All Oaks

 

Pulling pins from our mooring at Mancetter just before 08.30 we soon passed this boat, I’ve only ever seen a couple of boats with solar water heating and wondered if it was worth having. I would have thought the downside apart from cloudy days would be having to run a pump to move the water around.

Entering Nuneaton and it’s a place that we always try to get through as soon and as fast as possible like many others do as it has a bit of a reputation amongst boaters. The first time we came through here there was a fight on the towpath involving several youths and another time we stopped to do a quick shop only to find the towpath littered with cans and needles. I’m sure the rest of the town isn’t as bad as some areas along the canal.

You don’t see many of these anymore, especially next to the canal.

After a good and uneventful trip through Nuneaton we soon got to Marston junction and this is where you can turn off left and head up the Ashby canal. We did the Ashby 3 years ago and always said we would go back . It looks like after Christmas we will be in this area again so we may take a trip up there again.

Passing Charity dock and what a sight. It has to be the biggest junk yard on the canal system. Having said that ,we sometimes watch a TV programme called Salvage Hunters with a guy called Drew Pritcherd . He travels around the country looking for antiques and salvage . In one of his programmes he visited Charity dock where he found an unbelievable amount of salvage in the sheds behind including motorcycles worth over £20,000 each.

Charity dock is also well known for the characters and models on display.

Finally arriving at Hawkesbury junction we picked up a mooring for the night behind this boat. It would be ideal for our darling daughter who just happens to be called Chloe Louise !!!

After a good night and resisting going to the pub we pulled pins at 08.40 and headed through the junction and onto the North Oxford. I must be getting good at this Narrowboating lark as this is about the third time I’ve made it around in one go.

After a good cruise and spending a few more pounds in the chandlery at Rose Narrowboats we picked up a mooring at All Oaks wood.It’s a very popular spot and has always been full when we have come this way in the past.

Not long after mooring we heard the toot of a horn outside and it turned out to be fellow blogger Adam and Adrian on Nb Briar Rose whose blog I have followed for a long time. Adam is well known for his very informative boat reports in Canal Boat magazine and is always recognisable by his trademark Tilley hat. It was good to meet at last and say a quick hello .

In the morning it will be a short hop to Brownsover where we have arranged to meet up with a couple of friends and a fill of the cupboards at the handy Tesco store which is just a couple of hundred yards from the canal.

 

                                                                                               Happy Days