Monday 17th November 2008
Location: Bascote, Warwickshire, Grand Union Canal
Today: 2 miles, 5 locks. Total distance: 1870 miles. Total locks: 1286
A miserable day today weather wise, damp and cold.
I decided to move on a bit when the weather cleared a touch around lunch time. I had only intended to go up through Radford Bottom Lock so that I could moor up somewhere a little more peaceful as there have been a lot of runners, dog walkers and cyclist passing by. They don’t bother me but they drive the dogs mad.
Two miles and five locks later, I moored up in total darkness. I had trouble finding a mooring spot as the canal was very shallow in most places and where it wasn’t shallow; the tow path was too hard to get the pins in.
So why was I so late mooring up? Well, I came across a large fallen Ash tree right beside one of the locks. Christmas has come early. I just can’t believe that I didn’t see it last week when I passed by on the way down to Leamington Spa. Someone else had been at it as most of the branches had been removed by a bow saw. Well, I couldn’t just leave it there, even though it was getting dark. Out came the chainsaw and most of the tree is now on the roof. I have left some bits behind for someone else to have as there is little room left on the roof. There is now a lot of weight on the roof now and the boat is a good few inches lower in the water.
I was asked the question recently ‘what are these water points that I keep referring to’, I tend to assume that everyone knows what a water point, Elsan station etc. is but of course, if you have never been on a canal, how would you know. Anyway, I took a photo of the Elsan station and water point beside the Fosse Way when I stopped to fill up with water (see below). An Elsan station is like a large toiles specifically designed for emptying toilet cassettes into. Elsan is the name of a company that manufactures toilets etc.
This is truly a lovely mooring spot, peaceful and quiet. Click on the link at the top of the page (current location) to see a map of the location.
Current Mooring
Water point and Elsan facility beside the Fosse Way. The little white building just passed the water point is the Elsan station
Wood
Archie standing guard over the wood for the fire that he loves so much
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