Fazeley Junction to Fradley Junction

Sunday 1st July

We decided to get up early as the weather was so hot it was better to start in the cooler part of the day. I set off alone and John took the car and walked Dex back to meet me half way again. No locks today so we could do about 10 miles.

 At Hopwas there were 2 canalside pubs to chose from!

 Lots of lovely gardens to admire along the way...

 It was really busy as we passed the Coton and Hopwas social club!

 A lot of the bridges around here have these funny little gated windows in them. Apparently for storing stop planks.

 Sunbathing ducks! 

 Puppies for sale at this canalside house! 

 This looks like a larger version of my sister's dog, Copper

 These ramblers were taking a break, it must have been roasting walking today! 

 We passed King's Orchard Marina

 I liked the intricate painted decor on this boat

We found a mooring spot just before the Swing Bridge at Fradley Junction. We decided to check out the Swan (Mucky Duck) pub. It was a biker pub and as we sat in the garden more bikers arrived and sat at the table with us. They were a great bunch and we had a real laugh. We had biker cob rolls which were filled with roast pork or beef, delicious. Only £2.50 a roll, bargain!

It was strange as the road leading to the carpark was literally right by the canal. Apparently a taxi had once backed into the canal and a biker also went in on another occasion. 

Some of the bikes were amazing.

 Check out the skull and crossbones lights!

Another customer turned up in this bright yellow 1937 Model Y Ford which looked immaculate. It did however have a water leak and the owner had to top it up with canal water!

Alvecote to Fazeley Junction

Saturday 30th June

We left Wales on Friday 29th June and the journey took about 5 and a half hours due to roadworks. Eventually got to the boat about 3.30pm. Unloaded and all was fine on the boat apart from it being very hot inside. The solar panels had been working flat out so at least the fridge kept working! I was also pleased to find that my plants hadn't died, they were looking a bit sorry but a good drink would sort them out. In the evening we went for a nice meal at the Samuel Barlow pub opposite our mooring. Lovely meal and I got to try rhubarb and custard gin!

On Saturday our first job was to turn the boat round and go up to the service point to get pumped out.

We took the boat together at this point. John had to turn it round in the marina which wasn't easy as it was windy. But he managed to pull her in with the centre rope. After we had finished I turned her round in the winding hole by the pub.

Then John took Dex in the car and parked about 8 miles away. I set off in the boat. No locks so we planned to meet half way.

 Lots of houses with gardens backing onto the canal

 I liked this bathtub flower display!

 I met up with John at the lock at Glascote. Some kind boaters had already opened the gate for me so I could go straight in.

 There were only 2 locks and we managed them easily. John got on board after and took over steering.

 We went over the Tame aquaduct which had lovely views of the river Tame below. -a-wartime-story-from-tame-aqueduct

 At Fazeley junction we filled up with water. This is where the canal splits and you can either turn left to Birmingham or carry on North which is what we are doing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazeley_Junction

 This was the old toll house

 We had to laugh at this boat heading to Birmingham. First it clipped the bridge by the toll house and then it banged into this bridge at the start of the birmingham canal. We were glad he wasn't coming our way!

  This Canal and River trust Marina (Peels wharf) had no boats in it whatsoever! 

 We found a lovely quiet spot to moor. 

I walked Dex in the evening and we found a lovely nature reserve which then linked up with the canal towpath by the aquaduct.