Incredible weekend at Alvecote.

Wow what a weekend we had at Alvecote. It was incredible and a huge thank you goes out to The Samuel Barlow and the Burge Family for putting on such a wonderful gathering.

There were approximately 58 historic boats and other boats at the gathering.

Keith and I went out on the parade with Derek and Allyson who have Birmingham and a jolly old time was had by all.

There was a winding competition ever day which had its fair share of bumps.

A small funfair was laid on for the children and trading boats Draco and the Cheese boat were on had has was NB Comfortably Numb and the Candy Boat. Every evening we went to the pub for a couple of pints, which is not like us as we are not used to drinking for four evenings in a row, but we were having the best time. I do not think I have chatted and laughed so much at a boaters gathering as I did over the weekend. On Sunday the new Chief Executive of the Canal and River Trust dropped in for a visit and I hope he enjoyed himself, he joined Geraldine and Michael on the Cheese boat for a chat.

This is short and sweet, because I have dinner to cook, but I wanted to let my readers know I am fine and well, but have been busy having a good time. Today we left Alvecote and are now moored near Spring Haven Marina.

All’s Well.

This was last night sunset at Alvecote. There was not a breath of wind and all was still.

Yesterday was a nice day, we got a few jobs done. I cleaned all the brass and whilst doing so got chatting to Lisa and Fred off of NB Chyandour. We had a fabulous natter about anything and everything and look forward to seeing them again over the weekend as they are here for the Alvecote gathering this weekend. Later in the day came a knock on the boat and Caz off NB Time Please had walked up to pay us a visit. It is wonderful when people take the time and make the effort to come and say “Hello”. Caz follows Hadar’s Facebook page, so it was lovely to put a face to the name and to have a chat over a cuppa, before she had to walk back home.

Today is going to be another day for jobs, already Keith has changed the impellor on the water pump for the engine, to see if it is that which is making a dreadful noise when we are on the move. He then painted the back of our hold doors and I got on with touching up our back cabin doors. Once the primer undercoat is dry I will add the first red top coat.

I may go off out with my camera later on, as the weather is set fair. I hope you have a wonderful day. x

Only Trust.

Make Yourself Happy.

Alvecote.

Well we have been here for a couple of days now and there are a few historic boats here, but we are expecting more to arrive over the weekend.

Keith and I are enjoying our stay so far. On Wednesday evening we went to The Samuel Barlow with Caroline and John off of NB Vanyar and enjoyed a fabulous meal with a couple of pints. The food was fantastic, Paul the chef did us proud. It was a very busy evening for him with over 60 covers, which he was not expecting. It was great to chat to people we know and to say “Hello” to those we have just met.

Caroline and John left us on Thursday morning and so we are now on our own and enjoying the peace and quiet. We took ourselves off for a walk through the Pooley Nature Reserve.

It was so peaceful with hardly anyone about.

I took lots of wildlife photographs which you can find on my other blog. We were out for a couple of hours and walked up to the Pooley Park. I am quite sure we will be doing it again whilst we are here, if the weather allows, as it is set to rain today.

Yesterday (Friday) I took myself off over to the Priory.

The Alvecote Benedictine Priory was founded 1159 by William Burdett as a dependency of Great Malvern Priory. Apparently after he returned from a crusade, Burdett accused his wife of being unfaithful, he went on to stab her, and as penance founded the monastery. Today it is just a ruin, but it can still evoke thoughts of its history.

Hidden in the under growth is this small building with a gate. I wonder what it was for? Perhaps a jail or for storage.

Whilst I was there and hidden in the grass, I heard the tinkling of bells and on the wall of the priory saw a Harris Hawk. Wondering where it had appeared from, I went to investigate. There was a young man wearing all the falconry gear calling the bird. She is 6 years old and absolutely stunning. I had a quick chat with the young man, but left him to his training as I did not want to disturb him and his stunning bird. I went back to hiding in the grass. I should say I was standing in the long grass, so I could get better shots of the Butterflies which you will find on my other blog. I love going out with my camera, I love even more when you get to take photographs of something very unexpected, like the Harris Hawk.

Hopwas to Alvecote.

Travelled 6 miles, worked 2 locks in a time of 3 hours 55 minutes.

Yesterday we stayed at Hopwas and caught the bus into Tamworth.

What a delight town it is.

Flowers for the Town in Bloom competition.

Castle and bandstand.

View from the Castle.

Sometimes you get pre-conceived ideas about a town, and mine were blown out of the water, because Tamworth is beautiful.

It was market day and it was very busy with people and plenty of stalls. So many times we have said we will pop into Tamworth and have never had the time, but I am so pleased we did because it was lovely and we will definitely go back.

So back to today.

We left Hopwas at 8.35 am after a disturbed night, with lads shouting rather loudly in the early hours as they walked past the boats. One of them shouted to his mate called Dan “Oh look this boats a shop, shall we knock on the boat”. I am thankful they did not because it was the early hours and they would have got the rough end of my tongue had they done so.

We stopped at Peels Wharf to take on water, empty both cassettes and get rid of rubbish. But before we could do so we had to pull alongside NB The Andrew, who was already taking on water. We had a nice chat with the gentleman on board, before he moved away and we took his place. We then had a boat come alongside us, they also wanted to use the facilities, it was very busy. The couple apparently read Hadar’s blog, unfortunately I did not get their names or the name of their boat, but if your reading this then “Hello, it was nice to meet you”.

 

At Fazeley Junction the homes are still not complete, it looks like a ghost town which is very sad.

 

Just heading beneath bridge 76 and there was a Canal and River Trust motor and hopper across the canal, fortunately there were a couple of C&RT guys walking along the towpath towards us, they asked if we were stuck because we slowed right down, Keith explained to them the problem and so they went to investigate and between them they managed to pull both craft into the bank to allow us and two other boats through.

Always smile when I read this sign as we head to Glascote locks.

There was a plastic cruiser ahead of us, but with boats coming down it did not take long before we were leaving the second of the pair.

We left the gate open for the boat heading down and sped on our way.

A Willow in need of a hair cut. As we got closer to Alvecote, we pulled in before the boat yard, I stepped off to walk up the towpath to see if there was any room opposite The Samuel Barlow, which there was, so we are now moored up just past the pub, with a fair few Historic boats already in there moorings for the gathering on the 24th and 25th August.

Just before the Samuel Barlow moored up were our friends John and Caroline on NB Vanyar. As we passed by they waved and Caroline said “I will put the kettle on”. So once moored up, we walked back to them to have a lovely natter and a coffee. It was fabulous to catch up with them and all their news.

Streethay to Hopwas.

Travelled 4.4 miles, worked no locks in a time of 1 hour 50 minutes.

Short jaunt today after a lovely few days at Streethay.

We left at 9.10 am, on what was a chillier start, but on the plus side the sun was out.

We passed by Kings Orchard Marina, which although it is not finished it is now open.

Approaching Huddlesford Junction.

Lichfield Cruising Club.

Willington the home of the Poly Tunnels.

We passed by Hopwas Hays Woods, which is home to firing ranges, it is also known for its Witchcraft, which was supposed to have taken place in 1984.  Hopwas our mooring for the day. Normally the 48 hour moorings are full, so we decided as there was one empty space we would take advantage of it. We had thought of heading to Fazeley.

After Tomato Soup for lunch, we headed out for a walk around the village and down towards Coton.

Either side of the road bridge is The Tame Otter and The Red Lion.

We turned turned right opposite The Tame Otter and walked towards Coton.

We walked over the River Tame road bridge, with views over the flood plain.

One of the first things we noticed was the new flood defences. These were begun in October 2012 and officially opened in June 2013, offering the village of Coton some protection. The scheme consists of new flood embankments to the north of Coton Lane, new brick clad walls around the Fox Inn roundabout, and new flood walls along Lichfield Road. Improvement works on the culvert in Coton Lane and the Severn Trent Water surface water drainage chamber on Lichfield Road have also been carried out. I bet the residents can rest easier in their beds now.

The Fox Inn on the roundabout. We then walked a little bit further into the village and rain began to fall, so we took shelter in a bush shelter, before heading back into Hopwas.

We walked up over the canal bridge and headed towards the church.

St. Chads is a grade II listed church and very quirky. The church was designed by the Chester architect John Douglas and built in 1881.

It is a picturesque little church and very peaceful.

Unlike many churches these days, this one was open, so we went inside to have a look at a pretty place of worship. The church and grounds are so well kept.

For such a small community a lot of men died in the great war, these included Major W Northey D S O. Who died from his injuries in October 1914 and is buried in Boulogne Cemetery. If you have the time please read the story of his life it is fascinating. I find it so sad that we lost so many men in both wars and yet wars still take place, nothing has ever been really learnt.

Walking back down the hill to School Lane I spotted the plaque above the school house.

A charming house with a wonderful tale to tell.

We walked back down School Lane past Thomas Barnes School named after the gentleman who set it up. Thomas Barnes came from such humble beginnings and yet made something of his life and then gave back to the village that saved his life. Thomas is said to have been abandoned as a baby, he was discovered in a barn by some villagers. They were said to have given him his name. He was educated and cared for by the village, His life took him on to being a  successful London merchant.  He wanted to give something back to those who had helped him thus the building of  the school house. The plaque reads. “This house was built at the charge of Mr Thomas Barnes native of this place and a citizen of London in the year of our Lord 1717 for the dwelling of a person to teach the children of this village to read English’. What a wonderful thing to do.

Of course the school has undergone many changes over the years and today it has its very own climbing wall. Hopwas is a delightful village and well worth a wander around and of course if the mood should take you a pint and a meal in one of its pubs.