Yearly Archives: 2017

Making Hay While The Sun Shines. 17th July

Sykes Hollow to Long Lane Bridge, Middlewich

P1080425smHardly a cloud in the sky this morning, nice to not be putting waterproofs on again.

P1080384smWe pootled our way along to the Queueing Lock, Minshull Lock, where a boat was coming up. No boats were waiting. We used to pass through here on our shareboat and quite often on a Sunday morning there would be a two hour queue to get through.

P1080398smP1080403smP1080408smP1080414smFamiliar buildings and moorings came thick and fast as this six mile pound was quite often where we’d stop on our first night out on NB Winding Down. Embankments overlooking the Weaver to the east, a couple had moored up and plonked themselves right in front of a great view. The old house that looks like it was once a gate house, the archway for carriages now a glazed entrance. The stables that have been converted into a house retaining the old doors. Then the house with shutters, displaying large window boxes full of colourful flowers.

P1080433smP1080419smOn the right of us were fields where the grass was being cut for hay. Orderly lines of cuttings were being made rapidly by a farmer zooming around in his tractor. I suspect it was a perfect day for it.

P1080420smAt Stanthorne Lock a boat was just about to come up, so I lent a hand. On board was a couple and it was their first time on a hire boat. The lady said she’d been given differing advice from people on how to work the locks. She’d also had people trying to rush her through, everyone has a first time on a boat and needs to take their time to gain confidence. I suggested that if people were in that much of a rush we tend to just let them go past and do things at our pace.

P1080455smAs I was working Oleanna down I could see the bow of a boat approach, a familiar design of a Carefree Cruising boat. No body came up to the lock, they were too busy tying up on the lock landing. They both appeared to see what was ahead of them at the lock side just as we were leaving. It was NB Otter the newest of the fleet, launched earlier this year, with we suspect the newest of it’s owners. Hopefully they had picked her up this morning and hadn’t taken since Saturday afternoon to get through one lock and a mile. But as we looked back at them taking their time, we did wonder!

We’d hoped that the visitor moorings before Wardle Lock would be in the shade as it was getting really quite hot, but when we arrived there was little shade to be had. It’s a nicer mooring here and closer to Tescos than dropping down to near Big Lock, so we pulled in. This afternoon we’ve stocked up the cupboards and hung washing out. A company has been found in Liverpool to service our life jackets, RCR membership has been renewed, measurements for various bits and bobs have been taken for Finesse and contact has been made with a chap who we hope will make our cratch and pram covers. Someone has asked the powers that be if I need a life jacket too. Well if I do, I want to be able to sit on the roof without a lead and jump on and off as I like. Or the life jacket’s hours will be numbered!

DSCF7121sm2 locks, 7.4 miles, 0 clouds, 1 hot day, 0 queues, 1st lady Doctor, 2 boxes oatcakes, 1 chicken jointed into 8 pieces for 5 meals, 1104mm by 705mm, 1 tin of woodskin needed, 4 hours in the brambles, 1 garden, 1 noisy woofer, windows 10 being uploaded, will the boat batteries last long enough? 1% charge on phone again!!

Phone On Test. 16th July

Sssshhhhh! to Cholmondeston Winding Hole

P1080249smAnother drizzly start to the day so we took our time to get going. My phone was reset last night and managed to admit that it had a full charge, so far so good. Only thing was it gave me one ! which is what it’s been doing every now and again. But this morning it behaved and the charge dropped in a manor that was expected, so maybe it was fixed. We decided that we would give it a bit more time for it to prove whether it worked or not. So a stop in Nantwich wasn’t needed.

P1080254smWe passed through the two Hack Green Locks passing boats coming up and being followed. Then we pootled onwards to Nantwich. To the West we could make out Mow Cop in the hazy distance. Mow Cop is often in view from the Macc where we’d spent last winter and the last few locks to the summit of the Trent and Mersey.

P1080265smP1080280smUnder David’s Bridge and the canal skirts round modern housing on it’s way into Nantwich and sits high on an embankment above the town. A lot of boats we’d met recently were after a mooring here and often it is chocka, but today there was space for quite a few. The aqueduct looked splendid with a fairly recent coat of paint. However we didn’t stop until we’d reached Henhull Bridge where we had a bite to eat.

Our cruising for the next couple of weeks will be dictated by our booking into Liverpool and trying to meet up with Finesse to do a few snagging jobs on Oleanna whilst we are relatively close to Sheffield. Last week we put together a list of where we could meet them and get a van close to the boat. The first possible meeting would be tomorrow at Barbridge Junction but as a meeting hasn’t been arranged we decided that we’d be able to carry on a bit further today.

P1080312smPassing the bottom of Hurleston Locks we could see crews working their way up and down the flight that marks the start of the Llangollen Canal. Originally we thought we’d be heading that way this year, but we stayed longer in London than originally planned so we’ve run out of time.

P1080327smDay boats now seemed to surround us, weaving their way along the cut. At one bridge we had to go hard astern as one came zooming into view. You could see them bobbing up and down on our stern wave as they came through the bridge hole! At Barbridge we turned right onto the Middlewich Branch, closely followed by another day boat.

P1080337smP1080339smHere we now enter old waters familiar to us from our share boat days. NB Winding Down was based in Sandbach on the Trent and Mersey, so the Middlewich Branch was a frequent trip for us. At Cholmondeston Lock a hire boat of Canadians was coming up, two ladies were trying to drop their ground paddles in slow unison. A lady waiting to come up helped with the gates and paddles, although she wanted to wind her paddle up very slowly and after quite a pause. Anyhow we got to the bottom and slowly cruised through Venetian Marina. NB Halsall was moored up on the towpath, it had a gear box failure a couple of days ago and is waiting to be mended, they hope tomorrow. There now seems to be a hire fleet based here and all the pontoons have been replaced, they used to look very unsafe slippy wood, but are now concrete and steel.

P1080342smJust a short distance to our chosen mooring for the day. Just after Cholmondeston Winding Hole there are benches and barbecue stands where we have moored before. With only one boat there we pulled in alongside one of the benches, leaving enough space behind us for another boat. Tilly has been out climbing the trees and searching for friends. I suspect she’ll be busy for hours.

DSCF7114smP1080353sm3 locks, 8.47 miles, 1 straight on, 1 right, 3 day boats, 1 perfect mooring for snagging, 1 sunny day in disguise, 1 phone pretending to be mended, 2 ! ! 1 mooring made for a barbecue, 1 mooring made for cats.

Fifteen Locks Not Enough. 15th July

Hawksemore Bridge to Ssshhh! Secret Bunker
P1080156smFull waterproofs on to start the day, the mile to the top of the Audlem flight was a damp one. Our newly re-waterproofed coats seemed to be repelling rather than soaking the moisture up luckily. As we approached a boat was just coming up the final lock of the flight of fifteen and a boat pulled out from the moorings behind us.
P1080161smThere is a cake stall at the top lock, the Bakewell Slices and Lemon Drizzle looked especially good. If we’d been coming up the flight they would have been a worthy reward, but we’d not even started, so we were good and started the flight without a purchase. The chap from the boat behind NB Ed’sabout (presumably Ed) came to help close gates on the first lock. We had a bit of a chat as his boat suggested that he was from York. A single hander, he’d been hoping to be able to meet boats on their way up to make his life easier, not follow one down. But we’d help where we could by lifting a paddle to refill a lock for him.
This we did at the second lock. A pause whilst another single hander in a cruiser came up the next two locks. He had left Nantwich yesterday and was hoping to reach Rugeley by the end of Sunday, his wheel house meant that his boat was too tall for Harecastle Tunnel. He’ll have had his work cut out as Canalplan suggested it would take him 27hours to do the journey and the wind picking up later in the day won’t have helped him.
P1080163smP1080175smP1080169smWe got into our rhythm of me going ahead to set the next lock whilst Mick set the one above going. At a few locks I went back after we’d closed the gates to lift a paddle to fill it for Ed, but when I could see a boat ahead I had to refrain. Most of the lock beams are grey along the main flight which meant that one grey boat coming up disappeared, I only spotted their crew when they were a couple of locks below us. I warned them about the paddles I’d left up, it looked like Ed was in one of them so they shouldn’t have been a problem to them.
Many of the bottom gate beams have had an extra piece of wood added to them. This is because people, like us, us a boat hook to close one of the gates from their boat as they come down, single handers most probably close both of them this way. Over time the beams must have needed some reinforcement where they get prodded.
P1080188smAfter the first few locks the drizzly rain had stopped and layers needed removing before we over heated. We passed a few boats on the way up which meant not all the chambers had to be reset. Between Locks 11 and 12 there is quite a big pound, so we decided to pull in to go shopping as there was a gap. A boat was heading up towards us and a member of their crew was walking with windlass in hand. It was fairly obvious to leave the gates open for them, but the chap at the helm beeped his horn and waggled his arms around in the air as though he was making an attempt to take off! They very kindly told us that they’d told the boat coming up behind to leave the gates for us at the next lock, except we hadn’t wiggled our arms about and we were pulling in. Once moored up I went and closed the gate.
P1080200smP1080201smWe’ve moored up in Audlem before to pick up a bit of shopping, normally I remember such places better than Mick, but today I had very little recollection of the pretty village. We checked out the independent shops first, buying a paper and a couple of burgers, we’d just missed Boots for some more allergy pills (the horse flies are in abundance this year) and then we picked up everything else we wanted from the Co-op.
P1080205smLock 12 has a serious bywash below it. I helped a boat down whilst waiting for our turn and the lady put the boat into full steam ahead to try not to get pushed right over, but that just wasn’t enough and both her bow and stern biffed the side, followed by biffing the arch of the bridge. When our turn came the bywash looked like it had been turned off with only a trickle coming down, so Mick stopped Oleanna in the mouth of the lock and pushed the offside gate closed before pootleing through the bridge totally unbiffed. The trick must be to time your entrance or departure from the lock when there is no-one operating the lock above.
P1080206smWe dropped down the next lock and pulled in to fill with water as another boat came towards us saying they’d kindly left the gates open. A single hander was following us again (a different one) so instead of watching a hose for half an hour I headed down to help at the lock and he made use of the open gate. I ended up being a volunteer at the lock, helping four boats through whilst waiting for our tank to fill. Mick eventually brought Oleanna up alongside some moored boats trying to keep away from a two week old Andy Russell paint job, but the wind wasn’t being kind so in the end we were waved on by the boat that should have been next.
P1080217smP1080220smAt Lock 15, the last in the flight, there used to be George’s Pork and Poultry. Back in 2012 there was a small gazebo next to the little hut selling produce grown around the lock, eggs and sausages and burgers. We followed them on facebook for a while as they were wanting to have electricity installed to run fridges and freezers for their produce. But all went quiet in 2014. Today there is no gazebo, the vegetables growing seemed to be thriving, but no shop to buy anything. On the hut door there are signs about the community garden and would anyone like to adopt the lock. Such a shame.
P1080239smP1080242smStill a bit early in the day so we carried on along through the green rolling fields of Cheshire. The barbecue moorings were nearly deserted as we passed, not an ideal day for getting the charcoal out as the wind was getting quite blustery. We pulled in just before Hack Green locks near to the Sssshhhh! Secret Bunker and gave Tilly a couple of hours of freedom. I would tell you where I got to, but I’d have to kill you! The last two nights she has obviously got engrossed with something and not made her whereabouts known, despite all the calls. In the end I thought I’d try ringing her dinner bell and within a couple of minutes she returned for food. Not convinced this will work everytime, but it’s worth a try.
P1080245smThe evening has been spent gradually closing more and more windows as the wind got more and more blustery. Technical support from Mick has meant my mobile has been backed up for a factory reset. It has been playing up over the last few weeks, not holding it’s charge and even forgetting that it’s been charged. So after a suggestion from a chap at a lock today we are trying a factory reset to see if that encourages it. If it doesn’t work then tomorrow we’ll be able to stop at Nantwich to hopefully get it sorted.
P1080214smDSCF7114sm15 locks, 7 more helped with, 5.45 miles, 4 layers too many, 3 single handers, 1 impressed walker, 1 cyclist going back and forth, 0 volunteers, 2 Audlem burgers, 1pm closing for Boots, 1 full water tank, 0 rubbish, 1st brambles ripening, 1 secret mooring, 2 treat chilled medications, 2000+ photos backed up, 1 factory reset, 1 furry cold war spy!

Reprimanded! 14th July

Anchor Bridge to Hawksmore Bridge 72P1080013sm

IMAG3745smIMAG3751sm

Last night we enjoyed our pie that we’d bought in Brewood, half the size of a junction pie at Norbury. Then we joined other boaters at The Anchor for a couple of pints of 6X, the only beer they serve. Olive, the landlady was on hand, 83 but certainly doesn’t look it. Last time we managed to drink here she was on holiday and the pub was being looked after by friends or family, at last though we got to meet the legendry lady. Why legendary? She has been landlady for a very long time, at least the forty years that Mikron have been performing at the pub. She pulls your pint of beer with two pulls on the pump and then puts it to one side before topping up your glass from a plastic jug she keeps under the counter.

P1080026smEveryone else seems to move before we do along here. Boats were coming from both ways as we had our morning tea and breakfast and once again we had to wait for a gap before we could pull out. A mile on and we were on Shebdon Embankment. The views from here must have been fantastic before all the trees grew so high. During WW2 the embankment was closed off at night with stop gates in case it was bombed, this would stop the seventeen mile pound from emptying very quickly. NB Susie Q in front of us had pulled over  and was trying to make her mind up whether to moor up for the day, we said that her chickens would love it there to which she agreed. Mental note made for next time we pass it would be a great place for a barbecue as the towpath is wide and green.

P1080067smP1080056smP1080076smLong lines of moored boats kept us moving slowly onwards to Woodseaves Cutting. About a mile long the cutting has steep sides and is quite often closed due to trees falling across the cut. High Bridge welcomes you into the narrowest section and up ahead we could see a large bird flying between the trees. It wasn’t a heron as it was brown so possibly a bird of prey of some sort. Here you really don’t want to meet anyone coming the other way as passing could well be problematic and the offside paintwork of Oleanna wouldn’t have appreciated it.

P1080082smAbove Tyrley Locks we pulled in for some lunch and could warn a boat waiting to go through the cutting that we were being followed at a distance. After a rest we started down the locks a chap who’d just come up helped with the gates of the first lock. There was quite a strong cross wind, so we got into the rhythm of me going ahead to set the next lock, open it up and then come back to open and close the gates on the lock Mick had started to empty behind. This means that the boat can move straight from one lock to the next with purpose and not get caught by the wind.

P1080086smThe forth lock just needed topping up, so I opened up the paddles and opened the gate ready for Oleanna.  I could see a boat was rising in the bottom lock, so didn’t waste time in heading back to let Mick out of the chamber above. When I returned a lady from the other boat was waiting for us. I chatted to her and then she asked if I knew the flight. ‘No, I’ve only done it once before about seven years ago’. Well I was then reprimanded for not letting them have the lock as the pound below is rocky and you can’t moor in it. She pointed out signs on the bottom gates, saying to set the next lock before leaving this one and not to moor in the pound. I can’t say that there were no signs on the top gates, but I certainly hadn’t seen them. She then went to explain to Mick that her husband would have to stay in the lock and he wouldn’t be able to pull very far over due to the rocks. Have to say we weren’t expecting them to exit the lock and moor up, more to pass in the pound.  I apologised as I was now expecting both of our boats to ground on rocks as they traversed the pound, but this didn’t happen. I apologised to her husband too and he seemed a bit miffed too that he’d had to sit and wait in the lock. I don’t like getting things wrong, I’d not seen any signs, if I had I’d have emptied the lock for them. But I really don’t understand why they were miffed as we set the lock for them and nobody got stuck, they just had to sit and wait a while in the lock. I suspect the signs are more for single handers, or those who pull over to set the next lock ahead as you most probably can’t get off your boat. Oh well.

P1080103smP1080111smA short distance now to Market Drayton, which was going to be our destination for the day so that we could easily get a paper in the morning. But it was a bit early to stop so we cruised on through. We were now back onto slightly more familiar water, we’ve been to Market Drayton a few times, one day I’ll tell you all about it. We didn’t remember the pontoon moorings, which looked new on the offside after Betton Mill.

P1080091smAnother three miles of Shropshire countryside all far greener than we’ve seen for a while. At Adderley Locks we decided to carry on down them to try to get a bit more ahead of where we should be. All bar one needed setting and that was only because a boat was coming up. I seemed to impress the chap coming up by pushing the bottom gates open whilst standing on them, I still won’t jump from one gate to the other, my legs aren’t long enough. To close them Mick pushes the off side gate with the boat hook which saves me having to walk round. The by washes can be furious on these locks and push you right over, coming down isn’t as bad as going up as there isn’t so much to hit on your way out of a lock.

P1080138smP1080141smTilly has spent the evening searching for friends in the fields. According to a lady in the pub last night, if we didn’t feed Tilly she would hunt for food rather than find friends to play with, therefore the body count would be less. The downside to this is that I doubt we’d ever see her again as she’d have no reason to come home, cat love is more like cupboard love! I’d still love them, anyway who’d move the outside for me? It can’t be moved with me in it!

DSCF7114sm10 locks, 12.49 miles, 2 chickens left behind us, 1 long embankment, 1 ever so high High Bridge, 0 on coming boats, 2 narrow to pass, 1 reprimand, 2 inches! 1 building, 0 shells, 4 hours, 36 geeses, 4 noisy drinkers.


The Second One! 13th July

Turnover Bridge to Anchor Bridge 42

Boats were coming from everywhere this morning, we’d only had a trip boat come past last night after we’d moored. We had to hold back before we could push off, waiting for a suitable gap in what felt like the constant flow of boats.

P1070893smP1070900smNot far away we came to Cowley Tunnel, the Shroppie equivalent of Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey. Well not really, Harecastle is 2926yrds long where as Cowley is 81yrds! But they are both tunnels on canals heading northwards. We waited for a boat to come through so we didn’t have to pass them mid tunnel. Despite it’s lack in length, it’s construction straight through a piece of rock makes up for it.

P1070908smGnosall follows shortly afterwards with The Boat Inn sitting alongside the canal. We pulled in to fill with water, we’d been giving our not-so waterproof coats a wash with the aim of giving them a waterproof spray today whilst they were still damp. If this doesn’t repel water then we’re looking at new coats before winter.

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Dredging works were going on between the next two bridges, we’d been warned about them by another boater by the water point. So we slowed down as we approached the dredger, two skip boats and a tug. A fresh skip had been brought to be filled and another was ready to be taken away. We trod water whilst we waited, a couple of hire boats joined in with the waiting too. As soon as the tug was moving off with the full skip the dredger started scooping out mud again. Half a dozen bucket loads and then he was told to stop by a colleague and we were waved on. Only problem was that we had to pass on the off side and very soon grounded. Backwards and forwards the throttle went to try to get us off, but with little space to be able to swing this took ages. Once we were clear the dredger grabbed a few more loads before the first hire boat came through.

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The tug was depositing the full skip at the next bridge where a large digger was waiting to empty it into a field next to the canal. We trod water again waiting for a gap big enough to go through. As we were waved on another boat appeared on the other side of the bridge, they trod water as well until they decided to go for it. But just as they’d come through the bridge hole the tug decided to reposition itself, oh it was like three jack knifed lorries all together. Ropes were pulled, reverse engaged, hard over, until finally the approaching boat could pass. Then it was our turn, luckily this time it was on the towpath side so it was far easier.

P1070944smP1070948smShortly before Norbury Junction we pulled in for a bite to eat and to let the hire boats return to base. In the past we have eaten at the Junction Pub here, but last time our Sunday lunch was a disappointment and we wanted to get a bit further today before stopping. The diesel price here was 59p, not bad, certainly the cheapest that a boat yard does.

P1070955smThe start of Grub Street Cutting has a famous canal landmark. Yes that double arched bridge with the telegraph pole in the middle. We slowed for photos to be taken and then entered the cutting.

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More trees and high sides surrounded us. Towards the end of the cutting on the off side there are several boats moored and behind them in the woods is a caravan and various sheds. Under one structure is a rather wonderful electric blue car (Daimler DB18 convertible?), fairly sure that there used to be another red one here too but there was no sign of it today.

Not much further and we’d reached our destination for the day, the visitor moorings outside The Anchor Pub. We’ve once succeeded in having a pint here before, it’s not always open. The landlady opens up for her convenience not for the drinkers. The door was open when we arrived, just hope it’s still open this evening as we need to have a couple of pints to celebrate some news we’ve had today.

DSCF7114sm0 locks, 6.63 miles, 2 coats washed and rewaterproofed, 1 full water tank, 2 many wooded cat heavens moved! 1 famous bridge, 1 payment going in the wrong direction, 1DB18, 2 batteries, yes 2 batteries waiting for us!!! 9 months waited, 3rd one wanted though! 1 bully Tilly grounded, 1 non-junction pie, 4 pints waiting, 2 years of being an amputee.P1070999sm

Tunnels Of Green 12th July

Hunting Bridge to Turnover Bridge 27

P1070728smBy the time we’d had our breakfast and were ready to push off today the long line of boats that we’d joined yesterday had just about disappeared. More boats came past including one going at quite a speed, this didn’t help him when he reached the bridge behind us as he gave it a mighty biff with his stern. We wondered if our later start would mean that there would be nowhere left for us to moor as we headed northwards under blue skies. But we must be in the lull for hire and shareboats in this area at this time of the week, as the canal seemed to be much quieter than we’ve been experiencing lately.

P1070745smP1070738smThe Shropshire Union main line was the last narrow canal route to be built in England. Therefore it has next to no meanders, instead of clinging to contours Thomas Telford designed it with cuttings and embankments keeping it as direct a route as possible. The earth from the cuttings was used in the construction of the embankments. Large views across fields are broken up by the tree lined cuttings. At this time of year you feel like you are travelling through a tunnel made from trees with dappled sunlight creeping along the roof of your boat. Some of the trees must have been planted when the cuttings were made and then others self seeded themselves. Quite a few look precarious on the slopes and others have grown far too big and given up the challenge. We came across one such tree this morning, spanning the cut, passable in neutral.

P1070769smP1070775smP1070779smThere was a lot of space at Brewood which was handy as we wanted to pull in to pick up a few bits of food. A walk around the pretty village to Coopers for some veg and then down the side street to the butchers we found in 2014. Mick hasn’t had a pork pie in ages and a steak and kidney pie shouted out to be bought.

P1070802smP1070829smAfter lunch we pressed on over Stretton Aqueduct passing over the A5. Wonder how many times we’ve passed over Watling Street on our way from London, today will be the last time. The aqueduct has seen better days, a wire brush fertan and some black and white paint along with a lot of weeding and it could be quite a picture again. A mile or so further on was Wheaton Aston Lock, the only one for today. It needed filling as we were following NB Halsall, the coal boat that looks after the four counties ring. A lady started to chat with Mick. Fifty years ago she had come on a charabanc outing for a boat trip from Wheaton Aston, the chap at the helm took a fancy to her and she likewise. There was to be another outing on the boat, but this time it would mean staying over. The only way she was going to be on the trip was if he married her before hand, which is what happened. She and her grandson helped with the top gate of the lock and then returned to near the service block where her husband was waiting in a wheel chair, sadly the towpath looked a bit rough to get him any nearer to the lock.

P1070832smThrough the next bridge was Turner’s garage. This is a road side garage that has a hose down to the cut and is well known by boaters. No wonder at 56.9p a litre! The chap comes to clear the pump back to zero and set it going for you whilst you fill up. Keeping an eye on the pump is a little bit hard as it is way up high. He was a bit surprised that we filled up with the exact amount a boat four ahead of us had taken, but we did a different split. Whilst Mick paid Halsall went by, we normally like to support the coal boats, but at this price he’d not blame us.

P1070856smP1070863smP1070868smMore cuttings and embankments before we could stop. The really good views sadly are where the shelf is at it’s worst, so we carried on for a while longer. First place we tried would have been great, except Tilly would have terrorised the next door neighbours! So we pulled on a bit further and eventually stopped through the next bridge. It is the best roving bridge we’ve seen since the Macc, but still not a patch on those beauties.

They kept moving all the best bits today. A great canal for cats it certainly is, that’s if they stop the outside at the right time! My complaints about them moving the serious trees meant that I was allowed onto the roof with my harness on. But this was only torture as they moved men who had bags of fish, so I went back inside. Then eventually I was allowed out once they’d finished. Not as good as some bits had looked today, but there was a great fence that I could balance along all the way to the top of the bridge. This gave me a good vantage point for finding friends.

P1070872smDSCF7114sm1 lock, 8.04 miles, 1 fallen tree, 2 pies, 2 nectarines, 2 pints milk, 1 loaf, 50 years, 111.1 litres, 1 bargain tank full, 11 lbs of fish, 2 tasty looking chickens, 150 ft of fence, 0 Easter chocolate left!

NO STOPPING! 11th July

Otherton Marina to Hunting Bridge 7, Shropshire Union

A few boats were moving this morning despite the rain, one came past shortly before we pushed off, but luckily winded in the marina entrance so we wouldn’t be following them up the locks. We put our only just dry coats on and pushed off, knowing that we’d be getting wet today. The drizzle was dampening, nothing like yesterdays downpour, but it didn’t stop raining virtually all day!

P1070654smWith all five locks to the summit in our favour and a couple of boats coming down it felt like autumn, no queues anywhere. The first lock was frothy as always, then the stretch alongside the noisy M6. A couple of boats were moored between locks a bit higher up both had brollies over their hatches, a suitable day to change the oil.

P1070661smP1070655smAt Gailey we stopped for a photo opportunity as this is the first time Oleanna has passed the round tower, it is a must photo. We then pulled into the water point to give our parched tank a refill. The other day a couple were refilling their tank and they were taking the last bit very carefully, stopping the tap and letting air out, then starting it again so that the stainless steel tank didn’t boom when it was full. They had been told by their boat builder not to let it bang as this would loosen connections from the tank. We’d not heard this before, maybe their tank doesn’t have an overflow like ours. I like the boom as it means you can be doing other things, as soon as you hear it there is a second or two before the overflow comes into action. Lillian did little burps, if you wanted to fill her right to the top standing on the starboard side gunnel would release more air.

P1070670smIt was still raining, we were wet so on we went. Shortly after the visitor moorings above the lock is a chemical works. Here there are signs telling you No Stopping or Mooring for 200m ‘even if an alarm sounds’! If the alarm sounded I think we’d put our foot down to get out of the area as quickly as possible, not moor up for the day. Every bridge you pass under reminds you No Mooring. On the off side there are some serious ground works going on, a development of industrial units is being built.

P1070673smAs we progressed along the danger zone Mick started to stare ahead……. ‘Uh Oh!’ Coming through the trees on the off side like a dinosaur, the toothed bucket of a JCB dipped into the canal scooping up water and returning out of view. Was someone watching for on coming boats? Were we about to be dragged by the bucket into the development? Luckily there was a group of chaps working hard watching what the digger was doing pouring the water into a large drain of some sort. We passed in one piece, but wondered if C&RT knew a great big digger was helping itself to their water let alone what damage those teeth could do to the canal.

P1070693smSpotting a length of armco we decided to pull in for some lunch just as the rain got very heavy. Our coats were hung in the shower to drip away whilst we had a bowl of soup to warm us up. The rain carried on being quite heavy, so the inclination to put wet coats and shoes back on wasn’t strong. Instead Mick watched todays stage of the Tour de France live whilst Tilly was allowed outside. No stopping her, she went straight through the hedge and disappeared for a couple of hours before returning looking like she’d been for a swim.

P1070707smThe rain seemed to be easing so we decided to push off, we hadn’t reached our destination for the day and with the reduced number of boats moving today we’d be able to push on and get through the narrows before Autherley Junction without too much bother. For about a third of a mile the canal narrows through a rock cutting only wide enough for one boat, there are passing places should you meet someone coming the other way. But today, as on every occasion we’ve been this way we were alone, on a sunny July day though I suspect it would have been different.

P1070716smP1070725smA short distance and we had reached Autherley Junction where we turned right onto the Shropshire Union canal. We’ve never turned from this direction before, we’ve always been heading north. The turn was tight being more than 90 degrees and took a bit of doing. Once turned under the bridge there is a stop lock which needed resetting, but as it’s not even a foot deep this didn’t take long. We were now heading north again. We’ve not been on the Shroppie since late 2014 and then we didn’t head far before turning round. North of High Offley we haven’t cruised since our shareboat days, so we are looking forward to it. Apparently it is a great canal for me too! Lots of countryside to explore, just hope they stop moving the outside so that I can make the most of it!

Mick carried on valiantly in the rain to get us to somewhere that we could moor for the night. The Shroppie has a shelf along much of it’s length which means that where you want to moor may not be possible as you can’t get into the side. Mick tried one place but the shelf kept us out by at least 3ft, but managed to pull in behind a long line of boats on a 48hr mooring. Showers all round and a warming curry, we even put the heating.

DSCF7114sm6 locks, 12.9 miles, 1 extremely wet day, 1 frothy lock, 1 full water tank, 1 digger, 0 stopping, 3 hour dry off, 2 hours getting wet, 1 stage watched live, 1 wet coal boat, 1 boat in the narrows, 1 sharp right, 2 showers, 4 pairs soaking wet socks, 2 pairs soaking wet shoes, 2 dripping coats.

Rain? What Rain!?! 10th July

Old Hill Bridge to Otherton Marina

Last night we had a barbecue, well that had been the plan until a very huge rain storm came over, just as the coals were getting going too. So the sweet corn went under the grill and by the time it was starting to change colour the sky followed suit. With the rain passed we put the chairs on the towpath, finished off the sweetcorn on the barbecue and cooked everything else outside. Thank goodness as the grill doesn’t half kick out heat and the boat was already quite warm.

P1070587smThis morning we had several boats come past before we had pushed off. An Anderson Hire boat came by so we tagged along behind and waited for our turn to follow them up Tixall Lock. Boats were coming the other way perfectly timed to use the water we’d just filled the lock with. We last did this journey back in February this year with Mick single handing as I sat below watching Hitchcock films with my broken ankle snuggled up with Tilly. Today it was good to be watching from above again and chatting to people rather than a cat. Excuse me!!

P1070595smP1070603smThe canal does a large arc around lots of bungalows and static caravans as it nears Stafford where we caught up with the hire boat who had kindly pulled in to let us pass. The weather swung from sun to drizzle and soon it was so drizzly that waterproofs were needed. As we cruised on we passed several boats on their way to Great Haywood, one said that they read our blog and that they were from Scarborough too! From the information Mick could give me and a bit of deduction I think it might have been NB Bessie Surtees. If so Hello! If not, then hello anyway.

P1070612smAs we approached Deptmore Lock we could see that there was a queue, not a big one, 3rd in line, but it still took us forty minutes to get to the head. With everyone helping, boats were going up the lock quite quickly, or so we thought. A chap from a boat in the ever growing queue behind came up to see if there was anything wrong with the lock, ‘No, just the number of people wanting to use it’ was the answer from a lady on the hire boat behind us. As we pulled away she was busy resetting the lock by herself, no one from the other six boats had come to help to speed things up.

P1070620smP1070622smJust after Shutt Hill Lock it started to rain properly and as we approached Park Gate Lock the heavens opened. Despite waterproofs we were drenched pretty quickly. A boat was helpfully tied up by it’s centre line and stern on the lock landing, it’s bow drifting out across the cut. When taxi’s pull up in our street in Scarborough blocking it, ‘Won’t be a minute mate!’ came to mind. The chap had popped to Midland Chandlers for a new hose amongst other things. When I eventually could get off Oleanna I squelched my way up to the lock, where a couple were bringing their boat in. They were pleased that their coats were proving to be waterproof, I was less pleased as by now my shoulders were really quite wet under my coat.

P1070637smOther boats that had been ahead of us had pulled in avoiding the rain. It gradually eased and we very gradually dried out as the sun made another appearance.  Boats now were spaced out, so no queues at locks. NB Black Swan came past, another blog reader, Hello! At Penkridge we wanted to fill with water, but there was already a boat filling up so we carried on after disposing of rubbish.  At Filance Lock Mick remembered that there were no bollards to tie up to, most annoying when single handing, so I hopped off leaving Mick to hover. The boat from the water point soon arrived and the lady helped with the top gate. As we were pulling away it was obvious that another pair of legs were needed to close the gate behind us, so we backed up and I lent my legs, my it was a heavy beam.

P1070632smThe M6 rumbles away at the side of the canal between Penkridge and Gailey, originally we thought that we might try for Gailey for the night. But the sky was looking dark again and neither of us fancied getting a soaking again so we pulled up and let the second mate enjoy the rain instead.

DSCF7114sm7 locks, 9.59 miles, 2nd in line, 3rd in line, 7 behind, 1 damp morning, 1 crèche, 1 model railway, 1 lolly pop perfect garden, 3 lollipop stick locks, 2 blog readers, 1 torrential down pour, 2 legs covered in rain bounce back mud, 2 pairs sodden shorts, M6 in the background, 4 wet paws is great!

No Room For Us. 9th July

Taft Bridge to Old Hill Bridge 107, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal

P1070489smA couple of boats came past before 7.30 this morning, the first nice and sedate, the second was obviously on a mission, it even stirred Mick from his sleep. Knowing that we would be joining a queue for Colwich Lock we didn’t rush to push off. Instead we decided that we should eat up some mushrooms, these were served with toast, turkey sausages and a poached egg, very nice it was too.

P1070517smP1070530smBoats kept coming past us, no-one stopping at Dexter though. It’s a couple of years since we stopped for diesel here and then there was a sign on it’s roof with the price. Today there was no sign, so either they don’t do diesel anymore, or they weren’t open today. So we pushed off and on arriving below the lock joined the queue. A cruiser was moored at the end of the lock landing so the queue had to work it’s way around it. Forth in line with more boats arriving. There was no queue above so once a Stone hire boat came down the lock was reset for each boat in turn.

P1070526smP1070577smThis morning we had been passed by a rather elegant looking boat and here it was in the lock. It’s stern being so pointed and the deck boards having so much varnish, it reminded me of a Thames Launch. Later on in the day we passed it moored up. Lady Hatherton 1898 was built as an inspection launch for the owners of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. It was used by the company’s directors as a horse drawn boat until the 1930’s. Originally built from timber she has been almost rebuilt, her hull now made from steel as the wood was rotting. The interior has had a couple of modern modifications in recent times, but is predominantly still as it was originally. An interesting looking boat.

P1070536smP1070541smFollowing the Trent and Mersey up to Great Haywood we passed giant plants that made the cottages look Lilliputian. Then the familiar sight of Shugborough Hall came into view. We could have pulled up here, but the towpath is very busy and we had enjoyed mooring here a couple of years ago. So we joined the now reduced queue at Haywood Lock. A young chap was helping out with a windlass in hand. He chatted away and pull and pushed gates. A pile of possessions sat under the bridge below the lock, which I suspect is where he sleeps at the moment. He didn’t ask for anything, just helped and chatted with boats and gongoozlers.

P1070547smWe were now at the junction where back in February Alison and Laura from NB Large Marge had helped us move Lillian and their friends from NB Autumn Wine gave us a lift to Stafford Hospital when I’d broken my ankle. I stood at the bow to check for any on coming boats and Mick swung Oleanna round to the left and onto the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Passing several boats moored in the shade of the trees we carried on hoping to find space at Tixall Wide for the rest of the day. But our luck wasn’t in.

P1070569smAt the far end there were a few boats that could have nudged up to make space for a couple more boats. We tried one gap, which we knew would be too short. If it had been us, we would most probably have already moved up, feeling that we were in the middle of a couple of spaces, this happens when boats move on from around you. But if we hadn’t got round to moving we would certainly have popped a head out to see if we could make more room when someone tried. Not one person showed their face, most avoided eye contact. After a couple of comments from Mick we decided to give up trying, admittedly neither of us had asked if they would be willing to move up.

Gradually we continued on towards the next lock. With no view as such there was plenty of space, but depth was an issue, but eventually we got in. Here there was a good wide towpath where we’d be able to sit out, but for some reason it was covered in pooh. I warned Mick as he stepped off, his usual reaction is  ‘So!’, but he looked around and quickly agreed that there was a lot! We tied up and had some lunch, having to listen to Tilly shouting and rattling the bolts on the back door! This always gets to them. Carefully we pushed back off and moved a short distance along where we could get into the side without fear of standing in something. The doors were opened and the rattling of the bolts stopped.

The port side windows are now wonderfully clean and I have had a major go at the limescale that was building up on the shower doors. White vinegar diluted with water sprayed on, then cleaned off with newspaper has done the trick. So they are shiny once again, well until the next shower!

DSCF7117sm2 locks, 4.41 miles, 2 cooked breakfasts, 0 diesel, 4th in line, 3rd in line, 1 helpful homeless chap, 1 left, 3 spaces at least if they just nudged up, 1 comment taken down on facebook! 1 bowl of soup, 60ft of shit, 1 cat gone for hours, 500ml diluted vinegar, 6 sheets newspaper, 119 year old boat, 1st test won, 0 tour tonight.

Four Watering Cans All In A Row. 8th July

Shadehouse Lock to Taft Bridge

A lie in was deserved today, well not really a lie in but more a normal morning.

We’d originally thought it would be good to reach Great Haywood this evening, but with the cupboards looking a little bare we needed to go shopping. So we decided that we’d spend Sunday night at Tixal Wide instead.

P1070395smNot far to our one and only lock of the day, Wood End Lock. The narrow bridges along this stretch are pretty and the one here does not disappoint with it’s curving wall sweeping down onto the towpath. Even though we’d only just passed a boat coming away from the lock, it was set against us and ready for a cruiser to come down. The chap talked his novice companion through what she needed to do and I assisted. Once the levels had equalised we pushed on the cranked lock beams. There is limited space before the bridge so they are bent giving a greater advantage to the pusher than short beans would, they are still a bit hard to push but that’s mostly because you feel like you are pushing in the wrong direction.

P1070398smP1070415smWe pootled our way along towards Armitage. One garden has the best kept shed we’ve ever seen, last year we got a peek inside as we passed and it is as ordered as it’s watering can collection is outside. The cooling towers of Rugeley appeared in view, two red, the other two standard buff coloured. Cruising past the large factory we wondered what the noises were coming from deep inside. Could they be testing out their products just like Ikea do with chairs and drawers, repeating the same action time and time again? Past the factory is a large yard, on a previous journey the yard was filled with toilets, today the sign wasn’t quite so funny being surrounded by pallets.

P1070427smP1070437smNext came Armitage Tunnel. Originally cut through Kauper Sandstone it was opened out in the 1970’s having it’s roof removed.

Armitage Canal Tunnel [c.1895]P1070449smHowever it still feels very much like a short tunnel as the A513 runs over the top keeping it dark. The cut is narrow here and it isn’t possible for two boats to pass, so I walked ahead with a walkie talkie. A lady was coming towards me obviously from a boat, she phoned them to tell them to continue through. Mick pulled Oleanna into the side and waited for them and a second boat to go through before he could pull out again.

P1070463smA long line of boats greeted us at Rugeley, we found space to pull in had some lunch and then went to stock up the fridge and cupboards. Tesco let me down on a couple of things, so I crossed over the bridge to Morrisons. It’s the first time I’ve been in this store and most probably the last as they had even less choice. Luckily though the green grocer across the way had lemons and not in a big bag, I only wanted one not half a dozen!

P1070474smAlong the moorings here were most of the boats we’ve been seeing daily for the last week. It is getting so that I can’t remember who is from which boat. Most people were only stopping to stock up and soon moved off, as did we. We bounced across the River Trent aqueduct, something was under the water but never surfaced. The railway comes quite close for a while, but then drifts off near Taft Bridge where there was space for us along with another boat left. This was very soon filled up. Mick took a walk up to see if he could see what the price of diesel was at the boat moored by the bridge. It is normally one of the cheapest places to fill up, but there was no price visible. They only take cash and we hadn’t come prepared. Our tank is still over half full so we should last till we reach Wheaton Aston which will be even cheaper, it usually is.

A roast chicken is sitting in the oven with some little potatoes roasting in their skins, it may have been warm recently, but I’ve been missing a nice roast.

DSCF7114sm1 lock, 9.18 miles, 1 tunneless tunnel, 0 rhododendrons in bloom, 1 day we’ll time it right, 1 Inca, 4 watering cans, 0 toilets, 864327 poohs, 6535846 wees and counting, 8 boats merging into 1, 1 lemon, 1 chilli, 1 roast chicken, yumm!