Return to Atherstone

Today started as a toned down version of yesterday. Sunny, but not so warm and a little hazy. The mooring and countryside were attractive and some birds singing, but not many. Still it was pleasant, with the London-Birmingham main line not far to the north east and in the far distance, just visible through binoculars, the M6. By contrast on the canal all was quiet and rural.

After breakfast I had a walk along the towpath. Another bird to add to the list - bullfinch. Also remembered that yesterday's list should have included reed bunting. It was possible to climb the bank by the towpath and get onto a farm track bridge over to the wooded side of the canal.

Here it was obvious that the landscape had been heavily affected by centuries of quarrying the local volcanic rock, here apparently quartzite used for road stone. Nearer Nuneaton granite is quarried. Much of the gentle slopes were covered in bumps, hollows, and hillocks suggesting that perhaps the whole area overlooking the canal was originally a waste tip. Now it's a haven for nature with large numbers of young trees and bushy undergrowth.

We left the mooring at 9:45 and travelled the 3 miles to Atherstone stopping by at Hartshill to fill up again with water. Back to birds again - on the trip we were delighted to see a group of 6 buzzards gently circling on the rising air currents over the hills.

We have moored up at much the same place in Atherstone where we moored 2 weeks ago on our way out. After lunch, a trip to the local Coop replenished our nearly empty fridge. Afterwards Denise took the opportunity to wander round the shops for a while.