Familiar territory!

Back on familiar territory this evening. After my scathing report last night on the topeend of the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the lack of care or interest I have to today, give credit where due to the bottom end and, in particular, the Curdworth Flight. The lengthsman involved, (who we had the pleasure of passing and congratulating,) has incredible pride in his flight and it is a credit to him. Neatly mown verges with vegetation sensitively left in places for wildlife and locks immaculately kept and planted all make for a most enjoyable passage through.

There is also the added interest of locking through the brand new lock that drops you below the M6 toll road - this has to be the smartest and best lock I have ever travelled through. Another interesting feature, although totally out of place, was this footbridge in the shape of castle turrets!

We turned right at Fazeley Junction, in itself interesting given that we have never approached the Coventry from this direction before, and I would like to add that despite the view of this photograph and the apparent angle of the boat, I did not touch a single thing making the turn - for those in the know, the bridge at the junction has a nasty bit sticking out and I was simply manouevering round it!

Very little traffic seemed to be moving today and after a pleasant break to catch up with a friend of my fathers from NB Gospel Belle who we passed and who acts as canal chaplain for the Canal Ministries charity, we soon encountered the bottom of the Atherstone Flight. We passed through the first 2 locks and are currently moored in the long pound ready to tackle the rest tomorrow. I expect to be back home in the marina either tomorrow evening or Saturday morning.

The quote of the day has to come from the skipper of a very smart traditional boat I saw towing a Canaltime hire boat. I past and made the casual comment, "Is this a rescue mission?" to which the reply came back in a somewhat grumpy tone of voice, "more like a salvage operation!"