Wandering Canuck

Coventry Canal is almost history, as we have toured north, through Nuneaton, Tamworth, and are presently moored between Coton and Hopwas. The day started grey, but got much nicer as things went on, until late in the day as we were going through Tamworth. We finished the two locks, and then a downpour/thunderstorm, of Canadian Parairie vintage, followed as the sun was setting with a total clearing and THE most spectacular, long-lasting rainbow(s) that we have ever (or at least in memory) seen. The photo really doesn’t do the image justice.

That was a great ending to the cruising day, then we went into the village to the Red Lion and had a wonderful meal. Walking back, we again had the full moon to light the way. Pity that we couldn’t see the eclipse the night before, as we certainly had the mooring place that would have been spectacular, but there were clouds last night.

Dd has been driving the boat, and both have enjoyed the locks, with the photo from the Atherstone flight, which we did this morning.

We’ll continue up the Birmingham and Fazeley canal (which becomes the Coventry Canal again) hoping to get ‘around the corner’ onto the Trent and Mersey canal and along there to Burton on Trent to meet Clare on Monday noonish. So far, all is well, and the canal pace has appealed to both Mom and Dad: they seem to be thriving on the locks, the mooring selection, and the experience of canal boat life.

Sorry, it has been a while since the last post. I spent the week in Braunston and environs, getting boat parts, setting bits of the boat to rights, etc. I am now more ready for cold weather, with insulation in strategic places, and have other small jobs dealt with.

My parents arrived from Canada yesterday (I fetched them from Heathrow- not myt favourite British place). All good, however, and they are installed. We started a cruise this morning, north on the north Oxford Canal, towards Nuneaton. We are moored on a delightful stretch of the canal, just outside the village of Brinklow. We are going further north tomorrow, and will join the Coventry canal, then further north through Nuneaton. We’ll have to keep an eye on the rain, in case the Soar River gets too full, in which case we’ll chose an alternate route.

green tunnel (now changing colours) ouside Brinklow on the North Oxford Canal.

The wind, she blew. There has been a dramatic change in the weather. The wind is from the northwest, is damp, and 10 degrees colder. The leaves are starting to swirl and will soon be a nuisance on the water. However, the sun was our for a few minutes today, and the evening couldn’t have been more interesting: I had the opportunity to join the local bell ringers in All Saints Church, Braunston, who invited me to begin to learn how to ring changes in a traditional English bell tower. The experience was exceptional, and Peter (85 years old) showed me carefully and explicitly what and how to ring the 400kg bell I was to use. No, DON’T hang onto the rope (you’ll go splat on the ceiling), instead, find the rhythm of the bell and the system, and it is all easy. HAH! Like most cordination, physical tasks, I don’t find that easy, and the learning curve will be steep. However, they did invite me back, and I didn’t break anything.

For an idea of change ringing, search you tube for English change ringing, and you’ll get lots of examples: some good and others obviously recording made when people like me are learning.

I’m still in Braunston: installing winter insulation, anti-freeze and other routine tasks that are part of learning how to live on a boat in changing weather. What is easy and idiot proof (I’m still here!) in spectacular weather, is more challenging in damp, colder, and windy conditions. However, I have heat, am installing draught prevention in lots of places, and all is well.

Sorry, it has been a while.

I am back in Braunston, having met the boat painter I think I will be using to paint the boat completely, likely during my Christmas sojurn to Canada. Came back down the Ashby Canal, then the Coventry Canal, and finally the northern Oxford Canal, back to the home base in Braunston. The weather wasn’t all that nice: rain, lots of wind, but not cold: it was tropical air, but not the nicest. I chose stopping places based on the shelter, rather than the scenery.

Got back to Braunston late Friday, and was moored by the bridge just outside the marina.

This has to be one of the most photogenic places anywhere.

Saturday I went to Northampton for some bits and pieces for the boat. Why Northampton? I hadn’t been there before, and it was only 20 minutes away. Some fixups when I returned, then a gentle evening under the start: the clouds went away, and so did the wind.

This morning: wow.

my favourite bridge, beside Braunston Marina, on a gorgeous October morn

The photo on the left is the marina where I likely will be based for the winter, about 8 boats up from the right. The right side is the peaceful mooring along the canal itself in Braunston. Wandering Canuck is the boat on the left with the funny white stripes on the bow.

Today was gorgeous: 22 degrees, sunny. Bike ride weather. Polish brass outside, read a book, go for a walk, bask in the autumn special day. Before church this morning, they were ringing changes , and invited me to observe, then join them on Thursday. Guess where I’ll be Thursday?

It is days like today that make this odyssey especially rewarding, memorable, and wishing I could share it with you all.

The peace of an autumn day of the canals.

The northern Oxford canal- a tunnel of peace and tranquility.

I am now back on the move, having spent a couple of days in Coventry. Plumbing is no longer a mystery, and I have a new radiator to replace the leaky one. Getting ready for cooler days. Was in Coventry Cathedral for morning service: their patronal festival, so everyone was in fine form. The new cathedral is stark and modern, but has the longest reverberation time I have experienced. This was also the last service for the assistant organist who is taking up a new position, and so he really dusted out all the pipes! Was quite magic.

I intend to continue up the Coventry Canal to Nuneaton, checking out a boat painter there, and then perhaps back to the solitude of the Ashby Canal. We’ll see.

This ophoto is just at the marina in Braunston, in the evening: a really magic place and one of the reasons I have chosen this as my base for exploration.

Well, sorry about the lack of pics.
Internet issues…

I am back on the move, after a number of days in the Braunston area. Karen has returned to Canada, and promised a review of the experience for prospective gap year applicants.

I have spent a couple of days pausing to regroup, to deal with boat issues (coal, diesel, a pew parts ,TV antenna, etc). My  car had an interesting issue: the passenger window suddenly disappeared into the interior of the door. I tried to retrieve the thing, to no avail (expert body work advice needed to take apart a door!) No luck so dredged into my Volkswagen past, and manufactured a new acrylic window as a temporary fix, as  I had done 10 or so years ago on a very cold December day when the driver’s window shattered all over me. Took to Coventry repair shop and all fixed appropriately, at reasonable cost (just took the best part of a day to do so).

I’m now north of Braunston, on the Oxford canal, a stretch of canal I now know quite well (3rd trip). Will go slowly, getting boat details addressed, but weather is spectacular, so bike rides, short canal trips, and general enjoying the lovely autumn is in store. There is no rush. Installed further sound insulation, and will also install hospital silencer (big muffler) when I get that tomorrow at the Hillmorton Canal Shop chandlery ( a favourite place- they are great, provide service, advice and are really cost effective compared to the cold, more expensive, Midland place in Braunston, that I don’t really like.) The place looks like my Vancouver office, but the people are great, and I really like going there. They have the best diesel prices too, though I like to support the travelling fuel barge.

I’m going to see the lay of the canal system to see where to go next: The Coventry canal is interesting and I might spend some time exploring the Ashby as well. We will see.

The saga continues. After stopping at Long Itchington (gotta love the names of places) and finishing the day with a pint and dinner at The Duck Pond Inn (in front of which is– a duck pond, the center of attraction in the village of Long Itchington)- as you can imagine, a sort of sleepy relaxed little village, but also the home of a major boatbuilder in Britain, probably accounting for more than any other company. I digress.

Toured along the Grand Union Canal towards Napton Junction, and now have shared a number of locks with a nice couple, Wilber and Dee aboard Olivia. We shared tea as they turned to the Oxford Canal and we the other way towards Braunston. A glorious fall afternoon, following breeze, broken sunshine, and a spectacular view of the countryside.

Arrived in Braunston, and moored in the marina in the berth they have reserved for me for the winter. Decided to visit the one pub in Braunston that I haven’t been to, beside the canal, and made a very bad decision for supper. I felt a sudden chill about halfway through the meal, and didn’t really get it. That was to come! As we returned to the boat, I really felt unwell, and then the eruptions began. Food poisoning. I couldn’t sleep much at all, and by morning every aspect of what I had eaten had been removed from my body. More graphic descriptions are NOT necessary. Mussels are off the menu for a while!

I felt wrung out all day, and so, really didn’t do much. All better this morning after a great sleep and no further consequences. I am looking forward to a glorious day: the weather is supposed to be warm and the first official day of autumn is the start of a new season all-round.

I have now made the trek up the locks of the Stratford  Canal, to Kingswood Junction, and have made the turn to the Grand Union Canal. I stayed last night at the jounction, (underneath a train bridge- had to stop there as I arrive later in the afternoon, and there was rain, wind, no other moorings away from the tracks.) Sounds like a disaster, but really, the trains are MUCH quieter than any I have experienced in Canada, and they really weren’t running much through the night, though 5am was the start of the commuter run!

It was a spectacular morning, a little mist on the water, brilliant blue sky and absolutely calm. Started out towards the Hatton Flight of locks, and a wee tunnel to get there. All good: a spectacular autumn morning. Just before the locks, stopped for a bit to eat, and then the exercise started. The Hatton locks are wide locks, with huge gates each weighing about 2 tonnes. Karen wanted to do locks (she is a fitness person as well as a travel expert), and insisted upon doing the work. There was a volunteer lock keeper that assists people getting through the 21 locks, and initially Karen insisted on doing the work all herself. After a couple, she relented somewhat, and the keep assisted by preparing the locks ahead (EVERY one was set against us).

After 4h we finished, and arrived in Warwick, where we found a mooring just at the head of the Saltisford Arm where we had stayed with Nick and Chris earlier in the journey. Just as we tied up, the heavens opened and there had a serious shower. An hour later, Karen and I went into Warwick to see the sights and get some provisions. She shopped, I looked for a camera store, and we are going to explore Warwick Castle tomorrow. Pictures are promised! Moored next to us is a couple the we had encountered on a lock or two on the Kennet and Avon Canal, early in the summer. They have a unique boat that they are painting lemon yellow and pinky-purple. There is a big sunny smiley face on the stern doors. Very distinctive, and they were immediately all agog in encountering the Wandering Canuck again, after almost 2 months. The canals are such a small community, and that is one of the best aspects of the system.

I’ve left Stratford-upon-Avon, and am now northbound on the Stratford Canal. Back to narrow locks, and skinny bridges!

We had an incident with a fisherman yesterday that escalated so I had to call the police to resolve the issue. I do hope that isn’t a portent of all encounters with fishermen: the issue had all sorts of ugly potential, as we are really captive in terms of being able to withdraw. There really is not much I can do, but all’s well that ends well (to coin a phrase.)

We did the Wilmcote flight of locks in the pouring rain so we could move on from the incident, and thus were soaked and chilled by the end of the 16 locks. Wilmcote has Mary Arden’s Farm (she is Shakespeare’s mother), which I hope to explore today. This is a Tudor farm,living museum, and hopefully will give a real window into 17th century life.

What an introduction for Karen as she evaluated whether my transition year experience is appropriate and as advertised. On the other hand, I now appreciate, personally, the services of the local constabulary.

Stratford-upon-Avon. A charming town, but so wrapped up in the touristy stuff about Shakespeare, it is easy to miss the rest of the charm, history, and really great things to see and do. Visited extensively with Nikki and Alan who I met doing the river locks, and we shared some great moments (especially discussing who fell in, and why..- and it wasn’t me!). They also hosted me for a great evening in their boat, and we shared another evening on the town. A great part of canal life is meeting and making new friends.

Am joined this evening by a Vancouver friend, Karen, who will be travelling with me for a few days- checking out to see if I can offer the kind of hosting proposed in the transition year scheme. We hope to continue up the Stratford Canal, and then back towards Braunston, or perhaps another way into Birmingham. We’ll see.

The weather is certainly hints of autumn. The evenings are quite a bit colder, and the weather is much more changeable. Today was really grey and miserable until about 10am, when the sky cleared, and it got warm. This evening is back to the rain.

The forecast is for significantly cooler and wetter, so it is time to fire up the stove, get out the wet weather gear in earnest, and away we go.