All went very smoothly yesterday we did the journey back to Hull and return to Kings Bromley in record time. Lovely drive in good weather. We had time to go home and get the jobs done before I had to head for my Barbershop Chorus rehearsal. It is the British Barbershop Chorus competition in four weeks and we really needed to carck our two songs. We are now well on our way after 5 hours of solid practice. Helen go to see the No.1 Daughter and grand children, and her Mum so all was good.
We left the marina just before 10:00 and turned right, heading towards Fradley. I like this stretch as the trees lean in to the canal, the tow path is wide and there aren't too many moored boats to slow you down. Mind you there always seems to be a queue at Woodend Lock, as there always seems to be at Colwich Lock in the other direction too.
The trees have been cropped on the HS" route closer to Shadehouse Lock and there seems to be more people and equipment working there now. No volunteers working here.
It was a little breezy for hanging about waiting for boats at the junction but of course a boat popped out of the Coventry to head down to Alrewas. It took him a while to realise what was happening but I was able to pass behind him and Helen had the bridge open. There was nobody on the water points so we stopped and topped up.
The buildings just before Bridge 90 are made up of old and new extensions, but they make a very nice hotch potch of structures formed into one. It looks like it could have been a wharf at one time but on the 1880's maps there is no evidence of that.
We haven't seen any sun at all today, but the rape is well out and as well as brightening up everything when you pass, the smell is on the air too. Does this mean that everybody's hay fever will start now?
For the same reasons as the first photo in this blog I love this view. There is something majestic about an oak, even when not clothed in its leaves.
We passed the always busy Streethay Wharf and the diesel price was £1-75 a litre. However we passed a boat at Woodend Lock who said they stopped for fuel and they would only let them have 30ltrs. Is there another diesel scare now? You would have thought with the cost now, that there would be a surplas as people reduced the usage! I was struck by the paraffin on the sign. There was a time when every home had at least one paraffin heater, pre-central heating. I can easily bring back to mind the smell of them. Do people still use paraffin heaters? Can you still by it at grocers and ironmongers?
The asparagus tunnels near Fisherwick have moved. I suspect that as the asparagus grow in the ground they will have to let it go fallow every now and then, and the plants must decline in production with age so that it pays to renew them every few years. The polytunnels looked 'other wordly as we passed them, especially with the wind turbine behind.
The wood anemones our out in Hopwas wood and on a dull day like today they are like bright stars in the night sky. Not long before the bluebells are out now too.
There must have been worse place than the pill box by Hopwas Wood Bridge. Then again on an eerie dark night it could get quite spooky I'm sure. I can just Pike shouting at passing narrow boats, and Capt. Mainwaring trying to get them to do something stupid.
We seem to stop for water here every time we pass, but not this time! All was quiet as we turned right on to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and headed towards Brum.
I always like to see the signs still in place.
Tolson's Mill seems to be nearing completion now. It was built in 1886 and is Grade II listed.
The big windows and tall ceilings make it quite special, especially with a west facing room. I wonder what the rest of it looks like, from £150,000!!
Drayton Foorbridge, along with the swing bridge are very photogenic, but normally I seem to have taken the picture from the other side.
We continued onwards in the very slight drizzle, the sort that doesn't get you wet, until we had passed Fisher's Mill Bridge and tied up after quite along, but pleasant day, and well on our way towards Brum.
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