Canals 1997 - 4 Co & Ashby

Back to Middlewich for this holiday, and the last trip with "Oak" and "Sycamore". Notable for being Denise's first canal holiday, in the company of Adrian's tug "Splendid", we went via the T&M and Coventry canals and up the Ashby cut. We returned via Braunston and Birmingham. We suffered two major breakdowns with "Sycamore", re-christening her "Sickagain", which rather spoilt what was otherwise a very enjoyable holiday.

Please click on any picture to enlarge.

	Oak & Sycamore at Red Bull Wharf. Sycamore has failed and Ian McFaddon (clutching his brow) has announced that he must attend hospital for a chronic condition he suffered from. It was at this time I learnt that Ian and not only shared the same birthday (28th September) but also the same birth date, Ian being older by 23 hours! 28 September 1997
	Adrian' tug "Splendid" which was accompanying us. As Sycamore could not be repaired immediately, the boatyard arranged for Splendid to tow us through Harecastle tunnel and they came out to finish the repair the following morning. 28 September 1997
	"Splendid" backs up to "Sycamore" to tow us out of Red Bull Lock 28 September 1997
	Hooked-up and ready to go 28 September 1997
	Towing up the Red Bull locks 28 September 1997
	Paired locks made the towing much quicker 28 September 1997
	Sunrise near Nuneaton 02 October 1997
	On the Coventry Canal near Nuneaton 02 October 1997
	Marston Jn, the entry to the Ashby Canal 02 October 1997
	Paul steers along the Ashby Canal 02 October 1997
	Hotel boats on the Ashby Canal, "Mallard" is the motor 02 October 1997
	Hotel boats on the Ashby Canal 02 October 1997
	Snarestone Tunnel 02 October 1997
	Ivor steers into Snarestone Tunnel 02 October 1997
	Exit from Snarestone Tunnel 02 October 1997
	Approaching the terminus 02 October 1997
	Snarestone Terminus 02 October 1997
	Winding "Splendid" 02 October 1997
	Winding "Splendid" 02 October 1997
	Winding "Oak" 02 October 1997
	"Sycamore" and "Splendid" backed up to the terminus 02 October 1997
	"Oak" reversing up to the terminus 02 October 1997
	All three boats (plus a private boat) lined-up at Snarestone terminus 02 October 1997
	The occasion is recorded 02 October 1997
	Full group-shot at Snarestone, very kindly taken for me by the skipper of the 4th boat. 02 October 1997
	Snarestone 02 October 1997
	Lunch-time at the "Lime Kilns", by the A5 at Hinckley 03 October 1997
	Moored outside the "Lime Kilns" 03 October 1997
	The Rev Mike Kneen shows a keen interest in Slog's copy of the "Daily Sport" 03 October 1997
	Lunch at the "Lime Kilns" 03 October 1997
	Peter and a cheese sandwich 03 October 1997
	2 days later and "Sycamore" has failed again. Here "Sick-again" is buttied-up along the Hatton flight. 05 October 1997
	Hatton Locks 05 October 1997
	Hatton Locks 05 October 1997
	Hatton Locks 05 October 1997
	It took another day to repair "Sycamore", so "Oak" went away on their own. Here we are following "Splendid" through James Bridge on the Walsall canal. 07 October 1997
	The infant River Tame with Wednesbury in the distance. 07 October 1997
	James Bridge copper works 07 October 1997
	The junction of the Walsall Town arm with "Sycamore" entering Walsall bottom lock on the left. 07 October 1997
	Swans in Walsall 07 October 1997
	Walsall, waiting for the locks 07 October 1997
	Walsall locks, with the Wolverhampton Road in the background 07 October 1997
	FUT has a laugh 07 October 1997
	Coming up Walsall locks 07 October 1997
	Birchills with a lot of weed 07 October 1997
	Passing the site of Birchills power station, now a big Sainsbury's 07 October 1997
	Slog waits for his bus back home from Market Drayton 09 October 1997
	Anthony, Slog & FUT at the bus stop 09 October 1997
	The bus approaches - 09 October 1997
	- and the bus goes on! 09 October 1997
	And we have a laugh. 09 October 1997
	Moored outside the "Barbridge Inn" 10 October 1997
	Moored outside the "Barbridge Inn" 10 October 1997