So leaving the Ashby this morning we got blown around a bit as the wind was strong. Back on the Coventry it hasn’t been too bad, except for gaps in the hedgerows. The town of Atherstone has the canal running through the middle of it, and a flight of 11 locks. Luckily there is a long pound between 5 and 6 where you can moor up and shop, so that is what we have done. Tomorrow we will complete the last 6 locks, then 2 more before we catch up with Lazy Otter and her crew at Tamworth.

Atherstone top lock, the gentlemen in blue are CRT (canal and river trust) volunteers who help you through the locks, much appreciated by Lock Labourer Hazel. T42 at rest tonight.

So today we started motoring back down the Ashby Canal to Marston junction. But first a walk to the Battlefield site where Henry Tudor defeated King Richard 111, it looked so peaceful today but with over 1000 killed was a pivotal point in English history. 

We’ve greatly enjoyed our time up this rural canal, but tomorrow towns and the first big flight of locks to negotiate,luckily they are going down at the moment.

A proper working boat, note the tiny cabin a family was expected to live in, compared to the cargo space. 

A much cooler day for us, and we slowed up the more we got up the Ashby Canal. For lunch we moored next to Shenton Aquaduct and walked into this pretty village. It must have been fated as we passed a grand gatehouse, and an even grander but obscured manor house behind it. These were dated 1620 and initialed WW. Looking for clues in the church graveyard we came upon lots of gravestones marked Wheatley, could this be a long lost ancestral home. It’s right beside the Battle of Bosworth site, where Henry Tudor defeated Richard III.

Hawkesbury Junction is the name given to the intersection between the Oxford Canal, Coventry Canal and Coventry Arm. Being a triple it requires a complete u turn if going from Braunston to Marston Junction, as we were. Being 27’its not such a problem, but it sorts out the men from the boys when you are in a 70′ narrowboat. Of course we went round well, and even reversed up the Arm to the services area.

The approach along the Oxford Canal

Sharp right turn under the bridge and an immediate right again.

Perfect, quick reverse down the arm to the services and we are ready to move along.

After a long, 8.5 hours, and hot day there is just time for a quick blog. The English countryside was at its most picturesque today, from ancient ridge and furrow fields to massive oak trees overhanging the waterway. Just perfect, apart from the overgrown towpaths which meant us going onto “official ” moorings rather than our usual middle of the field. However being close to Coventry meant our friends in Lazy Otter drove out to greet us, prior to joining us at Tamworth for the cruise to the Sea Otter Rally. 

Remnants of medieval ridge and furrow farming, each ridge marking the boundary of a strip of land farmed by a peasant farmer.

No were not drug dealing, being “on the cut” is a boaters way of saying we are back on the British inland waterways system ! Yesterday was spent shopping, doing laundry and getting T42 ready. Today Bob loaded her onto his trailer up to Calcutt Marina, south of Birmingham. It took a while and traffic was bad, so we didn’t start till 4pm, and have just done a couple of hours to be just outside Braunston. Most people would not have heard of this town, but to canal people it’s a major center. We will have a little explore before pushing on to keep us within time to meet up with friends in 5 days. The data signal can be weak so there might be times I can’t blog…..In the meantime enjoy our evenings mooring and the wonderful briar roses around us in full bloom. 

We had a half day tour of Avigion yesterday to finish up our cruise, with its famous bridge.

When we got back this block of flats had moored alongside, with 6000 guests onboard !

Then onto our last port of call Barcelona. An early, and easy, disembarkation saw us strolling Las Ramblas before our hotel room was ready. Once settled in we have done the 2 different circuits for the hop on hop off bus. After previous experiences this one was well organised, but rather cold and wet as a thunderstorm rolled in. We will have to revisit the Sagrada Famillia tomorrow for some more photos, before flying back to T42.

Sailing into Monte Carlo this morning the rain finally caught us, with most of the principality obscured by low cloud. We knew we were in Monaco because of all the boats and their size. Amongst them was this, the worlds largest yacht, only slightly smaller than Riveira when we went past. The tender was as futuristic !

After brekkie, and with the rain easing, we ventured out to visit the personal collection of cars belonging to the  ruling family. A number of firsts for me including a Lancia 037, a rallying Aston Martin and propeller driven cyclecar.  

We had seen numerous Ferraris, but wondered how the police could catch them with an electric Renault Twizzy ! Mind you with the principality being 1.5 miles wide it wouldn’t be much of a chase ! 

In the afternoon we took a tour to visit a perfume factory, the City of Nice and then a drive back along the Riviera. We must of been the sweetest smelling tour bus. Tomorrow is our last full day of a very enjoyable cruise.

Known to you as Florence, this was our destination today, yet another hot long day ahead. First up Plazza del Duomo, with its magnificent marble clad exterior. 

Then onto Plazza del Signoria, with some magnificent Renaissance statues scattered around, and numerous towers and guild halls. The Ponte Vecchio was extremely busy with the Garda chasing hawkers and beggers around in circles, so we observed from a distance.

Finally the interior Sante Croce, with numerous tombs (Dante, Gallelio and Rossini amongst others). We enjoyed the peace and serenity of the cloisters.

We are presently docked in Monte Carlo. Despite rain today we have managed a walk to the motor museum, and gift shop……..After lunch a drive to Nice, then back along the Riveira to Riveira. Hopefully the weather will improve, and I can blog again later on. Au Revoir 

With it being National Republic Day here in Rome we were uncertain what would unfold, as was our guide Carmelo. As it turned out the crowds were not too bad, and by late afternoon the roads had really thinned out from the mornings congestion caused by parades. First up was a drop off near the Trevi Fountain, which is BIG ! Gleaming after refurbishment it was certainly impressive, as was the Pantheon. Whilst visiting here the Italian Air Force decided to do a low fly past with coloured smoke. The noise was tremendous and the smoke floating down did funny things for the colour of photos. Next up the Piazza Navona, then lunch at Carmels’s favourite spot down a side street. Much quieter, and cheaper, the Margarita Pizza and ice cold beer went down well. 

After a short bus ride we were then ready for the Vatican Museums. By now the temperature was in the 30’s, with heat rolling off the black pavements. One of our group looked like he was going to have a heart attack, but carried on with us taking turns to give him a hand. The queues were emormous, but luckily we were pre booked. Past galleries of sculptures, tapestries and paintings we eventually reached the Sistine Chapel. Full of people it was overwhelming, in size and sheer volume of painting to look at. We then carried onto St Peters Bassilica and Square. Again the sheer scale of it was over whelming, along with the thousands of people and heat.

By now we had been walking for 5.5 hours and we’re starting to whilt. Luckily Roberto was just around the corner with his bus to save us. With traffic thinning we drove past Circus Maximus, the Colosseum ( doing a u turn so both sides could see ) and Monumenta Vittoia Emanuele 2, as well numerous gates, walls, shrines, ruins, pyramids and needles. Overall a tremendous day, but extremely tiring. I’m glad we didn’t do it later on in the season, when it’s busier and hotter.