Back again and moving out.

I've had a quick dash back home for a meeting and to see my Mum who is a bit crook at the moment. The trips there and back by train went very smoothly indeed. Two changes each way and all on time. The only fly in the ointment was that the air conditioning in the Cross Country train from Doncaster to Birmingham wasn't working and it got quite warm.

Helen meet me at the station and we walked back via a shop for milk. Who as ever heard of James Starley as the Father of the bicycle as he perfected the chain drive and invented the differential gear. It was his son and nephew that continued the business. They it was that invented the safety bicycle that had a diamond shaped frame, a chain drive and 26" wheels that were much safer than a penny farthing. It was called the Rover. 26" is still the standard wheel size. They became so popular that in Polish and other languages the word for bicycle is Rover, as hoover is to vacuum cleaner. The company eventually morphed into the Rover Group of vehicle manufacturers.

As we had over stayed out welcome as soon as I was changed and the kettle on we set off, but only as far as the services to do the needful. Following that we went through the little bridge and moored up outside to take water.

Along the Coventry Arm is a trail of sculptures. This one is near the bridge and is called 'Journeyman'. We left the water point at 1750 so it was going to bv pretty dark when we got to the junction.

Near the basin there has been some development that tidies up the area. There are many more houses going up that will only help. The towpath and cut is much tidier than the last town we were down this way. In fact when we met a boat at a bridge and having to go astern I was sure that we would pick up some rubbish but we were all clear. The only thing that is a sour note that on the journeys in and out we saw several rats brazenly running about the tow path. I would think a bit of a campaign to erradicate them should be undertaken.

The eveing light was lovely as we approached Longford.

We passed the Rioch Stadium that now hosts rugby union matches for Wasps. I'm not sure if Coventry FC play there still but I think not.

We arrived at the junction at 1930 and it was getting quite dark. there were no moorings for quite a way up the Coventry Canal but we were all done and dusted by 1950 and by then it was pretty dark.