Warwickshire Ring – part two – anti-clockwise

The Warwickshire Ring (anti-clockwise)

After a failure on our first attempt at this route, we decided to try again – this time anti-clockwise.

The route covers 104 miles, with 120 locks. The majority of the locks are in the second half, which is why most people tackle it clockwise, with most locks at the beginning, therefore getting them out of the way!

17.6.23 We began our journey, mooring at Brinklow. We went through the 3 locks at Hillmorton and moored up at Brinklow

18.6.23. One lock today, the weird one at Hawkesbury Junction. This lock only drops 6 inches and has a 180 degree turn immediately after, with a pub plus “gongoozlers” watching! We made good progress in fine, hot weather, and moored between Bedworth and Nuneaton.

19.6.23 We didn’t intend to go through the Atherstone flight of locks but ended up doing them anyway! A total of eleven locks. We moored up straight after them.

20.6.23 Moored up in Tamworth, just before taking the left turn at Fazeley Junction.

21.6.23. There were hardly any boats on the whole trip, very quiet indeed. We like that. Today we turned left at Fazeley and cruised on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. Lunchtime approached as we went through a lock and moored up outside a pub – The Dog and Doublet. Mistake! We ordered food and after 40 minutes I asked where the food was. We were told “it’s being prepped, will be with you in 10 to 15 minutes”. After 10 minutes we tackled the landlady. She gave a cock and bull story about problems in the kitchen and said it would be another 10 minutes. Not happy, we demanded a refund and cruised on. Another bad experience of dining (or not!) out. We moored up somewhere after this and dined in!

22.6.23 The scenery started to change as we entered Birmingham. Beneath the M6 we made a left turn at Perry Barr and onward into deprived wilderness. We ascended the Aston locks, complete with graffiti, rubbish and evidence of drug taking. We moored up by the towpath at first, until four youths sat on a bench next to the boat. Two police arrived and carried out a stop and search on them. We decided to moor up on the side opposite the towpath, tying on to a fence. At least if someone wanted to get us they would have to swim!

23.6.23 We didn’t travel far today. Up through the Farmers Road locks and into central Birmingham, supported by two  volunteers. Wonderful! We moored up at the CR&T wharf and  then visited Sealife, which was vey good. We took the decision to try and eat out again and this time were successful. The Malt house served pie and chips in a good time frame. At last, a good meal out.

24.6.23 The trip today took us out of Birmingham via Edgbaston and Selly Oak on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. A much more pleasant experience. A left turn at Kings Norton took us on the Stratford on Avon canal to a much more rural area, where we moored up. At last out of the big city.

25.6.23 Today was a big lock day. The Lapworth locks, all 19 of them. Luckily an amazing volunteer helped us. We turned onto the Grand Union Canal at Kingswood Junction and were now on familiar territory from our clockwise trip. We found a great mooring in the middle of nowhere, just as we like it.

26.6.23 Today really was lock day – The Hatton Flight! Twenty one wide locks in total. We had been through these twice before, the last time in the pouring rain, minus an engine grill cover (later retrieved using a magnet). It was really quiet today and we had to tackle all of them on our own. There were two volunteers there but they just walked by!

27.6.23 Lidl day. Yes we found the canalside Lidle and shopped for goodies. The shop was amazingly quiet and we managed to re-stock our fridge etc. The mooring later was, once again, very rural. We had stayed here twice before so we knew it was good. Quiet and good 4G, essential!

28.6.23 We decided to have a short day today before the strains of the Bascote and Stockton locks – 14 locks, including one staircase. The mooring was good and rural but we had to use stakes to tie up.

29.6.23 Lock day – again! We are still on the Grand Union so the locks are wide and designed for two boats. We were on our own so was a bit of a challenge.

30.6.23 Our leisure batteries had been playing up. They were fitted by Calcutt Boats less than two years ago. The 6 batteries cost around £1000 so we were keen to see if there was a problem

1.7.23 After an overnight test the electrician wants to monitor the batteries. This would take 2 weeks so we decided to go home, after an Uber ride to pick up the car.