Day 102 - Toni, Stewart and the flies.

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2 locks, 415 in total.







Motored past the Boat Rally again but light was no better this morning than last night for photos although it was considerably warmer. We moored at Polesworth to visit the village and the Abbey Church, which was a wooden structure in the 9^th century. After the Norman Conquest it was rebuilt in stone and it was demolished in 1539, ending 700 years of Benedictine worship, and replaced later with an Elizabethan manor house, cloister building and church. All that remains now is the gatehouse, part of the cloister wall and the Abbey Church, dedicated to St Editha – she had lived in the Abbey after her near miss with the Danish king. The church is fairly small but there is an immense feeling of calm as you enter it, aided by the Gregorian plainchant playing softly.







We chugged on for a few miles and jogged Toni and Stewart's memories re locks by working the first two of the Atherstone locks, mooring in wide open countryside. We weren't alone for long – by dinner time there were about 5 more boats on our stretch.







I'm not sure if it's the time of year or the location but for the last week or so we have had problems with mosquitos – the strong, silent and deadly type. Our legs have just about stopped itching but are not a pretty sight. Today it is small bluebottles and wasps and the fly swat is working overtime. What will tomorrow bring?

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Photos

St Editha on the Green, Amington
Yes - Editha again!

The interior
A stone church - very neat and compact.

The Samuel Barlow pub....
....don't be fooled by the exterior.

Pooley Hall.
Tudor brick mansion built 1509. It's partly fortified and has its own chapel. The gatehouse and clerestory are from a 10th century abbey.

Crucifixion showing Christ with a halo.
This was painted by a Muslim and given to the church as a symbol the similarities between the faiths. The halo is in fact a script from the Koran but I don't know what it says.

Towing an old boat shell home from the rally.
The boats went through the locks singly - the second boat being hauled in and out by a couple of men. So pleased we weren't behind them for the 11 Atherstone locks.

American signal crayfish.
These are the invaders which are destroying our native crayfish.

Comments

[sgs]

crayfish
I heard about these when we were visiting the Llangollen canal lasst year, but thankfully didnt see one! Are they edible? That'd get rid of them.....S