3 Canals - The Oxford, Coventry & Ashby

We left our moorings this morning, early again, it was starting to rain as we set off and it threw it down for a short while, we had another couple of showers through the day but it wasn't as bad as we expected.  We had a good cruise up the remainder of the Oxford, through Hawkesbury junction, in one move, without the bow thrusters being used and onto the Coventry for a couple of miles before turning onto the Ashby, that's an interesting turn!  We saw our first kingfisher today along the Coventry and even a cormorant fishing on the Ashby.  We are moored at Limekiln bridge tonight.

Iron bridges along the Oxford often showing the original route of the canal

Hawkesbury Junction 

Onto the Ashby Canal 

Burton Hastings Church

20 miles & 1 stop lock

Escape from Braunston

We had an early start this morning, left our moorings just before 7am in beautiful sunshine, still a little chill in the air though.  We had a lovely cruise along the Oxford through some beautiful  countryside, lots of medieval ridge and furrow fields, skirting around Barby Hill.  We passed the new Barby Marina which looks like it still has a way to go before opening.  Hillmorton Locks were quiet at the top but busy at the bottom, so we didn't stop for water, we carried on into Rugby, stopped for water and moored and did a Tesco shop.  We then continued to Newbold on Avon to moor before the rain came (and it did!)

Early morning

Ridge and furrow fields 

High bridges along this stretch

Barby Hill

Looks tranquil, but the bridge is the M45 

Hillmorton Locks

 

Longhorn cattle

 the calf was tiny and very wobbly to be so close to the canal  

10 miles, 3 locks

Back out! Monday 4th July

After a week in the marina, a lovely weekend with Ali's family, we left Yelvertoft on Monday morning, returning back down through Crick, Watford Locks to Norton Junction.  We turned up the Grand Union heading for Braunston, new territory for us.  Braunston Tunnel 2042 yards, with a few twists, followed by the 7 locks, there were a few boats coming up, but unfortunately no-one going down.  An ice cream was in order half way down the locks as it was rather warm.  There were absolutely no moorings left in Braunston so we turned up the Oxford Canal and moored just out of Braunston, amongst the wildlife!

Leaving Yelvertoft

Still a good selection of working boats in Braunston 

Iron Side Bridges 

Our moorings (Braunston Church spire) 

10.5 miles, 12 locks, 

Crick Tunnel 1528 yds, Braunston Tunnel 2042 yds