The delightful Atherstone Flight

Bradley Green to Atherstone, Coventry Canal, 2.5 miles 11 locks

I have always loved the Atherstone flight of locks.  First visited back in 1975 with eldest daughter Wendie on the back in a lobsterpot playpen.  Today I enjoyed as much as I did all those years ago.. I captured a moment today that says it all..

A still November day, when the canals are quiet, just us…. no rush, although by the look on both Lucy’s face and that of Vic seems maybe that I should have been in more hurry.. but no.. I wanted to enjoy one of my favorite flights.

We passed just the one boat on the way up..

I was pleased to be able to make a cuppa while waiting for this narrowboat to lock through.. Vic had closed the gates behind me on each of the locks and going ahead to set the next one while I waited for the lock to fill before opening the gates myself, lowering the paddles, exiting the lock.. then shutting the gate before moving No Problem to the next one.. shere delight!

But in 2 and threequarter hours it was all over… It hadn’t been slow enough.. If it was 5 hours I would have been happier.. But post to pick up today, lots of it, and the lovely lady at the Coleshill Post Office is an absolute gem.. “No I couldn’t keep all your post in my special draw” says she.. too much of it today!..

A trip to town this afternoon.. I really wanted to do that, I have never actually visited Atherstone.. what a lovely place it is too.  We settled down to the most fantastic fish and chip supper this evening.. all freshly made from the chippy opposite the Post Office..

Tomorrow we move to Hartshill to wait the arrival of Chas and Ann on NB Moore2Life, that is if they aren’t already there!!