Atherstone

Pooley Hall, Polesworth

The morning started badly. It had rained heavily overnight and our fire failed to survive the night so the temperature in the boat was down to 12 degC. Also of concern was the voltage supplied by our domestic batteries - down to 12.1. Anything below 12.3 tells us that the batteries a long way way from being fully charged - normally the voltage is 12.3 in the morning. I am hoping that this is an effect of the cold weather, but we will have to keep a careful eye on the situation.

Fortunately the rain stopped soon after breakfast and we started on our journey. Just after the motorway we passed by Pooley Hall and then along the Anker Valley into Polesworth. The weather steadily improved and after passing through attractive countryside we were on the outskirts of Atherstone by lunchtime, having just ascended the first 2 of the 11 lock Atherstone flight. On this section we were pleased to see our first very young lambs of the year.

Densie ascending the Atherstone flight

After lunch we completed the flight. These locks are attractive, well maintained and easy to operate. A couple of the lock pounds (stretch of canal between 2 locks) were shallow seemingly due to the lower lock leaking more than the upper lock, but we didnt run aground. By 15:15 we had reached the moorings at Atherstone where we are stopping for the night.