Braunston to Fradley

Middle Northwich Sickle and Small Northwich butty Cedar
Date: 2nd - 4th July
Crew: Joe Fuller, Dan Hutchinson and Matt Parrott

FRIDAY 2ND: Having driven over to Braunston on Friday evening and grabbed some fish and chips - we set off at around 8pm to get a couple of hours done. Quite a few working boats still moored in Braunston, with Kestrel, Vienna and Zodiac moored at Braunston Turn. Quiet run down the Hillmorton flight on a long line, reached the bottom of the flight by 10:20pm. Continued on for another hour and moored just outside of Rugby by 11:45pm.

FMC motor Kestrel moored at Braunston Turn

Joe Fuller steering Sickle & Cedar through Rugby at 11pm

Dan Hutchinson on the back of Cedar at 11pm.

Almost out of Rugby at 11.30pm

SATURDAY 3RD: At around 7:30/8 we set off from Rugby and continued along the Oxford to Sutton Stop where we made the turn onto the Coventry at midday. Reached the top of Atherstone for 4pm, and headed down the flight. Plenty of boats around but managed to finish the flight within 2hrs 30 mins. Continued onto Alvecote Marina where we tied at around 8:30pm.

Moored just outside of Rugby on Saturday morning

Dan in control of Sickle

Joe on the back of Cedar - nearing Hartshill

Approaching Hartshill

Passing the BW yard at Hartshill

Ex River Class motor at Mancetter

Joe bow-hauling Cedar down Atherstone

Sickle above lock 4 of Atherstone

FMC motor Jaguar at Grendon Dock

FMC motor Otter having been deconverted at Grendon

Passing Cowburn and Cowpar motor Snipe near Polesworth

SUNDAY 4TH: Having had a lie-in and fry-up up set off at 9:30am/10am, and headed across to Glascote locks. Quiet run across to Fradley and turned left at Fradley Junction and moored above Shadehouse Lock.