Lowsonford Bottom Lock with the Landmark Trust house alongside it
Another early start for us. With storm Austen on his way we were pondering whether we should make the most of what might be a lovely day today. Best to start early and see if we fancied doing more after a lunch break. The possible stopping places would be dictated by lock flights today.
So pretty in the sunshine
We dropped down Lock 31 and pulled in at the water point to refill the tank, the washing machine is being kept pretty busy at the moment. Thankfully the water pressure was good so we were full fairly soon.
Walking distances
Onwards and downwards. Plenty of locks all at a walkable distance apart to keep us busy today. We’re back into the rhythm of such things, it’ll be a month before we have to remember how we go about doing the same up hill. The majority of locks were set against us, only those with very leaky top gates were full and waiting.
Bucket Lock
At Bucket Lock 34 there is a small aqueduct just above the lock. Back at the end of 2013 we hired a boat from Wooton Wowen in December and came this way, the leaf soup making for slow progress, I remember crossing this little aqueduct at total snail pace!
That’s a nice boat you’ve got there!
At Preston Baggot Bottom Lock we came across our first up hill boat of the day, a hire boat with three German men onboard, they seemed to like Baileys Irish Cream as there was a line of bottles on the stern. Once they had left Mick brought Oleanna into the lock just as I got a phone call. It was Jamie, the set builder for panto. They were in the middle of putting base coats on the set and he was questioning one of the Dulux paints I’d requested. Quite a few weeks ago I’d listed all the paints they would need alongside photos of the model. From last year I’d learnt to be careful with the names I used for colours as there had been a little bit of confusion, so I’d gone through my list carefully and checked it twice. With other things in life being more important at the moment, I believed I’d made a mistake. Why would I have given the code for a dark blue for something that was to be painted off white? I said I’d have a look at things once down the lock and apologised. Then the penny dropped, we did need that colour, once down the lock I checked my swatches and notes. Thank goodness I wasn’t loosing it at all, Jamie had misread my notes.
With a pound of around 3 miles ahead of us, I stayed on board, my knee requiring a rest. Regular applications of Fenbid were made with the hope that it wouldn’t become a problem. We pootled on in the sunshine, coats required, but it was still a beautiful day.
Approaching Wooton Wawen
At Wooton Wawen we pulled up at the start of the aqueduct over the road, Mick went to see if he could find anyone from the Anglo Welsh base to see if they’d sell us some diesel, the sign said £1.35. The chaps were having their lunch, but all sprang into action to top up our tank for us. Across the aqueduct we moored up for some lunch. I’d originally imagined us stopping an hours cruise further on, but our going had been slow this morning. We considered what we should do. With the storm arriving tomorrow it would be better to be further on. But being further on would mean 11 more locks than orignally planned and a few more hours cruising. The sun was still out, we opted to carry on.
Just as we were about to push off a boat came past, would they be going as far as us? This would mean resetting 12 locks. Or would they be stopping earlier? At Bearley Lock I chatted to the crew, this was their last lock of the day, they’d be stopping above Wilmcote.
I don’t like it!
A short distance on is Edstone Aqueduct, which is the longest aqueduct in England at 176 yards long. It spans a valley with a railway and a road. I don’t like aqueducts that are this skinny, even the side with the towpath makes me nervous! Thankfully it was over fairly quickly.
But Mick does
We could now hear Tilly inside demanding we stop. The original plan had been to moor along this next stretch, which looked like cat heaven. Trees, sideways trees and plenty of friendly cover, the sort of place we’d be out calling for Tilly to come home after dingding. I promised that we’d make sure we stopped there on our way back.
We passed the boat ahead, we passed the last mooring before the Wilmcote flight. These should take about two hours to do the eleven locks, that would be just as the sun would be setting.
The locks come in three groups, a three, a five and another three. I set ahead whilst Mick started to empty the lock Oleanna was in, me returning to open and close the bottom gate. This all worked pretty well, most of the locks were full making the going quite easy. Someone appeared from a house, who opened a top gate for us, they then came back after we’d passed to make sure we’d closed up properly behind us.
On the last three locks there was a hire boat moored on the top lock landing. Should a single hander have arrived there would have been nowhere for them to tie up to work the lock. Inside the crew were looking at phones, then one of them disembarked with lots of bags and headed towards Stratford Parkway Station. The crew now got on with the remainder of the flight, half an hour before sunset just as we were tying up below.
Sorry Tilly it’s too late
Sorry Tilly, too late to go out. We had plenty of complaints from her.
We’d managed two days cruising in one day. There is still a way to go to get to Stratford and now two storms between us and the marina on the river. Should we have a day off tomorrow, give Tilly some shore leave, knees rested and catch up on bits and bobs? Or with high winds due would we be best moving away from the trees that surround us?
20 locks, 8.9 miles, 1 full water tank, 0 rubbish, 1 empty yellow water tank, 95.16 litres diesel, 1 hour behind, 0.5 hours ahead of sunset, 60cm bow, 1 dark blue most definitely not off white, 1 wet night, pair 137 cast on, 1 phone charger needing pat testing.
With a day in hand on our schedule, we decided to make use of it. Mick headed off before 8am to pick up a hire car. I pottered and got things ready for a day away, maybe a night away. Tilly’s magic food bowl was set, we’d most definitely not be back in time for this evenings dingding.
Magic Food Bowl
We were away around 9, heading northwards to Scarborough to visit Frank. The journey was pretty swift and we made good time. The suggestion that there was a meeting happening at lunchtime made us head straight to the hospital so I could be with Frank to hear the outcome.
It was very good to see Frank, we chatted, he snoozed, we chatted. Mick headed to the house to get the washing machine working on lodgers bed linen, I waited with Frank for news. After an hour I asked at the desk. After another half hour I sent a message to the nurse who’d called yesterday. She actually called me back, the first person to do so! With the time line explained our hopes were dashed. We chatted some more before I headed back to the house myself.
A G VI R postbox on a motorway service station wall!
Time to check how the cleaners had done in the house without us being around. A few odd things, bins left on cupboards and toilets and lots of cushions left as if the karate kid had visited! But the house was spotless and only one towel missing. Oh, I did have to hunt round for the chopping boards and trays, they’d been tucked away in a cupboard.
Just before 6 we set off to meet up with Ruth, had a cuppa whilst we checked through some paperwork before heading back to see Frank again, we needed his signature on a few things. Then it was time to say goodbye, leaving him in the company of his friend.
I didn’t head to Whitby!
It was now 8pm. Earlier in the day we’d decided to head back to Birmingham. The three hour journey lay ahead, we’d not eaten, so we’d not get back until midnight. We’d booked the car for Friday as well so we didn’t have to leave. Instead we opted for a microwave curry back at the house and to sleep in the back bedroom, leaving the two bigger rooms all ready and made up for lodgers. It had already been a long day, so a sit on the sofa in front of Traitors with a glass of wine was needed.
A quick curry
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 hire car, 3:15 drive, 1 snoozing Frank, 2 discharge chats, 0 discharge, 1 load of towels, 1 load of bedding, 1 form, 8 interesting things, 0 casserole, 1 friend, 1 chicken tikka masala, 1 sag aloo, 1 rice, 2 bottles wine, 2 boaters back in the back bedroom, 1 cat at home on the boat alone.
Tescos, Rugeley to Tixal Wide, Stafford and Worcester Canal.
Mick started sorting clothes for a wash this morning. Now that the weather has turned a bit chilly we both realised we’d only two pairs of jeans each. Having another pair in reserve would be a good idea. After breakfast we headed into Tescos to see what they had to offer. Why are there SO many different types of jeans for ladies these days? Mom, Wide leg, straight, bootcut, jeggings, cigarette, carrot! Please can I just buy some plain ordinary jeans that fit! Cigarette seemed to be the nearest to what I wanted, they’ll take a bit of getting used to as they are tight on my calves and a bit baggy round my bum.
It’s getting quite crowded
Boats had moved off before us and others arrived for top up shops. We made our way westwards slowly passing all the moored boats. The Fund Britain’s Waterways garden with all its pirates is getting quite over crowded now.
Over the River Trent. Past where Dexter used to sell diesel at good prices. They seem to like rusty old VW Beetles now. A very jolly boat came towards us, flowers hanging from the roof into the well deck. Pink and blue, was this Sebrina from the Boat Women group? It was, I waved and made a comment on her recent paint job.
Colwich Lock was waiting for a boat to come down. The lock cottage having some work done to it with scaffolding at one end, the owners stood in the doorway feeding a robin from their hands.
Narrow view
The boat coming down was out for the day, friends had joined the crew for a jolly. Three of us worked them down then it was our turn to ascend. The bottom gates with their short beams are heavy, the top gate beam still a stack of planks, a temporary beam until one is made for it from oak.
Shame about the scaffolding and lock beam
I walked on ahead, nearly 2 miles to Haywood Lock. Not quite as chilly as yesterday, but keeping up a good pace kept me warm. There was space below the lock, several boats looked like they’d been here a while. Up ahead a Stone hire boat was just going into the lock to go up. I went to help as Oleanna was still a bit behind.
The chap asked about a waterpoint just round the bend on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. I explained where the tap was at the junction, straight on just before the bridge, I showed him on Waterway Routes. Another person saying they’d have to update their app! We checked where he was wanting to wind and that information was correct.
DON’T touch the gates, please!
I reset the lock for Oleanna, the bottom gates with short beams heavy to move again. It took a while to get one side closed, I walked round to do the other. A very helpful, well meaning man walking the towpath walked up to the gate I’d just closed saying, ‘Would you like me to open this one for you?’ NO!!! was my slightly rude reply, NO thank you. The thought of having to close it again really wasn’t appealing!
If we were here longer I’d walk round to get a different angle
There was a bit of a do-ci-do at the junction with a boat having just turned out onto the T&M. Mick swung Oleanna round under the bridge and headed for Tixal Wide. Walking ahead I expected to see quite a few boats. One gap with an angler sat right in the middle. But further along with the best view of the gatehouse there was plenty of room, we’d just have to contend with the really low bank. The sun was just catching the gatehouse rather nicely, I took lots of photos. Maybe this winter I’ll do a painting which could hang above our bed, that will be two paintings of buildings from near the canals, one for each big bedroom.
The washing went out on the whirligig, Tilly disappeared into the friendly cover for quite some time. I had a walk back to the farm shop to see what there might be, maybe a nice joint for Sunday. However, there being very few prices on show put me off buying meat. I selected a few items, gluten free black pudding and oatcake mix, some cheese and a sausage roll for Mick’s lunch tomorrow. Definitely a treat shop at over £20!
Great Haywood Junction
Back at Oleanna I checked things out with Frank, today so far had been quiet, but not so after checking his notes! Photos of pieces of set came through from Jamie, I requested a slightly bigger pipe, which was sorted within a few minutes.
Late afternoon it started to rain, the washing had to come inside!
It was good to start with, but not so now!
Two potatoes got wrapped in foil and popped in the firebox of the stove, the last of the weekend’s chicken was mixed with carrot and greens for a chunky coleslaw to accompany the baked potatoes. Very nice.
6 miles, 2 locks, 1 left, 5.17 miles walked, 2 new jeans, 1 jumper, 7 odd marks, 12 oatcakes to make, 1 flushing loo, 0 DOB or name, 1 rendezvous arranged, 1 more in the pipeline, 2 visits from Tucker, 3 Frankness members wondering about Charlie Bigham.
First things first, someone turned eleven today and in so doing made me the youngest crew member on board! Old Age Cat, 11, she’s reached 60 before me! She doesn’t act like an OAC! This time last year we were moored on exactly the same mooring for her birthday. Last year her present was a furry thing we now call the Rat, it’s getting rather bald from all the licking! This year she got a leek, not quite a vegetable as it contains catnip. She also got a serious treat of some salmon which will be saved for a really boring, no shore leave day.
Me an OAC !?!
Tilly was allowed some shore leave as I worked on panto for a while, a phone call from Jamie the set builder and a couple of other things required attention. The boat that had been in the lock cut last night came past, NB Falcon, we’d seen them somewhere last year. An electric boat, we waved. Just as we were about to push off my phone rang, it was the social worker in Scarborough calling to confirm Frank’s discharge from the hospital and when his first carer would arrive. In Scarborough the Frankness group were busy, the cleaner even busier! The plan was all coming good.
Moon
Time to sus out moorings in Stratford. We’d looked online for a CRT mooring and worked out the cost to be in Bancroft Basin for a month. CRT winter moorings only run for calendar months, so we’d need to book it for November and move there on my first weekend off, we’d also not really plan to use the last week. It worked out at about £300, the nearest water point and bins would be 4 locks back up the canal, not ideal. It’s also quite close to busy roads and I was concerned about Tilly being safe exploring or not having any shore leave for four weeks.
So we then looked at Shakespeare Marina, I’d heard they still had spaces for winter moorers. Mick had sent them an email but heard nothing back, so he called them. Was it possible to have a visitor mooring for a month. Yes. Would it be possible to have a mooring around the edge of the marina, so Tilly could come and go? Yes. Would we also need an Avon Navigation licence whilst we were there? Yes. We totted things up, yes it’s more expensive than a CRT winter mooring, it’s also further out of town. But there is a bus stop close by, Tilly may be able to go out without busy roads, there’s a gate to the towpath. We decided to go for it.
New boat shoes, pinching a little
As we came round the last bend towards Holme Lock I spied someone at the downstream panel. I zoomed in on my camera, yes there was someone there, they walked towards the top gates. Ahh, we were too far away to sound our horn and the lock landing is quite a distance from the panels so they were already part way up when I arrived to chat to them.
Did he write about Corvettes?
NB Falcon. I mentioned that we’d come across them last year, possibly somewhere before, and the chap said ‘Ah yes, you are the Panto lady!’ He writes books about cars, well used to until AI came along and now steals his words. We had quite a chat and as their boat came up I went to chat to the lady at the helm, very nice to see them again.
The new bridge again
Once the top gates were closed behind them and the paddles dropped I set the lock for us. Holme Lock is quite a monsterous size. It took 32 minutes from pressing the button to start emptying the lock, to the top gates being shut and all paddles closed behind Oleanna. Shame we’d not been able to share it and a good job we’re on a river!
See you somewhere next year maybe
Back upstream, we overtook NB Falcon at Lady Bay Bridge, they were heading for the steps at County Hall for the night, but we were headed for Sainsbury’s. As we pulled up onto the pontoon I could see the lock was being emptied, someone had lifted the paddles for us and stayed to help us up. Thank you!
Near the big bend and urgent care centre
I walked on to Castle Lock, worked us up and then I walked on a head to see where we’d be able to moor. On our way down there had been plenty of space by the path to Saisnbury’s, but today there was a distinct lack of room. I called Mick and told him to back up as even though there were gaps, they just weren’t big enough for us.
Castle Lock
A few items were purchased to top up on fresh items whilst I worked on straightening out the legs for panto. As I’d found the right tool yesterday to do the job, this proved to be very easy. The files were sent off to the printer. Fingers crossed that this time they are fine.
This evening we sat down to watch the first episode of Celebrity Traitors. Well, was that a mistake or not?! Mick ended up snoozing, so he’ll have to watch it again tomorrow!
2nd October
Mick headed back in Sainsbury’s this morning to pick up some liver and bacon, we still had some M&S mashed potato left over from our pies on Monday, so that was our evening meal sorted.
Pushing off
I had a chat with Frank first thing, as today was the day he was moving back home. A few final preparations were needed, but all was on course for his return.
This chap managed to over take me
There was an email from the director of panto making a request. Ah, some of it wouldn’t be possible, but some might. The set builder happened to then call to check a couple of things, so I could ask questions about an alteration. Easy. As we pushed off from our mooring, I walked on ahead chatting to the Director. Caroline comes from Nottingham so knew exactly where we were. I checked over my shoulder at one point and said ‘I seem to have lost my boat!’ I loitered, and Oleanna soon came back into view.
At Beeston we pulled in on the water point to top up the tank and empty the yellow water, Tilly’s pooh box got a refresh too. We then pushed over to the other side, the lock landing to make disposing of our waste easier, the elsan has swapped sides since we were last here.
One day we’ll actually go inside!
This is yet another time when we’ve missed out on the Heritage Centre at the lock. Next time hopefully we may have more time, that’s if they are open in the winter. Today we needed to keep moving, our cruising plan has us moving for about three hours a day everyday.
Out onto the river again. No other moving boats in sight. We wondered if there’d be any lock keepers on duty at Cranfleet. Sure enough as we got close I could spy blue t-shirts and life jackets, three Lockies who set the lock for us and then started to work the paddles.
Cranfleet Lock
The lock walls have some larger stones that overhang into the chamber. As we rose up, I could see there being a possibility of the gunnel catching under this, by about an inch. I tried pushing the bow out, but the pressure from the water coming in was too great. I called back to Mick to pull Oleanna backwards, the gunnel scraped out from under the lip, taking with it an area of paint! Good job it’s easy paint to touch up, even better that we hadn’t got caught.
Three Lockies
We opted to pull in before the end of the cut, the mooring rings however were spaced for really long boats, so a spike had to be used at the stern. Tilly was given three hours shore leave. After an initial attempt to reach the sideways trees was thwarted by a woofer, she made a sprint for it and disappeared for a while. Maybe it wasn’t a good mooring?
News came through that Frank was at home enjoying a cuppa chatting to Chris. An email with some vital information had arrived too whilst we’d been on the move, an extra good thing to happen today. Two missions accomplished so far this week, a cruising plan coming good. Add to that liver and bacon tonight, another pretty good day.
15 miles, 5 locks, 1 Frank back home, 1 car nearly gone, 4 legs straightened, 11, 60 year old, 1 leek, 1 lock missed, 1 bench separate, 1 toilet impossible, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 1 pot of mash, 1 carer being instructed how to cook pork chops.
This morning we were up and walking to Newark Northgate to catch a train northwards. Mick had a hospital appointment in Scarborough to attend and it would give us the opportunity to visit our friend Frank who is also at the hospital. The trains ran as timed and when we arrived in Scarborough Mick headed to the house to pick up items we’d omitted to bring with us, the most important one being Tilly’s dingding bell. Although I suspect we miss it more than she does! Whilst at the house he also cut the grass.
Pesky seagull
I on the other hand headed to Tescos to purchase a few things for Frank. Yes I could have bought things in Newark but Frank is particular about the size of his bananas etc, so it was just safer to go to the right shop. I still had quite a bit of time before visiting hours started so I headed to the Town Hall to eat my butties with a view of the sea. Here there was a juvenile seagull who sat and watched my every mouthful. I did wonder if I’d be mugged by adult gulls as so often happens around Scarborough, but I managed to consume everything myself.
Latest pair of socks
It’s quite a walk to the hospital, Mick caught the bus and we met outside the main entrance. Time to find Frank, who had moved wards last night, luckily someone had left a message with our friend Ben as to where Frank was. Frank had been admitted about ten days ago in not such a good state. Whilst he’s been here they have fed and watered him and thankfully he now has a walking frame, I’ve been trying to get hold of walking aids for him for the last month, being passed from GP to Council and back again. Frank looked far better than the last time we’d seen him.
The ward staff had been waiting for our arrival and phone calls were made saying we’d arrived and a nice nurse Joni came down to meet with us. Frank is now stable enough to go home, but there are things that need to happen before he can. A care package and his house needs making suitable for him and his new walking frames, he’s got two! They’d like to be able to move Frank home as soon as possible. I put my PA’s hat on, Oh blimey there’s a lot to do!
Boaty artworks in the hospital corridors
Next, we headed to find Mick’s appointment, arriving early he was called straight in by a nurse, soon followed on by the consultant. Questions asked, answers given. A blood test requested and another test to follow. Now came the question from Mick regarding the blood test, could it be done anywhere in the country as we don’t plan on being in Scarborough again soon. As ever the answer came back as expected, it would be unlikely that the consultant would get to see the results. I put my PA’s hat on again, could he have them done in York? Yes! Brilliant, this was possible next week.
Sun setting on the way back
Back across the hospital back to see Frank. We made plans, chatted through things that should be set up and found and followed up on. We came away with a long list of jobs to try to put into action. All fairly easy when in Scarborough, but not so when in Newark! The train journey back was spent compiling a Call To Arms for the Frankness group of friends.
Not the best pizza!
Back in Newark we headed to feed Tilly, then straight out to Pizza Express for some food. There was only one other table occupied and we’d been warned that they close at 9pm. We ordered a large glass of wine each, some dough balls and a pizza each. Well, we’ve had far better from Pizza Express in the past, in fact we were quite disappointed by it. I’d rather have made my own pizza, it would have been far tastier and we’d not have needed a saw to cut into them! Of well it was sustenance after a long day.
Friday. Today we should move off, maybe back to the bank opposite, maybe down to Cromwell Visitor mooring. But there was a lot to get done today and we’d not seen any boats moving. If it got busy, we’d move off.
Walking the streets of Scarborough from Newark
I set about finding cleaners for Franks house. Mick set about trying to sort out paperwork for Frank. At times we became detectives working out old addresses. Thank goodness Mick had turned the volume up on Franks phone yesterday. He couldn’t remember house numbers, but the houses names. I spent an age walking up and down streets via google street view looking for the house name, then Mick found a lead.
It was soon decided that spending a day in Scarborough would be wise to make sure things would happen at Franks house even if I can’t be there all the time to help. Various Frankness friends had limited availability, one comment was if only this had happened during the school holidays, have to admit that would have been easier for us too. But you can’t help when you get ill. During the day, numerous messages, phone calls were made and a plan came together. It would take maybe a bit more time than the nurse we’d talked to yesterday had hoped, but Frank’s house should be sorted for him to go home soon.
Time for some head space, I was sent a video of a cement mixer, that helped a touch, but a walk would be far better.
I set off to head to Kilham Hall. Across the railway line at Newark Castle I stopped to look at the objects outside a place we’d once attended an auction for a new mattress for NB Lillyanne. What an eclectic mix of things! Polar bears, lions, chandeliers, Hulk Hogan, Policemen, fancy chairs, trunks, signage, all sorts piled up high inside the big old railway buildings. I considered a chair for panto, but it was far too expensive to just chop up for what we want.
Right back to that walk. I turned off and found the footpath, however the path had to cross two very busy roads, even busier on a Friday afternoon. I’d hoped there would be an underpass, but no such luck. I wasn’t in the mood to dice with death, so I opted to return to town and do some shopping instead.
However, there was another antique place that needed to be looked at on the way back. This was far more classic antiques. Everything spaced out with more air round it and the price tags far more too. Lovely wooden this and that. I was caught by a chap with a thick Irish accent as I looked at a marble table with such an intricate inlaid pattern. ‘Isn’t it wonderful, so much work, solid marble, that blue is the most expensive marble you can get. It’s a stupid price too. A table like that is worth £10,000, but it’s for sale for £1,700!’ Well I didn’t want it for Oleanna, extra ballast of that type would have her capsize. I said I wasn’t buying, just looking, he soon left me alone.
Outside there were two chaps trying to sort how to fit a Grandfathers clock into their convertible Audi. I left them to it and climbed a staircase to a big heavy door, it said as much on it. Opening it I was suddenly greeted by music, lift music! Outside there had been no noise what-so-ever, but inside the vault on the first floor the music played out loud and clear. Most surreal! I looked round all the cases of silver, jewellery, pottery, etc. Maybe there’d be something for friends for their 60th birthdays coming up. No, nobody actually needs any of this stuff, so I opted to leave empty handed, closed the door behind me, shutting the music inside.
Strawberries!
Time to shop for things to make a cheese cake, Aldi did me proud for most things, but I really didn’t want six lemons or four oranges. So Morrisons came up trumps with those and some vanilla essence. Back on board I made some Strawberry coulis to go with my cheesecake and once cool it went in the freezer to help keep things cool on Sunday.
A bowl of pasta each, a glass of wine and a sit down. A pretty full on day, but hopefully the Frank plan will come together next week.
0 locks, 0 miles, 9p after three days, 4 trains, 2 buses, 1 annoying seagull, 1 seriously bored cat, 1st plan hatched, 15 minutes before the appointment time, 2 disappointing pizzas, 2nd plan hatched, 1 distracted walk, 2 Stage Management heavens, 2 detectives, 1 form filled in and ready, 2 crackers with cheese, 1 pot of bubbling strawberries.
Last night we’d given our cruising plans some thought. Our original aim had been to head to York for a get together with an old friend and family. We’d considered it possible in the time we had, had we left Redhill on Monday, maybe Tuesday at a push, but another days delay? We know the route pretty well and can plan day to day in our heads, but we still did a Canal Plan route, 45 hours cruise. We then checked the tides. The day we’d be looking to go from Cromwell to Torksey were possible. The remainder for the Tidal Trent to Keadby, not so good. One tide was very early in the morning, like not long after midnight so all of the trip would be in the dark. The other late afternoon, so by the time we’d get to Keadby we were unlikely to be in time for a lock keeper. Mick has a hernia, so he’s not keen on standing for long periods of time at the tiller.
Action shot
Tides, cruising hours and hernia have put the kibosh on that plan. However, it would still be advantageous to head northwards for a while, but at a much slower pace before we turn and hope to get south for Panto. After all, the majority of our plans haven’t come off this year, so we might as well add another one to the list!
Pennywort
We made ready to push off, Mick at the helm and me on the towpath. It was quite a pleasant walk in towards Nottingham. Less pennywort on the canal than we remembered from last year. A group of boats were moored up by Thane Road Bridge, all moored to rings, I made a note of the mooring before carrying onwards. Maybe these are new rings, or maybe their proximity to the two bridges make for a not so attractive mooring.
Passing Lenton Chain Junction
I climbed back on board at Lenton Lane Bridge as we’d be turning into Castle Marina shortly and there are too many boats moored near the entrance to be able to climb aboard there.
Boats!
Gosh what a difference a year makes. Last year many of the pontoons at Castle Marina had been condemned, they had been for a few years. But Aquavista have invested a lot of money here. the five pontoons has been reduced to four, meaning they can accommodate more narrowboats, but in return cutting down on the number of cruisers. They still have a couple of winter moorings available should anyone be interested.
We filled with diesel, 64 litres at £1.50 domestic, Ouch, thank you Donald!
Back out of the marina pulling in close to the entrance for Sainsbury’s. Lunch first then we’d go and do a big shop ready to fill the freezer.
We came back with four big carrier bags full. I set about filling the fridge with cold stuff. The new fridge is great because it actually gets cold, but the arrangement of the door shelves is very odd and the main shelves seem to be a couple of inches shorter than our old fridge. The most annoying thing about it is that the crisper is not wide enough to hold a wine box! It’s something we’ll have to get used to and we’ll have to buy smaller bottles of tomato ketchup in future as the current one is too tall.
Next thing was to find a suitable container for our wood litter, we use it in our separating toilet and Tilly uses it in her pooh box. We buy it in 30 litre bags and where the bag now needs to be stored it could easily fall over when Tilly’s pooh box is removed. I headed off to B&M which was full of new students buying essentials for their accommodation. Storage boxes were plentiful, but just about all of them were too wide for the gap I wanted it to go in. Then high up I spotted a container that would hold 20 litres of dog biscuits, it came with a scoop. It would fit the gap and leave enough space behind it for the remainder of the bag of litter. It looks quite smart and we won’t tell Tilly it’s meant for woofer food!
After the last week and now no need to keep going today we opted to slow right down and stop for the day. Yes, down at County Hall the mooring is nicer than opposite the student flats, but we were in need of a rest, plus there were still jobs to do and the students haven’t moved in yet.
It’s just not FAIR!!!
Tilly thought that the bushes looked really interesting alongside us, but She said it would be really bad if I got to meet a sooper fast bicycle, especially on my first shore leave in ages! Instead Tilly watched me repack mince, sausages, turkey steaks and jointing a chicken to go in the freezer. Now we just have to hope that the freezer can cope with getting everything cold!
Mick tinkered with the wires in the new connection block for the TV and radio aerial. We now have TV signal again! Hooray!!
Red Pepper Salmon tonight and some knitting now we have light again.
0 locks, 2.7 miles, 2 rights, 1 wind, 64.11 litres, 0 gas, 1 more change of plan for the year, 1 trolley to the boat, 1 more day of feline boredom, 1 woofer litter box, 1 slow day that wasn’t actually that slow.
Monday. Last week we’d forgotten to come away from Oleanna with the correct dimensions of the diesel cap so that we could get the correctly sized version. A message was sent to Tom which also enquired as to when he thought Oleanna would be being launched. Correct dimensions were received, and news that all was going according to plan, the last of the painting was nearing completion, and Bertie was busy polishing. Tom would give us a call on Tuesday to chat about the plan for the rest of the week.
Ah! We really needed to know which day, as we didn’t want to miss out on hire vans this week, and we’d be needing to hire it from the day before the launch so that we’d be able to arrive before her bottom got wet. The answer came back, ‘Let’s go for a Thursday launch either way’. We did a quick plan in our heads regarding trips to Redhill, 1 for launch, back to Scarborough, 1 to move Tilly, return hire van. A Thursday launch would mean a longer hire, but more leeway should we need it.
I know what’s going on!
The van was booked straight away, a Sainsburys click and collect booked in Loughborough, then I did a happy dance!
Mick checked the diesel cap lock. The place we’d bought one from only does one size. We looked round for alternatives and think we’ve found something neater and of the correct size. However, the time of us having a handy address for it to be delivered to was running out. We’ll put that on the back burner and revisit soon. Anyone fancy the lockable cap we can’t use?
It needs to fit round here
Tuesday lunchtime we got a request from Tom for some D shackles so that the stern fender could be attached. Did we happen to have some with a gap of 17mm minimum? Maybe on the boat, but that would mean hunting through The Shed! No-one should be given that task apart from one of us!
Scarborough used to have two chandlers, both no longer sadly. We looked online, nowhere did 17mm, next size up was 20mm. No local shops had them, maybe if we had to order them then we should go for stainless steel. The hunt continued.
The bow fender went on. Plank and pole rest were located towards the bow. It used to be towards the stern, but we’d soon realised our mistake when centre lines got caught round boat hooks. Some more antislip was added to the roof and the stern doors were sanded and given a coat of yacht varnish for protection.
We were all very excited when Alex, Angie and Polly arrived to stay overnight for the press night of the new Ayckbourn. The barrier between the two houses was put back up for the night to keep woofer and Tilly apart, then we all put on our glad rags to head to see the show.
By Alan
The Trial of Romeo Oscar is Alan’s first ever courtroom drama, set in 2194 when humanity has been scattered across the universe. Androids are plentiful and seeking to be treated as equals. Romeo Oscar, a military android, is to be put on trial for murder, the first non-human to be tried in a court of law. There are a few laughs, lots to listen to, absorb and think about long after the show. We really enjoyed it along with catching up with people over a drink afterwards. If you happen to be near Bowness or Stoke the show will be touring in October.
Wednesday. A spark of inspiration, would Berriman and Chapman in Scarborough have some D shackles? It was worth a try. I walked down into town for a few bits and had a lengthy chat with the lady behind the hardware shop counter. I bought four of their largest shackles, but suspected they’d not be big enough. Back on line to check the location of S3i, a short detour on our route south and yes we could collect our order in the morning, job done.
Is that all we’re taking?!
The rest of the day was spent packing up the kitchen, work items and just about everything else other than clothes. Once the van arrived it was loaded for a swift getaway in the morning. Anna, our current lodger was surprised at how quickly things were now moving, well we’ve been ready for this move for well over a month now, we just had to repack items we’d unpacked.
Thursday morning. With several plastic bottles filled with water and sandwich supplies we climbed into the van and headed southwards. A turn-off near Doncaster had us arrive at S3i which is just across the way from Howarth Heating where we got our multifuel Bubble stove from when Oleanna was built. Did we need anything for the stove? It was too late to be thinking about a new riddling rod! Once our shiny shackles were picked up, we carried on heading south arriving at the paint shed at just gone 11am.
Shackles handed over, the stern fender could now be fixed on. Unfortunately the new one we’d bought was a few inches shorter than the old one and would not quite protect the rudder. Tom hunted round for an old stubby button, this was cleaned off and added to our new one, much better, thank you guys.
Our items that had been in storage in the shed were brought out and popped on the bed inside Oleanna. It was going to be interesting to see what we’d actually packed weeks ago! At least my walking boots were there! Two fat fenders were pulled out from the shower and hung on the starboard side, the chaps from the boatyard were coming to move her!
A trailer was brought, then a forklift with a long strop which was attached to Oleanna’s bow T stud. She’d been put on wheels all ready for the move. We were asked to stand behind the jolly barrier, the engines that Bertie has been painting. Then the forklift took the strain and Oleanna gradually inched her way out of the shed. Once her bow was well clear of the shutter doors the trailer was backed up to meet her. The frame was lowered to go underneath her, then backed up. She was raised a bit, making sure she’d still clear the shutter doors and pulled further out into the day light. The solar panels started to work. She was lowered onto blocks again and then the trailer reversed more, then she was lifted up off the wheels from the paint shed.
She was pulled out of the shed, then manoeuvred around in front of the cooling towers, how many photos did I take? Just a few!!!
This was the best one!
As she came past the Hill another boat was being grit blasted, it would be backed into Oleanna’s space later in the day, just before it started to rain.
Then she was swung round and headed down to the slipway, where she was backed down the ramp. Tom and Bertie holding bow and stern ropes followed her down keeping hold of her. It took a couple of goes at getting her to be free from the trailer, but then she was floating, back in the water after 47 weeks and a day! She was pulled backwards and tied up on the mooring in front of the bar and marina office.
First job, those plastic bottles of water would be coming in handy as the water tank on Oleanna was empty and we wanted to sterilize it first. The hose was set filling the tank. Tom fitted the pramcover which gave us somewhere to eat our very late lunch.
Taps were tried, a trickle from the kitchen sink. Nothing from the bathroom sink! Maybe an airlock, Mick left the taps on for a while and the pressure improved. Tom wanted to check the gas was okay. The hob took a bit of persuading to ignite, two of the burners needed a bit of nozzle cleaning for them to work properly a bit of wire did the trick to clear it.
The fridge was turned on, the light worked , it made a noise, but it didn’t get cold. Bugger! Tom didn’t know anyone who could help, maybe someone in the pub later on would know something to assist us. The suggestion came back that turning it upside down for an hour might help, other suggestions from Canal World Forum were in favour of re-gasing it. Or would we simply have to buy a new one? We looked online, asked advice about chandlers. Since Midland Chandlers has gone online only, it’s much harder just to pick up a new fridge. Thankfully we’d not brought too much from the house that needed to stay chilled. Our pullout freezer can be used as a fridge, the temperature can be adjusted, so that would do for today.
A very late lunch
The bathroom tap now seemed to be working, but there was also a lovely stream of water flowing across the bathroom floor. After ten years of good service the tap must have had some water in it which froze despite the boat being fully winterised! New tap or ceramic cartridge required, but for now a tea towel wrapped round it will do. With the water tank now full and sterilizing it was left for an hour, then the water pump worked it’s socks off emptying the tank. Those plastic water bottles keeping us away from using the water in the tank for a while longer.
Next important job was to get the new curtains hung. I started in the bedroom, glad I’d labelled all the curtain rods, they went back up pretty easily. The curtains I’d made at least five years ago went up without a hitch. Next the main cabin curtains, made earlier this year with more tolerance in them than the old ones, this might be a good thing as our new windows are far thicker. Mick was called in to help with a troublesome endcap and screw, the endcap dropped and totally vanished. It was nowhere to be found! At least we’d be able to draw the curtains when it got dark, they might fall off the end of the pole on one side, but hey! It would do for the time being.
Bedding was found. Around the bed hoovered, items put into storage beneath the base, bed made up. Time to try and clear somewhere to sit down!
Sun setting on a long day
Items we’d cleared from all the lockers needed to be moved back to where they belonged, cupboards under the dinette hoovered out, floor hoovered again, dust jumping out from everywhere. Thank goodness we’d brought an evening meal with us, beef and beetroot curry which was consumed quite late on when we’d had more than enough of trying to stow things and clean up. A couple of glasses of wine whilst looking at potential fridges, then we collapsed into bed pretty exhausted.
There you go Ade, a breakfast for you!
Friday. We’d come without any breakfast. It had been planned that way, as there is the cafe just across the way, it would have been rude not to! So we both opted for a cooked breakfast sat in the morning sunshine overlooking the river and a rather nice shiny boat.
Some space starting to show itself at last!
Tom called round this morning to check if things were working as they should. Our sliding galley windows were extremely stiff. These are original windows and even though I’d cleaned them quite well before she came out of the water last year, she’d had a whole winter and spring for green growth to accumulate, add into that grit from the blasting. Tom set to work clearing them out and greasing them so they would move better.
We’d also had difficulty closing the stern doors last night, the rear hatch wasn’t clearing the doors as it should. This turned out to be the two PTFE blocks that normally glide on the runners were missing, thankfully they were sat on the Nicholsons shelf. Tom glued these back in place for us and we locked the hatch so the glue to set undisturbed.
Mick rang round chandlers, no-one had a fridge in stock. If they sell fridges then they have to be able to recycle old ones, so few chandlers stock them. One company was found in Oldbury, but they didn’t answer the phone and then when he tried to place an order it said that it would take 7 days for the fridge to be converted to 12/24 volt. No, we weren’t interested in buying a 240 volt one. Very kindly Tom offered to order one for us from Midland Chandlers using his account, it should arrive Monday or Tuesday, bingo, job done. We just needed to plug the gap left to keep Tilly from exploring behind cupboards, cooker and the floor, those clothes bags can be unpacked later!
Time to lock up and head back to Scarborough
More unpacking, stowing, moving things about, I did wonder if it would ever end! Items to be returned to the house were collected together and put in the van. Tom came and helped take the old fridge out then he single-handedly popped it in the back of the van for disposal in Scarborough.
The journey back to Scarborough was a touch slow, Friday late afternoon evening traffic. We opted for a supermarket curry and bottle of wine then headed home to see Tilly and give her the news that her floating home was as ready as it could be for her to move back on board.
0 locks, 0.1 miles on a trailer, 4.79 miles walked around the boat on Thursday, 3 on Friday, 1 van load, 2 many things to stow, 0 new items, just where has it all come from? 1 hire van, 8 shiny shackles for the price of 6, 1 forklift, 1 trailer, 1 new cat landing net needing glue, 1 dead fridge, 1 leaking tap, 1 stubborn cooker, 1 water tank filled, 1 bottle milton, 1 hour, 1 tank empty, 1 tank refilled, 1 wasp sting, 1 hour of PA duties, 1 support network set up, 1 shiny boat in front of 8 cooling towers, 2 cooked breakfasts, 1 with extra bacon instead of gf toast, 2 happy boaters, 2 long days.
There were many boats in the loch this morning, mostly battleship grey. What a fantastic view to wake up to every morning. Christine made us scrambled duck eggs and bacon for breakfast, followed by some lemon curd on toast. This was lemon curd left over from making a wedding cake last weekend for Ed, Mick’s son who works for Finesse, our boat builders.
Christine’s Christmas creations
Before leaving, I had to have a look at Christine’s glass workshop. She makes beautiful items from fused glass and sells them at the local post office and at craft fairs in the area. Time for goodbyes. Thank you for the remainder of the lemon curd, one of my favourites.
Not done this for a while!
Car packed for the last time we pulled away, only to pull in a short distance on, it was time for me to take over the wheel. Today there were many miles to cover, Mick said he was happy to drive it all, but that seemed daft, after all we’d paid extra for me to be a second driver. I’ve not driven for at least eight years and then only on two days, prior to that it was another four years, I think. After Mick’s stroke last year he wasn’t allowed to drive for several weeks, it was really about time I sat behind the wheel again.
Sterling Castle
I’d avoided driving on the wiggly winding roads, and motorways. Just bog standard A roads would be wise for a first outing, maybe I’d drive to our first break, then let Mick do the motorway. Have to say it wasn’t as daunting as it was eight years ago when I had to drive from Manchester to Ipswich and back on my own. Then I’d found it scary getting up to speed on motorways, far more used to travelling at 3 miles an hour and having a good 50ft ahead of me on the boat. Having six gears was a new thing today. Getting the seat set for me was interesting, was I at a suitable height distance from the pedals? Or was I just quite tense about the whole thing? I drove us to the first motorway section near Sterling Castle, maybe not as fast as Mick would have. A good start, just need to find more opportunities for me to sit behind the wheel, not so easy when you don’t have a car.
There they are!
This was our last day of holiday, there was one place on our list we needed to visit before we left Scotland. This of course was the Kelpies.
The drive east took us around 1 hour 50 from Christine and Micks, the last section through major road works. Two car parks to choose from, we opted for the free one and a bit of a walk along the side of the Forth and Clyde Canal. The canal was empty, quite a few traffic cones in the bottom and a scooter visible.
Moquettes
The 100ft high horses heads had been visible from the motorway, now they loomed ahead of us. 1:10 moquettes of the sculptures sit by the visitors centre, these a work of art in themselves. The final pieces were scanned from the moquette then cut from steel and bolted together, unveiled in 2014. They are surrounded by a watery moat and between them is Kelpies Lock 1A, on the newest stretch of the Scottish Canals. The horses represent the heavy horses that once pulled boats and cargo along the towpaths of the Forth and Clyde and Union canals in their heyday.
Moquettes and the real Kelpies along with our lunch
The horses were designed by artist Andy Scott. The moquettes hand crafted using thousands of steel segments. When completed, they were scanned and scaled up to the full size. They are quite incredible, huge sheets of steel with square corners and holes bolted together to make up such majestic, strong creatures. I think the only real curves on them is their eyes.
Mick enjoyed a pork and haggis sausage roll whilst my gf options were limited, a bowl of luke warm cheesy chips. Then it was time for us to start to head back southbound. Our options for routes: head back westwards to retrace the mostly motorway route, head east towards Edinburgh and then down the A1 and the North Sea coast, cut the corner and go through Coldstream. In the end we opted for the A1 with sea views most of the way and the Tyne Tunnel. The last time I did this journey was after opening a show at the Edinburgh Festival driving through the night to get to opening night of an Esk Valley Theatre show in Glaisdale the next day.
Stood either side of the lock
As we drove we kept an eye on petrol prices, would the next garage be cheaper, should we find a supermarket? In the end we opted for a price that wasn’t too alarming, had a comfort break and finished off the yummy banana cake Christine had given us. Mick valiantly carried on driving us back to Scarborough, picking up a Chinese takeaway from a place that had been recommended to me by friends who are also gluten free. Sadly we maybe didn’t make the best choices and understanding the lady with a very strong Hong Kong accent was a little hard, she had difficulty understanding us too. Next time we’ll think about it more before ordering.
Back at the house our lodger was at work. I stuck my head up against the bay window setting the security light off. This prompted our guard cat to hop onto the chair to see what was happening. If a cat could smile, Tilly would have had a broader grin than the Cheshire Cat.
View down the Northumbrian coast
No telling off, which was a surprise, just requests for lots of head nudges strokes and once we’d eaten I was pinned to the sofa by a furry purry cat. I think she’s very pleased we’re home.
Purring away
We’ve had a great holiday, thank you to everyone who we stayed with, it was great to be able to spend time with you all. Also a big thank you to Vicky who fed and looked after Tilly so well for us, saving her having to go to cat prison for a week which would have meant two car journeys for her.
Us at the end of our holiday
Will we be transitioning to being motorhome owners to explore different parts of the UK as lots of boat owners seem to? The answer to that is …. no, I doubt it very much. I suspect we’ll try to travel a bit more in the winter, but we’re far from being bored of boating. We have plans in the embrionic stage for winter next year, but that all depends on various things coming together in time. We’ve our fingers crossed it will come off, but many aspects are nothing we can control. We have put in a request that a frequent lodger gets at job at the SJT so she could look after Tilly for us for longer than just one week, we’ll see if that comes off.
0 locks, 0 miles by boat, 753.4 miles by road, Fiat 500, 2 drivers, 6 nights away, 1 sister, 3 friends, 1 wheel, 2 horses, 2 squirrels, 76 miles by road rather than 35 by crow, 5 mine sweepers, 1 silent woofer, 2 60ths on the horizon, 2 yummy cakes, 3 portions fish and chips, 1 beautiful house, 1 mass of pink scaffolding, 1 barn, 3 canals, 1 pleased cat, 1 stroke allowed to Vicky, 2 boaters still with weeks to wait, 1 Easter getting in the way!
Scarborough / Castle Marina to Beeston Turnover Bridge 19, again!
A glimpse at Hull Fair
Breakfasted, a chat with the Liza and Stuart, then it was time to say our goodbyes and pop the cat caravan in a blue Ikea bag and head back to the station. Another four hour journey, work progressing well on sock pair 106. The tide was further in than it had been yesterday as we passed the Humber Bridge.
Tide’s further in
A change at Sheffield gave me enough time to briskly walk to M&S for a sandwich each whilst Mick changed platforms and got us a cuppa. On closer inspection of the PG tea, we wondered how long it would be before the tea would actually look like tea? On the train the brewing was checked again, still no more colour. A sniff. Hang on this wasn’t decaf! Well it is naturally decaffeinated as it was Camomile tea with milk!
This is NOT tea as we know it
Back in Nottingham we walked back to Oleanna via the canal. I popped into Sainsbury’s to buy some bicarb and vinegar, I’m going to have a go at cleaning the sink traps of gunk.
Pair 106
Tilly was happy to see us both. We kept the caravan out the back so it didn’t spoil our return for her. Dry washing was packed away, a few items like socks still a bit damp were popped in the tumble dryer, the dish washer popped on. Once these had used as much electric as they needed we disconnected from the hook up, untied and pushed off back out onto the cut.
The birds have taken over the marina
Slowly we made our way back out towards Beeston. Today there was no warmth from sunshine, today we needed fleeces and fleecy coats. A bit under 3 miles we pulled in where we now seem to moor in Beeston. The spikes went in far easier than they did a couple of months ago when the earth was baked hard.
Needless to say Tilly wasn’t impressed with the new outside. Well it’s just the same as everywhere else in Nottingpants!
Colour in the trees
Pizza, then it was time to get started on Celebrity Traitors, there’s also Blue Lights and Bake Off to catch up on and that’s before Riot Women starts on Sunday! So a plea to the world, please no spoilers as we’re already a little bit behind, plus when I’m in Chippy I may get even more behind.
0 locks, 2.7 miles, 1 left, 2 trains, 2 bicarbs, 1 litre white vinegar, 2 camomile teas, 50 brisk minutes, 1 empty food bowl, 1 small pile of biscuits, 1 caravan hidden in the bow now, 1 stove lit, 2 pizzas, 1.2 episodes of Traitors watched, oooo!
Mick cleared the engine bay before breakfast, anything that might get in the way was put on the bank. A phone call from Kane with his ETA came at just gone 9am and his satnav was pretty much spot on as he walked up to Oleanna at 10:25, a big crow bar in his hand and other tools and a new drive plate in his rucksack.
Engine held by strop and crowbar
He set to work removing the gear box to gain access to the old drive plate. This all took a while. Before the last bolts were removed he passed a strop around the engine and suspended it all from his crowbar which was positioned on our stern lockers. Inside I could hear just about everything, as the last bolt was removed I could hear the engine slump just a touch into the strop.
A new version
Inside I got on with re drawing the gates for Panto. Once scanned it was sent off to Jamie to see what he made of it. I didn’t hear back from him today. I then turned my attention to a logo that is needed for the show, an adjustment of a very well known brand logo was needed. This was done and shared. Not many little jobs left to do on my to-do list.
Gear box removed
Outside work progressed. The drive plate was removed. Yes it had been the culprit, not that you can see that easily without moving it. Time for a cuppa and for Kane to stretch his legs. His estimate the other day of three hours to remove the drive plate halved. Would putting the new one on be as quick?
Lots of crud where the old drive plate used to sit
Tightening things up in a confined space, engine suspended almost where it needed to be caused a little cursing from the engine bay. A few bangs occurred, at least he’d warned us they might happen. He’d had to remove the oil sump pump from the engine, this had failed on Mick at the last engine service. Mick asked if instead of putting the old one back on, could Kane install the new one we’d already got. It maybe took him an extra five minutes to fit, but he didn’t mind.
Guess which one Kane used
After three hours in our engine bay the ignition key was turned on. Oleanna was put into gear, no grinding noise. Then reverse, no grinding noise. Hooray!!!
Brand new Drive plate
Kane said the old drive plate would have lasted a while longer before failing, but best not to find out how long! Mick was given instructions to make sure some bolts were still tight in a week or so’s time with a 17mm spanner. Job done. Kane now headed off into Nottingham to his next job somewhere between Castle Marina and Sainsbury’s.
We had lunch. Should we move on today or stay put? If the river was busy with people looking for moorings we’d have moved, but as we’d only seen a couple of boats so far today and one of them had pulled away from the pontoon mooring this morning we didn’t feel we had to move. Also we were the only boat moored on the visitor moorings and there is space for four. As well as all that, C&RT had given us an overstay approval until 14th October. So we stayed put.
12km from Nottingham
My walk today took me along the road from the lock to Stoke Bardolph. Plenty of anglers and someone being trained in paddle boarding. I then carried on walking along the road on the river bank towards the big bend in the river where I followed the footpath. Here the anglers had set up fences around their vans, I wondered why for a while, but then twigged when I saw a heard of cows. Maybe these cows are known to lick vans like those do to boats at Lechlade on the Thames.
Back along a path that crossed the railway. Was this the crossing where Tilly had been found nearly ten years ago with her siblings? Then into Burton Joyce village. A lovely village hall where the local amateur dramatic society have just put on a show. Several nice looking shops and buildings. I popped into the Co-op for some milk. A heritage trail to follow, maybe next time when it isn’t a five mile round walk. Back in February 2016 my brother gave me a lift to Burton Joyce to a house on the hill here. That was to pick up our little thug Tilly who we adopted from Burton Joyce Cats, they no longer exist.
Lots of jolly pebbles
At the station there is a pebble display to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Lots of local groups and the school contributed to it painting pebbles. I was amazed at the number of cats wearing crowns, then later realised they were actually Corgis! The Beef Eater certainly had very square shoulders.
Back along the road to the boat. Today I’d tracked my journey via the NHS Active 10 app, 87 minutes brisk walking; on my step counter 12110 steps just short of 5 miles; but also with the OS app. The Ordnance Survey app had tracked my route and said it was 5.42 miles. So which do I believe? Have I got my step counter calibrated correctly to my stride? Have I actually been walking further than recorded all year?
Walsall Schnitzel tonight, turkey that needed finishing off from the freezer. We discussed where we should go now and when. There’s a storm coming, so we don’t want to stay at Stoke Lock with all the trees. Would we have enough time to go that way or should we just stay pottering about for a while longer?
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 new drive plate, 3 hours, 1 new gate drawing, 2 logos, 1 rose email, how many? 1 last day of good shore leave for Tilly, 4.95 miles, 0r 5.42 miles, 82 brisk minutes, 1 huge gaggle, 1 mended boat ready to push off.
