Lavender Hill

Continuing on from Bridge 26 on the Oxford Canal, our Friday night mooring, we progressed steadily North during Saturday.

We arrived at Hawkesbury Junction mid afternoon and made an uneventful pass through the stop-lock and turn onto the Coventry Canal in lovely sunshine. Last week being the school half-term week the canals were naturally busy but one thing that has struck us over the past few days is the increase in the amount of cruisers using the system! I have to say also that a good few were un-licensed. Another thing that is striking is the lack of grass cutting at mooring points that is evident along the whole stretch of our journey so far. The exception being Atherstone which has a working boat gathering next weekend. Is this the shape of things to come with the so called funding cutbacks? I seriously hope not!
On the Saturday evening we moored overnight at Bridge 34 of the Coventry having traversed slowly through Bedworth and Nuneaton, passing Marston Junction where the Ashby Canal meets the Coventry. We hope to complete the Ashby Canal later in the summer.
We had originally planned to stay at Bridge 34 just short of Atherstone locks until Monday but it was such a lovely day on Sunday we decided to progress. It turned out to be a good decision as we had a very easy passage. Surprising really as these locks are renowned for being slow fillers and when we passed through in 2005 we had a nightmare 5 hour transition.
We completed 9 of the 11 locks in no time and decided to moor just short of the final 2 locks in a lovely mooring with freshly cut grass around 2pm. Out came the chairs and sun brolly for the 1st time this summer and the rest of the day was just a delight.
Setting off at around midday today we completed the final 2 locks and took on water at Bradley Green. Passing through Polesworth we moved sedately through Tamworth where the canal runs through suburban housing, turning in a wide sweep south-west past Tamworth centre towards Fazeley Junction, through the only 2 locks on this stretch at Glascote. At Fazeley Junction the Coventry Canal meets the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and then continues north-west to Fradley junction where we turn onto the Trent & Mersey Canal, hopefully on Tuesday.
Tonight, Monday 4th June, we’re moored at Tamhorn House Bridge opposite a beautiful lavender field, which is pictured above.
(Saturday 2nd June - Monday 4th June - 31 miles - 14 locks)