From gaileymarine.galadriel@btinternet.com Sat May 1 11:21:52 1999 Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 20:49:13 +0200 From: Peter Lawson Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: canals@blacksheep.org Subject: The peregrinations of Galadriel We left Gailey at half time in the Cup Final and tonight, Tuesday 19, we are at Hawkesbury Junction having been into Coventry. How this arm has improved since we were last here two years ago. I practised safe bridge-holing (attack at full speed, into neutral just before the stern reaches the portal) but there were no problems. We cruised all the way from the junction to the basin without opening the weedhatch (cleaned up on arrival), and only one session on the way back. BW have a skimmer boat on continuous duty - pity it doesn't scoop up the obnoxious children who try to spit on passing boats. Saw 2 voles and 1 moorhen. It was precisely noon on our way in and we were passing factories when a loud beeping noise began. 'It's for the lunch break' said Jill. When it had been going on for some 3 minutes I said jokingly 'It only stops when the break is over - good psychology - they're only too glad to get back to work if the noise stops'. It was a very intrusive sound - we were surprised that walkers on the towpath did not seem to be disturbed by it. We reached the basin before Jill discovered that the noise was coming from our intercom! Yesterday met Joe Jones at the bottom of the Atherstone flight. Most of the top gates take some effort to open and close. Lunched at the Lock House restaurant at Great Haywood. Unpretentious but good value we thought at UKP 5.75 (2 courses). The upper reaches of the Coventry Canal are truly charming. I hadn't realised - perhaps it was raining last time. We'll be pottering on towards Braunston tomorrow. Had hoped to traverse the Ashby but not quite enough time after holdups with the mobile 'phone. I think I'm ready to contribute that page to the FAQ now. Hope to see many of you at Braunston - we'll be at berth 24. Peter & Jill