Atherstone to Nuneaton (and a new crew member)

48hrs are up.. time to move on..  come on “Wake up wake up we have locks to do!!!”   ” Awww  Dad..   Don’t wanna…  sleeping…”

“Oh look..  Tiggy has given birth to a kitten during the night..”..   “What.. where.. let me see…”    Well.. if anything, that got them out of bed!   So we have another crew member..  All black, born on a full moon in the month of October..  were still holding out on names, but Luna for a girl, and Salem for a boy seem to be the running favourites so far..

When eventually we got going..  the last 5 locks of the Atherstone flight were done and behind us..  no more locks now until December when we turn onto the North Oxford and head to Braunston after being in Coventry for a few weeks!  Woohoo…

There were a few of the pounds between the locks that were a bit low, but with the kids on the path doing the locks, there was no need to try to pull in to the bank. We were the middle boat of 3 going up the flight, which for October is a lot of boats moving down a single stretch, but the lockies were on hand to deal with the low levels, and help people through. The water point above the top lock was being used – so its onto the next one.. after getting rid of the rubbish at least!

We got to Atherstone road bridge, and it was time to fill the water tank. Pulled into the isolated water point between the bridges. Not sure what these are used for now, or if they are CRT buildings, but they could have been rather busy in their heyday..

With the tank topped off..  its onto Springwood Marina to fill up the diesel tanks, empty the toilet tank and prep the boat so that we can stay still for a week or two once we get to Nuneaton, as its getting close to the end of the month, and Anna needs access to another hire car to get some bits done at the Annex retreat..  and I may need to do another run or two to Slough.

It cost a bit more in diesel that I’d have liked, and Celeste was in the gift shop.. so it was quite an expensive stop all told!

We pulled up (soon after spotting this one, which made me giggle).. opposite an open field, with no trees – so the solar panels will be able to make the most of this Autumn sun whilst its around.. there’s a Sainsbury’s local and two post offices within a reasonable walking distance, so we should be settled here for a little while, if not until November.

Ah.. yes..  Must get on with making Anna’s birthday and Christmas present……  but first..  work to get done and meetings to dial into..