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.

Not 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.

Gnosall 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.

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.

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.

Shortly 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.

The 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.

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.

0 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.

Hunting Bridge to Turnover Bridge 27

By 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.

The 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.

There 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.

After 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.

Through 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.

More 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.

1 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!

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!

With 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.

At 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.

It 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.

As 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.

Spotting 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.

The 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.

A 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.

6 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.

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.

This 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!!

The 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.

As 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.

Just 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.

Other 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.

The 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.

7 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!

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

A 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.

Boats 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.

This 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.

Following 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.

We 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.

At 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!

2 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.

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.

Not 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.

We 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.

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

However 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.

A 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!

Along 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.

1 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!

Hopwas Wood to Shadehouse Lock, T&M

Our mooring last night was just at the start of a military firing range and early evening we could hear grown men shooting at each other. It didn’t continue for long, maybe they all got shoot! Tilly really didn’t want us to move off this morning and was quite surprised that we were both awake and dressed before she’d had chance to have a nap on my toes for the second morning in a row. They’re early starts do however seem to mean that I get to go out all afternoon though, so I’m quite happy to sacrifice my toe warming duties.

Pushing off at 7am again we hoped that we’d reach Fradley junction before the masses, so that we could turn onto the Trent and Mersey Canal and climb the top two locks of the flight without too much waiting. But progress to the junction was slow going. Passing moored boats before 8am we try to pass as slowly as we can, so as not to disturb anyone asleep. At Whittington the large poly tunnels on the off side have been dismantled, their frames lay in a pile and part of the field looked like it had recently been ploughed, wonder what will be growing there soon.

As we approached the junction we decided as it was 10am we’d stop for some breakfast and then fill with water. We picked up a space just before the water points and settled down to our cereal, knowing that any advantage of being up early had already drifted away. Once we were ready for water we joined the queue. One boat finished and pulled out, it’s space instantly being filled by a boat coming through the swing bridge ahead. This didn’t please the lady who was clinging onto her centre rope waiting patiently. But we chatted away the time until another boat moved off meaning we could both nudge up, we laid our hose out showing our intent to be next.

The taps in Fradley are slow, but the boat up ahead didn’t take long so we moved up and started to fill. With breakfast, waiting, water and bins done we’d been there nearly two and a half hours! So the locks were now busy. With another boat passing us the swing bridge was swung open and I went up to close it after we’d come through being the third boat. As each boat turned left another came up from the lock to the right, we’d be the forth in line.

The pound up to Middle Lock has a stretch of permanent moorings on it, which makes waiting for the lock tricksy as only one boat can tie up to wait. As I walked up to the lock I could see the two ladies from the boats ahead of us chatting, I’d expected to see one of them working the lock, but the boat that came from the right had insisted that she had opened the gates for her boat! Her brusque manor and rejection of any assistance had put a couple of noses out of joint. We stood and chatted, waited for the boat ahead to leave and close the gate before all three of us went up to reset the lock. With no-one coming down we worked our boats up in turn, helping the boat ahead and being helped by the one behind.

As the boat ahead of us left Shadehouse Lock I could see another approaching so I stood and waited awhile for them. I’m wanting to be able to cruise through the summer, so any water I can help save is worth a wait. Once we were up the lock we pulled into the moorings where there was plenty of space. Here there are trees on both sides of the cut offering us some shade. Tilly was straight out, avoiding the woofers from the next boat, I went straight into the field to find some friends.

The blue skies have been covered with clouds, which has brought the temperature down. This afternoon I have busied myself doing a bit of touching up to the paintwork on Oleanna. I was going to leave this until we’d done more narrow locks, but this morning Mick managed to put a big dink in the top of the hatch which went right down to the metal. So the blue paint came out and bits were touched in on the hatch and back doors. I then decided to touch up anything blue that has been scraped. So the rubbing strakes both at the bow and stern were rubbed back and touched in. On the day when we got stuck in a low pound on the Grand Union, Oleanna’s bow got caught under a ledge on a bridge hole as the water was rising. This could have ended quite badly, luckily she came free but the ledge left a couple of scrapes on the bow which also got touched in today.

Next job was to glue some felt onto the insides of our fender hooks. These fit very tightly onto our grab rail and I’ve noticed that they are starting to leave small marks on the cabin sides. So with some Uhu and some strips of felt I have covered the insides. They are a bit tighter, but at least the inside edge is now soft.

Mick has connected our router to run directly from the 12 volt supply, which means that it will now work when the inverter is off. Our phones have limited data allowance and latch onto the wifi from the router when it is on. Both of us last month ran out of our allowances as our phones were having to look after themselves first and last thing each day as we turn the inverter off over night. Hopefully this now won’t happen.

2 locks, 8.21 miles, 2 many moored boats, 3 crocodiles, 1 gnome hotel boat, 2.5 hours for breakfast and water, 1 queue jumper?! 4th in line, 5 minute wait for a boat,  14 fenders on 1 narrowboat, 1 shrew, 2 more friends, 4 trees, 2 woofers, 1 lovely catch up call, 2 J’s day, 5004 touched up, 0 blue paw prints, 4 fender hooks felted, 12volt router, 1 tired Tilly.

Springwoood Haven to Grendon Bridge 49

Before pushing off this morning there were a few chores to do.

Every three days we empty our yellow water tank, Mick unscrews the cap on the side of Oleanna, attaches a cap with a hose attachment, hose attached which then goes into a large black plastic tank that we can carry to an elsan for disposal. Once everything is set up I am given the okay and flick the switch inside to turn on the pump to empty the tank which is below our bathroom floor. Today though, shortly after I’d started the pump the noise changed for a second. What followed I could not see, but could imagine. The hose detached itself and a huge pumping plume of yellow water sored into the sky above Oleanna. Those whale gulpers sure can pump! I flicked the pump off as soon as  I could get to it, but the roof and cabin side were covered. Luckily Mick remained dry and an oncoming boat was far enough away to maybe not know what had happened.

Hose reattached the tank was emptied and then Mick washed Oleanna down with canal water. There was still quite an aroma. So as no-one was at the water point at Hartshill Wharf we decided to give the roof and cabin side a good wash down with fresh water using our blue brush. No way would we normally wash a boat on a water point, but today it was done as speedily as possible before we topped up the water tank. I suspect we’ll be being criticised on  Narrowboat Users Group for doing so as we were seen by several boats passing, no-one showed any sign of wanting water, if they had done we’d have moved on and winded to wash her down by hand.

All connections will be double checked in future to avoid a yellow fountain off the port side.

We moved on to find somewhere for lunch before the Atherstone flight. But as soon as we got anywhere near every space was taken. No choice but to start the locks and hope that there would be space five locks down. Except we had to wait, forth in the queue to go down and just as many coming up the flight, an efficient use of locks. The flight has a band of volunteer lockies, today there were four in radio contact with each other, so they can inform each other of boat movements and hold locks that are out of view from each other. We timed our descent with most of them stopping for lunch. But this didn’t matter that much as once down the first lock a boat was coming up in most of the next locks, so gates could be left and boats could just swap over. There were a couple of helpful souls on the flight who would open and close gates for us which made it all very easy.

Coming down the fifth lock we were closing the gates when we were shouted at that there was a boat coming out of the next lock, so we started to open them again. However the chap who had shouted was a local man who is autistic and comes to watch the boats, write their names down and has a great time, we’ve seen him before. He is harmless but you can’t take what he says as what is actually happening, he is too wound up with the excitement of it all, so we closed the gates again and found a space to stop for some lunch.

This however meant that when we pulled out again we were number three in the queue waiting to go down and ahead were a couple of single handers. With no-one coming up the lock had to be reset between each boat. In front of us was NB Ouse Dunnit, who we’d seen in Paddington basin a month ago. Despite living in York they moor on the Leeds Liverpool, we compared notes on various things in York and Scarborough as we waited for locks to fill and empty. After the first two locks boats were evenly spaced so you could help close up and have someone else arrive to help you close up. Towards the bottom of the flight there were boats coming up so we could swap chambers with them.

The sun had well and truly come out and the thought of stopping in full shade kept us going to finish the flight of eleven locks and push on a bit further to find a shaded mooring for the evening. Today we have managed to keep a day ahead of our plan, but instead of it taking us 3.5 hours it took around 6! The number of boats waiting at locks is slowing us down somewhat, and this is still two weeks before the season is at it’s busiest! Glad we’re not trying to do 7 hours cruising a day.

11 locks, 6.43 miles, 12 ft of wee, 2 scrubs, 4th in line, 11th boat down, 3rd in line, 30C, 6 single handing women! 2 in reality, 1 invisible boat coming, 2 hot for sun, 1 catch up tour, 1 shady mooring with trees!

As we were about to push off this morning NB Kallista, one of the Carefree Cruising boats, came past. The last time we followed this boat was near Napton Junction last May and the people on board made very slow progress in open countryside, was today going to be similar! Along the straight before Stretton Stop we could see that we were being followed, Kallista infront, then us, then another. Did this continue along the canal, just 150 ft between boats, a constant stream. The lady on Kallista hopped off to open the swing bridge. This is only a very small pedestrian swing bridge and has a narrow approach at both ends, no space for boats to pass and is only used by the boat yard to access their workshops. After they passed through it was swung closed again, a chap crossed over and then opened it back up for us, so all I had to do was hop off and swing it closed behind us.

Following Kallista was very slow, their tickover past moored boats has to be the slowest known on the waterways, no bad thing. Luckily once they had passed the moored boats the revs came back up and they motored along at a reasonable pace. A few more miles with a rain shower brought me inside where I found that Google was trying to protect us. In our spam folders were emails about our house from the letting agents. A quote for works and some photos of some damp patches that had appeared last week, when will this end! So when a space with mooring rings showed itself we stopped for some lunch and to digest the quote for digging up the kitchen floor!

A few more miles and the pylon forest announced our approach to Hawkesbury Junction where the Oxford meets the Coventry Canal with a stop lock, Sutton Lock. Not too many boats waiting and the water points before were free, so we pulled in to top up the tank and dispose of our rubbish. We were soon joined by NB Kallista who stopped to do the same. A conversation was soon struck up as our shareboat had been with the same company. We caught up on quite a bit of news and heard that the boats currently moored at Welton will be moving to the new marina we’d moored by the other night. So no more spying WD through the hedge as we head to Crick.

Once the water tank was full we each took our turn working through the stop lock, about a foot drop in level. Here the Greyhound pub did it’s best to call us in for a beer, but it was still too early to stop and if we could get a day ahead of ourselves that would be good. One thing that would have stopped us would have been a moored up Tench, Alarum Theatre are performing their show at the pub tomorrow and Thursday nights and it would have been very rude of us to pass them by without at least saying hello. However there was no sign, so Mick brought Oleanna round in one move, under the bridge and turning the 180 degrees onto the Coventry Canal with ease.
Of course once we were a mile or so further on who do we see! A narrowing with a boat coming through so we pulled over to the let them through only to see the distinct bow of Tench closely behind. We waved Heather through and just had time to say hello before the distance was too great to talk anymore. If only they’d arrived half an hour earlier, oh well. Another mile further and Kate came by on NB Morning Mist.

With the sloped sides of the Oxford Canal behind us the Coventry has numerous places to stop, most of the edge is Armco and having just been recently mown it looked possible to moor anywhere. But we decided to continue on and get through Nuneaton (Pooh Alley) today. All the mannequins had moved round and been recostumed at Charity Dock, well apart from The Stig. In amongst all the stuff there was actually a real human being! A first for us here and then at the corner there was actually a gap into the dry dock, admittedly only a small cruiser would be able to get through the gap, but it was still a gap.

Passing the entrance to the Ashby again. We still haven’t been up there, we’re always heading somewhere else and just don’t have time to make the most of it. Maybe next year.

Our destination for the day came into view opposite Springwood Haven Marina. Here there is a wide towpath and plenty of trees to make a perfect cat playground for the evening. Once moored up we got out the barbecue and sat out on our chairs to have food whilst Tilly came back and forth for hours. They don’t think I noticed the bunny friends, but I did! This evening I  heard that I hadn’t been quite the right person to design the panto, disappointed yes, but it does mean that my summer won’t be spent juggling boating with making models and visiting scenery workshops. However if anyone wants a model making, I’m your girl.