Alvecote (Coventry Canal) to Ventura Retail Park (Brimingham & Fazeley Canal)

Yesterday (Saturday) we stayed put and it was another sunny warm day when we got up.  We had brekkie then went out for a walk.

The Priory Ruins

There was some old Priory ruins just over the other side of the canal, so we had a walk over there, then we took the footpath through the woods to Pooley park.  We came out on the bridge which goes over the canal and then walked back along the footpath through the woods and came back to where we started.

Archway Still Standing

We are having lunch in the Samuel Barlow pub today so we headed over there.  It is right on the canal and we are moored opposite. We got a drink, they have Keeper’s Gins which has Cotswold honey in them, I had Strawberry and Lavender which is delicious and ordered some food, we both had the Ham and Cheese Ploughman’s and some chips.

We sat at a table outside and soon our food came and very good it was too.  I also had a dessert, it was a salted caramel cheesecake sundae and my god was it lovely.

We then went back to the boat and just chilled out and watched the F1 qualifying highlights.

Another Lovely Ploughmans

Not Sure What This Used to Be!

In the evening, we went over to the pub again, this time just for a drink and I had Two Birds Rhubarb gin with lemonade this time and that was really nice.  We sat on a table in the garden for quite some time and all was well until it came to leave.  Not sure what happened but before we knew it, we were both lying on the grass looking at the sky with the table on top of us much to the amusement of the other drinkers, all wishing they had filmed it!!  All Kev could say between laughing was I though you said there were stars to see tonight!!

Some people came to our rescue and got us all upright again.  Shortly after that we left!!

We are staying here tonight and are going to move on in the morning.

There used to be a Bridge here!

Passing the Samuel Barlow

 We are on the move today and travelling about 4 miles and have two locks to do. The sun was shining and it was already warm as we set off from our mooring past Sameual Barlow pub and on along the canal.

In Glascote Top Lock

Onto the Next Lock

We chugged for a couple of miles and then was approaching the Glascote locks.  There was a water tap just before the locks so we stopped there and filled up with water.  A boat came up the locks and left the gate open for us. We had filled the water tank but not one of our containers and as there was another tap further on, we decided to finish filling up there and go through the locks now as there was a boat coming in the distance.  Lucky we went when we did, as then another two boats turned up.

Down We Go

Out We Go

We went down the lock and onto the next one which is very close.  There was a boat waiting to come up and the couple from that boat kindly worked the lock for us, so I got on and went down the lock on the boat which I don't do very often.

Going Across the Tame Aqueduct

They opened the gates and we chugged out.  On we went and went across the Tame Aqueduct with the River Tame running underneath and then we were approaching Fazeley Junction which is the junction with the Birmingham & Fazeley canal.

Great Reflections

The River Tame Below Us

We stopped at the junction to fill our water container and then we were on our way  again.  This stretch of canal is now the Birmingham & Fazeley canal until we get to Whittington where it turns back into the Coventry canal.

Coming to the Junction

We went on for another mile or so, then moored up near the Ventura retail park.

There is a pathway from the canal which leads into the business park and then leads to the retail park.  There is a B&Q, Tool Station, Sainsburys, Asda and several other stores.  We went to the Asda and got some shopping then headed back to the boat.

We are staying here tonight as Kev needs to get some wood from B&Q and things from Tool Station, then we will chug onto Hopwas a couple of miles away.

Moored Near Ventura Retail Park