Past Clifton Cruisers…
And the stub of a short arm leading towards Clifton Mill.
We moored for an hour near to Bridge 58 so I could make a visit to the handy Tesco, then crossed over the River Avon on an aqueduct before heading out to Newbold on Avon.
Looking down on the Avon.
Yes, it’s the same one that goes through Warwick, Stratford and Tewkesbury but little more than a stream here.
The Rugby Town Arm branches off to the left, Willow Wren have a hire base down there.
Rugby Arm
These elegant arched cast iron bridges are very much a feature of this canal. When the navigation was improved in the 19th C, isolated loops on the towpath side are crossed by these.
There’s a short 250 yard tunnel at Newbold, unique in that it’s illuminated with coloured lights.
Newbold Tunnel.
At Falls Bridge, just a few hundred yards from the tunnel, there’s an example of one of those loop spanning towpath bridges I mentioned.
Bridges 48 and 45.
Bridges 47 and 46 would have been on the bypassed loop.
We pushed on another 2 or 3 miles, through All Oaks Wood, with buds appearing on the trees and the birds singing for company, and moored soon after.
Through All Oaks Wood.
Moored on the wide, dry towpath just beyond the wood.
As you can see from the photos it’s been a beautiful sunny day, but still cool out of the sun. Carol says that boats are like freckles; the sun brings them out. It was certainly true today.
Today I got stuck into finishing off the ceiling painting. It’s all done now, from the bedroom at the stern to the saloon at the fore end. I’ll just have to re-assemble the wood trims tomorrow, but that won’t take long.
I’ve also got the left side and roof of the boat washed off, and the last of the wood chopped. Windows cleaned and curtains washed completes the day’s task. But before all this Meg and I took a walk up the canal, along an old loop to Brinklow, and back through the village.
Part of the old loop near Brinklow.
It shows how effective construction using clay puddle can be. After getting on for 200 years of disuse it’s still holding water.
Brinklow is a pleasant village, with a wide main street running past old cottages and an impressive church.
The 13thC St. John the Baptist Church, Brinklow.
Broad Street
Thatched cottage
Peacock sculpture in straw on the thatched ridge on another cottage.
The village was an important market town in the Middle Ages, probably due to it’s position on the Roman Fosse Way.
Today started out a bit grey, and the forecast was for a drop of rain but it hasn’t materialised. In fact it’s been T shirt weather outside.
Locks 0, miles 6
1 comment:
T-shirt and shorts eh!!
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