The tunnel light shone on the roof of the tunnel. The nav lights glowed by the top front corners of the cabin. I sat still hoping my weight would assist at the bow. Once Oleanna had been lined up fully with the tunnel, Mick gave the engine just a little spurt of power.
It’s only 75 yards long!
The portside was getting quite close to the curving roof, should I just push it clear a touch? It’s never a good idea to fend off at the bow, Oleanna’s made of steel, she can withstand contact with brick, skin is less effective. I checked with Mick at the stern, no idea what he may or may not be able to see.
Mick’s back there somewhere
A blast of bow thruster, then the other way just a touch. A jot more from the engine. Oleanna glided onwards. A little scraping noise from the port side, was that the grabrail or the gunnel?
A green arrow on the wall indicated the nearest exit was behind us, ‘That way out’. Another 60ft and the arrow pointed the opposite way, ‘This way out’. Oleanna was still moving, if we got stuck now would anybody know?! A hire boat had pulled up at the end of the moorings on the west side of the tunnel, maybe they’d know if we’d made it or not.
Slowly and steadily Mick nudged Oleanna onwards, a burst of power to starboard, forward a touch, port, forward.
After 8 minutes the bow of Oleanna was back out in the day light. We’d been warned that the canal takes a sharp turn to the left on exiting so it would be good to start moving the bow over as soon as you could, using the bow thruster.
Mick was still kneeling at the stern, torch pointing forward. Then gradually the stern appeared into the light, so did Mick’s head. The bow being pushed across to miss the bank. As he stood up we’d made it through!
The sign suggests a passage time through the tunnel of 2 minutes at 2mph, well it had taken us 10 minutes! But we’d done it. No-one there but ourselves to witness it!
Oleanna’s smile slightly relieved.
We pootled to above Froghall Lock 1, this is the first lock down onto the Uttoxeter Canal, the first of 17 locks and 13 miles. Today you can only go down one lock where there is a basin you can moor in. Time for me to turn the windlass, Mick could do it on the way back, but I had to work this lock.
Lock 1 of the Uttoxeter Canal
The bottom gates leaked like a waterfall, no wonder as they get little use. Oleanna dropped down into the basin. Would there be room for her? On past visits I think there has always been at least one boat moored, one occasion three, but today we had it all to ourselves. Mick backed us in, tied us off, a silver propellor location reached. Not that we’ve taken the evidential photos elsewhere, but we think we’ve now been to at least 18.
In Froghall Basin
A little walk round confirmed that despite it being a lovely mooring it wouldn’t be safe for Tilly, a road passing quite close by. We broke the news to her gently. GENTLY!!!!!! I’m a silver propellor cat and you just don’t give a monkey about my welfare!!
We walked over to Hetty’s Tea Room to see if there was a menu we could peruse maybe for breakfast, none on display. Across in the car park were the three cyclists we’d seen at Wood Lock earlier, they’d been heading to Leek. We stopped for quite a chat with them. They’d enjoyed their bike ride and met various interesting people and had been all the way to Leek and back in the time we’d not even done half the distance. We think they had all spent time on life boats, one of them said he used to work on the Chiswick life boat, another did training on the Humber.
No neighbours!
We returned to Oleanna and grumpy Tilly. A big chilli was cooked up, enough for three meals, and a glass or two of wine to celebrate getting Oleanna through Froghall.
So todays journey at the top of this post should read
Cheddleton Visitor Moorings to Froghall Basin
A slight scratch
6 locks, 5.6 miles, 1 lift bridge, 1 river section, 1 burst hosepipe, 1 chimney removed, 2 horns relaxed, 1 boats pensive smile, 1 pram and cratch cover removed, 1 tiller pin removed, 1 gauge, 10 minutes in the dark, 1 little scuff on the grabrail, 2 happy boaters, 1 grumpy cat! 0 TV but good internet signal!
Cows slurluping at 5am across the way woke Tilly and myself, Mick totally oblivious as he was making his own noises! It took us a while to get back to sleep, but we managed it.
Hazelhurst Junction
A load of washing was put on then we moved up to the services. Here we joined two more boats. The far one was the boat that had followed us up the staircase a couple of days ago. When had they gone past? They were facing towards Stoke too!? Have to say we’d been surprised not to have seen them yesterday. They are very early risers, 6am, so had passed whilst we were well asleep. They’d also been to the end of both arms of the Caldon! No stopping them. I asked where they moored on the Oxford, the bottom of Claydon before Cropredy, Yes I knew where they meant, we’ll wave next time we go past. They’ve certainly been going for it, our map suggests there and back with both arms is a 21 hour cruise from Etruria, I suspect they’ll be off the canal before the end of the day.
To Froghall please
With water topped up, the alpine strawberry plants tidied up, their babies added to the hedgerow, we moved on towards Hazlehurst Junction. Here the canal splits into two. The right turn stays on the level and sweeps round over Hazlehurst Aqueduct and on to Leek. Straight on drops down three locks goes under the aqueduct and onwards towards Froghall where the canal used to meet up with the Uttoxeter Canal. We decided to go straight on, down the locks.
In the top lock
We’d brought with us a reed island, Mick hauled it out of the lock and deposited it over the lock bridge out of the way before lifting paddles. Just after the third lock there is Bridge 37, this had to be rebuilt a few years ago, closing the Froghall Arm for quite sometime. It does look new, some weathering required for it to sink into the landscape.
Landscape is what we’d have today, it’s nice to be back in the hills.
We wound our way down under the aqueduct, here we’d had two kingfishers sat on branches waiting for us to pass the last time we were here, no such luck today. The moorings at the pub were full, a large Hare sat behind a garden shed. Residential moorings ask for you to slow down, we’d no choice as Oleanna’s depth slowed us to just about a stop in one bridge hole.
Through plenty of wood, Rowan a common sight with it’s red berries. The moorings before the flint mill were just about empty. We pulled up as soon as we could a view to our portside to wake up to between the trees, that would do nicely. Tilly was warned not to eat her own body weight and let out for an hour whilst we had lunch.
Debby from NB Bonjour had mentioned about there being Pre-Raphaelite windows in St Edwards Church, we could just see the tower from our mooring, anywhere to the south of the canal would mean a steep hill to climb, but it couldn’t be that far! Surely!
Up towards the busy road
With walking stick in hand we set off down past the flint mill both water wheels turning, crossed the canal and started to walk uphill. The first turn on the right gave us a steeper hill to climb, a very steady pace required.
The chancel roof
St Edwards dates back to the 13th C, some walling possibly back to the 12th C. The church has had several restorations, one in Elizabethan times but the biggest was in 1863/4 when Sir Gilbert G Scott made major changes.
The chancel roof was repainted in the 1950s, symbols depicting local connections to the church. The book, for paper. The knot, the Staffordshire knot (not a pretzel!). The boat, for the canal. The plant, Madder from which dye is produced a favourite dark red used by William Morris. Morris spent three years in Leek learning about dyes.
What a stunning window
At first glance around the church the one window that stands out from all the others is of three angels drawn by Burne Jones. The colours which were chosen by Morris sing out. It’s a lovely window.
William and his wife
Then closer inspection, the majority of the other windows are of a similar time. One depicts a couple facing each other. The chap is reported to be a portrait of William Morris stood opposite his wife. She is bare footed, he has red socks, but he also must have been a messy eater as he needed a very large napkin tucked into his collar!
What a lovely church, thank you Debby for mentioning it. My knee was going to have to walk down the hill, so as along as we found a fairly level path to the shops I’d not have to do too much more downhill. A footpath was found which connected the older part of Cheddleton to the newer busier Leek Road. A pint of milk and a loaf of bread, Bargain Booze managed to have both and tucked in the fridge were a pile of freshly made oatcakes. At £1.45 for 6 they make the ones you make yourself very expensive.
Oatcakes, kept in the chiller
Back on board I made up the Oatcake mix we’d bought at Great Haywood, leaving it to rest for half an hour, so the yeast had time to do it’s stuff. I cooked up the last of our Oxford sausages and sliced them, some mushrooms were cooked and cheese grated. Four oat cakes were cooked, kept warm, then the filling was added to each in turn, cooked in the frying pan to melt the cheese. Two each, very yummy. The remainder of the batter was then cooked up, each cake left to cool before being popped in the freezer for another time.
Where we’re headed we may not have internet for a couple of days. Where we’re going has a low tunnel, we’re going to see if Oleanna can get through it! Tune in next time to see if we succeeded. If we never post again, it’s because we’re stuck in Froghall Tunnel!
3 locks, 2.8 miles, 1 straight on, 1 speedy cruising boat, 1 pretty wooden canoe, 1 late night boat, 1 church, 1 steep hill, there and back, 3 angels, 0 pretzels, 5 oatcakes, 6 for another time, 0 oxford sausages left, 2 bricks purchased, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.
Every morning, as we put the cross bed away, we are finding fish in our bed! Of the cat nip variety. Nobody knows how they are getting in under the duvet every day and no-one is claiming responsibility either!
I wonder how they get there?!
Before anything else this morning I needed to contact my doctors surgery. Unfortunately the pain killer I’ve been on for nearly a month has brought back an old problem, extra medication was prescribed last week to help with this, but it was a touch too late. I filled out the forms, had a phone call from a receptionist asking if I could go to the surgery this afternoon! I explained about being away from Scarborough for the summer, when asked when I’d be back, ‘Well I don’t know, it might be 8 weeks time or it might not be until the New Year’. But if I did need to see a doctor I could be there tomorrow. She went away to hand it back to the doctor.
Half an hour later another phone call from a Paramedic Practitioner who listened to everything. She was surprised that I hadn’t been given the extra medication to start with. Pain killer to be stopped, keep taking the new one for three months to settle things down and she prescribed some Ibuprofen Gel to be rubbed into my knee which should help with the pain. She nicely prescribed me two months worth of everything so I wouldn’t have to request them again, also saving on the prescription costs. All sorted within an hour! I made sure I thanked her for saving me a trip to Scarborough.
Levels are down
Our departure had obviously been delayed this morning. The sun was out and the Carefree Cruising crew next door were busy polishing out some scratches before returning to base.
Past the Rothern Base, plenty of boats in there. Past the Hartshill Yard with it’s lovely clock. The canals level obviously down as we passed spillways that were bone dry and the water a good six inches too low to flow over into them.
Mafting, Yorkshire for a touch too warm!
This family must have been mafting this morning on the outskirts of Atherstone. A neighbouring house for sale.
For Sale. I personally don’t get the GREY thing. Click photo for details
The Hat factory above the locks looks even more dilapidated, there was a fire here recently. Kay from Welford, as she cruises around the network selling her canal ware, posts interesting bits of history about the areas to her face book page. One of the latest was about the hat factory.
The Hat Factory
I recently passed by the old Britannia works at Atherstone. Each year it looks a little sadder as more windows are broken. For so many years this hat factory, and so many others in Atherstone, reflected the twists and turns in society, global events and local life.
Many of the hatmakers on the factory floor were young women – often still teenagers, working long hours in the factory. Legislation through the Victorian era and into the 20th Century offered some protection for these women, especially when the local government factory inspector turned up to check everything was legal.
In this account in the 1930s the factory owners were fined for the excessive hours the girls were working. 14 hour days, rather than the legal 12 hours. Interestingly the court was asked to take this as a first offence for Wilson and Stafford (the owners of the Britannia works), however a dig into the archives reveals a fine for a similar events in 1912, when Wilson and Stafford were fined over issues of excessive overtime and not displaying the legal requirements on the walls of the factory.
The excuse of the owners for the 14 hour oversight is, through 21st Century eyes, quite bizzare. Basically they claimed the introduction of new machines was so exciting to the young women no one wanted to stop working! Though interestingly the factory inspector notes that other factories in the town were sticking to the 12 hour working day.
Factory work was, for some women, a way to escape the drudgery of domestic service where young women went to work, and often live, in their employer’s home, taking on all domestic work and often child care. However, work in a factory was far from easy and long hours, often in noisy, dusty environments was hardly an easy way to earn a living, especially when the employer added another 2 hours onto an already long working day.
As we approached the top of the locks we could see three volunteers, then a forth, a boat sat in the lock with the top gate open. We trod water for quite sometime. Was the owner the person chatting to a volunteer, looking at a map on a phone? No it was the chap looking through the books and DVDs by the volunteers station. Eventually he’d chosen what he wanted and started to move out of the lock.
Two volunteers helped Oleanna down, sending Mick on to open the next lock. They then refilled the top lock to send some water down the next pound looking quite low. Down the second lock, a boat was ascending the third. I pulled over to hover towards the bank, stopping about 2ft out, grounded, this pound was low too. The uphill boat came past with a volunteer, I hoped their movement would help drag Oleanna off the bottom, but it didn’t.
Reverse, HARD reverse, nothing! Forwards, nothing. Mick came and pushed with a pole, first the stern then the bow. Some movement then a sudden stop. A chap came from a boat below, the two of them now pushing. Oleanna was sat on something, the bow would move but not the stern. Mick walked back to the lock above, the volunteer having left the top gate open, no downhill boat in sight. Mick closed it then lifted a bottom paddle. The wave from above along with the other chap pushing the stern got Oleanna off what lay beneath. Another volunteer walked past, ‘think we’d best let some water down’. Yep that would help!
Thank you Mr Man
Finally we were in the lock and descending again. Into the fourth lock, below a boat on the water point another boat facing uphill a fifth or was it now sixth volunteer by the fifth lock. Crew walked up, then walked back to their boats, finally someone thought to walk up to help with opening the bottom gates.
Such a pretty flight
Here I could pull into the side, the boat on the water point had gone down. Mick had peeked ahead as much as you can do under the road bridge and not seen anything coming. The person at the helm of the down hill boat hadn’t said anything so gates were closed, only for a chap to turn up two seconds later wanting to bring his boat up. Gates were opened again, boat brought in. I decided to tie up and wait. I’ve been refraining from doing this as much as possible, but now it would be wise to do so.
Chat chat chat chat chat!
Too much chatting with volunteers and not enough paddle operation going on. The lady at the helm didn’t give Mick the thumbs up to lift his paddle, then eventually she got through to her partner and got him to lift a paddle, she’d spotted that we were waiting, he was oblivious!
Oleanna waiting for her turn
I also don’t push the bow out at the moment, the bow thruster can do that job for me. This meant I got a disapproving look from the lady going up hill. Well I suppose I comment on people steering with their bow thrusters but that’s normally when they go into locks and they must have a fixed tiller and not be able to use it to steer. Today I used the thruster to get away from the bank without wincing with pain, my super dooper painkillers now starting to wear off.
Last lock behind us
Down the last lock of the day, two spaces on the moorings, we needed one so grabbed it quickly an uphill boat found another space. After lunch we walked into Atherstone. Time to find a shop that would sell me an 18th birthday card for my nephew Josh, whilst I spent time selecting Mick headed on further to pick up my new prescription. We then found a bench to sit on to write cards and popped them in the post.
Birthday card
The Co-op is now a Tescos, Aldi is still Aldi and opposite. We worked our way round Tescos stocking up for the next week. Only one check out was manned so we used a self service one which really was stupid. It couldn’t cope with things being put in the bagging area, I don’t know how many times we had to call someone over to help us! Mick did very badly at avoiding a Geraghty strop!
I’m getting bored of reading these, but just as well I did with the last pills!
Back on board Tilly was given a hour and a half. It’s not a very interesting outside this one! Well until she came in still with half an hour to go, the woofer from the boat behind was being taken inside, Tilly could have the rest of her shore leave. At 6pm, cat curfew she wasn’t back. Mad cat woman on the towpath. Half an hour later more calling and meowing. Another half hour later more shouting! I gave up. Mick took over and of course he took all the credit as Tilly appeared from just the other side of the hedge! Where’s my dingding!?! Not sorry for being late!
5 locks, 4 miles, 3 boats swapping, 7 maybe 8 volunteers, why don’t they have a volunteer at each lock, be easier to monitor levels and problems that way, just saying, 200g Fenbid, 56 more pills, 2 cards in the post, 3 bags shopping, 1 Geraghty strop, take cover! 1 stop out cat.
An earlier train to Rugby today. I got to the station in very good time, I might even have been able to catch the train before the one I’d planned, but that was running very late and still hadn’t arrived by the time my train was wending it’s way in towards Birmingham.
HS2 coming into town
HS2 has sections of viaduct now visible from the train. Four structures sit high heading to pass the old Curzon Street Station building which currently sits surrounded by fencing with dumper trucks moving shades of brown stuff around it. The tram obliged and arrived a minute after I had and whisked me to Brindley Place.
Athletics on the big screen and billowing deck chairs. Boats were departing the moorings, 2 for Farmers Bridge and one heading off towards the Soho Loop. A couple untied their boat, bow hauled it away from Sheepcote Street Bridge. They moved a boats length then stopped two bollards between themselves and the next boat. I counted paces as I passed, 16! I almost made a comment that ‘My boat wouldn’t fit in that git gap’, but refrained as I know they’d have replied that there was plenty of space elsewhere, which there was, but come late afternoon there might not be for a late arriving boat.
Today at the dentists I saw Tom the hygienist. It’s the third or fourth time I’ve seen him. On our first meeting his rocking from foot to foot and scrumishing his hands together whilst he talked slightly worried me, now he makes me think of a Hamster waiting for a fresh toilet roll or some nice sunflower seeds to come his way.
Hello!
A peek from Liberty Place Footbridge before heading for the train. NB Waterway Routes was at home, the back doors open. I knew I’d be told off by Paul if I didn’t say hello, but it was just a touch too far to shout. Mick was slow to respond with a phone number and it was starting to rain. I waved even though I knew I’d not be seen and headed back to New Street Station before getting too wet.
It’s going to have an empty life as it was out of service!
After lunch and with Tilly home it was raining properly, but we really wanted to move. Up to the water point to fill up, dispose of yellow water and watch a chap walk across to the car park with one of those big chunky C&RT posts with mooring signs on it. He then popped it in the boot of his car. It did look like it had a rotten base and had fallen over, wonder where he took it?
Post into the boot
Not far to travel today, just another mileish to the Newbold moorings near the Barley Mow, plenty of room there. Tilly was given shore leave and we rang the pub to reserve a table. Maybe we needn’t have done so as there was no competition for seats, once Lizzie had arrived there were four punters in the pub. Maybe it was good that we had booked as they didn’t close their kitchen early.
Lizzie, Mick and Pip
A Barley Burger and two rump Steaks. Just as good as two years ago, the plates just as cold too! We had a lovely evening with Lizzie, more time to be able to chat than at her birthday party a few weeks ago. She’s promised to come out and see us somewhere as we head northwards.
The alarm again, but not quite so early. We’d not be getting the sunrise views of yesterday. Dressed and cuppas made, waterproofs, life jackets and the big torch out the back. Hopefully we’d both have drunk our tea before our mugs would get topped up in Blisworth Tunnel.
Blisworth Tunnel at 7am
As we entered we both exclaimed that we couldn’t see the other end. Blisworth may be 1.7 miles long but it is straight. I think it was just our eyes getting accustomed to the lack of light as within 50 meters the pin prick of light could be seen. The advantage of going into the tunnel at early o’clock is that we were unlikely to meet anyone coming the other way, we had the tunnel to ourselves.
Big torch at the stern showing the concrete central section of the tunnel
The torrent of water that cascades from one of the air shafts wasn’t as bad as we remembered it and avoidance tactics were taken so we missed the worst of it. Other drips gave the roof a good wetting. Our big torch at the stern not only helps you to see at the helm it also means you get to see details on the brickwork and concrete sections. Why are some of the deposits orange and others creamy white?
Straight on to Braunston
Out the other side. A lack of boats moored before the bridge. Where have lots of boats gone? Past the wonderful old mill and northwards. Straight on at Gayton Junction, we’re heading northwards. Boat names and decorations to keep us amused.
At Bugbrook we waved across the pub garden to Unusual where our friend Lizzie works, a new building with actual windows gives some views towards the canal. In the tree lined cutting the Raymond and Nutfield crew were eating their breakfast, soon to cast off and follow us.
40 bags of coal piled up very neatly on someone’s mooring. Coal bought at this time of year comes with discounts so if you have a permanent mooring it’s worth it.
Round another bend the service mooring at Rugby Boats was available. We pulled in to top up on diesel £1.09 domestic today. I stepped off to look at the boats on brokerage, skipping across the posters for their names. NB Quaintrelle! We’d wondered what had happened to Mike and Aileen. Years ago when we were all new to boating we’d shared the Long Buckby flight then our paths crossed several more times before they headed off to explore the French waterways. Their last posts had them with two feline crew and having finished cruising the waters across the channel. Two years ago we’d seen Quaintrelle moored at Weedon. All the best to the new owners you’ve a boat that’s been places and we hope Mike and Aileen are well and have happy future plans.
Very neat potential heat
Not far now to our planned mooring for the day. There was space on Weedon Bec embankment. The moorings on the offside by the church would soon have the benefit of shade, so we pulled in there. The bank is extreamly low only about four inches higher than the water in the canal so quite a big step for my knees. Today I’ve developed a side step so that I can step around the cratch board to be able to tie the bow line, something I’ve been avoiding for the last couple of weeks. But once back on the boat today I wouldn’t be hopping on and off, I’d be staying put.
Finishing breakfast before setting off
Tilly was given a couple of hours and we sat down for a very late breakfast. Tilly did get longer, I just wanted her to come in for a drink every now and again as it was so hot. After a while Mick headed off to check on suitable parking places nearby. He found Tilly checking out the cemetery and suggested it was time she came back to the boat rather than follow him! Blimey all the way back up this outside, its very steep, so inconsiderate on a hot day!
Plenty of boats came past, our mooring lines had quite a bit of play in them, time for a spring line, but also we needed better fenders as Oleanna bumped and scraped along a submerged shelf. First the buoys were tried, they had nothing to stop them from rising up onto the bank. Then the tyres, these certainly held us out, but also wanted to pop up over the bank edge as it was so shallow. Mick had an idea, the mud weight we’d been given a few years ago might just be the thing. He tied a rope to the mud weight and then tied the tyre to the weight. The mud weight was lowered into the canal and the tyre fender sat at the right height. Brilliant, no more grinding on the submerged shelf.
Tyre fender with mud weight
Being on the off side meant we expected little footfall. A couple walked past part way through the afternoon, both with backpacks. We thought they were heading for the boat behind us. Normally there would have followed noises of boat doors being opened, but their conversation just drifted away as if they’d carried on walking past the boat. Mick saw no evidence of anyone on the boat during the remainder of the day. So either the couple were very quiet at opening doors and sat with no lights on or they had gone elsewhere. Were they Weedon Bec’s version of the Wheelie Shoppers of Nantwich?
Mick headed off to pick up a hire car, Daventry’s Enterprise has just recently moved to Weedon. I took the opportunity of having the boat to myself to do my exercises in front of the tv. From start to finish it took me 40 minutes. When my brother had knee problems recently he was only given four exercises to do, they took him ten minutes. I’m meant to do mine twice a day! Hopefully as I get better at them they will take less time.
Just checking things out
With the car picked up, Mick dug out our recent purchase of a trolley, time to take the contents from our separating toilet back to the compost bins at the house. Three trips to the car, three times up and down the embankment, he certainly got his exercise today. On his final return trip he heard quite a lot of buzzing around his head. Then a sting! He returned straight to the boat. Good job he’s not got that much hair as I could see the sting in his scalp.
Before pulling it out with tweezers I checked what to do on line. It suggested scraping the sting out with something blunt, pulling it might release more poison. I scraped and scraped, there couldn’t be any poison left in it, it didn’t want to come out, so the tweezers were needed. A clean with soap and water, followed by a small bag of frozen peas applied for ten minutes, off for ten, then back on again. An anti-histamine was also taken, it hurt, but thankfully his head didn’t swell up. Time for a more relaxed evening, listening to the very good bell ringing practice from our nearest neighbours at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church.
Above Soloman’s Bridge to Stoke Bruerne Visitor Moorings
Sometimes it’s really worth getting up early
An early alarm. We wanted to be up Stoke Bruerne locks before the sun was heating everything. A cuppa was made then Mick pushed us off, no time for exercises this morning! Well I suppose I could have done them as we cruised along on the flat, but that would have meant missing out on the sun rising and I wasn’t going to do that.
Gorgeous
Already above the horizon as we pushed off it was beautiful. Just the right amount of clouds to add to the picture.
Hello!
A wave to NB Briar Rose as we passed Thrupp Wharf. Adam’s mooring was a touch further and it was available, this had been our scheduled stop for yesterday. Currently in the shade, but the sun would soon be streaming over the hedge and stay heating it up until sunset, we’d chosen last nights mooring well.
Slowly past any moored boats. Windows, doors open to let the cool air inside, they didn’t want waking by us. Scum appeared on the canal surface. It got thicker the further we went. By Kingfisher Marina it was really bad, then within a hundred yards it vanished and the canal was back to it’s sludgy brown self.
Sheep clambered to reach the tastiest morsels, a fence now holding it’s inhabitants safe away from the waters edge, one year we had to mount a rescue for a lamb who’d discovered that it couldn’t swim very well.
Four boats sat below the flight. Was anyone stirring? Might we have a locking partner? We crept past, no sign of any life.
Clinging on
Mick went to set the bottom lock, only a foot of water to empty. As I passed the bottom gates I could see a crayfish clinging to the side of the gate. Almost certainly a Signal Crayfish an invasive species. It looked like it had lost one of it’s big claws, after a minute or so it fell back into the lock beneath the water.
Opposite gate paddle lifted
We worked our way up the bottom five locks, most with just a small amount of water requiring emptying before the lock was set. Dog walkers were starting to appear, a chap opened his car doors, a pot of flowers on the bonnet. No need for jumpers now, the world was starting to warm up.
Sold £379,000 click photo for details
Mick hopped back on board so that I could have a sit down before the top two locks. The next lock was full but was soon emptied and as Oleanna rose I glanced ahead, a volunteer popping his head round the bridge above. We’d been spotted, then the top lock started to empty. Was there a boat coming down? Or was it being dropped for us?
Curious
A hire boat appeared, Dad at the helm, Mum and a little girl in a Captain’s hat accompanied a volunteer walking down. The top lock would have been their first lock of their trip, for us it would be our 543rd of the year.
A volunteer stayed to help us, Mick and the chap chatted away. Another boat arrived above ready to take our place in the lock. Now we needed to find some shade, ahead a tree lined cutting, we hoped to find some good cover for the rest of the day.
Two hire boats looked like they’d got a good stretch, up ahead another patch looked good. We pulled in in front of another boat tied up and sat down for our breakfast at 10am, the days cruising complete.
Tilly was given 8 hours shore leave with the request to return for water at regular intervals. She was kept busy in the friendly cover for quite some time.
A good shady spot
The sun moved over, starting to catch us. The boat behind pushed off, a more comprehensive patch of shade just behind where it had been moored. Luckily Tilly came home just as we were wanting to pull back into the new patch of shade. This lasted us for the remainder of the day. Our days mission complete. Locks climbed before it got too hot and to keep the boat as cool as possible.
We’ve cruised through Stoke Bruerne several times now, but never visited the museum, it’s either been closed or we’ve had visitors. So with walking pole we took our time walking back to the museum. It being an old wharf building there was no step free access, but so long as time was taken and I could sit down periodically it would be fine.
The museum is laid out over two floors. Various objects sit in cases. One corner suggests a blacksmiths forge. A boatman’s cabin can be leered inside of. Details about Blisworth Tunnel. Smells of the tunnel and horses! All quite child friendly.
A spider belt
Two things we didn’t know before we visited. 1 That the boat women made Spider Belts for the men, worn for Sunday best. 2 That the tunnel was cleaned periodically to clear the soot from the walls, a very dirty job. There was also a cross section of the Grand Union, interesting as it showed Foxton Summit pound to be higher than Tring, the Welford Arm even higher.
Cross section of the Grand Union Canal
There are also three examples of roses, as in Roses and Castles done by three different people. William Hodgson (left), worked as an artist for Anderton Boat Company in Stoke. He was shown how to paint at the Northwich School of Art and also painted theatre backdrops. He included racehorses, swans and sunsets in his paintings and his roses were considered to look the most realistic. Have to say his style was my favourite. Frank Nurser (middle) worked at Braunston at the Nurser Brothers boatyard. His roses started with a large petal to which smaller ones were added around it. He also painted fairytale castles. His style is possible the most common you’ll see today. Then Fred Winnet (right), he worked as a painter for the Clayton Company at Oldbury. His style very painterly and the least like flowers of the three.
Some chilled medication was enjoyed in the shade of some trees outside before we slowly returned to Oleanna to let Tilly back out.
Blueberry Cookie, not as good as it could have been, also not in focus
The rest of the afternoon was taken up with yarn auditions for sock pair 31 and taking a digs list booking for our house next year! Is it too early to be starting to plan what we’ll be doing in the Spring yet?
7 locks, 6.1 miles, 05:15 alarm, 2 jumpers, 1 amazing sky, 1km of scummy scum, 8 HOURS! 1 cool boat, 1st visit, 1 Mr Ben, 2 many stupid comments, 0 chairs on the top floor, 2 magnum medications, 3 pairs socks wrapped and ready to go, 8 weeks!
Time for knee exercises. This morning I decided to have a go on the bed before it was put away for the day as the majority of stretches are done lying down. Most worked, although I wonder whether a firmer surface would be better as they seemed a lot easier this morning than when I’d done them in front of the sofa. One however required using the bed diagonally as other wise my foot was trapped under the gunnel. They take time, the time I usually spend writing the blog! I’m currently chasing the blogs tail and am a few days behind. Just need to sort a new routine.
Ready and waiting for zoom
As I stretched away half an hour Mick got to work in the galley with breakfast. We’d not quite finished when the Geraghty zoom started. Subjects, 2024 Olympics, The Last Supper, Strawberry eating Squirrels for the third time, swarf, and Romanians falling off things.
Tim on Sola Gratia heading off as Mick crosses the lock gates
As we were about to get ourselves sorted to move off NB Sola Gratia’s engine was started up, their pram hood lowered and they pushed off. Perfectly timed as a boat was just coming out of the lock. Next it was our turn, we pushed off and got ourselves ready to wave.
Simply must wave
Back in 2014 the end house opposite the moorings had a very well kept garden and sat behind the French windows two people waved at us as we came past. Such an enthusiastic wave we obviously reciprocated. Ever since whenever we pass we wave with the hope of getting one back in return. The garden isn’t quite so immaculate as it was and who knows if the same people live there, I hope they do, a medical looking table/trolley sits by the French window obscuring our view. From a few feet into the darkness we could just see an enthusiastic wave back and maybe even a thumbs up! I so hope other people wave to them to help brighten up everyone’s day.
Heel turned now onto the home straight
I got my knitting out to carry on whilst we cruised along on the flat. The trip to Scarborough and visitors for a day meant despite starting this pair of socks early, I would need to do a sprint to get them finished before the end of today.
Past familiar sights, the bridge that kept us south during winter 2015, lots of familiar boats, a friendly heron taking advantage of a good perch. Before one bridge there was a breasted up pair that had come past earlier, they were breasted up to another narrowboat. Turns out they were there to mend someone’s cratch cover, plenty of space to get past them. Red Lion Cruising club where we’d watched a Mikron show a few years ago. There was space at Campbell Park if we’d wanted it, but we were hoping of a much better mooring.
Under a couple of bridges, there on the offside was a space we’d been hoping for, Linford Manor. The first space has notices saying that it is reserved for Electra the community boat, but that is only on Tuesdays. The second space is still a 48 hour mooring we pulled in there, shame not to have the view across the park, but instead we had some shade. Tilly was given a few hours shore leave and we settled in.
Glad they’ve left a bit of it untidy
With our shopping I got a chicken, too hot to roast it so it was jointed, the majority heading for the freezer. I diced up one breast ready for some kebabs, marinaded it for a couple of hours before threading it onto skewers. Veg and haloumi kebabs were also prepared. The kebab rest would be used to it’s full capacity today.
Kebabs are us
Another boat arrived and moored behind us. Tilly and one of their dogs had a slight altercation through the side hatch. But we all soon settled down to cook our food outside. What a lovely evening.
0 locks, 6.6 miles, 9 exercises, 1 diagonal, 1 smelly stretchy band, 1 stool, 1 Tilly getting in the way, Well she doesn’t know how to do cat yoga! 14 rows left, 48hour garden mooring, 2 chicken kebabs, 4 veg and haloumi kebabs, 2 sniffy woofers, 2 bowls of chilled medication, 2 hot for a stamp.
Burnt Oak Bridge to Fenny Stratford 1 day moorings
A bit of a rush around this morning as our visitors were on their way, walking towards us from the Soulbury 3. Mick had just about sorted the covers out when they arrived. Time for a cuppa and enough time to bake some biscuits for later.
The last time we caught up with Mike and Chris was at the very end of 2019. They valiantly joined us to work up Hatton and Lapworth over a couple of days in the cold. Mike was a couple of years above me at college, we became good friends during our time in Croydon.
At the top
We pootled up to the top of Soulbury. Here Mick and Chris headed off with windlasses to set the lock. A boat was just coming up and there were two volunteers on hand to assist also. Chris and Mike are very keen to work locks so Mick took on a more supervisory role.
Plenty of crew today
There was a lot of news to catch up on. Health matters. Aging mothers and a passed Aunt. Chris three years ago had moved out from London to near Newport Pagnall so they were very handy for today.
Mike and Pip
The locks whizzed by. At the bottom Chris headed off to move their car to Stoke Hammond Lock leaving us to cruise there, he’d be there way before us, or so we thought!
Don’t get them started on Douglas Adams!
A widebeam It’s Five O’clock Somewhere was on the water point, we’d seen it earlier as we’d had a cuppa before setting off. On we pootled, conversation never halting, Douglas Adams and Monty Python quotes a plenty.
As we’d set off later than planned we decided to pull up just short of Stoke Hammond for a sandwich. Chris had arrived before us, but then was told it was a private road and if he stayed where he was parked someone would block him in on purpose! So he had to move elsewhere, he was given directions to a bridge behind us. Once he’d parked up he joined the towpath. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere came past, logically to Chris, the widebeam was ahead of us so he started to walk. When the side of the pub came into view he realised his mistake, he’d walked back to where he’d started! Poor fella, his step count would more than make up for mine for the day.
Not the sight Chris wanted to see
Lunch and then down Stoke Hammond. The flowers are still as good as ever above the lock. With gates closed Chris set off again to walk back to the car, so glad we don’t have to do car shuffles. Just as we were about to set off again I realised we were a windlass short. There had been three at the top of Soulbury, Chris had one and Mick had one. We halted and had a check round, there it was in the grass.
Mick supervising Mike
Christmas exchanges between Mike and myself had consisted of suggestions that we would meet up when we next came through MK, which is what has happened. I jokingly had said that they could come and assist at Fenny Stratford Lock as it was such hard work! With only an 11″ height difference and a swing bridge it is very easy.
An extreamly rare photo of us both in role reversal
Chris and Pip
We passed It’s Five O’clock Somewhere moored up for the day, safely out of confusions way. Chris of course had made it to the lock far quicker than us. A boat having come up the lock had pulled in on the services leaving the lock and swing bridge wide open. Straight into the lock. With only one paddle at the bottom end working I was determined to work the lock, leaving the boys to close gates I wound the paddle up. What a nice feeling, it’ll be the only one I do for a while sadly.
Fenny Stratford Lock
On the 1 day mooring ahead was one boat with a space behind it. That boat was familiar and once we’d moored up Mick knocked on the roof of NB Sola Gratia. Tim and Tracey were at home with both Loki and Ozzie their woofers. Our boats have passed each other in the last few years but the last time we had a chat we had just followed them up to Titford Pumphouse in early 2020 and they were just heading off to pick up Ozzie.
A meal sat outside The Red Lion was nearly thwarted when we were told the chef had gone home for the day, Saturday 6pm! We made use of their shore based facilities before regrouping to decide what to do. By which time the kitchen was open again!
Their scampi was gluten free, a rare treat. A shame their chips were overly salted. Micks Gammon looked to be the best out of everyones meal. Mike insisted on paying, his treat, well a treat from his Aunt Edna who is sadly no longer with us. Apparently she is very generous since she’s passed away.
Mick, Mike, Pip and Chris
Time to wish our crew for the day farewell, hopefully we’ll see then far sooner than another four years. Now we know they are half based in MK we’ll try to time our visits to the area at weekends so we can meet up. Shame we’ll be doing Stoke Bruerne during the week!
Another one for good measure
5 locks, 5.3 miles, 10,000 plus steps for Chris, 3 windlasses, 5pm 2 many times, 1 college friend, 1 brilliant beard, 1 genetic mutation, 1 wobbly Mike, 3 photographers, 1 hours shore leave, 0 chef, 1 chef, 10grams of salt (at least), 1 doggie boat, 2 woofers, 1 lovely day.
Not far to cruise today, over a mile but not much further. Yesterday we’d chosen our mooring well, not much further on boats were moored just about all the way into Leighton Buzzard. A hire boat came towards us, we slowed and pulled into a handy gap to let them come past. Then we pulled back out to carry on past all the moored boats. Mick had spotted a boat following us a distance away, next thing we knew they were right up our stern, they certainly weren’t going slowly past the moored boats. Another gap, we pulled in and let them pass. ‘Where’s the best place to moor for Leighton Buzzard?’ they asked. ‘Anywhere you can fit in’ was our answer, ‘there’s also some moorings just after the bridge and a shopping mooring by Tesco’. They shot off ahead, we carried on in our respectful way.
There was a space left outside Tescos, we didn’t need it as we had somewhere else planned for the next couple of nights. Up ahead the breasted up hire boats of Wyvern Shipping, their blue cabin sides with red grabrails stretched out ahead. We pulled in on their service mooring and went into the office to say hello.
Hire fleet
We were instructed to pull back just beyond the winding hole, normally a youth boat moors here, but we’d just passed it going out for a couple of nights so we could have their mooring. Mooring fee paid in cash we were given instructions of where we could park a van. What a nice mooring with a grassy area alongside and a handy tap. Tilly thought it looked good, but there’d be no shore leave here!
Toy selection time
Mick headed off to pick up the van, once we’d had lunch and overnight bags were packed we were on our way. Magic food bowl left out in case we were delayed on our return tomorrow.
Through Woburn
What a laborious drive to Scarborough! It took forever!! The satnav suggested we should head north on the A1 as there were problems on the M1, once we’d committed ourselves the radio suggested the M1 was now clear. Oh well! I checked the last order for collecting fish and chips in Scarborough, our eta 10 minutes too late.
Pizza instead
Some supplies were picked up before we headed to the house. Annie and Alyce already entertaining the audiences at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Dracula. Pizzas with extra toppings and a bottle of wine. It’s funny being at the house when other people are living there, we don’t feel that we can sit in either living room so tend to stay in the kitchen so as not to intrude in their space. We were long in bed before anyone came home from work.
Thursday morning we both sneaked a shower and tidied the spare bedroom before having breakfast. Time for a quick catch up with Annie before we had to be on our way for appointments.
Mick dropped me off at my doctors an appointment with a Physio, Mick headed to the dentist. I always have difficulty in relaxing in such situations but today that was what was needed as the chap manipulated my leg and knee. He listened for grinding, twisted me, we even had what felt like a little dance. Maybe I shouldn’t have had a pain killer this morning as it had numbed much of what he was after. I answered questions, what did I do for work. I’m not sure he understood about narrowboating and working locks, but painting scenery was easier. I left my appointment having been referred for an xray and a long list of exercises to do twice a day, instructions emailed to me.
Mick picked me up and we headed back to the house, enough time to cut the grass. I had a rootle around through my work room. One item I’d need for my physio exercises was a foam roller. Some cardboard tube from a carpet and an off cut of foam from the giant mug I made a while back would do for that. Just needed to find a resistance band, the chemist didn’t do one, but Sports Direct did.
Up to the theatre for a treat lunch at Eat Me! Well we’d missed out on fish and chips so we could have one of the best burgers about with a good view out of the curved window above the SJT canopy. As normal we bumped into people we knew, all getting ready for the afternoons matinee so only enough time to say hello.
Next appointment at Mick’s doctors. The van was positioned so I had another good view, this time over looking the south bay from the Esplanade. A Sikh family posed for numerous photos with the harbour and castle in the back ground, they were loving it. Mick was back very quickly, before his appointment. It had been cancelled! Rightly so as it wasn’t with anyone who could adjust his prescription, good job we’d been coming to Scarborough for other things too and a shame nobody had bothered to tell him! A new appointment was made for when we’re back next.
Our return was on the M1 which felt just as slow as our journey north. Tilly was pleased to see us and a touch surprised, she’d obviously not listened when I said we’d only be away for one BIG sleep.
A rather nice mooring
0 locks, 1.3 miles by boat, 435 miles by road, 1 physio, 1 dentist, 1 hygienist, 0 nurse, 0 doctor, 2 pizzas, 2 burgers, 0.25 of a sock, 1 more lodger shoe horned in, 1 referral, 2 returning hire boats, 1 very fat knee, 10 minute paw ball game.
A big pill after breakfast, hopefully the effect of it would kick in by the time I’d written the blog as there was someone I wanted to say hello to.
Fletch
Sat in front of Aylesbury Waterfront Theatre is Fletcher, Norman Stanley Fletcher, well Ronnie Baker in his costume from Porridge. He sits hands in his armpits looking up towards the theatre, as if he’s about to say something to Mr Barrowcliffe.
Looking up at the theatre
Ronnie first performed professionally in 1948 at the old County Theatre in Market Square Aylesbury, good on the person who gave him his first job.
Around the entrance to the theatre has been painted for Christmas. Peter Pan a good guess for their panto, but it’s actuallyThe Further Adventures of Peter Pan. It’s a shame Tinkerbell looks a little bit chubby cheeked.
With walking pole at hand and the pain killer starting to kick in Mick and I had a wander around Waitrose looking for yellow labels and enough provisions to keep us going for a few days. This I simply wouldn’t have been able to do a couple of days ago.
Mick had topped us up with water whilst we had breakfast linking our hoses together from a tap by the gate to the pontoons. Some bins had been mentioned by another boater so Mick went off to find them, check they were official C&RT bins (they were), noted their location and disposed of our rubbish.
Open and waiting for us
As the temperature was set to rise to around 30C today we really didn’t want to be sitting in bright sunshine, Tilly for one would be complaining about it, ALL the time! We’d spotted somewhere on our way down that, if there was space for us, would be a nice shady mooring. It would have been nice to venture further afield in Aylesbury than we’d been before but that wasn’t to be this time.
We pushed off and slowly made our way back up the canal. Depth and weed slowing our progress. The first lock had both it’s bottom gates open waiting for us, plus a paddle up. I stayed at the helm and Mick did the honours with windlass and gates.
Willow for shade at the lock
Blimey it was getting hot, blue skies, we were thankful for the shady trees for some of the way. We passed a downhill boat that we remembered from a couple of days ago, hopefully they’d come from where we wanted to be. Another two locks uphill and we reached the line of moored boats. A fisherman sat in shade, then a couple of boats in dappled sunshine. A space, would the shade last the rest of the day? We pulled in, it certainly looked like we’d not be baking all afternoon.
A nice shady spot to moor
Tilly was given 4 hours shore leave, we sat down for lunch, she came and went for a while, then went for quite some time. Here had self catering potential.
Mick listened to the cricket and I filled out a request for a doctors appointment with my surgery in Scarborough. The things the practitioner had said to me yesterday were all put on the form, I needed to make a good case. I clicked the button to submit it. On recent form from the surgery I didn’t expect to hear back for a few days, however within 5 minutes my phone rang! The doctor wanted me to see a Physio (expected first line of action), could I make an appointment this afternoon? Blimey!!! I was being offered an appointment within 45 minutes of submitting my request! Obviously this was impossible. I was offered the next available appointment which I snapped up when it coincided with appointments that Mick has back in Scarborough.
A touch of towpath knitting
Now we just need to sort logistics. A phone call to one marina to see if we could leave Tilly in charge there. He was so ambiguous, could we call back next week, not sure if there was space, we decided we’d try elsewhere instead.
The shady towpath called us both outside for the rest of the afternoon. Tilly came and joined us. Sitting on the top of the pram cover a good spot when in shade. Climbing the big tree next to us also good, apart from when coming down and trying to use some dead ivy which gave way under her paws. A nice quiet afternoon of cricket and finishing off sock pair 29.
Queen of the boat
3 locks, 1.4 miles, 1 big pill, 0 co-codamol, 1 Ronnie, 1 Tinkerbell, 1 queen of the pram cover, 1 hot day in the shade.
