Uh Oh… a problem on the canals! Day 239

Sunday 17th March Day 239

After a fab nights sleep – fresh air and exercise really is the key we are having our traditional coffee in bed and Chris sees an update on the Oxford canal landslip and uh oh… they have changed the date from beginning of April until mid-May! We were planning on going up the Ashby and down to Coventry and by then it would be open but we think that is too long to hang about even for us! So, we are looking at the alternative and going back up the flight which means I think finishing the last 5 before we have to turn around and do the lot again ((think of the muscles!)) we don’t mind. This is all part of canal life and one of the reasons we try not to have fixed plans.

It’s difficult to explain to people how difficult it is to arrange to meet up. It’s hard to know where you’re going to be at what time as in an instant something could change but that’s canal life or you might arrive somewhere but there are no moorings.

Right, off to get ready now. Chris is trying to get the bloody travel pack to work for the washing machine – why do these things never work when you need them too! Everytime we think we have sussed this out it does something it shouldn’t.

We end up deciding to cruise in the afternoon and have a wonderful cruise in the sunshine and tackle the last five locks of the Atherstone flight. There are beautiful daffodils at the sides of the locks and there are a few other boaters on the move who we have a natter with. One of them very kindly waits for us to come through as the lock was empty when they arrived so they opened the doors and let us cruise in and I left the lock gate open on the one we came out of so they could cruise in. proper boater etiquette in action.

We arrive at the top of the flights and it’s probably just the fact it’s beautiful sunshine and blue skies but it feels like a proper spring cruising day. We cruise under two bridges before finding a lovely mooring spot a little away from the really muddy towpaths at Tavener’s Bridge and it’s only a short walk into the other end of Atherstone town. 

Fab end to the week. Next week we will hopefully be onto a new canal. Day done. Week done. Until tomorrow. x

Miles: 0.7 – Lock: 5