Well yesterday and today have been spent getting into, and getting out of Birmingham. Loads of locks, massive canal system but totally deserted. The grafitti was terrible, with lots of rubbish in the water, yet they are amazing “green corridors” running right through the city. Our mooring last night near a major entertainment center was rather noisy, so our mooring tonight at Catherine de Barnes will be peaceful, despite being near the airport. We have also bumped into fellow Sea Otter owner Maurice, aboard Grebe. At the last SO rally 2 years ago he had just started to look for a boat, so it’s good to see him afloat this year. 

Above a colourful oasis in the heart of Birmingham. Below Grebe and T42, both 27′ Sea Otters, with Lazy Otter a 31′ one. 

So today we finished the rest of the Atherstone flight, motored onto Tamnworth via Glascote Locks, and have a Sea Otter Convoy of 2. Tomorrow sees us Birmingham bound, where we have to make up our mind on what route. The 3 choices involve about 20, 40 or 50 plus locks……

Full

Empty

Lazy Otter joins T42

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.