Moving boat from Cheshire to Warwickshire - Coventry / Oxford Canal or R Soar / GU? Advice please

[speedypete202]

Hello, I hope this is the right place to post this,

 

This weekend and next week I am moving a boat from Middlewich to Dunchurch Pools. The shortest and 'easiest' route is to go via the Coventry / Brum & Faze / North Oxford canals but we have a large crew and lots of time.  At the time of writing we are currently at Aston Marina - 29/03 and are trying to decide on which route to take. We did the River Soar and Grand Union canal back in 2016 and thought it was a nice route so as we have the time we would prefer to go that way. 

I was just wondering if the river levels over the next week might make that a bad plan as there is some rain forecast. Mostly it looks like Monday has a few hours of 'heavy rain' and then 'light rain' all day but the weekend before, and the rest of the week after, looks OK. 

We have done a fair amount of cruising on other rivers and prefer them to the canals but as the boat needs to be there by Sat morning (07/04) so having to wait for levels to drop is going to be troublesome.

 

Any advice on this from people that know more about that section would be really helpful.

 

Thanks

Edited March 29, 2018 by speedypete202

[matty40s]

We are on the Lower Soar at the moment and its quite low, although this evenings rain seems to be pushing it up a bit. Planning to move tommorow through Leicester, the worst of the rain is supposed to be heavy showers from now until "SNOW" on Monday. Trent seems quite do-able , a bit of fresh in it but you are going downhill until the Soar turn. 

If we set off in the morning(I will post to confirm) chances are it will be ok for the rest of the week unless Mondays weather front gest stuck over the East Midlands.

[speedypete202]

Great - thanks very much. Really appreciate the help!

 

Canal Plan reckons we would probably be at Shardlow for Sunday afternoon if that helps. 

[Dr Bob]

18 minutes ago, matty40s said:

We are on the Lower Soar at the moment and its quite low, although this evenings rain seems to be pushing it up a bit. Planning to move tommorow through Leicester, the worst of the rain is supposed to be heavy showers from now until "SNOW" on Monday. Trent seems quite do-able , a bit of fresh in it but you are going downhill until the Soar turn. 

If we set off in the morning(I will post to confirm) chances are it will be ok for the rest of the week unless Mondays weather front gest stuck over the East Midlands.

The models are showing most of the fronts next week moving across us faster with the jet stream moving north to its normal position. Doubt if the snow (rain) on Monday will linger. I can't see any days of continuous rain next week but it won't be dry either. 

[WotEver]

13 minutes ago, Dr Bob said:

The models are showing most of the fronts next week moving across us faster with the jet stream moving north to its normal position. Doubt if the snow (rain) on Monday will linger. I can't see any days of continuous rain next week but it won't be dry either. 

It’s forecast for 7C on Monday anyway so even if it snows all day it won’t settle.

[matty40s]

32 minutes ago, speedypete202 said:

Great - thanks very much. Really appreciate the help!

 

Canal Plan reckons we would probably be at Shardlow for Sunday afternoon if that helps. 

I would aim for Syston or Birstall(pubs at both) Monday and then Kilby Bridge or beyond on Tuesday. My favourite river and navigation is Norton Junction to the Soar mouth.

[matty40s]

River is about 2cm up although still rising to the south of Leicester, probably making 3nph against the flow.

[Rickent]

Looks like the great escape is on then Matty.

[mrsmelly]

To assist the op. At present the Trent at Trent lock ( Twixt the soar and Sawley cut ) is in the amber but not far into it and a bit of flow but no problems at all.

[PaulJ]

I was planning on coming up the Trent/ Soar next week too so shall watch this thread with interest. Thanks for the info chaps 

[matty40s]

Ok,Sticking my neck out here,  forget it, do  the simple route.

Yesterdays rain has been silly,  far more than forecast and more tomorrow and Monday. ..the jetsream is  back on its way north. 

Several sections were in red yesterday, ,before the rain started , now most of the Soar is going into EA flood as opposed to navigation flood......

Trent is shooting up fast too.

 

[Rickent]

Level has risen sharply here overnight, was out at 4.30 slackening ropes as we had a good tilt on.

[matty40s]

The river Sence  (one which feeds the Soar) has completely broken it' ' banks and the canal itself is about 4"higher than it should be, overtopping the towpath in many places near Kilsby Bridge.

I was clearing bywashes of reeds all the way up yesterday so the water could flow a bit easier.

[speedypete202]

OK, thanks for this - We are currently at Arelwas and the river is in the yellow. If we are going to turn back and head the other way this would be a good place to decide that.

 

EDIT: Have to pick somebody up at Burton so will turn there and then go canal route. Will keep an eye on this throughout the day in case anything changes but with all the rain forecast I think that's unlikely.

Edited March 31, 2018 by speedypete202

[matty40s]

If alrewas gos into red you will be stuck the wrong side of it.

[speedypete202]

Yes, there is a risk of that. How likely do you think that is between now and this evening?

[cuthound]

Might be better to arrange the pickup at Fradley to avoid the risk of getting trapped at Alrewas.

[speedypete202]

Yup, plan now is to turn. Had to go through it as there isn't a winding hole. Should be back at Arlewas in half an hour. Just turned.

Need to pick our man up at somewhere with a station as they're coming from Rugby on the train

[Nightwatch]

Bus from Burton to Alrewas is easy enough. Easier than trying to spell Alrewas.

[speedypete202]

haha OK. Right were about to go back onto river - I'll post some pics.

 

EDIT - He is going to just get to Lichfield. It's a short walk from the station to the canal. Should be there for 10.30 ish so he will have a bit of a wait.

Edited March 31, 2018 by speedypete202

[matty40s]

Just in case anyone is in doubt, this is Cossington Lock on the Soar, where the Wreake and Soar join.

Pic courtesy of JerryP 

The Leicester (Raynesway)Marina staff advice yesterday was that the Soar was far too low to go into flood so I needn't rush to get off the river!!!!

Edited March 31, 2018 by matty40s

[speedypete202]

Oh crikey! I remember when the lock in Tewkesbury looked like that.

I'ts a shame we cant do that route but never mind. Might give us a chance to explore the Ashby canal a little.

 

Thanks for all the help and advice. Glad we are not trapped somewhere.

[matty40s]

Also spotted possible breach starting near Wistow, don' know whether it's an official overflow or not, 

3 minutes ago, speedypete202 said:

Oh crikey! I remember when the lock in Tewkesbury looked like that.

I'ts a shame we cant do that route but never mind. Might give us a chance to explore the Ashby canal a little.

 

Thanks for all the help and advice. Glad we are not trapped somewhere.

Reckon you only just made it before they lock it!!!

[speedypete202]

Err, hopefully the water is supposed to go over there. I don't think the canals need another breach. Had enough trouble with the Middlewich one!

When we went down I was thinking the flows were more like when we came back from Naburn in the autumn. We passed one boat heading downstream as we went back up. There were two CRT staff walking down to the lock as we came out of it. Chatting to them one of them said they had never seen it this high! They have not closed it yet but it's only an inch or so from the red.

 

 

[matty40s]

CRT have sent someone to check it out. Lee King ( CRT SE maintenance manager ) has nothing showing in that location on the asset list