Hawkesbury Junction to Coventry and straight back again! (10 miles)

We've had a quick trip into Coventry and back again, just because we should have done it years ago.

Comfortably Numb and Echoes - piccy courtesy of narrowboat Islonian (Jim and Sheila) Thanks 

guys!

Yesterday morning, we set off to Coventry once the thick fog had subsided a little, on a mission to complete the rest of the Coventry canal.

Proper foggy as we approach and pass the junction

The bridge over the junction entrance with the Greyhound Inn presiding over it

Decorative ironwork over the footbridge

Random settee with decorative cr*p all over it.... 

Tiny marina through the bridge

We were astounded by the lack of pride in this canal, as every inch of beautiful historic and modern structure has some form of graffiti over it.

At least the road bridge lights still worked!

We passed under the busy M6 and followed the largely straight canal towards Coventry.

Beautiful mural adorning this building

The 'Cash Hundreds' - 3 storey workers' cottages providing housing for Joseph Cash's workforce with their individual weaving rooms on the third floor.  Originally 100 were intended, but only 48 ever built.

The new footbridge over the canal

Moored along the terminus of the basin

Lady Godiva statue in the square in Coventry

The picture above proves that we did venture into the town and leave our beloved boats in the basin. Everything was fine when we got back, but we just didn't get a good feeling about the place, especially seeing the doors of a nightclub leading out opposite our boat mooring!

Brindley statue in the basin - the basin is in the shape of a Y

Impossibly small bridge hole leading into the basin. So chimneys off again, as we tried to line the boats and get through without touching the sides!

So we set off again, once the dogs had had stretched their legs, knowing it would only take around 2 hours to get back to the junction.

View back at the Y shaped basin, with shops down one side and offices the other.  A very nice basin.

We passed and spoke to Maffi on his boat The Milly M, another fellow blogger

The Ricoh Stadium - home of Coventry City Football Club

As we had ambled along the canal, a chap approached Richard on the towpath shouting at him to sell our boats to him.  It could have been a bit intimidating because the guy didn't know what 'I'm not interested' meant for a while.  He offered Richard £15 grand cash today!  Downright cheek!  Obviously he'd not had his medication, but he was a big chap and so we knew going back to the junction was the right call!

Electric Wharf - One of the buildings on the site of the old power station with lettering on them.  This one says CABLE if read from the side

Richard taking an arty perspective picture under the M6

We got back and refilled the water tank etc, then slowly drifted around under the iron bridge to be greeted by another fellow blogger  narrowboat Yarwood, before passing through the  shallow 'stop' lock called Sutton Stop at Hawkesbury Junction marking the start of our journey onto the Oxford Canal......