A leisurely start through the last two Curdworth locks and then a long, almost straight secton of canal, flanked on the right by flooded gravel pits, which now form the Kingsbury Water Park.
As we approached Fazeley, the most amazing footbridge appeared, two small white painted castle turrets with an interconnecting footbridge between. When we got level with the bridge, we saw that there was a circular staircase inside each turret leading up to the bridge. This wonderful folly replaced an old swing bridge, I doubt that anyone would get planning permission nowadays to build such a thing.
Fazeley, as the Nicholson’s guide says, is more interesting from the canal, than from the road. Old satanic, red brick, mills snuggle up to the water, confirming what the canals were originally for. The small town was unattractive, but we did get essential supplies in the local store.
The Fazeley Junction is entered immediately under a bridge and excited via another bridge, a tight turn onto the Coventry Canal. Over the River Tame on an aqueduct and straight away around the perimeter of Tamworth, notable that all the moored boats had boards or netting over their windows, indicative that one of the local sports must be glass breaking.
We stopped for the night at Alvecote, which was very pleasantly rural. We unshipped the bikes and had had a long ride along the towpath, passing the remains of Alvecote Priory, just visible on the far side of the cut. On our return we visited The Samuel Barlow pub, which is built over the workshop/offices of the local boatyard, This is a smart newish building, in keeping with its location, but sadly the pub lacked warmth, maybe that was because we were the only customers.
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