Days 23 - 25: Ansty to Newbold on Avon

 After yesterday's excitement, we're enjoying the sunshine and scenery on the Oxford Canal, including grand bridges like this, built when the canal was straightened and shortened in the 1830s.  In reality, some stretches were straightened, but many still have twists and turns - reminds us of the poem 'The Rolling English Road'.  There are also numerous small bridges (the originals from the late 1700s) which have impossible sight lines, so oncoming boats are only spotted at the last minute!

We often see historic ex working boats out on the cut - here is 'Progress' built in 1936 for carrying coal. She has a wooden hull, surprisingly for such a late date
 
More coir bank, here placed above the original stone bank. The vegetation is starting to develop nicely, holding everything together

The railway runs right alongside here, with an old barge - probably used to carry dredged up material

One for our collection of unusual boat names and signwriting

A bit difficult to see - Ermintrude from 'The Magic Roundabout'

After a long straightened stretch is 'Stretton Stop' where we have to work the little swing bridge to pass through. The 'stop' part is because the canal is built on a very high embankment and there were a pair of gates here to stop the whole canal draining away if a breach occurred on the embankment.  Breaches were and are still a serious problem with canal engineers constantly trying to stabilise embankments

Not a breach, but a modern day landslide which closed the canal here for several weeks this year.  The restabilised bank is held in place with stone filled baskets or 'gabions'

Another of the many cast iron bridges which carry the towpath, in this case over a disused arm. They were made at Horseley Iron Works in Staffordshire throughout the 19th century 

Travelling towards Rugby, this quirky little boat has plenty of solar power, including higher up on its mooring

Another lovely old bridge, this one covered in ivy

T F Yates of Falls Bridge, unusually for a boatyard it's spotlessly clean and tidy - nice people, too


The only tunnel on our trip is at Newbold on Avon and was built in 1829. Tunnel light went on of course (the reflection is on the roof), though it wasn't strictly necessary as the tunnel is only 250 yards long!

Emerging into the light and a blind corner with boats moored... have to creep round and be ready to stop

Evening light with swans

... they were there in the morning, too

One reason for the congestion at the tunnel end - this canalside pub, where we had an early evening drink

We found a space and moored for the night at Newbold. Planning to stop tomorrow a mile ahead in Rugby where there's a large retail park next to the canal and stock up!

A bit further back, showing the tranquil canal before Rugby (click to play)
 

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