcycles and pedestrians. (if  I'm honest i was concerned at how big an audience I'd have watching me cock it up trying to moor up right outside the Swan!).

First job on arriving at Bracken was to turn on the diesel and start the engine, so Graham was sent down the engine 'ole, blowlamp in hand whilst I had the difficult job of turning the ignition key! The engine fired up almost straight away no problem. (Amazing how that blast of hot air up the inlet manifold makes all the difference) 

After remembering to disconnect the shore line, we cast off mooring ropes and set off.

 The exit from the marina is quite narrow and halfway out I had to brake sharply to let another narrowboat pass, we then followed on down the canal towards the first lock which would be Wood End lock, a distance of about 1.25 miles.

Playing follow-my-leader.

Looking back, how peaceful is that!

Rhododendrons, camera dosn't really capture the colours.

Waiting for G & J to 'turn' the lock in our favour. They're waiting for the boat in front to exit the lock.

This stretch of canal is so pretty and the woodland so lush and green at this time of the year.

Arriving at Wood End lock we had to wait for the guy in front to go down first, then after making sure there wasn't a boat waiting to come up, Then G & J turned the lock in our favour.

(for the benefit of people who aren't familiar with the routine I'll explain. If you are familiar, feel free to fast forward).

The boat in front of us went into the full lock on our level. When he emptied the lock he dropped to the level of the canal the other side of the lock (called going 'down hill'). When he exited the lock, he closed the paddles and gates to keep the water in the lock so G & J could open the paddles on our level to refill the lock, so I could take Bracken into the lock. We then opened the paddles on the downhill side to empty the lock, so me and Bracken descended to the level of the next stretch of canal. (incidentally the stretch of canal between locks is known as a 'Pound')

 Then we closed the downhill paddles and gates and continued on our way.

That was Wood End lock, a very pretty  area and situated quite close to some extensive woodland.

A rare photo of the skipper, and Jaq looking as lovely as ever :)

We passed through two more locks on our way down to Fradley, no pics I'm afraid as it was getting quite busy with other boats coming up the locks and others just moored up not going anywhere. Some had moored quite close to the locks so it wasn't always easy to know who was waiting to go down the locks, and who was moored for the afternoon.

The closer we got to Fradley, the busier it became. At one point it was more like the M25 motorway but eventually we arrived at the junction. 

Tom, who runs the dry-dock  had told me to moor right outside the pub and he would come and find me, which he did, and we then moved the boat over to the moorings adjacent to the dry-dock. Thankfully i didn't 'cock up' the mooring as there were hundreds  loads of gongoozalers!

Swan on the left, Coventry canal off to the right immediately in front of me with the entrance to........

........the dry-dock where Bracken is going.

As it was 1pm by then, after mooring we decided to have lunch in the Swan, they have an excellent carvery and reasonably priced too. I asked for a child sized portion as my appetite has not yet got back to normal, but to be honest I couldn't see any difference in size, it was a huge meal and very tasty too.

After lunch we sat outside whilst Graham went back to the boat and emptied the fridge and turned the gas off before being rowed back in a small dingy by Matt, one of the guys from the dry-dock. (quicker than walking round.

"you WILL hold that rope in while I climb out wont you?"

"Oh yes very funny, now pull me back in!"

Before returning to G & J's, we popped down to the garden center at Fradley to say hi to Jenny, and then made our way back home, tired out and after some tv and nibbles we were all in bed before 11pm.