Category Archives: Narrowboat Life

End Of The Line. 22nd August

72A to Ingestre 48hr mooring Trent and Mersey still

Waterproofs just in case for a walk to the Post Office this morning. Thank goodness we had them as it was just spitting on our arrival, then between there and the Farm Shop the heavens opened. Soggy legs!

We didn’t really need anything, but maybe some nice sausages, I suggested four, Mick suggested six, he’d not realised that they were quite so huge and would be over £1 each! A huge cauliflower, some treat cheeses, gluten free oak cake mix and a pork pie for Mick. We refrained from picking up a punnet of strawberries (£3) and a tub of chilled medication, the freezer would need rebuilding around a big tub.

Thankfully the rain was stopping so our walk back along the towpath was a dry one. The sign post at the junction with the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal was hit by lightening last week, the large splinters of wood that had been shot off it are now tied back on with tape, I suspect some glue was used too. Plenty of room on the moorings above the lock and still lots of room below where we were.

We decided on an early lunch, hoping that others would stop for lunch as we set off, therefore we’d miss queues. A kingfisher darted back and forth behind Oleanna, too quick for a photo from inside and if I’d gone outside it would likely not have returned, it’s high pitched call making sure we’d get to see the streek of electric blue.

A boat was just coming down the lock ahead as we were rolling up the covers, but the lock had been reset by the time we got close. Another boat had arrived above so Mick had help with the bottom gates and then he could hop on board, the moorings now filled up.

Blimey the junction was busy, my photo doesn’t show half of what was happening. A boat was pulling onto the water point to join another. A boat was heading straight on up the T&M, possibly having just turned out from the Staff and Worcester. Another came towards us from the T&M as one more was appearing from under Haywood Bridge wanting to turn up the T&M. We were wanting to pull into the services so waved the last boat onwards. One of the boats on the services were just pulling off so we grabbed the opportunity and pulled in to fill up and empty.

Chores done we could continue on our planned route, up the T&M.

Passing the polytunnels of the Farm Shop we could see they still had plenty of strawberries and elsewhere pumpkins were starting to expand, I wonder how much they sell for?!

Arriving a Hoo Mill Lock we tagged onto the end of the queue, our plan for everyone to be having lunch hadn’t paid off, we were forth! Mick managed to pull is in to the side and hopped off with a rope, I got my knitting out!

A boat came out, enquiries for where there might be a mooring, they could try by the entrance to the marina only one boat on the armco there when we passed. In went the first boat from the queue. Out it came, in it went. Blimey what a list! Back out and another attempt, finally getting past the open gates. Was there something submerged in the lock to have caused them to list?

**A few blackberries were picked, I left the rose for someone else**

The next boats turn, they didn’t have a problem getting into the lock, the first boat must have had its fenders down! Hopefully they hadn’t lost any that could cause a gate to jam. The boat in front of us moved up, the chap at the helm tried to flick a rope over a wooden post, it didn’t work, he stayed treading water. Finally we could move up and be on a bollard, Mick went up to help with the boat in front, the crew as handy with a windlass as the chap with his rope skills.

Our turn, no-one waiting behind or above, just us, the end of the line.

We’d planned to cover at least one more lock today, but the wait below the lock had eaten away an hour, maybe we should find a mooring sooner rather than later. Waterway Routes had various moorings marked, several we’ve used in the past. When half of the 48hr mooring before Ingestre Bridge was free we opted to pull in for the day, a more concerted effort required tomorrow.

Two hours Tilly! It wasn’t me who pushed the post over! Maybe it was that man in Rugby!!

The internet was checked, photos uploaded nearly instantly. I could finish off blog posts.

To warm the boat we had some of the sausages from the farm shop, roasted with the remaining root veg we’d bought for our Sunday roast. Four of the sausages were the equivalent to six normal supermarket bangers, so I saved two for a breakfast. The sausages were nice, the veg could have done with a touch longer sadly, but it was still nice.

Before we got settled in front of the TV Mick went round and checked that everything on the roof was secured. With Storm Lillian on her way we’d not want to be kept awake with things rattling on the roof or flying off. Job done, the windows would need closing too before we turned off the light.

2 locks, 2.1 miles, 1 straight on, 4 soggy legs, 6 sausages, 2 treat cheeses, 2 pairs of socks on their way, 6 boats at the junction, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 1 clean pooh box, 0 rubbish, 1 doorless fridge, 8 bottles of warm wine, 4th in line, 1 hour wait, 4 instead of 6, 1 wet windy night ahead.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6pCArLHXoufasdGY9

How Much Of A Half Would You Like? 21st August

Before Iron bridge 72A to after Iron Bridge 72A

Mick walked up towards Haywood Lock to see if there were any spaces available for us to move up. The internet coverage where we were moored was poor, therefore annoying! He’d checked on a map and we seemed to be sat in a little hole, further along the signal should improve.

A space behind one boat and another in front, but this was under a leaning oak tree. With gusts of wind this mooring wouldn’t be so good. We needed to act quickly before the first mooring was snatched up, so as I finished my exercises Mick pushed us off. Have to say doing lunges whilst Oleanna was moving was very wobbly! However I was ready to help moor up, as close as we could to the boat in front which just so happened to be NB Winding Down, our old shareboat.

Breakfasted, we got ourselves ready for a day out, just as a breasted up pair of Jules Fuels boats was pulling out, we decided to move up and not be that annoying boat a touch too close to a bridge hole. As we moved I spied people onboard Winding Down, we had to at least say hello. Just as well we did as it was Paul and Aileen Jordon one of the last few original syndicate members. We last bumped into them in Braunston a couple of years ago before WD moved base to Aston Marina.

It was great to have a chat and reminisce, only one other original owner left, Roger. They had two of their grandchildren with them and more were expected shortly for a picnic before the youngsters were heading home.

Time for us to have a day out!

**The plaster of this ceiling was carved by the artist laying on his back and took 2 years. Hope he got paid well**

Back in June 2015 we spent several days at Shugborough, then ran by Staffordshire County Council and the National Trust. We’d had a tour of the house at break neck speed back then, little could be remembered so we decided to visit again, dust off the cobwebs on our National Trust cards. In 2016 the management of the Hall was handed back to the National Trust, so today we could get in for free.

There were plenty of people about, lots for kids to do in the park. At the front door of the house we showed our cards and were let in to walk around the house at our own pace. As with most NT properties the house has been laid out with the story of it’s occupants, here it is the Anson brothers who travelled the world. Also as with many NT properties we didn’t get to find out much about the actual house. Plenty of information boards about the brothers, a huge map with interesting facts about their voyages and how they started off with 1900 crew, arriving back in England with just 188! But I’m interested in the house too, I’ll have to look it up.

Once we’d looked round the ground floor, walked through the red drawing room and the library with disguised door and taken note of how quickly Elizabeth and Betty had grown we then could climb the back staircase to look round the rooms upstairs where Lord Patrick Lichfield had lived and taken many a photograph. This is the part of the house we remembered most, the kitchen, the deep deep baths, the photographs. Here you’re not allowed to take any yourself.

One room which had been Patricks bedroom had photographs he’d taken. Another couple walked round ahead of us. She said ‘That looks like him. That looks like Sophia Loren’ He said, ‘No it won’t be’. I wondered who he’d think were in the royal family photographs when they came to them, and yes that was actually Mick Jagger!

Time for lunch, we hunted out the cafe. Chock-a-block, but we’d timed our arrival very well as just about everyone was finishing. Jacket potatoes were finished for the day but we could have potato wedges instead with a filling on top of our choice, a little bit of a strange combination. Sat next to us was a family, the teenage daughter had just gone to get them pudding. Three scones and a huge slab of carrot cake with a good layer of cream cheese frosting. She said how she’d not been able to decide on a scone or the cake, Mum offered to go halves with her, half a scone for half the cake. ‘How much of that half would you like?’ came back the answer from the daughter!

Back in 2015 there were carriages to look at. The house kitchens were in working order with a cook baking scones and ginger biscuits. Sadly today these areas are closed, I think the collections have been moved elsewhere as they belonged the Staffordshire County Museum. Such a shame, but at least we’d seen them last time.

Time for some chilled medication, we joined the queue and selected our flavours, Devilishly Chocolate and Rolo, basically the same ice cream but one with mini rolos and a swirl of caramel added. As the medication level had been topped up we walked round to the formal gardens at the back of the house. Past the Chinese House built in 1747, crossing the red bridge and onto the island to look at the Cat Monument. Why does that cat have a moustache?

The monument (c.1750) possibly commemorates a cat which travelled around the world with Admiral Anson on the ‘Centurion’. Or that it was built as a memorial to Kouli-Khan, a Persian cat kept by Thomas Anson. He also kept a heard of Corsican Goats which feature around the base of the monument.

We then returned to Oleanna, enough walking for today and time to let Tilly out. She wasn’t that enamoured with it this afternoon, even if we had a chatty parrot for a neighbour. Well you’d told me I wasn’t allowed to talk to it!

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 bridges crossed, 1 Georgian Mansion walked round, 1 formal garden, 2 years, 1 ceiling back to front, 35 Weetabix, 1,313,843 pieces of 8, 2 brothers, 0 carriages, 0 puppets, 2 far to go to the farm, 1 odd cat, that’s not me!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/odPiG95YvgNVPTBr7

There’s A Hole In My… 20th August

Bridge 67 to Bridge 72A

Rain! We took our time getting moving this morning, but eventually managed to grab a patch of blue sky to cruise under. As we passed over Brindley Bank Aqueduct the River Trent passed below. No-one was moored, but a day boat did a zigzag for a photo opportunity and then to pick the photographer back up.

Up above us the Starlings are starting to gather, discussions of where to go for the winter, Spain or Africa? We were still discussing where to go too, T&M or Shroppie. A definite feel of autumn in the air today.

Just before we’d pulled out a boat we’ve been leapfrogging with came past, their average speed the equivalent to our tick over. We went slowly leaving a good gap between us, no point in catching them up as there’d be a lock soon.

At Taft Wharf, NB Dexter long since stopped selling diesel to passing boats, a cabin replaced the diesel tank long ago, but the air under it’s stern suggests there’s no engine.

Up on the bank sat another boat, sliced in half, presumably waiting an extension. Hope they get it done soon otherwise they won’t be needing to use their Smeg fridge as it’ll be so chilly.

NB Maid of Oak has finally been sold on to new owners, well I say finally it could have happened the week after we last passed five years ago. The swans still know which side their bread is buttered and were making full use of their cordoned off area.

Two For Sale signs. One house detached and plenty of lawn and an orchard, boat currently sat on the mooring. Then a semi with end of garden mooring. I wondered why they were both up for sale? Was the house between them the cause? They have a wonderfully abundant garden.

At Colwick Lock we pulled in behind the tick over boat, the lock just being emptied for them to go in. The bottom gates always awkward to close I’d be staying onboard. A boat pulled up behind, another arrived above, ‘Time to put the kettle on’ said the lady.

One down, then it was our turn, a chap from the next waiting boat came to help close the bottom gates. With only the gate paddle working at the top it took quite sometime to fill, plenty of time to look at the Lock Cottage, note that they still have the Black Lace Elderflower bush. The top lock beam failed a few weeks ago, closing the navigation for a while. Now the wood has a supportive metal framework around it, it does the job for the time being. Above the lock now a queue of three boats, another just arriving to tag onto the end.

Not far now, as the line of moored boats before bridge 72C showed themselves we pulled in a respectable distance from the end boat. This would do us for the day. Tilly was given shore leave and we sat down for lunch.

Numerous boats came past, then the thump thump of an old boat, a high bow came past the window. Time to say hello to Frankie from the South Oxford. She is currently crewing for Nuneaton and Brighton from the Narrow Boat Trust. The boats were meant to have been going to the Brownhills Festival last weekend, but the chemical spillage on the Walsall Canal meant their journey there would have been far longer than the original trip, but more importantly their crew would not make it back to base in the allotted time. So their destination had ended up being the Black Country Museum. Frankie was a touch disappointed as she’d volunteered for two trips this year on canals she’d not been on before, but because of the altered route she was getting to do the same canals again. It was nice to say hello even if it was very briefly.

**Heading back to base for the Alvecote boat gathering this week end**

I checked the Post Office, sadly closed at 2pm. Those socks would have to wait for tomorrow. I wrote a piece for Dementia UK and collated some photos for them to use as a fundraising case study and maybe pull some quotes from it for other purposes. Yarn was selected for pair 34, a skein of lovely soft yarn in shades of blue wound into a cake for ease of knitting.

This morning we’d had an enquiry about the house. Details had been sent off and now we’re just waiting to see if we’ll have two lodgers for Christmas. This meant we concentrated our minds a bit more on the coming weeks. Route plans were put together, cruising hours calculated. One destinations arrival calculated, but could we also go there? If we did that, should we not have a second lodger, would we be able to get back to Yorkshire to have moved back into the house in time to do a turn around? We think we now have a plan, with extra bits added. All that’s left is to know is when we’ll be wanting a mooring from in Yorkshire and if there will be one available. Hopefully we’ll hear back from our prospective lodger in the next couple of days.

1 lock, 3.9 miles, 2nd in line, 4 at the top, 1 Frankie! 4 hours, pair 34 cast on, 1 page of words, 6 photos, 1 plan with a contingency plan, 1 sock hand over possible, 1 post office missed, 1 screaming teenager, 1 nephew with provisions for university.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/r77PFY9X7u1fzUp7A

Audibly Slowing. 19th August

Bridge 67, T&M

Mick was up, breakfasted and on his way to the station for a 9 something or other train, the first of three trains that would have him arrive in York three or so hours later. The first train was delayed so he didn’t arrive in York till around 1:30, good job he didn’t have an appointment. Todays trip was for a blood test after a change of medication. Since we’ve discovered that we can walk into York Hospital for certain things and the results still arrive with our GPs in Scarborough, we are saving both time and money on the trains.

Mick walked to the hospital. The moorings at the bottom of the Museum Gardens were pretty packed, narrowboats breasted up. A green bear sits in front of the Art Gallery and is a photo opportunity. Once at the hospital he took a number and waited his turn, only a fifteen minute wait and he could be on his way back.

***I only came in to get rid of my cobwebby head***

Meanwhile back on Oleanna. After my exercises Tilly was allowed shore leave. 8 hours 30 minutes! No sight or sound of her for the first 90 minutes, today this outside was better than yesterday.

Numerous boats came past, about 1 in 10 audibly slowed as they approached Oleanna. I nearly opened up the hatch to congratulate the helm on NB Tranquillity at their speed. Another passing boat caught my eye, a Carefree Cruising boat. Yep it was NB Winding Down, our old shareboat with someone young at the helm.

Ends were woven in on sock pair 33, photos taken and then an email sent to the sponsor of pair 32 to see if it would be possible to hand them over in the next couple of weeks.

The afternoon was filled with drawing, inking and starting to paint the little project I started the other day. Still some more to do on it and one section I’m not convinced about that may require some attention.

Mick was back onboard around 7pm. The wind picking up around us. Today has definitely felt autumnal!

Tomorrow we’ll have a decision to make, which way to head northwards. This has been discussed a few times and we keep changing our minds. Carry on up the T&M, we came down it earlier in the year, or head up the Shroppie, we came down last year. Which ever way we go up, we’ll come back down the other way. Decisions decisions!

0 locks, 0 miles, 6 trains, 1 vile of blood, 15 minute wait, 23 fast boats, 3 slow boats, 8 out of 8.5 hours shore leave used, 1 sleepy cat, 1 blanket square finished, 1 evening off socks, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

Fake Or True Signal. 18th August

Bridge 55 to after Bridge 67

**Slightly under cooked egg for the size of toast**

Mick did the honours this morning and we’d just finished when the Geraghty zoom started. Subjects covered this morning, Personal Weather Forecasters (we’d like Shefali please), new toasters, freezing portraits and people pretending to be going into a tunnel whilst on their mobile, who actually broke their arm and Will Bailey.

Quite a few boats passed us heading away from Fradley, then the majority of them returned heading back towards the locks, most probably out for the weekend. We managed to push off without too much hassle today. Jumpers were required as the temperature has dropped, last night we considered lighting the stove.

I turned a heel on my lastest pair of socks, ten minutes of quiet whilst I counted stitches back and forth. After I’d reached a certain point I had to stop myself from doing too many rows otherwise I’d run out of knitting to do in front of the TV tonight.

We passed The Little Chimney boat, without them our original flue would have been too tall to get under the Basingstoke Canal bridges, they are usually found somewhere around here. I’d not noticed their collection of things on the roof before.

Good to see the houses with their blue pots are keeping things going. In front of each house are slightly different blue pots and the further west you get the plants get less loved, the last house looks like they just nurture weeds now.

Then Armitage Shanks factory right along the canal. Big vats sit behind the dusty patched up windows, are these full of giant toilets or pristine white glaze? In the yard I could still see pallets of toilets waiting to go off to new houses to be plumbed in. They are really hard to get a photo of and the sign for Local Facilities is way over grown.

As we approached the Plum Pudding we checked our phones, both on with signal and the ringer turned up. Time to walk through the tunnel to check no-one was coming and more importantly to stop anyone from coming. The tunnel, which is about 120 metres in length, had its roof removed in 1971 because of subsidence damage being caused by nearby coal mining, a ten yard section having collapsed in 1965. What remains is a deep narrow cutting through sandstone, wide enough only for a single narrowboat to pass. NB Holderness has some interesting photos of the tunnel here.

I walked ahead, no boat coming towards us. I was out from under the road bridge and about two thirds of the way through, I called Mick. ‘No boats coming, you can come through’ ‘What? I can’t hear what you’re saying, you keep breaking up!’ How amusing that after this morning’s zoom where we’d talked about people faking going into tunnels whilst on their mobile, I was now in a roofless tunnel and my phone signal was breaking up. I ended up repeating myself very loudly and slowly, not sure if Mick heard via the phone or not, but he started to come towards me.

The water point before Ash Tree Boat Club was on the port side, handy for yellow water extraction. As we got close we could see there were two boats already there. A lady asked if we wanted to pull in, they’d be moving off in a couple of minutes, just about perfect timing. We did our chores and then moved on to find a mooring near to Tescos in Rugeley.

A big shop and provisions for a roast chicken as we’d been feeling chilly yesterday. Today however was that bit warmer. How come young whipper snappers get all those flavours of biscuits and me being that bit more mature, I only get one and that can’t even stand up on it’s own! I’d like lamb please Whiskas!!!

Mick was certain we’d managed to bring a trolley back to the boat before, but the wheel jammed on the long walkway back to the canal. I stayed with the trolley whilst Mick did the first load of bags to the boat.

Now to find a better mooring, one not too far out, but where we’d be happy to let Tilly out. All the 7 day moorings were full, quite a few boats coming the other way too. As we approached Bridge 67 just passing the last boat a bow came into view. Mick did his best to tuck in in front of the moored boat, the boat coming towards us hit the bridge and then us in turn. A lady in the bow stood up and went inside, possibly to avoid any confrontation from us, when there was none she gave us a filthy look! As the helm came past they apologised, there actually was nothing to apologise for. They were being followed quite closely, so had nowhere to go, we tried tucking in out of the way as there was nowhere else to go too, what happened happened.

A familiar boat from St Pancras Cruising Club, no John in sight to say hello to. Past all the houses and out to an open field alongside the towpath, this would do. We found a gap between trees and pulled up, sitting on the bottom. Tilly was given an hour and a half, she didn’t use it all, I’m keeping some on account for tomorrow.

The chicken was popped into the oven with potatoes, parsnips (not in their prime), carrots, garlic and some broccoli. It feels like an eternity since we last had a roast, it was very nice.

0 locks, 1 glitching nebolink, 5.8 miles, 1 topless tunnel, 33 pairs of socks completed, 1 sockathon back on track, 2 boxes wine, 1 big chicken, 1 bump, 90 minutes, 45 kept for tomorrow.

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m17!1m12!1m3!1d3336.661099494168!2d-1.9388658521470745!3d52.769429303891094!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m2!1m1!2zNTLCsDQ2JzEwLjMiTiAxwrA1NicxMy41Ilc!5e1!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1724062795872!5m2!1sen!2suk

Two Out Of Three. 17th August

Fradley Bridge 90 to Bridge 55, Trent and Mersey Canal

Plenty of boats had passed us before we pushed off this morning, but we timed our departure with a gap. Half an hours cruise to Fradley Junction, the morning had started bright but it started to turn grey.

A hire boat was pulled up on the bridge landing, poles, hooks anything available was being used to try to find something, a wallet had sunk into the murky depths. The bridge an easy push to open so I operated it and then rather than walk round to the locks I hopped back on board.

A For Sale sign! This may well be my property of the year!! Junction House has for as long as I can remember had piles of wooden stuff outside the front door, suggesting an interesting owner and interior. Today I spotted a bell hanging in a tree, not sure when it gets rung. Looking at the house from the junction it doesn’t seem half as big as it actually is and with around an acre of land, just a shame it doesn’t have it’s own mooring. The estate agent photos confirmed my theory of an interesting owner, the first interior photo does not disappoint. If anyone would be willing to give me the £800,000 and maybe a touch more to give the building some TLC I’d be very grateful. Thank you.

Oleanna was turned left towards the east, the first time we’ve been on this stretch of the Trent and Mersey since June 2019. As ever there was a queue, but how long was it? A boat had just pulled into the lock landing, another going up in the lock. We crept along the line of boats, a chap quickly making us aware that there was a queue and he was in it despite being tucked in amongst the long term moorers. So third in line we trod water, waiting for our turn, the blue shirts of volunteers visible at the two locks ahead.

**Hello T&M little arched lock bridges**

I’m missing working locks and with volunteers on hand I decided to pick up the windlass and help, I just needed to get off Oleanna first, a rather big step off the stern when we reached the lock landing. With stick in one hand and windlass the other I went up to help reset the lock.

**One of the forty volunteers who man Fradley**

The full compliment of volunteers at Fradley now numbers 40, but today it being summer their numbers were depleted due to holidays, so only three were on duty, thankfully the two we were to pass through had volunteers. I lifted and closed paddles and gates, the top gate could wait for the volunteer to join me. At Shadehouse Lock the volunteer did however leave me to carry on pushing the top gate open and went to lower the paddle, I’d imagined that would be my job, the gate maybe a little too heavy for my knee, but I managed.

HS2 was going to cross the canal shortly before the southernmost bend to the T&M, but that was the stretch that was cancelled. A mound of earth sits close to the canal, will this be left for nature to reclaim and boaters in years to come say ‘that was once going to be HS2’ or will the land be flattened out? Round the bend however is different, this length of HS2 will still go ahead meeting up with the existing line between Lichfield and Rugeley on the Trent Valley line. The trees along the canal bank are still there but then comes the earth works behind.

Wood End Lock moorings are fenced off and look pretty unsafe, the lock cottage also fenced off. We pulled in behind the boat ahead to wait our turn, Mick wondering why the chap didn’t pull further along to make bollards available for us. I already knew I’d not be working this lock, the bent beams on the bottom gates require some umphing!

Moving up to leave space behind us for the following hire boat, I waited for our turn, then gave the bow a touch of bow thruster and off I went…. except Oleanna was stuck on the bottom again! After much pushing with a pole and engine revving we got her off the bottom and slowly into the lock. Maybe this was why the chap in front of us hadn’t moved his boat forward to give us a bollard!

Now to find a suitable mooring. Past Kings Bromley Marina towards bridge 55, we hoped for a space. It was pretty full, but there was a space, would we fit. We breathed in and shoe horned ourselves into the gap, most probably left by a 57ft boat. The boat behind us didn’t offer to move up, well he was mid painting his cabin side.

Ah wet paint. Cat. Ah!! I’d just given Tilly the rules and the news of four full hours of shore leave, but hadn’t opened the door yet. A conference. The boat behind the tacky wet painty one had a dog roaming too. The chap painting said he’d be moving off at tea time back to the marina. That Tom had better have his tea at 2:30! He finally moved off at 17:30, sorry Tilly.

Knitting needed catching up on, I finished off the first sock on pair 33 and got the toe knitted of the second one. A much simpler pattern that should mean I can catch myself up again.

Sad git’s meatballs tonight. I usually cook them in a pan and add sauce to them, but tonight as Autumn seemed to have arrived I opted to cook them in the oven, helping to take the chill out of the cabin.

3 locks, 3.7 miles, 1 left, £800,000 a bargain, 1 jaunty Mona Lisa, 5 years, 4 0 hours shore leave, 1 painty boat, 1 roaming woofer, 1 bored cat, 1.25 socks knitted, 12 meatballs for heat, 1 more Dr Who to go.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yhbeBeexKiawxraz9

Casper The Cormorant. 16th August

Tamhorn Park Bridge to Fradley Bridge 90, Coventry Canal

A lovely sunny morning, Tilly was allowed an hour whilst we did all our morning things. Then with her back on board we made ready to push off. I was just about to untie when a boat came into view, we waited. I untied, another boat came into view, followed by two more! We pushed out quickly before the next one could come into view.

Approaching Whittington a lovely old car came past, too quick to get it’s photo. Then the row of terraced houses ‘Sunny Side’ followed by my all time favourite weathervane the Grey Fergie.

Two new houses stand by the canal. One for sale the other for refurbishment. Refurbishment? It’s only just been built!

Reeds encroach on the canal, some bridge holes hard to see through. At one bridge on a bend we narrowly avoided a head on collision. Neither boat had seen the other one, both going at a slow speed, but both boats having to slam on the breaks to avoid contact.

We passed the boundary stone between the Birmingham and Fazeley and the Coventry Canal. Then on to Huddlesford Junction. Here we slowed, a handy post box just by the pub suitable to pop a couple of pairs of socks in. Mick loitered in a bridge hole whilst I did the honours, a lull in canal traffic meant Oleanna had stayed put.

I got my knitting out the hope of getting a heel turned today, plus I needed a photo of me knitting for Dementia UK. Out of several that Mick took this is the best, however you can’t see what I’m knitting, which is the whole point! We’ll have another go tomorrow when there is more of a sock to see, hopefully the sun will be out again.

Pretty soon we had company, a cormorant. We’re quite accustomed to Terns following our wake diving for fish, but this is the first time we’ve had a cormorant doing the same, but at water level. It dived into the swirling water, bobbing back up really quite close to our prop at times. Was it aware of the danger our prop posed to it? Obviously the possibility of catching fish was far too good.

Sadly I didn’t manage to get many photos, as it would only surface for about 10 seconds before diving again and you have to play a guessing game as to where Casper would reappear.

The long thin garden, fenced off from railway and canal towpath, it’s four foot width stretches on for ages before it widens out towards the house. It’s obvious where they stop cutting the grass. Casper continued to follow, only Bell Bridge getting in its way requiring him to fly on ahead of us. But soon he was back to fishing in our wake. Two, no three fish caught in quick succession. Surely that was enough food for a while, but no he carried on diving.

A long length of armco, a track to some houses, one boat moored up. We pulled in, quickly Casper realised his fishing companion was stopping, he flew on into the distance looking for another boat. The bottom was too close to the top. A lady came from the moored boat walking her woofer, they’d be moving off in a few minutes if we wanted their spot. We tied up and waited for their departure then back up, much better, we were into the side more or less.

Almost four hours of shore leave for Tilly and a late lunch for us. Time spent selecting a foodie Congratulations on getting into Uni and extra Happy 18th Birthday present for Josh. He may have to survive on baked beans whilst being a student but at least he’ll be able to jazz them up!

Our mooring wasn’t quite so good. Boats passing at more than tickover made Oleanna grind on something below despite having the wheel fenders out. Oh well at least when it got dark there’d be no boats, apart from a cruiser who was going slow because it’s light was pretty poor!

0 locks, 6.1 miles, 1 straight, 2 pairs posted, 2 miles being followed, 3 fish at least, 3.75 hours, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval, 1 whinging woofer, 1 big woofing woofer, 1 boat moving on in the morning.

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m17!1m12!1m3!1d2408.2211448936696!2d-1.7703327568764968!3d52.715509727076586!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m2!1m1!2zNTLCsDQyJzU1LjMiTiAxwrA0NicwNS4yIlc!5e1!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1723886171386!5m2!1sen!2suk

The Pitter Patter Of Tiny….. 15th August

Pooley Park Nature Reserve to Tamhorn Park Bridge, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

Acorns! We had acorns falling on the roof off and on last night. At least it was better than the cockerel at Atherstone at 4am sounding like someone was trying to throttle it but not succeeding.

Today was going to be windy. Mick wondered if we should push off before breakfast to hopefully miss the worst wind around lunchtime, but that just didn’t happen. As we got ready to push off another boat had pulled in, ready to jump in our grave. Hopefully they would be able to pull in to make the most of the solar unlike us, but then we are quite deep.

Not far round the bend to Alvecote, one day we will coincide with NB Harnser and actually get to meet Brian and Diana to talk to rather than just passing.

We pootled on through Tamworth. I wonder which house it was that the lady would wave at us when we were in area for Tilly’s first jabs when she was a brand new boat cat. The garden with the immaculate lawn and ornaments hadn’t been out to hoover up the few leaves that had fallen overnight, I suspect there would be more before the day was out.

What time is a reasonable time to wait to hear about exam results when you are an aunt? GCSE’s I think I lasted into the afternoon before enquiring. Today I lasted till just before 11am. Josh, my nephew, replied quarter of an hour later. A*, A and another A! He’s been accepted to Manchester University. Brilliant! Well done Josh! I quickly asked if he’d be willing to help us with the Rochdale 9 next time. I haven’t mentioned as yet the Ashton Canal, or the Rochdale up to the Rose of Lancaster or even helping us up Wigan, but there’s three years worth of nephew boating duties on the cards. Needless to say Andrew and Jac are very proud parents, I’m also rather proud of him too.

Under the last bridge before the Glascote Locks, we pulled in for an early lunch avoiding joining the queue and I bobbed up to the co-op for a couple of things. Our pause was perfect as a boat was just exiting the lock as we approached, so we could go straight in, the wind now a touch extra blowy. A boat arrived behind us, our timing even better as now there was someone else who could open and close a bottom gate.

The bottom lock required filling luckily the wind just allowed me to pull in, then a lull allowed me to get back on board before Oleanna was pushed to the off side. The lock cottage has scaffolding up, the owners aiming to restore it to it’s former Georgian glory.

Thankfully the throat of the bottom lock is quite long, so Oleanna could lurk without the wind catching her as Mick closed up behind and lifted a paddle to start filling the lock for the boat behind us.

Two years ago we’d been iced in at Alvecote Marina and when we eventually escaped, the worst of the ice remained over the Tame Aqueduct. Today nothing of the sort, just wind constantly trying to adjust our line. At Fazeley Junction we carried straight on, or is that actually a right? At one point last week we’d considered a route up the Curdworth Flight and up the Tame Valley, Perry Barr, Rushall, the Curley Wurley to Wolverhampton, but right now that isn’t possible because of the chemical spill near Walsall, the canals closed to contain the pollution. We’d decided against it anyway as the rail links wouldn’t be helpful.

**There’s a reason for not mooring right by bridges!**

We now wanted a mooring without much tree cover and suitable for Tilly. Hopwas maybe, the woods, too woody. A little further on we found some armco, the depth was good, we pulled in a big gap between trees. Tilly was given the rest of the afternoon shore leave just as it started to rain!

**They obviously don’t want people looking in, so click the photo to see what’s behind the wall!**

The amount of friendly cover kept her busy. So much so that when she did return for some Dreamies it almost looked like she’d taken a dip! It rained for much of the rest of the day, proper really wet rain. Glad we’d stopped when we did.

***A touch soggy this outside, it’s still pretty good***

Sock photos taken, packages packed and labels printed ready for the next post box. I could now move on to cast on this weeks pair. A lady from Dementia UK has been in touch wanting to know if I’d like to write something about my fund raising to be added to a page on their website. Just need to catch up with myself first.

A little after we moored Mick spotted that the passing boat was NB Scholar Gypsy, not Simon on board. This will be the third time we’ve been passed by them this year.

2 locks, 8 miles, 1 right, 62 acorns, 3 red onions, 1 blowy day, 2 many trees, 1 firing range firing, 1 soggy moggy, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cxX1ZQjouMYiTwFw7

Pinning The Edges. 14th August

Atherstone Visitor Moorings to Pooley Park Nature Reserve Wood.

It was raining when we woke. This wasn’t deterring others from being on the move, all of them heading downhill. Oh well we’d have to reset locks and hope that we’d meet a few coming up the flight.

The boat ahead of us had not long left lock 6, Mick reset it and we were soon on our way down. The sign alongside the lock makes me laugh. Atherstone Locks 5 minutes walk, yet I’m in one of them! With the lock empty Mick had a go with my technique of opening the bottom gates, pushing them apart and then kicking one back into it’s recess whilst holding on to the other. I think he needs a bit more practice.

A boat was coming up the next lock, too late for the lock above to be left open for them, but at least it was being reset for us. As Oleanna left lock 7 a boat appeared behind us, the lady gave Mick a hand with the bottom gates.

Lock 8 we waited for one to come up, by which time the boat behind us was closing in. The Atherstone flight take quite a while to fill, but are quick to empty. The gap between 8 and 9 is only small and a boat was coming up in 9. Mick passed the information on to the lady following us, she looked at her watch, were they in a hurry? Hopefully this would make a gap between us as I’m not one for being pressured at locks especially when I’m at the helm. As the bottom gates of lock 9 opened I could see another boat arriving, ideal we could leave the gates open for them and hopefully give ourselves a bigger gap.

Here Mick hopped on board, time for a sit down for me. The super dooper painkillers have just about warn off now and I suspect the gel I’ve now got isn’t quite as good, so a sit down was a good thing.

**One of them ran back to say to leave the gate open**

We met another two boats at the last two locks of the flight making life easy for both us and them. Now we hoped there’d be space at the services. One boat which was just about to leave, brilliant. We pulled right back so another boat could pull in infront they’d just had a delivery of new batteries which are heavy beasts so to be able to pull up right alongside where they’d been delivered on the bank would help.

Water, yellow water, rubbish and a refresh of Tilly’s box we were good to move on ourselves just as another boat arrived. We paused on the towpath a little bit further on for lunch before continuing.

Jules Fuel boats were in the dock and the sign writing on Bream was being finished with a 0 on the inside of an engine hatch door.

Round through Polesworth, under the M42, no HS2 bridge here, this stretch was cancelled. Then alongside the wood. Last time we passed here it was all wonderfully golden with autumn, we’d made a note of it. Just far enough away from the motorway we pulled in, tried a few times to get to the bank, trying to not be under the trees for the solar, only half succeeding.

Tilly was awarded tree climbing time, she sampled a few. A wonderful dead tree down in the gully looked like it was about to come to life in a childrens novel.

Time to get the latest pair of socks finished. I’d opted not to carry the yarn across the back in the round, but to go back and forth to create a motif, this would hopefully keep the sock stretchy. Yet I now needed to seam up the edges I’d created, without loosing stitches in a seem. I’ve watched several youtube suggestions, none of which would help. Then I decided to basically add a stitch to hold the two sides. Pinned out on a strip of foam I was able to weave in yarn between the two sides, then with a crochet hook these were made into stitches. Not quite invisible, but fairly good. If Lucy or Cheryl, or anyone else knows of a better way to join two edges together that isn’t going to loose me a stitch like mattress stitch does please let me know. The remainder of ends were woven in in front of the TV, another pair of socks completed, the next pair will be much easier!

6 locks, 5.3 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 2 hoses confused, 1 clean pooh box, 1 boat in a hurry, 3 golden retrievers, 1 wood all to herself, 2 many walkers! 1 dancing tree, 1 gold leaf to visit next time, 4 awkward seams, pair 32 finished.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/sT9WRtbpyqbdX9FQ7

Sleeping With The Fishes. 13th August

Cat Junkie Mooring to Atherstone Visitor Moorings

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.