Canal Cruising

COVENTRY 2

We left the outskirts of Coventry to City Central. Along the way our beautiful and peaceful pastoral landscape gave way to “urban-ness”. Tall fences, many cyclone fences with barbed wire strung on top, lined the canal. We passed large industrial buildings and power stations. Our pristine canal became littered and dingy. Graffiti became the art form.

But to our surprise and gratitude, the Canal Basin where we docked, was wonderful! The basin was “the end of the line” for the Coventry Canal. I called it a boat “cul de sac”. We were surrounded by old, renovated warehouses, brick commercial buildings, boat services and information center. It was a safe quiet spot to moor with the busy city just over the footbridge.

Our cozy spot

Coventry was once a wealthy city in the Middle Ages. The area where we docked was a busy commerce center for the transportation and receiving of goods. Today it is a diverse university city bustling with activity. In the center of town there is a huge pedestrian shopping center with restaurants, clubs, and theaters. A major road makes a circle around the center. In the middle of the promenade is a statue of Lady Godiva who in the 13c rode her horse naked in protest of outrageous taxes. I read that it was her husband, a Lord, who was actually the one unfairly taxing his tenants.

The "not so shy" Lady Godiva

On our first afternoon, we walked to a laundromat. There was a senior gentleman who was the attendant who was quite helpful. He had a closet sized office with a TV. He was watching “Judge Judy”. The washers spun the clothes but for 20 pence you could put them in a giant spinner before the dryer which sped up that process quite a bit. The whole operation cost us about 20 pounds ($24) for two loads. Those clean sheets felt heavenly!

I very much wished to visit the Weaver’s Museum, but we found it closed. Near it was Old Spon Street where the city has preserved Medieval buildings. Most are now salons, jewelry stores or pubs on the street level. We wanted to try out the famous Old Windmill Pub on that same street. We walked into a very crowded low ceiling authentic Medieval pub setting. They were having a Beer Fest so no tables or even standing room was available to us. It was still fun to experience it.

David trying to get his watch fixed with no luck

Coventry suffered huge devastation during WW ll from German bombers in 1940. The Coventry Cathedral was destroyed but its outer walls and steeples were preserved as a memorial. Visiting the cathedral was quite moving and even though there is no roof or windows, it still felt like a sanctuary. A modern church has been erected next to it with a floor to ceiling glass entry covered in angels.

You can see the entry roof to new cathedral on left

Richard Branson donated this sculpture to the cathedral called "Reconciliation"

These charred beams were found in the rumble in the form of a cross and then were placed on the altar

We visited a Transportation Museum and learned that Coventry had once been the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer in the 1800s. They had lots of Triumph motorcycles and sportscars but much to Dave’s chagrin, no MGs.

We have been frustrated with our limited WIFI access. David suggested we go into a UK “THREE” store and ask about a mobile hotspot. After we were given the information and costs, we mulled it over while walking around town. We realized that it seemed like the best option and would be almost a “wash” once we canceled Dave’s T-Mobil travel plan. The agents who helped us were very patient explaining it all to us several times. So far we are happy with the results. At least I am now able to post on my blog. Fingers crossed.

When we got back to the boat after the hustle and bustle of the big city, we both agreed that we are definitely “country mice, not city mice”. We were scheduled to stay another day but decided that we were fine with leaving in the morning for our next destination. Just like on all the BBC detective and murder mystery programs there were CCTV surveillance cameras everywhere. We were done being videotaped.

Coventry Council House

The next morning we treated ourselves to a fine breakfast at the Canal Basin café a few steps from our boat. There was also a Portuguese Specialty Shop, and we bought up me yummy custard cups.

coffee by the canal

This is no Egg McMuffin

I am trying to give David more breaks on the tiller, but after only a short while my arm and hand start to ache and my zig-zagging becomes more pronounced. I don’t know how David manages hours of it, plus standing the entire 4 to 5 hours of boating. I can at least sit down on a bench once-in-a-while, but when I do, I cannot see where we are going. One of my jobs is to watch my side when going under bridges and other tight spots to make sure all is clear. How would David ever manage without me?