Back at home marina for winter

It feels like we have had 2 weeks holiday. The Ashby canal is 22 miles long a dead end then 22 miles back. The best part there are ….No locks ...so Jenny has had a very easy time for a change.

We kept seeing the same people days in and day out , all going to the end at Snarestone. We couldn’t get too the very end sadly because the winding hole, (turning place) was only 58ft wide

Approach to Snarestone tunnel

as we are 62ft. We would get stuck. Also is hard work trying to reverse a narrow boat for a long distance.

End of line for us on the Ashby canal

We have really enjoyed the experience, through Hinckley and a few new estates. The architecture is very good. We are moored outside some new houses they have a look of the old warehouses which years ago would have been here. Its great to see the new properties, not cheap, but has bought the canals back to life. However some people moan about the boats being here. Having to run engines, to top up batteries, also burn fires to keep warm. Mind you nowt so queer as folks, we had a family who lived near me in Northamptonshire, moved from London and complained about the smell of the pig farm in the centre of the village. .. I won’t put here what the farmer said when they complained...but he did tell them, the pigs were there first.

New canalside development

Its been lovely cruising over the season, seeing the countryside change, the crops growing, the corn ripening, the tractors and combine harvesters gathering all the produce in. Seeing the baby ducks growing from little fluffy chicks into big ducks. I keep looking and saying to them…’how do you fancy being my dinner tonight?’..you can’t beat a bit of crispy duck.

Lovely countryside

The baby swans all grey and downy with what looks like dirty feathers, starting to turn into beautiful white birds. Two sights which still makes me wonder is the fantastic sight of a full grown Swan….taking off. The frantic paddling from its little legs below the waterline, the flapping of those great wings trying to get airborne, and failing at first. Running across the surface of the water until….at last ...lift off !!! The flop flop of webbed feet is a sound to be heard...the sight is only beaten by the sight of the birds landing ..so graceful. I can see Concord in the way they land. Wings out, feet down, and gently does it.

Mum and babies....

Our lovely friend Janice Smith commented the other weeks about our ‘idyllic lifestyle. Well yes in lots of ways it is idyllic but ...it does have its problems. Not like when we were working but still things that need to be done every day. Just living life will always throw up difficult things in some ways. We had a lot to learn in the early days. There are the ‘daily chores’ which are important.

Basic maintenance, check oil and water on the engine also check alternator belt. We have a cruiser stern on our boat which means when it rains the rain goes down into the engine room. Not a problem but Jenny likes to keep it dry so, every morning she puts the mop around and its a 5 minute job. If it gets too deep it can be pumped out with the bilge pump but, it never gets that bad.

If, when we were living on the land we needed to get shopping, ...jump in car, straight to Aldi or Sains/Bugs and that was it,10 min’s later we had supplies.

On the ‘cut’ (canal) we don’t have transport, no car ...no local shop.. and canal side supermarkets are few and far between. On the Ashby no shops at all. When we were still in the marina, we tried out Tesco home delivery, had an order delivered and thought we had cracked it..no more worries about supplies.

We always carry about two weeks provisions on the boat. Two to three weeks meat in the freezer. Frozen veg in same. Fresh veg is purchased on a weekly basis. On our first major shop requirement, we found a pub right by the canal side, Tesco van would be able to reverse virtually up to the tow path. So, we set too doing our shopping list, quite a big one, took about 2 hours. Everything was going well until we came to pay..it wouldn’t accept our address xyz...It was a public house and the post code. So we rang head office to be told ..They don’t deliver to business addresses ...err excuse me … we are not a business, we are moored next door to the buisiness...Its the nearest post code..The clown at head office still said ...Or rather like ‘little Britain’ used to say...The computer says no…..Grrr….

We had a major panic while moored at Snarestone...We ran out of wine !!!! so.. we rang or rather ordered on line. Ocado the on line supermarket a small order to be delivered to The Globe car park..(permission obtained from pub). Well impressed with the service..order confirmed with in 10 mins ..delivery next day...txt on the Saturday morning to say who the driver was and estimated delivery time. This was confirmed by a phone call 10 mins early saying ‘I’m here’...when he realised we were not a young couple he offered to deliver right to the boat. About 500 / 600 yards up the tow path. We declined but the service was great. Just done our next order for tomorrow. A problem solved.

The main need on a daily or two day basis is water. If on land you just turn on a tap...jobs a gud un as they say ...Well on a boat its the same..we turn on a tap and get water. The only difference is ..after 800 ltrs ...it runs out !! We have a saying ‘never pass a tap’. On the canals every few miles they have ‘service points’ where we can top up and empty as required.

When the boat had a major refit last year we had a stainless steel water tank fitted so we can get a supply of clean drinkable water straight from the tap. We used to have a 25ltr plastic water carrier to carry drinking water. The old tank was steel and was covered in rust when it was removed. So glad we didn’t use it for drinking.

I won’t dwell on the subject of toilets but, it does or can cause problems and it is the most talked about subject on the Narrow boat users group..( A facebook site were we can ‘chat’ about any problems we have) There a 3 types of toilet systems in operation. Each have there advantages and disadvantages.

1/….A holding tank under the ‘throne’ which is pumped out as and when you are near a marina or pump out station. Very much like a home unit, ceramic and it flushes. Average cost £15.00 to £18.00 to pump out and refill with chemical.

2/ . . .Composting toilets are coming along these days..The water and solid matter is separated as you use the appliance, the wee is poured under the nearest bush and the solids are disposed off in the refuse .?? We are not sure about this type ...enough said. Had one on a hire boat..not really impressed.

3/ . . . We had a Thetford cassette system fitted on the boat when we bought it. Having been caravanner’s for years it was just like being on a camp site again..so...It has stayed.

Along side the water taps are Elsan disposal points. Every couple of days as part of the usual ‘maintenance’ its water and bog days..we have 3 cassettes which last for about 2 weeks. One extra in case some clown has blocked the disposal unit. Believe it or not, some people think its OK too put disposable nappies down the chute. ..oh dear...they walk amongst us..

On the way back we planned to stay over for a week at one of our favourite areas, Newbold-on- Avon just outside of Rugby. The local pub ‘The Barley Mow’ is a watering hole we found on the first cruise we had. We got on well with the landlord and landlady and I play and sing there on the times we pass by. Sometimes we feel more at home there than our own local. When we are there the regulars make us really welcome. When we stayed over on the way out to North Wales we were invited to Simon and Kelly’s wedding..They wanted me to play in the bar in the afternoon but it was changed at the last moment, I ended up on Sunday afternoon instead which I believe was better.

Good easy going music and NOT the heavy dance music which the reception turned into.

The mooring on the canal, just outside the pub is only allowed for 48hours...We stayed for 8 days before turning around and heading to Lime farm marina for the end of year service and the prop-shaft to be re-packed, it was leaking water into the bilge. As usual John did a great job.

The run back to our home marina was fairly uneventful and I managed to get her..Infinity. . through the gate off the canal first time..the last couple of times, I’ve managed to mess it up.

The gap is only a couple of feet wider than the boat, so you need to get the nose just past ‘the pivot’ point. Turn in ...then give it full throttle...the boat should turn and glide in gently…

The last couple of times going in, I managed to cut the corner, ended up on a sand/sludge bar just too the right of the entrance. Mind you there was a good wind blowing ..(my excuse) Hee Hee.

A very slow run down the marina, working out the berth we were aiming for. . . which...is only about 6 inches wider than the boat each side. . Saw the gap… judged the distance . . turned in ...the nose dead in-line with the end of the jetty..slight reduction on power as we glided towards our friend Mike Hussey who had come to welcome us home and help mooring.. then !!! the blasted wind blew !!! moved us side ways and bashed the back side of the boat next door. Th announcing thing is ..he normally wasn’t there on board ..today ..he was ...Doh !!..

‘I was just putting my baked beans on my toast and an all mighty bang and the boat rocked’...Quote from Phil next door.. Never mind can’t get it right every time..

The wind here at Yelvertoft it quite strong and getting in and on moorings is a heck of a job sometime. Well that’s it for this year. We’ve had a great time, hope you have enjoyed reading about the antics of a couple of ‘ole pharts’. Back into a bit of village life for a few months..Plan for next year what we would like to do ..where we want to go .. growing old disgracefully (if possible)

God bless….. TTFN ...over now to the editor to do what she does ...add the pictures and if she’s done it a little video of the 12 week cruise 

September 17 Part 1 on the Ashby Canal

September Blog Pt 1

Someone once said...’Be careful what you wish for because . . . You might get it!!’

I can’t find out who was the first who quoted it but how true it is.

I always wanted to live at the seaside...permanently on holiday, (I thought.)

In the early 90’s we were offered a business opportunity in Great Yarmouth, within 2 weeks we had moved.. lock, stock, and barrel. After a few months, when the petrol station was up and running we had more time, I realised all the problems with ‘being on holiday all the time. It was NOT idyllic.

Holiday makers…. always in the way, parking outside of our apartment, taking my favourite seat in our local, Yarmouth always seems to have rough people there...broken noses, cauliflower ears, tattoos, beer bellies !!. . . ‘an the men are worse!!! However that is another story.

We had a holiday in 1988 on a narrow boat...The Shrewley Tunnel …..from Blisworth tunnel boats.

The love affair with the canals had begun. It took us 25 years plus too obtain our dream.

Had we made a mistake ?, Moving on to a narrow boat, I was the same age my parents were when they moved into the old folks home !! Complete change of life style, my health not perfect as we would like but life is for living .. not sitting ‘waiting for God’ !!

Too say the first year was a big learning curve is an understatement !! We lost a lot of money by lack of knowledge, and people taking advantage of our ignorance.

A lovely friend this week commented about our wonderful peaceful way of living. However as with all of life there is always stuff to do to make life happen. More about that later.

At the end of last months blog we were at Fazeley Junction waiting for Tim Davis from ‘Onboard Solar’ to fit the solar panels. Eight thirty the phone rang, it was Tim struggling to find a place to park his large motor home , but Jenny soon showed him where, and all his kit was soon on the tow path ready to start work by 9.00am. True to form and being a true English work man, a cup of tea was needed before starting (we also threw in an egg and bacon roll) we know how to treat our work men !! But, by 1.30 it was all done...panels fitted.. meters, control panels,etc. all mounted, all the fitting debris cleared away, but the best thing, the batteries were being charged without the engine running !! Starting to save money already.

2 solar panels 330w total.

Fazeley junction is where three canals meet, We have travelled down the Shropshire Union turning left onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal one goes to Birmingham the other to Stoke heading north. We are heading back along the Coventry Canal again, then turning right onto the Ashby canal. We have passed it a few times but we intend to spend a few weeks here and see the countryside in all its beauty.

Near Nuneaton, rain then rainbow.

The Ashby canal ……...It was originally built around 1790,s to join the Coventry canal and the River Trent, carrying coal from the coal mines in Leicester to wherever it was needed. Sadly it was never completed and doesn’t run though to the river, ending nowadays at Shackerstone. It used to continue a bit further but, it was closed down due to subsidence, ironically, caused by the coal mining tunnels..

Turn onto Ashby Canal

The canal is very rural, lovely open fields and the luxury of ...no locks. It is a very shallow canal and the books advise that mooring at night can be difficult due to shallow waters at the edge.

I can’t get over the amount of fields which look as if they are not being used..laying fallow is part of the farm cycle but there are no animals or crops on a lot ..why ??

Mind you, if you can claim subsidises from the government / EU do some farmers need to work ??

I wonder. 

Ashby canal pictures.....

For people who wouldn’t know canals are only about 4ft deep in the middle, and are U shaped. Tapering out to less than 2ft. on the bank side. With ‘sludge’ building up it often won’t allow you to moor. Using the visitor mooring is advised.

A lovely story on the cut is told of a holiday maker who for some reason fell off the hire boat they were on .

Splashing about in the water he was heard to be shouting out … Help!!... Help!!...I can’t swim !!

an onlooker on another boat shouted too him...’Just stand up’ !!! …..Over coming his panic, he managed to do as advised..Standing on the bottom, the water came just up to his rib cage...The look of relief, I believe, was classic.

We have had a nasty incident on the visitor moorings on the first evening. We had just moored up and a hire boat came past at full throttle...and then immediately threw it into reverse. The wash caused, moved our boat quite violently. When this happens it bangs against the armco which we are tied too. This is the only thing our dogs can’t cope with. They get frightened by the bang ...which is very loud. I went out to have a word with the driver of the boat only to see he was stuck across the canal. His nose was stuck nearly on the bow of the boat moored behind us. His stern was on the bank the other side, or rather stuck on the ‘sludge’ on the other side. He was revving the engine at virtually full throttle. I enquired if it was the first time they had driven a narrow boat ??

to which I had the retort ...what do it look like !! YES..

I commented it was canal courtesy to ‘slow down passing moored craft, because they had moved stuff about on our shelves….However ...would they like a hand to moor.??

NO THANK YOU ….glare.

So we went back into Infinity and just watched them…..Struggle. Didn’t smile, . . .Honestly !!

well not looking out of the window.

The driving of a narrow boat is totally not logical...To go right...you steer the tiller . . Left.

To go left you steer ..Right…..To move off the bank ...you drive into it (start with) before straightening up. There are other things which aren’t logical but, after a while like driving anything it comes with practise.

One member of the crew was on the bank pulling the boat (about 17 + tonnes) while the member on the back driving was reving the boll…., sorry heart out of the engine, max rev’s..with the tiller in the wrong direction ..actually pushing the boat on to the bank !!

If they had just listened, it would have been so much easier, they would have been down the pub a lot quicker. In a situation like that its logical to use the power ..wrong !! less revs is the best way, I did go out again and explained

They came over as not very nice people, very noisy on returning to their boat.. but

When Jenny took the ‘furry kids’ out for a leg lift and squat before bed, it was a good job she noticed some one had untied the bow rope. It was totally impossible for it to have come loose on its own account because I use a double clove hitch over the front mooring pillar held in place. If it had come off we would have drifted across the cut and blocked it off. I managed to re-tie before any damage was done.

There were only 2 sets of people around, one of them being us. They came back passed the next day and gave us ‘that look’ ...you know the one ?? and started laughing.

Luckily people like this a very few and far between on the cut.

We have survived hurricane ‘Aileen’ but its very windy today. The solar panels are working brilliantly. Rough working out we should recoup the investment within a year, with the saving on diesel and engine servicing costs. Well lunch time now. A cuppa soup and a cheese sandwich will keep us going till tonight. Cottage pie ..beans and a glass of red with onion gravy..loverrrly !!

Jenny has had a busy morning repainting the engine room, one of the jobs she has chosen to do while out of port. I’m doing this then I’m going to replace the wood behind the lock on the front door (which is at the back) ..or rather re-stick it as it’s fell apart, been held together with duct tape for 6 months

Part of Bilge or engine room before

and after, still got another weeks work in it....

Handing over to Jenny to put the photos on and edit before posting

TTFN

Another bit of waffle later in Sept..towards the end. We should be back in the Rugby area as I’m entertaining at a wedding at . . The Barley Mow . . Newbold -on – Avon ..

Simon and Kelly the landlord and landlady are getting married. All welcome at the pub in afternoon.

August   second blog.

One of my first remembrances was as a child, about 5 years old, asking my dad if I could have a comic. It was a periodical called Jack and Jill that was ordered. However I soon grew out of looking at the pictures and needed something more intellectual and subsequently turned to a more educational comic ….The Beano.

One of my favourite characters was . . Jimmy and his magic patch.

It was a story about a lad who was out playing one day, he rescued a gypsy ladies cat from a dog during which it ripped the bottom out of his trousers. The lady offered to repair them, with a patch using a piece from a carpet...the patch was from a magic carpet.

Jimmy soon found he could just think about a period of history and the patch would take him back to different eras and he would have some wonderful adventures with the people of the time.

At 67 I quite often say to Jenny ...I wish I believed in magic, I would love a patch like Jimmy’s, and go back in time. Wanna be a time traveller.

While sailing the canals we often come across old warehouses in the middle of nowhere now, but years ago they would have been a hub of activity. One such building we passed was once a distribution depot for Cadbury’s and was still being used until the late 60’s.

I imagine the old barges being loaded and unloaded. So many of these locks must have so many stories to tell. It would be great to go back in time to experience the atmosphere. Sadly ...no magic...just imagination. I’m sure a very hard time for the people but I’m fascinated by it.

We are returning back down the Shroppie and the next stop is Norbury Junction where we refuelled at a very reasonable price. There is a pub there called ..the Junction Inn the first evening we had a pint in the evening, and a good (to use a good old Norfolk word) mardel...with the local characters.

All of a sudden a guy came around the corner with a barn owl on his shoulder. It was so tame, just sat there and watched the world go by. It was then put on the hand rail, people were patting and stroking its head. It was wonderful. Such a beautiful creature, so wise looking. A wonderful experience. ...

As related in another earlier blog, we had a new fire flue fitted a few weeks ago, we didn’t change the chimney at the time, however while we were moored at the junction we were passed by a canal trading boat ..The little chimney boat who makes stainless steel chimneys on the boat.

Next day we caught up and he made us a new one ..made to measure. Roughly half the price of an inferior standard steel one you would get in a chandlers. Well chuffed with the result. Many thanks to Kim and Tracy of The little chimney Co. 

On the late bank holiday weekend we decided to lay up for the week end, thus avoiding the week end sailors. It so happened the local canal side pub were having a Monday funday..we thought a good ‘early doors’ pint on the Friday evening would be an idea, just to test the local ale..we arrived about 5.30 ish. All was going well, until a guy came in and sat on the next table...a fellow boater...narrowboat ..’Wind and Waves’, as the pub filled up he came to our table and joined us..He was in for a quick one...was going to text his wife to put the Fray Bentos pie in the oven as he was leaving...sadly all our weeks beer money was blown on the Friday night ...Thanks Eddie...great company, hope the misses didn’t give you to much stick , as you wobbled home at 9.30pm …

On the Monday we had a look at the Funday, the usual raffles, tables selling local produce, and the main morning event ….a fun dog show...as they were calling out the category..(shouldn’t that be a dogegory?.) we asked if there was a chance of a late entry ? They accepted and Jake and Carly went into show mode..they came 2^nd and won a rosette and a load of doggies treats and some food.

We seem to be playing leap frog with other boats, we moor up and they come past...only for us to pass again a few hours/ days later. One lovely lady is on a boat called Suzie Q..she is a ‘single hander, appears she has two companions..2 chickens, which, when she is moored up they are in a pen on the bank. After a while you get to know the people around you, sometimes just a friendly. wave or a chat when the evening comes.

Its been a bit of a sad week, it is often you come across animals who have perished in the waters The most upsetting was a deer we found in a lock outside London last year, must have fell in during the night and couldn’t get out. It drowned.

Sheep often float past. We’ve had 3 rabbits, two dogs, and a first for me a hamster in a lock.

Dogs should not be allowed to run by canals, if they fall in it’s very difficult to get out.

We are on our way to Fazeley Junction by Wednesday the 6^th of Sept to have the solar panels fitted. The last major job on our home, Which will (hopefully) save us a bit of money and help keep us topped up with electric power. We have just had a facebook message from a couple of friends from Yelvertoft marina who appear to be just behind us and will be joining us here hopefully soon. It will be good to have a natter with Chris and Gail and there dog ...Mabel..(who I wind up.. calling her Gladys) there is a dog friendly local here..a real pub !!….beer only !! No food.

Well that’s the news so far for the second chomp of the August blog. When the panels are fitted we will be heading off to the Ashby Canal...A dead end canal which we have passed a few times but this time we will have a look. Should take a couple of days up and a couple back but there is no rush. We are aiming to be back at Newbold on Avon by the 7^th October for the wedding of Simon and Kelly the landlord and lady of the Barley Mow pub. I’ve been asked to play as The Busking Bargee in the afternoon before the evening disco.

TTFN…..If you have any questions about our life or lifestyle and our travels, please ask in comments section ... we will be more than happy to answer if we can.

Another short video, they cant be to long as takes a lot of data to upload.

August 2017

Hello folks ...Its blog time again.... It’s not the first time we have sailed the Shroppie canal, we first did it 7 years ago as a treat for my 60^th birthday with our very good friends Peter and Sue Huggins.

I love the Shropshire canal with all its quirks. Very narrow in places, impossible too moor due to low water levels and obstructions underwater. However it is a beautiful area. The wild life is lovely but sadly not every one respects the countryside. We had a holiday hire boat in front of us with a couple who couldn’t control it, they bashed from one bank to another, eventually, when ramming the farmers side bank, their large dog jumped off and rushed into a flock of Canadian Geese scarring them to death. Some people shouldn’t be allowed out unaccompanied !! There is a lot of these birds here at the moment, I looked around the other day when I heard a ‘honk’ behind me and there was a squadron of these beautiful feathered creatures coming into land. . a perfect ‘V’ formation. We are so blessed living so close to nature. 

Canadian Geese

We dropped down the Audlem flight with few problems, meeting some people going in the other direction which makes life easier because the locks are with you and saves time, not having to flood the lock chamber before we can go in.

We stopped over near the pub called the Shroppie Fly named after a very fast narrow boat used in the heydays of water transport, the fast juggernaut of the day. It used to be a warehouse with a crane outside to unload the vessels. It turned into a public house in the 1970 and used to be a very popular establishment.

We had a quiet drink...mainly because we were the only people in the bar !! Two other people were having a meal, we checked the menu, but we passed on eating, far too expensive. Silly prices which we are not going to pay. Sadly the canalside pubs are their own worst enemies. Pricing a lot of people out. Am I getting mean ?? …..Answer’s on a £50.00 note please ;-)

Shroppie Fly Pub Audlem

The trip to the Llangollen canal was a bit uneventful, however the entrance to the Welsh arm was far from uneventful ….We got jammed !!!!...We couldn’t get through the lock. ...DOH !!!

The lock at the bottom, I’m lead to believe, was built to an exact size...6ft 10inches...but over the years the walls have bowed inwards due to a poor repairs regime, also we are a bit wider due to having the re-plate, so halfway in…... we jammed. The lock-keepers came and tried to raise us up a bit and pulled to no avail. We were going nowhere, our planned North Wales holiday was cancelled !!! This is happening a lot to boaters recently a few a week according to the lockie.

A passing holiday boat had to pull us out, even at full revs our engine and prop wouldn’t move us..So we continued on to the city of Chester.

Stuck in first lock on Llangollen Canal

We seem to be making a lot of what I call ‘five minute friendships’, some of the locks are wider and can take two boats at a time. Makes life easier, as you share the opening and of the paddles and the gates..(Jenny’s job) I do the driving and chat to the driver of the other boat. Met a couple on a boat called ‘Grumpy Git’ …..turned out to be the opposite, we shared the last lock into Chester and moored in front of them for two days ...a 48hr. mooring. We were joined by another boat called ‘New Dawn’ another lovely couple who came over on the Saturday night for a glass of wine and a cup of tea. Roger and Dawn….Dawn wrote rap...63 years old, but her rapping was brilliant...I sang to her and she rapped to us. Another great night. Friday was shopping day . .topped up at the local Tesco, then Saturday we left the dogs on board and became ‘tourists for the day’ and had a look around the beautiful city of Chester.

Chester is an old Roman fortress town originally, then taken over by Monks in later times. We did the usual tourist things, sight seeing, spent a bit of money in local shops ..Jenny bought a new cap and we bought some posh cheese, was brilliant, Jenny took a few photos, and we just soaked up the atmosphere. There were buskers of various styles an Australian guy from Sidney doing street theatre. Something for everybody.

There were two or three buses doing the ‘round the city’ trips so we jumped on the very old bus (as in the photo below). It is classed as a replica now, but is is a genuine 1912 omnibus which saw life during the WW1 and is only one of three still in existence.

Sorry but ‘goldfish brain’ I can’t remember the make..It has to be classed as a replica now because of all the modifications done to it too conform to legislation required to be a public service vehicle.

We had a lovely lady called Barbara, dressed in the clothes of the day, giving a running commentary and telling us all about the city. It was always being invaded by the ‘heathens over the boarder’ i.e. . . The Welsh….All the churches in the city only have clocks facing away from the Welsh boarder, some have been removed, some never had any clocks in the first place. The reason?. . so the welsh won’t know the time...From which we get the expression.. ‘I wouldn’t give her / them the time of day’ !! It was a really informative half an hour.

Vintage bus.

Jenny and I are on a face book site called ‘The Narrow boat users group’ on returning to Infinity I posted a comment saying what a fabulous city Chester was and recommended any one in the area stop and have a look.

A lady asked if we had been on the old bus for the tour?,

I replied yes ..to which she said ‘I thought you had ..you were on the 2pm bus..,

I was your guide’...Barbara.. Turns out she is a boater as well...living in Chester.

We did a tour of the old monastery, again with a guide, the Cathedral is a beautiful building and terrific history. By the time we returned to the boat, too say I was knackered would be an understatement. I collapsed into the bunk and slept for a couple of hours but it was well worth the effort . . a lovely, beautiful city.

Sunday morning saw us turning around and heading back along the Shroppie. We have decided to return back the way we came and are heading again for Fradley Junction. We did debate doing the ‘four counties ring again, but the Harecastle tunnel is not the best...very long….very narrow and claustrophobic-ally low..… We have been through once, have the plaque, so will leave for another day.

Its pouring with rain today so . . no cruising. May stop here for the weekend ...depending what the bosun says.

Jenny did a check on the blog as I was wondering if it was being read ..I was gob smacked to find out how many followers/readers we have and in the different countries as well.

It appears we have at least...564 followers !!! In the following countries UK..Ireland..France..USA..Singapore (?)..Australia ..NZ..Russia(?) ..Spain.. and Israel so pleased I’m not wasting my time and glad you seem to be enjoying the ramblings of an old phart !!

Right lunch has been served..so I’ll had over to the brains of the outfit to put on her photos.

July 2017 travels

July …...has been and gone.. . The summer is passing so fast...On the last waffle piece we were heading back to home marina to attend the 50^th wedding anniversary of George and Pat. . Jennys brother and sister in law..that has been and gone as well.

A lovely night in a Chinese restaurant, so much food !!! We made complete pigs of ourselves, It was beautifully cooked and displayed. I was nominated driver as we were still driving Darrens car The Merc. The car went back the next day and we set off to our next destination Birmingham.

Old narrow boats are a constant work project we are finding out. Just the bits that need doing , engine checks, running the engine to top the batteries . .putting the paint back on the sides, where I keep scrapping it off going into locks !! One job that really needed doing was . . clean the chimney or flue as they call it on the cut. It is or was clogged, very badly and really needed replacing. We had a quote to do it from a mechanic who...sucked air into his mouth. . over his teeth...you know the sound ? That can be done, it’s err. . ,..about £700.00...Ok ………...we’ll think about it.

Glad we did...when we had the new steps fitted we had a word with the fabricators who made them for a second quote….about £200.00...err slight difference aye ??

So many people are ready to rip you off, so glad we are making some good contacts. Dale and David came out to our marina removed the old flue, took it away made another one, returned the next day and fitted it. When talking to them we mentioned the door to the Squirrel fire was a bit iffie.. needed a new seal. They repaired that as well..Lovely guys and the fire is totally reconditioned so if its a hard winter...we won’t freeze.

After leaving home we headed down to the Grand Union and turned left at Braunston on to the Oxford arm, and headed towards our first planned stop. The canal runs through some lovely country side, rolling hills and open fields, one point, before we turned right on to the Grand Union towards Warwick, the canal goes down hill. . . well, it feels if it does. It always gives me an optical illusion because of the hills and the way they lay by the side of the canal.

We stopped in at The Two Boats pub for the week end at Long Itchington and saw again the lovely Sam the landlady and John her partner. Saturday night was music night. A great evening was had by all. Great professional musician who lives in the next village to us...we were talking afterwards and he had actually heard of me...My alter ego….The Busking Bargee…

The run up to Birmingham was fairly uneventful, passing though Leamington Spa, we managed to get past the spot where the engine blew up the first time we took her out ..Into Warwick, where we went on our first narrow boat holiday..

We didn’t stop as we had been there lots of times. Moored for the night to get a good nights sleep to face the next day !!! . . . 21 locks up the Hatton Flight. . luckily enough, we managed to link up with another boat going up and shared the work, also had a laugh, the guy driving had the similar sense of humour to me. We are doing about 4 hours a day that’s enough to get to were we are going by mid August.

The canals seem very quiet, considering its the start of the holiday season. Some of the holiday boats are still in their home marinas..Mind you talking to one holiday maker on a hire boat, he told me he’d paid £1700.00 for one week!!.. are they pricing themselves out of the market??...

We stopped to do all the necessaries before turning into Gas St. Basin to moor. . Filled with water . . empted toilet (s) and thanks to a couple of very good CRT cleaners got rid of all our rubbish...So, here’s to a good weekend off…

We have been to Gas St Basin before, when we came by car. It was, many years ago, a complete, too quote a local . . a sh*t hole!!. . however a few years ago a lot of money was invested into the place and its money well spent. It was very busy, we managed to find a mooring place right at the end or the visitor rings, and very near the night life !!

Its a combination of the old building which have been repaired and given face lifts and also the new buildings which fit in so well. Its a job to work out which is new and what is old. We went out for a walk and made the mistake of taking the pooches with us….Jake wasn’t happy he wanted to get back to the boat. He’s a country dog and is worried by the buses and cars.. Mind you I don’t like them ether these days prefer the slow life of the canal. We had a walk along the canal to the International conference centre where we saw Cliff and the Shadows a few years ago. There are lots of hotels in the area and it was like the league of nations with all the different languages being spoken.

After a quick shop at the local S’bugs, we topped up wine and a bottle or two of beer we returned to the boat for our evening meal. After checking the local menu’s, sadly they had priced us out..far too expensive. But the visitors had no choice.

We had a walk in the evening around the area, stopping to have a small libation at a local bar, and sampled the atmosphere, on passing a pub on the way back, called Canalside a lady ran out clutching two sausages, promptly started to feed our two !! . . . they didn’t object...Its really friendly

a busker set up a mike and PA system and played for the revellers heading for the night clubs..Thats when we realised...THE NIGHT LIFE !!! Oh no !!!

The night passed with no problems...One pratt thought it was funny to knock on the window at mid night and set the dogs off, but other wise it was all good natured ...kids out having a bit of week end fun.

A few party boats are here ..a floating restaurant, one had a birthday party and other’s had hen parties...as I looked out of the window as one of the boats sailed past, the male ‘entertainer’ was just getting down to the……. …..well use your own imaginations... I was so shocked !! ….

It put me off me cocoa…

Sunday was a quite day, we went back to the Canalside for a mid afternoon drink...dogs got more sausages while we chatted too two lovely ladies who were here for a hen party weekend...no, not the one with the entertainment...They were disappointed….

Monday saw us leaving Birmingham and heading towards Wolverhampton. Over 22 locks. It took us 7 hours, we stopped twice to let people past us, we won’t be rushed..

26^th of July was my birthday and went out for a meal in the evening at a pub called the ‘Wharf Tavern’.Its a lovely old ale house owned by Greene King.. a busy pub ..Sadly the brewery believe it is possible to run a busy pub with 3 members of staff.. One trainee manager ..One chef. . and wait for it. . one bar maid . . who was on the first night…

I felt so sorry for them...We had a lovely rib-eye steak and chips salad etc, before the melt down started. The food side was busy and the so was the beer side. It took ten min’s to get a beer and the food side over an hour !! lots of people cancelled and had their money refunded… Raquel the manager was in tears at the end... I sat with her and tried to comfort her, as did another couple, Spoilt our evening out really but hae...thats life.

We are now on the Shropshire canal, known as the Shroppie, over the weekend at Market Drayton, last time we were here was my 60^th birthday treat with Peter and Sue Huggins on a hire boat called Snowmain….where have the years gone??

Tomorrow, . . Monday. . We have a big flight of locks at Audlem, so an early night and off we go again...We’ll have to increase our daily hours cruising, so we can have a bit longer at Llangollen, so I’ll say bye bye for now and hand you over too the picture department...ttfn XXX

Entering Birmingham Gas Street area

Gas Street Basin

Birmingham Gas Street

Unpowered work boat being manually towed through locks.

A powered boat tows it outside of locks.

Telegraph pole in middle of bridge on Shroppie.

Old lock gates no longer needed.

Hatton Flight.

Some great countryside around area.

Tried a short video of our travels with a bit of music.

June 2017

June 2017.

Well it’s Monday the 5^th of June,….. Weather forecast ….Wet and windy, so, we are having a day off. It’s not good travelling in a wind. The boat is 62ft long and is affected quite badly if the wind catches you, you loose control and clip someone, its not good.

The Erewash canal must be, for me, the best canal we’ve been on so far.

Built in1777 ‘ish at a cost of £21000 to carry coal, it linked 3 canals the Nottingham, Comberford and the Erewash at Eastwood. The local pub The Great Northern is named after the managing company who built and ran the canal. The other 2 canals have sadly been built over or collapsed hence the dead end.

start of the Erewash Canal

We popped in the pub with Ashley and co. for lunch, only to be informed…..we were too late for lunchtime food. Doh!!

Sods law, just our luck. Food stops 3 till 5pm ...but...the lovely barmaid came over a few minutes later and told us her Dad would make us some baguettes if we wanted...too right. 10 min’s later some toasted chicken, bacon and cheese arrived on our table.

They were lovely.

For people who don’t know, Ashley Chapman is my ‘adopted’ daughter 2.. We met when she was 7 years old at the holiday park in Norwich.

We are not sure if she adopted me, or I adopted her, but she is much loved and was a big part of my life in the time living in Norwich. Ash is 24 now and a mum in her own right..I’m now granddad 2 as well. We still keep in touch a couple of times a week on facebook . Also meet up when we can.

Going up or down the locks it’s always best to link up with other canal users. The locks being wide can take 2 narrow boats and we steady each other as the water comes in or out to raise or lower the levels. You can meet some great people, some out going, some very quiet, some quite strange..well, … enough about us …hee hee...

While waiting for a lock we noticed some local lads in a very, very old cabin cruiser.

To describe them ...They were a cross between Sam Dingle of Emmerdale fame and the family at the gas stallion in Deliverance….. We had the misfortune to share a lock with them. We also had a lovely couple in a Narrow boat called ‘Rosemary’. She was a 45 footer which left enough room for their short boat in front. Talk about all fun and games, they hadn’t a clue what they were doing, how they got out without damage to their craft was a wonder. How I stopped myself from whistling ‘Duelling Banjos’…. I don’t know. Looking back it was funny.

Most of the canal is adjoined by housing. It links or runs between Sandiacre, Ilkeston, and Long Eaton, some modern houses and some council. In between a small bit of rural land farms bits, also golf clubs and recreation areas. Have seen a lovely old folks home which backs right on to a lock...so knows in the future ??…Also an old lace factory which had been redeveloped into flats. So good to see a beautiful piece of architecture preserved.

The water here it fairly clean and you can see the bottom, but going past one housing estate I looked down and there on the side, below the water level...a complete motor bike. Looked like an old Honda Super-dream 250.

Well enough for now, we turned right after the Trent lock onto the Trent and Mersey canal heading towards Burton upon Trent so a lazy day .. a rest . . then move on tomorrow.

Spring is a great time on the water, ducks and other water birds have their seasons, for a while there are both male and female duck swimming about, then the females disappear for a few weeks then suddenly re-appear with lots of little followers. The babies are lovely but its a dangerous time, the have predators and only a few make it to adulthood. Big fish and rats being their main predators. A pike will see off many ducks and signets in the swan breeding season.

The trip down to here has been fairly uneventful. Had a few days at Atherstone where we did a monster shop at the local Aldi’s (twice) topped up just after pension day, plenty of wine and food enough for a couple of weeks. While we were there Fred Hands came to see us and was a bearer of something we are partial to ...a bottle or rather two bottles of red wine. A lovely man who we became friends with on facebook. We met his son and daughter in law Sinead and Matthew last year and its now good to put a face and personality to a name on our friends list. It was good just sitting in the sun, drinking tea and putting the world to rights, had a few laughs and learned a bit about each other.

We had to move on the next day as we have to get back nearer Northampton as we have been summoned for granddaughter sitting duties. So the next stop was Sutton Stop or to use its other name Hawksbury Junction.

It’s the joining place of two Canals, the Coventry canal and the Oxford Canal. There is a good pub there, The Greyhound and as it was fathers day on the Sunday, Kylie came over and we went for lunch after turning the boat around ready for the last rush into boatyard on the Monday. It was a lovely afternoon, hot sun, the food although basic was excellent, also a good duo singing most of the songs they did . . . I do in my act.

We now are moored in Lime Farm Marina for a few days while John does a couple of things on the boat. A small water leak on the heating system.

The fan belt is still being a bit of a pig !! For some reason unknown to us it keeps loosening off. So I need to re adjust it. A two minute job. . If I can get to it !!!

The alternator is on the front of the engine which is under the rear decking

Getting into the engine room is easy...if I was a still the slim figure I used to be when 21.. and 10 stone...However now I’m 67 and 15 and a half stone, its a bit different.

The easiest way to do it is, remove the steps on the back decking and there is plenty of room. The problem is they weigh about one and a half hundredweight, they are a tight fit. Puts a bit of a strain on my somewhat weakened heart so...we are having a new set made out of aluminium, so it’s lighter and easier. The old ones are very rusty and past just a repaint.

Jenny has been very busy repainting the new cratch area and re-varnishing the wood work, I’m saving my energy for when I’m back in home port next week. I have a bit of wood work to finish and the much awaited rear fencing on the cruiser stern. It was fenced off with plastic netting to keep the dogs from falling/getting off the back as a temporary measure 3 years ago. Finally found the metal panels I need at Homebase in the local store, so no excuses ..they will be done before we leave for North Wales in July.

Enough of my waffle ...Now I’ll hand over to Jenny to add photos..this is out of my understanding being a complete luddite regarding the computer ..

Love to all our readers...XXX 

Swan on her nest

River Severn

Weir on River Severn

Approaching a Lock

Waiting at side for lock

Wild geese visiting when in a lock, no food though.

Some of the bridges are very narrow

Fradley Junction

Wild geese with some of their offspring