Thursday 28th June

Billington lock to Evesham

Today we just went as far as Evesham. On arrival we moored at Packington Gardens and headed off to catch a bus to Bretforton where went for lunch at the Fleece Inn.

In the evening we went to eat in the Old Red Horse. Then to the Trumpet which is now run by Hook Norton and had three of their beers. After that we went to Bar 24 to sample some beer from the Evesham brewery. They just had one beer which was cheap but disappointing.

When we got back to the boat the river had risen and wasn't far below the level of the quayside. We checked the EA website and that showed that the level had risen but was levelling off. So we loosened the lines a bit and retired to bed. I was kept awake by people in the park talking till gone 1.30am.

Wednesday 27th June

Set off at 830 and we were the first boat going south.

Stopped at the boatyard on the outskirts of Stratford. They don't sell river licences but I did fill up with diesel there. They are now part of Valley cruisers.

There was one space left in Banford basin so we occupied that and purchased a 7 day licence for the Avon. Went to the West End pub for lunch.

After lunch we locked down onto the river and headed downstream. Although we wanted to get to Bidford we thought that the moorings would be full so we stopped at the last lock upstream.

There were 2 narrowboats moored there already and a guy on one of them confirmed our suspicions about Bidford as they had come upstream and been unable to moor there.

Walked into Bidford and went to The Frog to eat, it was steak night and there was a rock academy competition taking place. After that we checked out the New Saxon but their one beer pump was full of cleaning fluid. So we went to the Old Bull which has cask marque approval.

Tuesday 26th June

Through the Lapworth link and turned left to go down the Stratford canal, stopping briefly at the sanitary station.

Moored at Preston Bagot and went for lunch at the Crabmill, which is part of the same small group of Lovely Pubs gastropubs as the Boot Inn.

Moored for the night at Wilmcote. Went first to the Masons Arms which only had one real ale. We ate there and then moved on to the Mary Arden Inn which had three national real ales.

Monday 25th June

Set off in time to arrive at the bottom of Hatton locks before 9. No boats in sight behind or ahead so we started up the flight. Unfortunately all the locks were full so someone must have been up before us. After a while we started meeting boats coming down so then they were all empty.

Moored after the top lock and walked back to the Hatton pub, which has recently been refurbished and renamed, and is now more upmarket. They had a choice of 4 real ales.

After lunch we pottered on to Kingswood junction. Here we moored immediately past the junction so that we could back up and turn into the Lapworth link.

Went to the Navigation Inn which has just been refurbished so was not doing food yet. They had a beer called Lapworth Gold from Byatts, the new Coventry brewery. Then we went to the Boot Inn which has a choice of 3 real ales and the food was still excellent.

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Sunday 24th June

I found the source of last nights leak. It's where a screw goes through.

Set off by 930, dry and sunny spells.

At the first lock, Bascote staircase, we were joined by hotel boat Periwinkle, and we shared locks all the way to Leomington Spa.

In Leomington we had a small lunch on board and then went to the Talbot Inn, where we were the only customers for a while. Then we moved on to the Somerville Arms.

After that we continued our cruise to Warwick. I rang ahead to the Saltisford Arm and booked a mooring there. However there were plenty of moorings near the Cape.

After mooring in Saltisford we walked back to the Cape where we discovered that we were too late to eat there. So after one pint there we moved on the Thomas Lloyd to eat and then on to the Old Fourpenny Shop.

 

Saturday 23rd June

Set off shortly after 8. Dry and windy with sunny spells. Passed through Braunston junction without any delays due to the historic boat show.
We turned right at Braunston towards Napton. Moored at bridge 102 and walked up the hill to Flecknoe where we had lunch in the Old Olive Bush.

After lunch we turned right at Napton junction.

At Stockton locks we took advantage of help from a family and make quick progress down the 9 locks.

Moored just past the bridge near Long Itchington. We went to the Harvester pub to eat, no not one of those! It's been in the GBG for a very long time. Then on to try the Green Man which I have not been to before but is now in the GBG. This was busy with locals.

We had already checked the beer range in the Buck and Bell which is now sporting a Les Routier. plaque. We decided not to try the Duck on the Pond as it is a Charles Wells pub as is the Two Boats which is in the GBG.

We checked out the Cuttle Inn, but a live band was about to play so we went to the Two Boats instead.

Friday 22nd June

Departure from home delayed by UPS delivery which arrived just after 1pm. Shopping in Sainsburys, Rugby. On arrival at the marina I tried to drain water tank prior to refilling it, but failed and set off for the water point in Rugby.

Made good speed due to the high level of water and lack of moving boats. Ian met me at the water point where we filled up in record time.

Then moved through the bridge and moored opposite the visitor moorings. Walked into town using the rebuilt footbridge over the railway and went to eat in the Lawrence Sheriff. After that we went to the Raglan Arms which was quiet, the Merchants Inn which was busy, and the Alexandra Arms, also quiet. The Merchants no longer has dual spout handpumps.

I was kept awake by the revellers on the hire boat near us.

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Sunday 10th October

Hawkesbury to Brinklow

Set off after 9 and we were back in the marina by 1pm. Stopped en route at Stretton to replace both gas cylinders.

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Saturday 9th October

Shackerstone to Hawkesbury

Left at 815. We heard some activity and saw some smoke from the Battlefield railway but did not see any trains. Stopped to empty the loo at Sutton Wharf.

Moored at Stoke Golding on the offside moorings north of the village and walked to the White Swan for lunch. They were selling off the beers from a beer festival they had held at £1.50.

Stopped at Trinity marina to try to get gas but with no success. I did buy some wood Fuelogs to try.

At Marston junction we turned south for Sutton stop and when we got where we turned off through the stop lock onto the Oxford canal and moored for the night just round the corner.

Went to the Greyhound to eat where we both had the Chicken Bacon and Mushroom Pasta which I had so enjoyed last Sunday.

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Friday October 8th

Hinckley to Shackerstone

Before setting off I adjusted the stern gland to try to reduce the water ingress. Also put the 2 gallons of waste oil into the diesel tanks.

Set off at 845 and stopped at Market Bosworth for lunch. Walked into town to the Red Lion where they had a beer festival on so all 10 handpumps were in use.

After lunch we carried on to the end of navigation where there is a short section on newly restored canal in water but blocked off with a temporary bridge. Winded there and headed back to Shackerstone.

Only the one pub here, the Rising Sun, and although it is in the Good Beer Guide, most of the beer was disappointing. The restaurant was quite good and we had 2 courses for a change.

Thursday October 7th

Atherstone to Hinkley

Had a later start today. It was misty all morning until the sun broke through.

Up the last 5 locks at Atherstone stopping at Spring Haven marina to buy engine oil, then stopped for lunch in Nuneaton. Went to the Globe, which sounded the best of the 3 GBG pubs, and it was well worth the walk. On the way back to the boat we popped into Gregs for food and bread, and another shop for milk.

South of Nuneaton we turned onto the Ashby canal. We passed Gosty Hill near bridge 15. In Hinckley we moored just past bridge 16.

Walked into town for a curry in Wetherspoons then on to the New Plough Inn. As they only had one guest ale to supplement the obligatory Marstons choice, we decided to try the Black Horse which has cask marque approval. We had a nice pint of fresh Jennings there before heading back via Wetherspoons.

Wednesday October 6th

Whittington to Atherstone

Left early to get to Polesworth for lunch. However I later decided to stop early to avoid Polesworth and try the Gate Inn by bridge 69. We were able to moor right outside. They had Banks Mild and were doing 2 meals for £8.

After lunch we carried on and up the first 6 locks at Atherstone. Once again we were able to make use of the side pond at lock 6.

In Atherstone we went to the Kings Head to eat then to the Market Tavern where the Warwickshire beers were cloudy. After that we tried the New Dolphin and finally walked out to the Bear and Ragged Staff, which is also now owned by the Warwickshire brewery.

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Tuesday 5th October

Carried on up the Birmingham and Fazeley onto the detached section of the Coventry canal and stopped just short of Bradley junction. Went for lunch in the Swan, I had belly pork stuffed with black pudding.

After lunch we winded at the junction and headed south again stopping for the night at Whittington. The Swan near the canal had closed for good on September 11th. There are two other pubs, one of which does food, but we decided to catch a bus into Lichfield to sample some of the pubs there.

In Lichfield we went to The Bowling Green to eat then on to the The Duke of Wellington, sampled the Backyard Brewery 'The Hoard' at the Horse and Jockey then finally to the Duke of York.

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Monday 4th October

Woken at 7am by the quarry workings but we had decided to leave at 8 anyway to make it to Polesworth for lunch.

On the way down Atherstone locks we were able to make use of the side pond at lock 6 which had been restored last year.

Polesworth was disappointing as usual. The Fosters Yard Hotel didn't appear to have any real ale so we went to the Bulls Head where we had a pint but they weren't doing food. So we went to the Royal Oak where we had another pint but they weren't doing food either. After lunch on board we set off again.

Moored in Fazeley for the night. Walked into Tamworth where we ate in the Globe Inn. After that we went to the Sir Robert Peel, The Silk Kite and back to the Robert Peel.

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Sunday 3rd October

Rain all day but not heavy. Passed Draco towing Success shortly after setting off.

Stopped at Sutton stop for lunch at the Greyhound where the evening menu was in force. Very cold pint of Theakstons again as last year but the Chicken, Bacon and Mushroom pasta was very good.

After lunch we went through the stop lock and up the Coventry canal through Nuneaton and on to the Anchor Inn near Hartshill. This has been removed from the GBG due to a change in landlord but its still an Everards pub and had Everards Beacon, Tiiger and Original plus York Centurion Ghost as a guest. They stop serving food at 4pm on a Sunday so we had a snack on board.

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Saturday 2nd October

Arrived at the marina at 1645. Ian arrived shortly after and we set off after filling up with water.

Only went as far as Brinklow for the choice of 3 pubs and the chance to walk along a section of the original canal still in water.

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Sunday 12th July

Ansty to Brinklow

Final day and a short morning to get back to the marina. My car wouldn't start and the brake on one of the rear wheels was stuck on, so we got back to Hertfordshire later than hoped.

Saturday 11th July

Coventry to Ansty

A gloomy start to the day. Gavin and John went to the Motor museum then we met up for lunch in the Windmill. After that we set off out of Coventry.

Held up at Hawkesbury as there were 3 boats already waiting to go through the lock. Carried on as far as Ansty. Couldn't get a table in the pub till 8.30. Had to reject the London Pride, but the IPA was OK.

Friday 10th July

Hartshill to Coventry

Rudely awoken at 6.30am by noise from the works behind the pump. Set off at 9am and stopped for gas at Valley Cruisers. Also there was a dutch barge style narrowboat called Chedworth, which I learned had been across the channel!

Stopped for lunch at Hawkesbury junction for lunch in the Greyhound. Carried on into Coventry for the night. Ate in the Tumeric Gold restaurant which I have been in before, then for a drink in the Windmill and the Gatehouse.

Thursday 9th July

Hopwas to Hartshill

Stopped in Polesworth for an early lunch in the Royal Oak and provisions.

Stopped for the night at the Anchor near Hartshill. This time the pump on the offside was running continuously, so we moved on just past the old railway bridge.