Hard work rewarded

I did the Atherstone flight of locks the hard way today. A boat in front of me (who never once thought of just lifting a paddle before leaving) and not one boat coming towards me. So for every one of the 11 locks I had to empty it first then take the boat in and fill it (very slow fillers the Atherstone locks are). Then go ahead to the next lock and set it before walking back and bringing the boat in.

There was a boat behind me after a bit, so after closing the top gate I nipped back and opened a paddle so the lock would be ready for him. After a couple of locks he left his wife with the boat and came and helped me so that was nice.
Still, after 8 miles and 11 locks I was more than ready to stop!

There is a lovely spot near Mancetter bridge that fortunately was empty, so with huge relief I got tied up. It's very quiet here and there are brilliant walks through the woods and on the golf course. Here is my view from the loo!

A couple of days R and R is in order I think, especially as it is due to blow tomorrow.

Over confident energy?

I planned to do a lot today and although I managed to do all the things I wanted to, I think I rather overestimated what I could cope with!

We started off with an hours walk to the beautiful Middleton Hall in only mild drizzle. Then, after a quick cuppa and a check on the forecast (dry for the rest of the day), I set off down to Fazeley Junction. We watered up and then popped into Fazeley Mill Marina for diesel and gas. This marina is staffed by one of the friendliest and most cheerful women it has been my pleasure to meet.

It is fortunate my 13kg gas bottle lasts me around 6 months because they are very heavy and my gas locker hatch very small and I could feel my back and legs protesting as I swapped empty for full. Then off again just a wee way before mooring up and nipping to the nearby Tesco Express for essential supplies. I wish I had known that just above Glascote Locks there is a Co op right by the cut. Ah well, never mind, I'll know next time.

Another cuppa made and off we went again, cruising through Tamworth and struggling a bit with a heavy gate at the aforementioned locks. By this time the forecasted 'dry day' had gone from mild drizzle to full on downpour. On we went, hoping to moor at an excellent little spot just before Alvecote Priory, unfortunately someone else had spotted it first and there is only room on the arnco for one boat. However, just before Alvecote Marina I found a spot to stop. Just as well as Bonny had been on the roof for the best part of 5 hours, refusing to go inside, even though she was just about drowning in the rain! (I believe she doesn't think the boat can move unless she is on station!)

Inside for a late lunch and ready to collapse but Bonny had other ideas and she had been so very patient. So off we went around Pooley nature reserve. It didn't look like a very long round walk on the map but it ended up being over an hour. By the time I got back I had cramp in one leg, my back was aching and even Bonny was ready to stop.

Ah well only a few miles and the 11 locks of the Atherstone flight tomorrow. As I write this, Bonny is back on duty as she spotted a rabbit in the bank opposite our mooring and now has to watch until I force her in...

Making our mark on the world

What is it about human nature that makes us want to be noticed; to say 'I was here'? Is it just ego that drives us to leave a legacy so that future generations will know that we existed, even if it is just through graffiti on a wall?

Or is it perhaps our fear of death that makes us carve our names on a tree or on a park bench? If something of me is left behind then I am never entirely dead.

Some people devote their whole lives to making their mark upon the world, whether it be through the accumulation of wealth, the raising of children (a sure way of guaranteeing a form of immortality?) Or perhaps through spreading their religion or devoting themselves to charity or to setting some sort of record. There is the darker side too, those who will do anything for their moment in the spotlight, their claim to fame.

But what about those who glide silently through life? Who leave no clear footprint? They leave behind no children, no business, no group of converts, no wealth. They may do good for others but without fanfare, or they may just keep themselves to themselves. Are these people of less value? Perhaps by leaving no mark they are doing less harm to our planet or to their neighbour?

These were my ponderings today as I glide invisibly through the world.

Ideal mooring

We have cruised from Hopwas on the Coventry Canal to Fishers Mill Bridge on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. It is our perfect sort of mooring. There is a dry towpath, we are in the middle of a beautiful wetland nature reserve and there are walks in every direction. The only sound is a whole orchestra of bird song. You would never guess that Drayton Manor theme park and the M42 are so close!

Here is a view of the mooring:

We were the only ones here when we arrived, but not for long. Still I can't expect to have such a beautiful spot all to myself!

I feel so very fortunate to be here. I am still not sleeping right through the night, but things are improving. A couple of days here should sort me out!

Circles? Collections?

I'm new to this type of blog. It has asked me if I want to create a circle or a collection of people. I have no idea what it is talking about. Can anyone explain in simple terms?

At last we have begun

We have at last started our cruise which has been in the planning for 18 months.

 Bonny and I left Fradley Junction bright and early this morning. This time the locks were right for us and we turned left onto the Coventry Canal after only 45 minutes. Then it was fairly slow going for the next 3 hours as we were dragging our bum through silt most of the time.

We arrived at Hopwas at lunch time. This is one of our favourite places. It is full of bird song and empty of traffic. The woods are fantastic to walk through and Bonny is in her element.

There is another, newer reason to love it here. A darstadly gravel company made plans to dig up the woods and turn the hill into a quarry. They put fences and threatening notices up. But the good people of Hopwas were having none of it. They tore the fences down, stamped on the notices and fought the planning application every step of the way. And they won! Months on, the remains of the fences and gates are still there and when Bonny and I stepped over them to enter the beloved woods, it felt really good!

The view from my loo shows the woods on the other side of the field. A lovely, sunny mooring, today at least. I have been so busy for the last few weeks and slept so badly that I know, when the adrenlin wears off, I shall feel shattered. So we will be staying in this little slice of paradise for a few days while I rest and recuperate.

It is a wonderful feeling not to be under any time pressure whatsoever!

Last night before cruise

This is my last evening on the mooring at Fradley Junction until at least August. It has been a brilliant mooring. We are largely left alone by CaRT and so can have storage boxes etc. It is beautifully peaceful and I have planted various bulbs etc over the 6 years I have been here. It also feels very safe as I know all my neighbours and we have a locked gate to the mooring. I have made some really good friends here and although I am frothing at the mouth with excitement on the eve of my cruise, there is some sadness too.

There is a Taoist saying: Every end is a beginning. And that's true but it is also true to say that every beginning is also an end. So I shall cruise away with maybe just one backward glance but then my next new life begins!