We had a pleasant surprise on Saturday lunchtime, friends Peter and Jennifer pulled in behind us and came aboard for a brew and a chat before carrying on towards Atherstone.
Peter and Jennifer, NB Mactra’s Filia
We may see them later in the year further north after they’ve been down to Braunston then back up the Leicester line.
We moved off this morning, passing the motor boat Snipe that we’d been moored behind.
The powered half of the hotel pair Snipe and Taurus, she’s currently internally stripped, though I’m not sure whether for a refit or conversion. No sign of the butty Taurus. Anyone know if they’re still in business?
It’s been a very warm day today after a cool night, with almost unbroken blue skies. It’s difficult to believe now, but the canal down to Amington ran through the workings of Pooley Hall Colliery, with the shafts on the left and the spoil heaps on the right.
Now-removed bridges spanned the canal at regular intervals, carrying tramways that moved the spoil from the shafts.
The coal wharf is now used for moorings…
…and the large spoil heap near the motorway bridge has greened over and now supports a monument to those who once toiled underground here.
You can just catch a glimpse of it through the gap in the trees… I went up there in 2014, I wasn’t sure then what the pillar represented, but Julie posted a comment on that blog post -
Gold Leaf – Buried Sunlight
Artists Mathew and Louise Scullion
The Golden Tower of Leaves, Pooley Country Park, Polesworth Warwickshire
The 40ft tower was erected in 2011. It is a stack of aluminium strips formed in the shape of a birch leaf. The outer surface is covered in gold leaf.
The colonisation of the mound of colliery waste by birch trees provides a symbol of regeneration, represented by the motif of the birch leaf. The coal was formed over millions of years from fossilised trees (although not birch).
The gold finish is a reference to the wealth that was created by and for those who exploited the coal. The gold tower, which forms the focal point of the park, is a marriage of sculptural form and rich symbolism.
It was paid for through a Government programme designed to 'breathe new life into coalfield communities' at a cool £100,000
In the daytime it looks quite plain but in the eveniing it is really beautiful and gives off a rich golden glow which can be seen from many points around the village.
One of my favourite things is driving towards Polesworth along the M42, glancing over you can see the golden tower above the trees. Looks beautiful and I know in 5 minutes I will be home.
Such a shame no-one gets to see the top but the link below is a birds eye view of the monument, well worth a look and probably the only way any of us will see what it actually is.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DrKLFgym-I
Thanks again, Julie.
Another Red Admiral enjoying a lift in the sunshine
The Samual Barlow pub and Alvecote Marina
We pulled in above Glascote Locks for lunch and a shopping trip to the adjacent Co-op, then moved down to the locks. I helped a single-hander up the top lock, then we dropped down ourselves.
We pulled in a mile below the locks, on the embankment leading to the aqueduct over the River Tame.
We could have gone around the corner onto the official moorings, but it’s quieter here.
Locks 2, miles 5½
1 comment:
Lovely video Geoff.
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