Continuing our travels

Continuing our Travels north.

Well blog time again the cruise season is going so fast. After our friends Gail and Chris left us we continued at our pace. They are early start and early finish. We start ...when we feel like it and finish when we feel like it. They are meeting up with friends further on so needed to be at a place at a certain time.

Leaving Atherstone we continued on our way. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, it is beautiful. It’s been decked in shorts for comfort. The only problem is keeping the furry kids cool.

Jake and Carly have had a rough time. Carly must, when travelling, sit at my feet,

Jake is happy moving between below decks to sticking his head out of his little port hole on the gate. Call it the port hole because its on the left hand side.

Jenny bought some doggie cooling blankets, they are really good. Like chamois leather, you soak them in water and cover the dog, as they dry out it cools the dog . . . Brilliant

But they were off their food and were very sick, unable to keep their food down.

Jake with his cool blanket.

Chilling on the deck

Coming to a few locks we dropped down in the last lock and when the gates opened,

I couldn’t get out. There was an old fuel boat trying to overtake a boat moored on the side, not realising there was a queue and they were waiting to get into the lock. .

Three into one don’t go. It was quite funny as we all sorted ourselves out. One (the fuel boat) reversed, so I couldn’t..we all saw the funny side of it and started laughing. Don’t ya love it when it all goes wrong. Canal people in the main are so laid back.

Up through Tamworth and had a few days off at Hopwas. Jenny was feeling energetic and decided to repaint the starboard side of the boat. Monday morning and off again, refreshed, well I was, Jenny had done a great job with the painting, I’m now on tenter hooks in case I scrape it ...

Our planned route was up the Coventry canal to Fradley junction. There is a lovely pub there affectionately known as the Mucky Duck, alias The White Swan goes back many hundreds of years we had a few beers and a lovely meal there.

The Mucky Duck....

Next morning leaving at our usual time about 10.30ish the sun was out, the engine was performing wonderfully the birds were singing and everything was perfect. Thinking how blessed we were...then suddenly the 10.30 express Virgin train to somewhere or other went past at about 120mph !! ….Talk about jump !! I nearly jumped overboard. I just didn’t hear it coming . Putting it politely I nearly had a bowel movement !!... Lots of railway lines run parallel with the canals, but if you don’t keep an eye out for them, it has its consequences. 

Next stop Rugeley for a major shop, we were running low on provisions. I.e. wine and beer.. . In the morning, as we were preparing to cast off, an almighty bang was heard, as we sailed past the pub at the end of the tow path there was a plume of thick black smoke rising from behind the Tesco’s store we had shopped at. We thought at first it was the petrol station had gone up in flames. It turned out later it was an explosion at a wood yard nearby. Destroyed a car, lorry and a caravan. Nobody hurt which is the main thing.

Weston on Trent and Stone were passed, we had plan a night stop over at Stone but by the time we arrived there all the moorings had been taken, so we ended up out in the country again. Our next stop, is Barleston. The pub there is called The Plume of Feathers. It is owned by the actor Neil Morrisey. So we though we would give it a try.

On entry it is a light and airy pub. Very clean and the staff welcoming. I had a laugh with Calum the bar man and pulled his leg like I do. He was genuinely interested in our floating travels, coming over to ask questions from behind the bar. We checked the menu and Jenny ordered Mussels and Frites with crusty bread and I order a rump steak with a blue cheese sauce. The mussels10 out of 10 ….Mine…. I sent it back... the steak wasn’t edible. So tough. The manager was very apologetic and suggested I didn’t have another one as it would be from the same batch. So I had a chicken dish covered in a spicy sauce. That was good. I felt quite sorry for the staff, because it was a good place otherwise. Let down by a bad butcher.

Before leaving Barleston and heading north again, ‘the bosun’ as I call her, had been plotting us a course when we realised that the Wedgwood factory was near here so we found a twenty minute walk took us to the factory and museum. I think Jenny enjoyed it more than me, it was like a big china shop, but without the canals, their business would not have prospered. Moving china and potteries by horse and wagon caused a lot of damaged and broken stock, but on the canal a barge can carry 40 tonnes and it not subject to shocks as a wagon wheel is. One cart carried half a ton and was slow. Barge was faster and gentle. 

Wedgewood punch bowl set only.....£10000.00!!!

Wedgewood Dragon made from plates and cups.

The majority of people we meet have been great but...sadly we ran into some people who were not the nicest. They wanted to go faster than us and tried to intimidate us following so close. and when behind at a lock were taking the ‘wee wee’ out of us and laughing at us. Not directly, but you knew where it was directed.

We pulled over and let them pass. Also the hot weather was playing havoc with the engine. She was running hot and losing oil pressure on tick over and a green light was flashing .. I did panic for a bit but after a half hour rest all was back to normal and we continued.

We had planned to go straight into the Harecastle tunnel, but being a bit low on drinking water we needed to top up ..empty the toilet and dump the rubbish. So we turned a virtual 180 degrees onto the Caldon Canal. Only to find Mr and Mrs Obnoxious and co, (they were in two boats) to be moored on the services.!!!

So another change of plan was made. Services... then turn around and back on to the Trent and Mersey canal and though the tunnel...WRONG !!!

the idiots from CRT had moored two of their working boats in the place for turning, we had no choice but to do the Caldon canal as we were to long.

But enough for now..The Caldon canal is a great experience so follow this blog ..coming to a computer or smart phone near you soon..XXX

TTFN 

and a short video....