Hartshill.

After our walk around Mancetter we moved on passing some ‘Pyramids’ which were old spoil heaps from quarrying Granite and Quartzite. The whole of the local landscape beside the canal has been completely reformed by this and also from the mining of coal and clay. The mounds are gradually greening over and being reclaimed by nature. Some have been made into parks and nature reserves with lakes with marked footpaths running all around them.

Why is it we usually meet boats coming through bridge holes, as we did at No 35.

After emerging from this bridge we then encountered a trip boat with ‘Uncle Albert’ at the helm! 

We passed Hartshill Yard with it’s magnificent Clock Cupola on the roof of the main workshop.

Oakfield  then went under bridge 31 leaving the yard behind and on along to moor outside The Anchor Inn. We had chosen this spot because there was easy access to the pub from the canal and the road bridge. We had looked at the menu on their website and sent the postcode to our visitors for them to tap into their sat-nav.

On Sunday, we lit the fire in the morning as it was a bit chilly and of course as soon as it was ‘going’ the sun came out. We met up with my cousin David and his partner Barbara, for a roast carvery lunch together. A few years had passed since we had seen them so quite a bit to catch up on. In the afternoon we relaxed by the fire on Oakfield and had scones and cake for tea. As this was their first time aboard they had a conducted tour and liked what they saw. We spent a wonderful day with them.