Friday 30th May

Willoughby to Brinklow Marina

Cool cloudy but dry day.

Stopped for lunch above Hillmorton locks.

Stopped for water below the locks.

Thursday 29th May

Norton Junction to Willoughby

Stopped at the top of Braunton locks to go for lunch in the Admiral Nelson.

After lunch carried on down through the locks and up the Oxford canal to Willoughby wharf where we managed to have a barbecue despite the wind. Then we walked into Willoughby to go to the Rose Inn for a drink.

Wednesday 28th May

Yelvertoft to Norton Junction

A miserable day.

Stopped above Watford locks for lunch.

Went to the New Inn for dinner so I could try the local faggots.

Tuesday 27th May

Welford to Yelvertoft

Having emptied one gas bottle we went out of our way and turned North at Welford junction to go to North Kilworth Wharf to get a replacement. Stopped for the night at Yelvertoft. Foolishly I had not rung the pub there and when we turned up we discovered that the whole pub was fully booked for an eating event. So we had a pint and called for a taxi to take us to the Wheatsheaf in Crick. After another good meal there we discovered that they offer a taxi service to the canal at Crick, so we asked if they could take us to Yelvertoft, which they did.

Monday 26th May

Crick to Welford

As it was due to rain we decided that it would be too muddy to go to the show and with the promise of better weather at the end of the week that we would extend our trip till Friday. So we set off for Welford, stopping on the way for lunch.

In Welford we went to the Wharf Inn for the evening. As it was raining and the Wharf is in the GBG we decided not to try the other pub.

Sunday 25th May

Crick

A nice day with sun. In the morning I went for a quick flit round the show on my own. Purchased some Venison salami, engine oil and a mifi device with external aerial to try to overcome our lack of internet.

After lunch on board we went to the  show and looked at a few boats.

Then we walked into the village to try the food in the Red Lion. The food is cheaper than the Wheatsheaf but not as good, beer choice also not interesting. After that we went to the Royal Oak to try the beer there, and finally to the Wheatsheaf.

Saturday 24th May

Crick

Rain and hail today so did not go to the show.

Keith and Tim paid us a visit while it wasn't raining.

In the evening we went the entertainment tent where Toyah Willcox was due to perform. It was very busy and we couldn't get a seat and we ended up outside looking in through the open sides. The beer was starting to run out.

Friday 23rd May

Norton Junction to Crick

On arrival at Watford locks there were only two other boats waiting and it wasn't too long before we were making our way up the flight.

Stopped at the services by the top lock to fill up with water and empty the loo. The water pressure was very low but that gave us a chance to have lunch.

After emerging from Crick tunnel we were soon hailed by another boat that we were supposed to moor alongside. Unfortunately as this was in the cutting we could not get TV or phone signals.

In the evening we headed into the village and to the Wheatsheaf. We had an excellent three course meal which came very quickly and they had a few interesting beers in good nick.

After that we went to the festival site to the beer tent which had a good choice of 46 beers. We managed to get a seat to enjoy the entertainment.

Thursday 22nd May

Willoughby to Norton Junction

After entering Braunston bottom lock another boat appeared and we shared all the way up. We moored at the top and walked back down to the Admiral Nelson where we had the seafood platter to share.

Later we carried on through Braunston tunnel meeting nothing coming the other way! We moored for the night before Norton junction. After dinner on board we went for beer in New Inn. They have 5 beers, nothing exciting but all in good nick.

Wednesday 21st May 2014

Brinklow Marina to Willoughby

After lunch we set off towards Braunston. Stopped for the night at Willoughby wharf where we had a barbeque.

Then we walked into the village to the Rose Inn. Only two beers and one not at its best, so only worth going there to eat.

Monday 1st July 2013

Rugby to Brinklow marina

Just a short uneventful trip back to the marina.

Sunday 30th June

Napton to Rugby

Winded outside the pub and returned to Napton junction where we went straight on towards Braunston. It was the weekend of the Braunston boat show and when we got to Braunston turn the working boats were using the junction to form a parade, so we had to wait for a gap before we were allowed through onto the Oxford north canal.

We stopped for lunch on board on some suitable piling further north. Then we carried on through Hillmorton locks where there were 2 volunteer lock-keepers at the bottom lock. We moored for the night in Rugby on the 24hr offside moorings near Tescos. After dinner on board we walked into town to the Seven Stars, now refurbished and selling Banks & Taylors. Then we went to the Squirrel which is very small and only had one interesting guest beer. Finally we went to the Merchants.

Saturday 29th June

Leamington Spa to Napton

Arrived at Radford Lock and as we were going in another boat appeared so we were able to share locks all the way to Bascote locks. 

Moored for lunch on board near Long Itchington and walked across the fields to the Harvester and then to the Green Man.

After lunch we carried on up the Stockton and Calcutt Locks to Napton junction where we turmed right. I had been unable to book a table at either the Folly or the Old Olive Bush. So we decided to risk trying the Napton Bridge Inn. Fortunately there was a good space left on the moorings outside. After dinner in the pub we walked to the Kings Head which we had not been to for 20 years. It is a Hook Norton pub and had been recently refurbished and has Cask Marque approval. The beer was good and it sounds as though it might have been a better place to eat.

Friday 28th June

Rowington to Leamington Spa

Early start to get to Hatton. However we made slow progress as the pound was low. On arrival at Hatton top lock we filled up with water while waiting for a boat to share the locks with. No boat had appeared by the time the tank was full, however a working boat had come up the flight so we started down solo to take advantage of the full locks. We made reasonable progress with 3 people and only using paddles on one side, and got down the flight in 3 1/2 hours.

Moored near the Cape of Good Hope and went there for a late lunch. The beer seemed a bit fizzy to me but he food was nice however it was strage to be there when it was empty.

After lunch we carried on to Leamington Spa stopping at Tesco on the way, as we had decided to spend the night there for the first time on Jacob. This is because there are now more pubs in the GBG in Leamington Spa than in Warwick, and we were encouraged by our lunchtime visit last year.

We had dinner on board then went to the Talbot Inn and Somerville Arms, both of which we had visited last year and the Woodland Tavern which was a new entry and open till later.

Thursday 27th June

Knowle to Rowington

Just a short distance to get to a suitable mooring so that we could walk to Packwood House. We had found that the Millennium way would take us from bridge 66 to the house via the eastern tree lined avenue. Unfortunately there was no cafe as there were building works going on. The house was interesting and unusual because it had all the original contents, and the garden was very beautiful.

Back at the boat Andy left us to walk to Lapworth station to catch a train to Leamington Spa and onwards to Reading.

Later we moved on to moor near the Tom O'The Wood pub. After dinner on board we went for a pint in the pub. They only had one beer which wasn't very good, so we went up the hill to Rowington Club which is in the GBG. They had 4 beers on, but I stuck to the Wye Valley HPA.

Wednesday 26th June

Cuckoo Wharf to Knowle

8am start again, back to Salford junction where we turned right to go back back up the Grand Union to Bordesley junction. We had to stop in one of the locks to go down the weed hatch to remove a piece of electrical cable and loads of other plastic bags etc. This was the first time this year and probably for 3 three years. It was noticable the we could go faster after this. Then we went up Camp Hill locks. All the locks today were empty which was in our favour so we made fast progress.

We moored for lunch in Catherine de Barnes. We had lunch in the Boat which is a Chef and Brewer pub. After lunch we carried on as far as Knowle where we were able to have a barbecue for the first time ever on Jacob.

I decided to change the leaking engine water pump for the spare. Unfortunately the spare also leaked, but from the rear bearing rather than the front one which means that it is easier to catch the leakage.

After that we walked into Knowle to go the Vaults. This is difficult to find as it's just a door down a side street and has no windows at all. They had a few beers, however I stuck to the Donnington BB which was excellent.

Tuesday 25th June

Titford to Cuckoo Wharf

Set off at 8am but Thistle beat us to the lock, very annoying as they had said that they would leave as early as necessary to be first. However it only held us up by 10 minutes.

At Oldbury junction we turned right and then left at Spon Lane junction and down Spon Lane locks to Bromford junction where we turned right onto the New main line. Then at Pudding Green junction we turned off onto the Walsall canal and down Ryders Green locks. At Doe Bank junction we stopped briefly to empty the toilet and dispose of the bags of rubbish that we had collected from the locks.

We turned right there onto the Tame Valley canal and went all the way along and down through Perry Bar locks to Salford junction where turned sharp right to go to Cuckoo Wharf. We went past the wharf and managed to wind in the remains of one of the old arms. Moored on the wharf and filled up with water while we all had showers. An 8 hour day with no stop for lunch.

We were worried that the area might be locked up at night but in the end we risked it and walked out to the Bartons Arms. This is a magnificent pub restored by Oakham brewery and serves Thai food. On Tuesdays you can get get 2 courses for £10 so we all took advantage of that.

Monday 24th June

Tipton Green to Titford pumphouse

There was a morning talk at the library to tell us about 10 things that Titford is famous for, and also a look at the lost canals in the area. After that we went to Caggys yard to buy another anti vandal key. We walked back from there along the route of the Toll End canal from Watery Lane junction up to the Wolverhampton level and went for a pint and lunch in the Fountain Inn.

After lunch we set off to Oldbury junction where we turned right to go up Titford locks. We carried on to Titford pools to wind at Portway Branch junction. We did get stuck on a submerged object under Jarvis bridge but we manged to get off it and past it. We moored behind the other boats on the towpath near the pumphouse by Titford top lock.

After a meal on board we went to the pumphouse for the final social. The 36 pints of beer, Enville ale from Ma Pardoes, didn't last long and I only got one pint. A raffle was held in aid of the  BCNS but the plaques were not ready and will be sent to us in the post.

Sunday 23rd June

Walsall to Tipton Green

After a noisy but trouble free night we set off at 815 back to Walsall junction. We had to wait a while before we could start going up Walsall locks as they were letting some water down to fill up some of the low pounds. And again later we were held up while Stuart pulled some bricks out of the way that were holding open the bottom gate of one of the locks.

At Birchills junction we turned left onto the Wryley and Essington canal. As we approached Sneyd wharf one of the other boats was just leaving so we stopped to fill up with water there. At Horseley Fields junction we tuned left towards Birmingham.

When we got to Deepfields junction we turned off to explore the Wednesbury Oak loop. The first part to the  winding hole was not too bad, but after that it became much worse. We had been told that the chain which they used to use to block off the Bradley yard out of business hours is no longer used. This was the case but we winded in the entrance to the side basin before the chain as Stuart had suggested.

Back at Deepfields junction we turned left back onto the main canal. We moored alongside Arcturious outside the Neptune centre at Tipton Green. A 10 hour day without stopping for lunch!

We went to Mad O'Rourkes Pie Factory to eat, where most of the customers were from our cruise. This is the last of the pubs from the Little Pub Company and still has Lumphammer beers and the Desperate Dan Cow Pie. Then we caught a bus to the Beacon Hotel in Sedgley where we had some of my favourite beer, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild. We caught the last bus back at 2230.

Saturday 22nd June

Ocker Hill to Walsall

We set off and turned right at Tame Valley junction onto the Walsall canal. Quite a bit of this was shallow and slow going.

At Walsall junction we turned right into the town arm and moored in the basin at the end. This was not easy as we had to turn around and back in alongside the other boats. Soon the basin was full and three boats moored just outside.

We went for lunch in the Rose and Crown near the top of the locks. They only had rolls for lunch and the beers were disappointing apart from the Strawberry one that the landlord recommended.

Later we went for an early dinner in the Black Country Arms which used to be in the GBG. Then we went shopping in Tescos.

After that we returned to the same pub, then Martin and I tried the Red Lion where we had a short measure Banks bitter. Finally we went to the Lyndon House Hotel.