tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76614072313685338902024-03-05T04:00:48.953-08:00nb Chuffednb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.comBlogger623125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-22705625052191781342022-06-30T13:37:00.001-07:002022-06-30T13:37:19.572-07:00Moving on!<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">SO….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the final
payment on our new (to us) boat has been made, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her name is currently <i>NB Bonjour</i>, but that may
change.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our new adventures start <a href="https://stillchuffed.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>HERE</b></span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have named the blog ‘stillchuffed’, because
of course we are!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Below is the list of the waterways we cruised on <i>Chuffed</i>,
which I somehow forgot to add to the final stats.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Canals</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ashby, Ashton, the BCN (see below), Bridgewater (Preston
Brook to Manchester), Caldon, Coventry, Droitwich Barge, Droitwich Junction, Dudley
no 1 and 2, Erewash, Gloucester and Sharpness, Grand Union (see below), Hertford
Union, Huddersfield broad and narrow, Kennet and Avon, Llangollen, Macclesfield,
Montgomery (Frankton Junction to Queen’s Head), Oxford (north and south), Peak
Forest, Regent’s as far as te Hertford Union, Rochdale, Shropshire Union, Staffs
and Worcester, Stourbridge (not the Town Arm), Stratford (north and south), Trent
and Mersey, Worcester and Birmingham.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Birmingham Canal Navigations</u>; Old Main Line, New Main
Line, Birmingham and Fazeley, Daw End Branch, Dudley No 1 and 2 (apart from the
branch to Halesowen), Rushall, Tame Valley, Titford Canal (but not the pools,
they hadn’t been dredged), Walsall including Town Arm, Wyrley and Essington,
Anglesey Branch, Cannock Extension, Digbeth Branch, Gower Branch, Netherton
tunnel branch, Soho, Icknield Port and Oozells St loops, Spon Lane locks,
Engine Arm, Wednesbury old canal. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Grand Union</u>; Brentford to Birmingham, including
Leicester Line with the Welford and Market Harborough Arms, Aylesbury and
Wendover Arms, Paddington Arm and basin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>River navigations;</u> Warwickshire Avon except for the short
stretch beyond Tramway bridge, </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Calder and Hebble (Sowerby Bridge to cooper Bridge
Junction), River Severn (Stourport to Gloucester), River Soar, Lee Navigation (Hertford
Union junction to Hertford), River Thames (Lechlade to Brentford), River Trent
(Soar Mouth to Derwent Mouth Lock), River Weaver.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<![endif]--></p>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-83285543248204050862022-04-04T06:10:00.004-07:002022-04-04T06:17:28.237-07:00Second-hand fixes<p style="text-align: center;"><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal">Our search for a boat still proving fruitless, we have
needed a few little canal fixes over the last few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are spending a significant amount of time
scouring the brokerage websites and Apollo Duck, and failing to find a suitable
semi-trad – or at least, one that we could afford that was still available by the time we saw it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There just
aren’t many semi-trads around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very
frustrating, so we need a fix now and then to cope!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogpQ4a5QEWgLZEoGnuUtva3J0wqWRhXHNB3KRov4zKxLfcRR0UHsdHGIiJRortGNfP_D_8wt6qmk8Vxs-dNV5i2M1d3zxS7IokhV_dq0HrnkJ_qn7QMXQBV70T90S5-K7F137-OLilsskb4ro304O_PkH7FCh_Du6mRMQhph6a1MEoJMBVvaLo34Yww/s2560/black%20lion%20consall%20with%20steam%20train.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogpQ4a5QEWgLZEoGnuUtva3J0wqWRhXHNB3KRov4zKxLfcRR0UHsdHGIiJRortGNfP_D_8wt6qmk8Vxs-dNV5i2M1d3zxS7IokhV_dq0HrnkJ_qn7QMXQBV70T90S5-K7F137-OLilsskb4ro304O_PkH7FCh_Du6mRMQhph6a1MEoJMBVvaLo34Yww/w640-h480/black%20lion%20consall%20with%20steam%20train.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Chuffed is just out of
the picture on the left</i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Obviously we have watched the occasional youtube, and caught
up with Cruising the Cut where we found we had missed an episode or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I it's too frustrating if we watch too many, so we were delighted to find several programmes which may also
be of interest to readers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We often watch art programmes on TV and Dave particularly
enjoys Landscape Artist of the Year, on
Sky Arts (luckily free to view, not part of a Sky subscription!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prize is a commission, and this year
the winner was asked to paint something to celebrate the industrial
heritage of the north – the tantalising trailer was a drone shot of a
narrowboat, so we looked forward to that episode!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The winner was taken along the Rochdale from
the Yorkshire end, and there were some lovely
shots of the canal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sat in the bow,
sketching and generally having a lovely time (how could she not<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">?</span>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They spent a bit of time in Hebden
Bridge (of course) though
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>completely missing many of the things a
canal enthusiast would wish to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But never
mind, it was interesting from the heritage point of view and we enjoyed it. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMVD9yEDMlS1QRoEDx5Z-kDTKcM945fWrJlIfzwbk3gyrGagYDHlnPbk9QyBbwvCwtRXB5lnR8Vx4AeukiMP9r8tz5rsusou6vfckTr68jOkhIMkgxdvGCUNwPP0-II8J84cvv8XQCRv-pPAZ8bDz5V_W8T_KpQJQAf5gLKbiDyyCRfN2R0qlJz7wgw/s2560/1%20highest%20lock%20in%20england.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMVD9yEDMlS1QRoEDx5Z-kDTKcM945fWrJlIfzwbk3gyrGagYDHlnPbk9QyBbwvCwtRXB5lnR8Vx4AeukiMP9r8tz5rsusou6vfckTr68jOkhIMkgxdvGCUNwPP0-II8J84cvv8XQCRv-pPAZ8bDz5V_W8T_KpQJQAf5gLKbiDyyCRfN2R0qlJz7wgw/w640-h480/1%20highest%20lock%20in%20england.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Something they missed - one of the two highest broad locks in England, Rochdale canal<br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another programme was on BBC, Michael Wood’s Story of
England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It features a group of villages
in Leicester, one of which, Smeeton Westerby,
is close to the Leicester Arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a
very engaging presenter and it’s an interesting series, but in this link - <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b00txydj/michael-woods-story-of-england">https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b00txydj/michael-woods-story-of-england</a></span></b>
we were excited to spot what had to be a canal bridge in the background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was indeed, probably 70 or 71, and he talked about how the
coming of the canal changed the villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Recommended – but it’s only on i-player till the end of April.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU0oyCSNRGSvIT9ZHp823VRrwc-u0r-H5c1HWC00EyeCOYWygVL5N-dCFG0WfWnLMwe8Kh0Q00NPh35Fl8qlwI7invRbVjbFAIfwbWZGhqHFopULMF5vgIn-Jn84tk7GFWbSYGVQUSO2b37on57rfODlYR9arex0vt9yBxlchHgouLeVNy9QGDNejaw/s3072/P1010681.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU0oyCSNRGSvIT9ZHp823VRrwc-u0r-H5c1HWC00EyeCOYWygVL5N-dCFG0WfWnLMwe8Kh0Q00NPh35Fl8qlwI7invRbVjbFAIfwbWZGhqHFopULMF5vgIn-Jn84tk7GFWbSYGVQUSO2b37on57rfODlYR9arex0vt9yBxlchHgouLeVNy9QGDNejaw/w640-h480/P1010681.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moored somewhere below Foxton, Leicester</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Line</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also on the BBC was a short piece on radio 4, again a
history programme – Greg Jenner’s Fast Forward – a Century of Sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is called the History of the Canals
and features a series of clips from the 1960s talking to the last working
boatmen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015vhx">https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015vhx</a></b></span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I got Murder on the Oxford Canal
(Faith Martin) and Canal Pushers (Andy Griffee) for Christmas, and enjoyed them
both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, on Dave’s recommendation, I
have started Tom Rolt’s biography of Thomas Telford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJdyT_0lbTkn8PbLbaD2Oit9SVQLwNRlLLejfurXvOXRt2fvGemmfSpuvmawB6XlCcR8RDvnKa8TeiohLkl-g1spn9anEXjr16P9ZtRoM6Tl97GBS4yea24OMQK7sN_gIgCi1fGz75j941nyETL32uBZhRdTTZmrpm92n8W7_SdOiH9NoeVdHCHm7Vw/s2560/5%20nearly%20alone.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJdyT_0lbTkn8PbLbaD2Oit9SVQLwNRlLLejfurXvOXRt2fvGemmfSpuvmawB6XlCcR8RDvnKa8TeiohLkl-g1spn9anEXjr16P9ZtRoM6Tl97GBS4yea24OMQK7sN_gIgCi1fGz75j941nyETL32uBZhRdTTZmrpm92n8W7_SdOiH9NoeVdHCHm7Vw/w640-h480/5%20nearly%20alone.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One of Telford’s</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But while reading Canal Pushers I realised that I didn’t
include a list of the waterways we visited on the ‘Final Stats’ blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So </span>I will post another blog with the list,
mostly for my benefit.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, it’s time to check Apollo Duck again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fingers crossed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you hear of an owner thinking of selling
their 56 - 60’ semi-trad, please point them in our direction!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Post-2010, reverse layout and bow-thrusters
preferred, but we can’t be too picky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if
you are thinking of changing your boat for goodness sake get the new one lined
up before you put yours on the market or you might end up like us – bereft!</p>Happy boating, and we hope for good news soon.
<p> </p>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-37644353124227433152021-12-31T14:00:00.000-08:002022-01-01T09:59:50.052-08:00Chuffed - the stats<p class="MsoNormal">Well, I have been putting this ‘final’ post off for many
months but it must be done, so that’s been occupying me since Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had hoped by now to have had a couple of
cruises on a new (to us) boat, but instead it’s been a frustrating year with anything suitable
sold within hours of becoming available, including Chuffed of course, so
we shouldn't have been surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
semitrads are few and far between compared to cruiser sterns, and ones with
bow-thrusters and reverse layout scarcer still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At times we wished we hadn’t parted with Chuffed, and certainly
regretted not buying Tentatrice when we had the chance, but regret gets you
nowhere so we keep looking forward!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifafg8WNQDOhOGaARrP1-FQRhkk75lXmvkGTFfoz_JYs7a68ce7ifW4Czxnu2F37GOw5kpLfPYLvx-YnQent3HeMTIqUdj3FvMKAG8eHzCQfytpv2Qd-bup-wukIN4ctTV7BBFkQ5Rx5I94BQUb69LZrrqDZSreTcScpRYogzUh3jHV6kE8Q1yUAIuYA=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifafg8WNQDOhOGaARrP1-FQRhkk75lXmvkGTFfoz_JYs7a68ce7ifW4Czxnu2F37GOw5kpLfPYLvx-YnQent3HeMTIqUdj3FvMKAG8eHzCQfytpv2Qd-bup-wukIN4ctTV7BBFkQ5Rx5I94BQUb69LZrrqDZSreTcScpRYogzUh3jHV6kE8Q1yUAIuYA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A favourite mooring at
Flecknoe</i></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s a long post, and mostly for my benefit, so please enjoy
the photos if you can’t be bothered with the words ….</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were not alone in having our Christmas plans scuppered by
Covid or other illness, though thankfully no-one has been too poorly. The children had devised a fabulous present
for us - a gorgeously illustrated hard-cover book which they had concocted from the
Chuffed blogs and got printed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our son wrote a script to
scrape (technical term) selected highlights and photographs from the 620 blogs (there were over 400,000 words and 5,000 images to choose from).
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 150 pages long it’s a wonderful
reminder of our time aboard, full of happy memories and lovely photos. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The photos they chose were all instantly
recognisable and the text takes us straight back to the time and place where it
was written.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8vj8Omrio5juWK3nMdLe8h_evorRM2DxYnyShKWKSbC0OpMIX0xupnfuUNYjNZv02x8qAD6aMFtL5CMlGVFhliXLce2FwqDI1_as1OomkZyynJCOkVsd_N0PaAe2DODpXYYWBxy4_QN2YctMejipwIU3u8zpTshVtbshO7NM8dKdXleXHAPpgVOOAAA=s3072" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8vj8Omrio5juWK3nMdLe8h_evorRM2DxYnyShKWKSbC0OpMIX0xupnfuUNYjNZv02x8qAD6aMFtL5CMlGVFhliXLce2FwqDI1_as1OomkZyynJCOkVsd_N0PaAe2DODpXYYWBxy4_QN2YctMejipwIU3u8zpTshVtbshO7NM8dKdXleXHAPpgVOOAAA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'Canal regeneration' - taken 5 years ago, has
anything happened yet?</i></p><p>Our first canine companion was our dear old Tess, who was with
us from 1995, and on every cruise until the summer of 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNTMxDNRDlIbdx1nL3zZ99eIguRJ-MhO3QK2AtXIXjkYEbfptphUPHjMWiXdFcI3221z3mgw4pbn3Pf8C56tKZBDPbMf9oI5KyEg4AB1aLEVVQ0NWNA9fopZpYdXOgE0erpNbd4dR077XhprLzFg_exl3IXqYQUz_-bLJGgVGkl6I2RR86TCVS8yCIeg=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNTMxDNRDlIbdx1nL3zZ99eIguRJ-MhO3QK2AtXIXjkYEbfptphUPHjMWiXdFcI3221z3mgw4pbn3Pf8C56tKZBDPbMf9oI5KyEg4AB1aLEVVQ0NWNA9fopZpYdXOgE0erpNbd4dR077XhprLzFg_exl3IXqYQUz_-bLJGgVGkl6I2RR86TCVS8yCIeg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Faithful Tess enjoying
the sun at Hillmorton</i><i>.</i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i>She was succeeded in 2014 by lovely Meg, who took to boating
like a duck to water.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtPy8QNTf1UeUB2w5h8zftV5CeLL2TRY1GemEHmqywvteJOzB31w3NlzBLx-XAFtImFfGZ8d8wDp-6QxGXrAnCJPhhRKjwqd5Z9k6AnlU9OhkWAA9kzX8Xt5QMgEUc4O3aXBOv7xOrJafNXhlUCqOYa3f6x7Ofsd55ZSt3pX1uPAbsP9js99psioS_NA=s3072" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtPy8QNTf1UeUB2w5h8zftV5CeLL2TRY1GemEHmqywvteJOzB31w3NlzBLx-XAFtImFfGZ8d8wDp-6QxGXrAnCJPhhRKjwqd5Z9k6AnlU9OhkWAA9kzX8Xt5QMgEUc4O3aXBOv7xOrJafNXhlUCqOYa3f6x7Ofsd55ZSt3pX1uPAbsP9js99psioS_NA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Meg taking charge on
her first cruise</i>
<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And now for the stats, which run from 2012 to 2021.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mileage figures are only a rough
approximation – it turns out that I was less than consistent in my record
keeping, for instance in the early days I didn’t record narrow and broad canals
and locks separately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do like things
to be reasonably accurate, so over the last few days I’ve spent quite some time
rectifying this with Canalplanner, though there are limits to the desire for
accuracy - the furlongs are mostly rounded up or down to the nearest quarter
mile and the results shown as decimals.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 4.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 265px;">
<tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 144.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="193">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Narrow
canals</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 54.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="72">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">2568.65</span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 144.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="193">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Broad
canals</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 54.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="72">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">1177.69</span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 144.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="193">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gloucester
&Sharpness</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 54.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="72">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">30.75</span></b></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 144.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="193">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rivers</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 54.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="72">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">719.69</span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 144.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="193">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Total miles</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 54.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="72">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">4466.23</span></b></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 144.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="193">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Engine
hours</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 54.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="72">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">2806</span></b></p>
</td>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Most years we spent approximately 3 months cruising, from a
few days to 3 weeks at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
records show a total of 711 nights aboard, but Dave recorded 762 days,
which included those when we cruised and left for home on the same day, and his maintenance
visits during the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We travelled
nearly 4,500 miles, visiting places like Braunston many times but others only
once, such as Huddersfield and Bath.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFF-loPkKH2ZEC1oNCaSLakUUk7C7I_gvyeKLpiomxzyVnkUBu6wTM00APPyCbR5T8TWq8VIT9SkxNqofd33tdkljFf57uI6VRUQgf9X62f44V8Ck8qxyiAds5rmPE8u5HkegZvHMhWiwR_lu6Q8_YnWLmN1JKzi3zFQBxQWaY_j70aCythPdKo61oQw=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFF-loPkKH2ZEC1oNCaSLakUUk7C7I_gvyeKLpiomxzyVnkUBu6wTM00APPyCbR5T8TWq8VIT9SkxNqofd33tdkljFf57uI6VRUQgf9X62f44V8Ck8qxyiAds5rmPE8u5HkegZvHMhWiwR_lu6Q8_YnWLmN1JKzi3zFQBxQWaY_j70aCythPdKo61oQw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Great Wall of Tod
– Todmorden, Rochdale canal; visited only
once (so far)</i></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqtYaGfo7fuaj6lXl9yQRKSL7y6SBjnChAQkkELkHel3p8_GLEjkDHNKxoS-EEjQocoHey-fBghqomqOsVzE-f2HL9WVtoKaa-2i-pZ-LgZqlnxGT7mnXL4fH6jRnQl1YBgenlNOWMsxTxaM8DSNwqgch6ixUE37_QrliTaM9sDtnFoEZPBugZH-kJGg=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqtYaGfo7fuaj6lXl9yQRKSL7y6SBjnChAQkkELkHel3p8_GLEjkDHNKxoS-EEjQocoHey-fBghqomqOsVzE-f2HL9WVtoKaa-2i-pZ-LgZqlnxGT7mnXL4fH6jRnQl1YBgenlNOWMsxTxaM8DSNwqgch6ixUE37_QrliTaM9sDtnFoEZPBugZH-kJGg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>How many have I contributed
to the thousands of boaters' photos of Braunston Church?</i></p>It took us ages to lose the ‘hirer’ mindset, where you
aim for full-day cruising to achieve your goal and get back to base by the
deadline – as hirers and sharers we cruised the Four Counties ring in a week
more than once, and thought nothing of it. Although we knew perfectly well it
was up to us when we finished our trips, it was years before we felt truly comfortable
with short days.
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHfT6MA2kiWOS1aJkk5vODDYYDE25pusx7z2pHnE8LSk0tBOXXPvmQUG0cMxy1c_DfHNB3jEzEGLfvfuk23ITiNRYb8xRu0oHCo9Edd10azs83lXcfc82OXP4LJak6umvjf5TKliskRsulALR9f56F8liTKHKWXu-yvm1ZY7u0gFyDnggaOjvzzCcC8w=s3072" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHfT6MA2kiWOS1aJkk5vODDYYDE25pusx7z2pHnE8LSk0tBOXXPvmQUG0cMxy1c_DfHNB3jEzEGLfvfuk23ITiNRYb8xRu0oHCo9Edd10azs83lXcfc82OXP4LJak6umvjf5TKliskRsulALR9f56F8liTKHKWXu-yvm1ZY7u0gFyDnggaOjvzzCcC8w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span> </span>Relaxing on a hot day,
Wedding Bridge, S Oxford – footbridge a mile or so north of Fenny Compton</i>
<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I love doing locks, though as we all know some are more
taxing than others!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The variety of
paddle gear and gate types is fascinating and some took me a while to get used
to, such as the Calder & Hebble Spike, or the chains to open the bottom gates
on the Rochdale Nine (2015).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 4.65pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 159px;">
<tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="121">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">narrow
locks</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 28.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="38">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">2783</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="121">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">broad
locks</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 28.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="38">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">1368</span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="121">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">large
locks</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 28.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="38">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">78</span></p>
</td>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 90.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="121">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">total
locks</span></b></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 12.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 28.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="38">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">4150</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN2STw6db9Vwk_V9niLgnBetdm90JUjeC0-pI7IabAUmO-4KCLbsgpcu3OK_wJAj0xcpUObvH8zzhKd9FMvoiTG-d3K8fXbeFfr9RFw-AtmywVihaFViOZMy7TBXHqhWFBS5RJN5CkYzR2cjmQZZtv9DfLZ7sy4gSZTcW-M9qqhDX7tJIfcoAGxAkNZg=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN2STw6db9Vwk_V9niLgnBetdm90JUjeC0-pI7IabAUmO-4KCLbsgpcu3OK_wJAj0xcpUObvH8zzhKd9FMvoiTG-d3K8fXbeFfr9RFw-AtmywVihaFViOZMy7TBXHqhWFBS5RJN5CkYzR2cjmQZZtv9DfLZ7sy4gSZTcW-M9qqhDX7tJIfcoAGxAkNZg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><span> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Using the handspike at
Salterhebble top lock</i>
<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBOazBKS8YPmP7cjdZLpSpUYjtctk-OWD6c-cpt8W3S7d8c7a6p4mtLmE-2st15MAejWeLtgeq5dxZKxL8ySCDm72_axznkAqb8rjMQAqSLG_oT55vj0UFwP6RUFgv5CToFimkWsi3z7ofS_uB4InMDjr9DQfpxUSGM0Yp982ggnuI4KSGuktmfbn1XQ=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBOazBKS8YPmP7cjdZLpSpUYjtctk-OWD6c-cpt8W3S7d8c7a6p4mtLmE-2st15MAejWeLtgeq5dxZKxL8ySCDm72_axznkAqb8rjMQAqSLG_oT55vj0UFwP6RUFgv5CToFimkWsi3z7ofS_uB4InMDjr9DQfpxUSGM0Yp982ggnuI4KSGuktmfbn1XQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Guillotine gate at
Todmorden, Library lock<br /></i><p></p><p>And some lift bridges are a pleasure to use, though I know
many of us have struggled with some on the way into Oxford. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recorded 285 moveable (swing or lift)
bridges, but only tended to note the ones which require action from crew – I
don’t see the point in recording those which are usually kept open, or even
completely out of use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mill Lift Bridge in Lower Heyford,
now operated with the BWB/Watermate key, the Key of Power, used to be a nightmare
for smaller folk like me. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5G-Nx7RH5QjIyH7N_MNJRj6sUVxbJ7pLfI3N-t-_7A5aBTuQmBwu7682sdHY7bRYlm5ef2ft1bXMf_2wyG2BxC_jMdG44mH2GztVEC1FZigEIcbu2EtflibChDVeO4p9oO51qvwiRW1qaKzFZLdZT4gSe5fk8GNTQ-B-FO33FwlNQgIqeP8WvWzTmKA=s3909" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2594" data-original-width="3909" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5G-Nx7RH5QjIyH7N_MNJRj6sUVxbJ7pLfI3N-t-_7A5aBTuQmBwu7682sdHY7bRYlm5ef2ft1bXMf_2wyG2BxC_jMdG44mH2GztVEC1FZigEIcbu2EtflibChDVeO4p9oO51qvwiRW1qaKzFZLdZT4gSe5fk8GNTQ-B-FO33FwlNQgIqeP8WvWzTmKA=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The (then) truly horrible
Drinkwater’s bridge, near Oxford, 2019<br /></i></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some required planning and a deal of skill to negotiate – going downstream at
Woolhampton, on the K&A, the steerer must hold the boat in the lock while the
crew holds up the traffic at the bridge, as if you try to hold steady in the
stream before the bridge is fully open you will be pushed to the side by the
current.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You have to really open up the revs, a</span>nd to add to the excitement, the bridge is on the skew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seem to
remember it was very difficult to get back on again after I had closed the
bridge, because of the strong water flow.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQtPQ_fbL-rGcphfxpfbogSEmj0cWUMjuyikJSPFdGf7NbG5_h_pYP7iA2wewULyjjMUB24ydEKLCmn0m3OcspvGyAmI_ALxSfRkzavzd1qY9_PcpUmXjju_EC8zRg_9ZqAC0nj2yhW5nwtJyAMSCbpWR1SBJS69qHxqIZxl1NW5l2YYp-e8H4Q9o2Lg=s3072" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQtPQ_fbL-rGcphfxpfbogSEmj0cWUMjuyikJSPFdGf7NbG5_h_pYP7iA2wewULyjjMUB24ydEKLCmn0m3OcspvGyAmI_ALxSfRkzavzd1qY9_PcpUmXjju_EC8zRg_9ZqAC0nj2yhW5nwtJyAMSCbpWR1SBJS69qHxqIZxl1NW5l2YYp-e8H4Q9o2Lg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Racing through Woolhampton Bridge</i></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tunnels varied from wide and spacious (Blisworth) to narrow
and cramped (Harecastle), some very short and scarcely worth the name (Broad Street in Birmingham) to the epic (Standedge, the highest, longest
and deepest canal tunnel in Britain).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To look at the eastern portal of Standedge,
you would hardly believe the statistics; 5675 yards, or over 3 miles long, so
much more impressive in old money don’t you think? the deepest (with up to 636
feet of rock above you, that’s roughly 3 football pitches stood on end), and
highest above sea level (645’).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCiwzJyVEwMjiGwByHc0-GhHej5SnISpNAB1ysPWj5rn825MdybGpe_Li6O_xq7_LMM1hNvb93Z6YaEzl6he-jBS98u149UnDJorSaKwHHFN9y3nvy1c-X-0Jvhkhuz-n6wfS35MfCkAmqGXNczn5L3b4S3kJB_9XW06pqr3aY_4GHLJSVtw2Jt4Wzog=s2019" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="2019" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCiwzJyVEwMjiGwByHc0-GhHej5SnISpNAB1ysPWj5rn825MdybGpe_Li6O_xq7_LMM1hNvb93Z6YaEzl6he-jBS98u149UnDJorSaKwHHFN9y3nvy1c-X-0Jvhkhuz-n6wfS35MfCkAmqGXNczn5L3b4S3kJB_9XW06pqr3aY_4GHLJSVtw2Jt4Wzog=w640-h460" width="640" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Emerging from Standedge, June 2015<br /></i></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Canalplanner tells me we traversed 204 tunnels, though many of those
would have been duplicated on there-and-back cruises, such as Dunhampstead on
the many times we popped down to Worcester. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for aqueducts, we love them, though I have to say I would
feel a lot less relaxed on a cruiser stern!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Among the 24 recorded (counting both directions of course), we have
crossed the magnificent Pontcysyllte several times, and you don't need my snaps of that, but we also have a soft spot
for the tiny Yarningale on the South Stratford. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7bK0n2oW-HFe0GiQfbX3mlrny171_dSBr_iKVpXSrQ35zkyj7XaZnnnFihZZng5dQ_6FjfspL7W9d1vor6CYe8h9eHgAOuOL6X21c-y6z7hGX1ggkrB5zk9QO_-EBX5U7nIg81QrbVgbaelBD7svT5CKaGMshpg7N2VEr-94YETtm2DdAQOeJg7KRVA=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7bK0n2oW-HFe0GiQfbX3mlrny171_dSBr_iKVpXSrQ35zkyj7XaZnnnFihZZng5dQ_6FjfspL7W9d1vor6CYe8h9eHgAOuOL6X21c-y6z7hGX1ggkrB5zk9QO_-EBX5U7nIg81QrbVgbaelBD7svT5CKaGMshpg7N2VEr-94YETtm2DdAQOeJg7KRVA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Pretty little Yarningale aqueduct</i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had our fair share of rubbish round the prop, from the
almost ubiquitous poly bags to a martial arts type padded jerkin on the Rochdale and a reinforced knobbly bike tyre on the BCN
main line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone has their own horror
stories about rubbish, so you don’t need to see my pictures of it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t dwell on our various mishaps either,
I prefer not to remember them! thankfully there were no serious injuries
involved, though on occasion a fair amount of cash was required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to call out CRT once to haul us off a shopping
trolley on the Walsall, but trolley trouble
along there is no novelty to anyone who ventures that way!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We haven’t yet visited all seven Wonders of the Waterways
though we’re over half way - we’ve covered the Pontcysyllte aqueduct, Anderton
Boat Lift, Standedge Tunnel and the Caen Hill flight.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLvJ8RZub42XXxPAijLMuBDUpL76EW3275yHtsuuGw8e5CghSfPkgNmagbaXJBWNNnoz1RADNR2bw4fiYmZR6f-sxfSVjvGVerIGIp4zH5BpXXniqRi-ZnfGe1WBdT9j_FTGahvXgCrUaa0eNTlEGDkGk4qIdgbdczC5OhBU35F6LR14k6mStqauzpwQ=s3072" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2304" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLvJ8RZub42XXxPAijLMuBDUpL76EW3275yHtsuuGw8e5CghSfPkgNmagbaXJBWNNnoz1RADNR2bw4fiYmZR6f-sxfSVjvGVerIGIp4zH5BpXXniqRi-ZnfGe1WBdT9j_FTGahvXgCrUaa0eNTlEGDkGk4qIdgbdczC5OhBU35F6LR14k6mStqauzpwQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></i></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>On the Caen Hill flight 2013 - roped up to
nb Kyakatina, with a snapped gear cable!</i> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On our very first canal trip, way back in the mid-1970s on
the Leeds and Liverpool, we crossed the
Burnley Embankment, but we don’t remember that at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of that trip, our knowledgeable
friend Ron insisted we all drove to see the Bingley Five Rise staircase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course at the time I had no notion of its
significance, and we still need to visit in a boat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the Barton Swing Aqueduct remains to be
crossed as well.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I do hope we get the opportunity, and soon, in our own boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll keep looking ….. wish us luck!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq3HnkzmmSu37Qv55Nei9xGBnEy4mg8FHTotP4pGl-kEMcHA9r8GOlv4sD-K_dvr3xRcSdWKz0A-_ssq2Ds8yegjH2mihb4v7zY18BRmTOOJqgXndaRKut40iYFeIgVRqvaDl7LT9gMSb1oQUDIXqYxqM7sZjT0gg62RMF5IOKcUJsSmwiyi7smYkVvA=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq3HnkzmmSu37Qv55Nei9xGBnEy4mg8FHTotP4pGl-kEMcHA9r8GOlv4sD-K_dvr3xRcSdWKz0A-_ssq2Ds8yegjH2mihb4v7zY18BRmTOOJqgXndaRKut40iYFeIgVRqvaDl7LT9gMSb1oQUDIXqYxqM7sZjT0gg62RMF5IOKcUJsSmwiyi7smYkVvA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Waiting for the off - below Claydon locks, summer 2019</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>A happy new Boating Year to you all!</b></span></p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-45556774549576235872021-10-31T04:01:00.001-07:002021-10-31T04:21:04.535-07:00Last day<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saturday 16<sup>th</sup>
October; Norbury Junction</b>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">We were up at 7 and finished most of the packing before we
pottered along to the wharf and easily reversed into the mooring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if it had been windy there wouldn't have been a problem as there was someone on hand to take a rope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was in a good position to see more information about the boats that are being
restored.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg88ntj7AEwQYPv5HIjLL5mj63ZYtd2ooJbdUMA6VwkZfrs3DtW9kyO4YBQmIcar8B_eqAudPr9sVhvZk6XOdm2iUNi-H2ivszofaatWNP25xpRi8onlEkpF2hziZEcBlmsvUB7Go-FlTHtdzJNh68HHK_KadYVYBHJH2F6edZEGjFl1X3tLCNjvJXLOg=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg88ntj7AEwQYPv5HIjLL5mj63ZYtd2ooJbdUMA6VwkZfrs3DtW9kyO4YBQmIcar8B_eqAudPr9sVhvZk6XOdm2iUNi-H2ivszofaatWNP25xpRi8onlEkpF2hziZEcBlmsvUB7Go-FlTHtdzJNh68HHK_KadYVYBHJH2F6edZEGjFl1X3tLCNjvJXLOg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were all sorted and on our way home at 9.30, feeling
quite sad – even though it wasn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chuffed</i>,
we’d had a lovely week apart from the worry about Meg – she was almost back to
normal by the time we left, charming the other hirers when they wanted to play
with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was strange hiring
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No jobs waiting to be done was a
bonus!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although we would much prefer
a cassette or separator toilet on our own hoped-for future boat, the pump-out
type on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer Wine</i> was an advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made a list of what to bring if we hire
again – insulated mugs for cold weather at the top of the list, with decent
kitchen knives a close second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
bedding and towels provided were excellent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’d taken our own supplies for the fire and didn’t need to use the
central heating at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
surprised to see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer Wine</i> has a
cratch cover, which is highly unusual on a hire boat</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEHgqkL96L7lnmNdcL5mrwCrxW8_0rF_M3CgMJ8BmRPlYA21L_FISWlFY2F1Kr9NgJwYk3ggjRfnI22KcT0_5Mtb6mFiX7Ah4eipsLaFnFGFd_VJUSAJH-dNWhRAvB808ctzj3e4aCaEKbIAi7sAtWGkmeBj_5Ti-vwouW5_FE443xykCX7EysUSxjow=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEHgqkL96L7lnmNdcL5mrwCrxW8_0rF_M3CgMJ8BmRPlYA21L_FISWlFY2F1Kr9NgJwYk3ggjRfnI22KcT0_5Mtb6mFiX7Ah4eipsLaFnFGFd_VJUSAJH-dNWhRAvB808ctzj3e4aCaEKbIAi7sAtWGkmeBj_5Ti-vwouW5_FE443xykCX7EysUSxjow=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">And as there was no hire company name on the sides we wondered
if it was a privately owned boat, which it turns out it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owners live in New Zealand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had been a bit concerned that in a hire
boat we might be on the receiving end of some dismissive behaviour, but there
was none at all – a boat with a cratch cover is usually assumed to be privately
owned.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We drove back to the M6 by a slightly different route and
passed under the Stretton Aqueduct.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpHU7LRvi4HBA1XJ2LuQIgtUQKXczGQcci-lL6CM0FipX_8gJIKWntg8X7en7rjXTxtpSxAkSSTcYqoDK7dX2LhGzwkB3Ne5O7hHdFm7mGjv_B9LWZqIhkNCKHNVoh9JXXWc1qO3bNFWYUrabKWWNUB24N-VjAmu6ogPE4Y0vlX0qNkj5DttWu0qAjww=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1861" data-original-width="2048" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpHU7LRvi4HBA1XJ2LuQIgtUQKXczGQcci-lL6CM0FipX_8gJIKWntg8X7en7rjXTxtpSxAkSSTcYqoDK7dX2LhGzwkB3Ne5O7hHdFm7mGjv_B9LWZqIhkNCKHNVoh9JXXWc1qO3bNFWYUrabKWWNUB24N-VjAmu6ogPE4Y0vlX0qNkj5DttWu0qAjww=w640-h582" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now we just have to be patient and keep checking the various
websites, as not every boat for sale appears on Apollo Duck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have noticed that more boats are becoming
available as the main season draws to a close. Fingers crossed.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I must get round to doing the total stats for our ownership of <i>Chuffed</i>.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">58 miles, 24 locks; Cowley tunnel twice, Stretton aqueduct
three times if you include driving underneath; Shroppie and Staffs &
Worcester canals. Lots of kingfishers on the Shroppie!<br /></p>
<p> </p>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-29881957510351897662021-10-28T10:32:00.001-07:002021-10-28T10:32:21.123-07:00Cheese<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Friday 15<sup>th</sup>
October; Brewood to Norbury Junction visitor moorings</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We woke late to the happy sounds of schoolchildren in the playground echoing in the trees way above us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We could see it was a sunny day, though it was still
very shady down on the moorings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg enjoyed her breakfast of
chicken and potato before we all went up to the bakery for bread and some tasty
snacks for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the obligatory photo
back up the road towards Speedwell
Castle, which I took
yesterday – the school lollipop person was looking after the stragglers going
home from school. We were far too late for him this morning! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The building is supposed to have been named
for the winner of a horserace, and built with the proceeds of the successful
bet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Must have been quite long odds.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFDq8BRJlVICeZSNmhOele3NIH1rXJ9v6IBm88KcSZsinyf2mPfZpCIsyMZWtPrOpoQSn-2lXO7pWdJ2I-X95Wqqpv7cP2Jq88Tjdnlmj3LHKPwHDCOhY-sjw5FQ-UQwFSQFqNp6_3QtQT68p_Ssv8lluEBjMnKx7qCq3Y4zt-Ur3r1wG_Xv5nLCx3_A=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1174" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFDq8BRJlVICeZSNmhOele3NIH1rXJ9v6IBm88KcSZsinyf2mPfZpCIsyMZWtPrOpoQSn-2lXO7pWdJ2I-X95Wqqpv7cP2Jq88Tjdnlmj3LHKPwHDCOhY-sjw5FQ-UQwFSQFqNp6_3QtQT68p_Ssv8lluEBjMnKx7qCq3Y4zt-Ur3r1wG_Xv5nLCx3_A=w366-h640" width="366" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was after 10 by the time we toddled off into the
sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shady bits were still very
chilly but it was a lovely morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There wasn’t much boat traffic but the A5 was very busy where it runs
under Stretton Aqueduct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From a distance
the pillars looked like people huddling beside the railings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The low sun picked out the decorative
details.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhw-E9Qio4dXmuivoqfSORyWiqrPypg9vtg0ExJgsjtjOpszmqBVv26FUQXvIEQscYa8Uji3fXoxBZ1v_qQFHMnGYI5HvuoM8gH8-6VJYTEZYfEab4NHbpVfv-D6KWNjFYu-JjSsRjFCox0WRRiufjbTgtyooVGQnQR6wmflWDmLrtphogERGgLeiAM2g=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhw-E9Qio4dXmuivoqfSORyWiqrPypg9vtg0ExJgsjtjOpszmqBVv26FUQXvIEQscYa8Uji3fXoxBZ1v_qQFHMnGYI5HvuoM8gH8-6VJYTEZYfEab4NHbpVfv-D6KWNjFYu-JjSsRjFCox0WRRiufjbTgtyooVGQnQR6wmflWDmLrtphogERGgLeiAM2g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The lock at Wheaton Aston was against us but we were soon
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I closed up then buzzed down to
see if there was room to moor, which there was, but it took a long time for
Dave to arrive – a 70-footer was doing his best to turn in the winding hole but
the bow kept getting caught by the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually we were moored up and had a relaxed lunch in the sunshine,
after which we disposed of the rubbish and then called in at <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://canalsonline.uk/sue-meades-colin-shearer-cheese-aboard-inc-mugs-afloat/">That’s
D’riculous</a></b></span>, the Cheese Boat, and bought some Black Bob extra
mature cheddar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s now in the back
of the fridge at home, where it will keep fresh in its wax coating for ages.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeiOkRY8GIi-N_9TOQfNHfmAw2Yi2e6633fr6RVbTaFTSW5oQbfr1nzJy_BdR4dqou8eSl8dnp4JLKbO4JofS25BeQZ5vwCcQPq4XRjJRrV9S4WBEOt7xImIRTQIjTMMjVKRl4OBa_x4cc7Z3-0SA_KaClwWEAhtVO8u1BNl3X4_eysLvmUM-wCWeKIw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="2048" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeiOkRY8GIi-N_9TOQfNHfmAw2Yi2e6633fr6RVbTaFTSW5oQbfr1nzJy_BdR4dqou8eSl8dnp4JLKbO4JofS25BeQZ5vwCcQPq4XRjJRrV9S4WBEOt7xImIRTQIjTMMjVKRl4OBa_x4cc7Z3-0SA_KaClwWEAhtVO8u1BNl3X4_eysLvmUM-wCWeKIw=w640-h540" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sun stayed out as we cruised, though the shady bits got
progressively chillier as the afternoon wore on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked as though the vegetation work going
on at the moment is concentrating on trees that might fall during the winter –
a couple of boaters were selecting logs where the work had been finished, and
the men were still busy further on.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT8Er7LizAr8Zu8n-p2nJ6vpKuK_VO511lDxV-C4_LJBv_3xq19JaAVK-Oa8nZrOkIjQGe3GgLazkXB35xD6vBFjKkX3yNqpgz9RGfLzRgLrNvf76PNifZYeBHRZytYBQA1xF9CsVwfbkc1PIYl-MbO2QBh6bR6g3NWcvV_RXBryBiTihfOE0EGDwvPA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="2048" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT8Er7LizAr8Zu8n-p2nJ6vpKuK_VO511lDxV-C4_LJBv_3xq19JaAVK-Oa8nZrOkIjQGe3GgLazkXB35xD6vBFjKkX3yNqpgz9RGfLzRgLrNvf76PNifZYeBHRZytYBQA1xF9CsVwfbkc1PIYl-MbO2QBh6bR6g3NWcvV_RXBryBiTihfOE0EGDwvPA=w640-h454" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hope these beautiful arching trees will escape the cull
and not fall down either this winter! </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAAiOYAqgbgwMXy5bGdC6TZAIeE25s0vysWquRWSUJ0xdPm4-OKvULk_BUqjsME1eeyv0wmxNA-mEuvBtnl4MAqsEBfb1-CJbawQ59bJcPXpbs8ctbQOyZSOIcpmUAFVmBGxJhyjFslLisabZnn7tkMUn2yF-o8AepS3DaSFSHercpo3aMMNZY2AfWUQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAAiOYAqgbgwMXy5bGdC6TZAIeE25s0vysWquRWSUJ0xdPm4-OKvULk_BUqjsME1eeyv0wmxNA-mEuvBtnl4MAqsEBfb1-CJbawQ59bJcPXpbs8ctbQOyZSOIcpmUAFVmBGxJhyjFslLisabZnn7tkMUn2yF-o8AepS3DaSFSHercpo3aMMNZY2AfWUQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">As I write this it is nearly Halloween, but even in
mid-October boats and houses were already being decorated spookily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carved pumpkins are fun (though it was a
swede when I was a child), but now it’s all fake cobwebs (which trap birds when
they are draped over bushes) and plastic bats and skeletons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must be down to commercial considerations
that we are encouraged to spend money on plastic tat that will break and be
discarded?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it seems to start earlier
every year …..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grumble grumble..... However most of the skeletons along the canal network seem
to be rather more substantial fixtures and I find them amusing, especially when
they are fishing or have a witty message with them!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyWMEsOBOjDAsnLqS1yACV8yIy1z67Y1G_x3E3NBFm6RnghxF6tT0NwQ-jf0QsFtRxVj543IedE9dFPZjmwFWRqRiCbkxO53u5INl7YEa1yylVn7KJ2ICI_gNH3XGbSN0oo-h8hmXwauRJBHvTcrYWx2QW4ZMk9AZIWDnuuwsZcq0RD7ZR7JgmTTKIaQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="2048" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyWMEsOBOjDAsnLqS1yACV8yIy1z67Y1G_x3E3NBFm6RnghxF6tT0NwQ-jf0QsFtRxVj543IedE9dFPZjmwFWRqRiCbkxO53u5INl7YEa1yylVn7KJ2ICI_gNH3XGbSN0oo-h8hmXwauRJBHvTcrYWx2QW4ZMk9AZIWDnuuwsZcq0RD7ZR7JgmTTKIaQ=w640-h538" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A witch and not a skeleton, but it is still one of my favourites.</i><br /></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the time were in the cuttings on the approach to Gnosall
we had our woolly hats on and I soon added a warm fleece and gloves as it was
so cold – and it wasn’t even 4 o’clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today was the first time we had got something round the prop, but correctly
guessing it was only going to be leaves, Dave dropped into neutral for a while,
and had to do that on several occasions before we moored for the night.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgVKfgJJ7q19KH2zDvwdXvRMStdpUu9-_qLmjk99zy2fQcw9PVvF2pX7MRUAzW8kGi6BvC7UGCwtZWIDwcyZANuglqsvk0HB1AKkphv1HcJ67XgyYFIkyGC7A0QuORAd9Tnsxpm7irnRykJ1WIUwyrXyx_3LisOQl2SC3BDOv-qTl1fs6BijIzYub3Tw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgVKfgJJ7q19KH2zDvwdXvRMStdpUu9-_qLmjk99zy2fQcw9PVvF2pX7MRUAzW8kGi6BvC7UGCwtZWIDwcyZANuglqsvk0HB1AKkphv1HcJ67XgyYFIkyGC7A0QuORAd9Tnsxpm7irnRykJ1WIUwyrXyx_3LisOQl2SC3BDOv-qTl1fs6BijIzYub3Tw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cowley tunnel, north
portal</i></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many hirers from Norton Junction stop at Gnosall on their last night, which is
fine if you don’t mind getting up at 6 to return the boat before 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well we did, so we opted for another hour in
bed and went on to the visitor moorings at Norbury Junction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 5 we were inside and lighting the fire,
for a cosy evening in – and starting the packing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">10½ miles, 1 lock, lots of leaves and kingfishers</p>
<p> </p></div>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-6122008169906863532021-10-27T08:10:00.002-07:002021-10-27T08:16:47.156-07:00What a palaver for 6” of water!<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thursday 14<sup>th</sup>
October; Moat House bridge to Brewood</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you to everyone who has sent their good wishes
regarding Meg – she is fully recovered but with a hiccup or two along the way,
as you will see.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She appeared very hungry yesterday evening, so as well as
her mashed potato and the tiniest bit of bacon fat to get the tablets down her,
I gave her some of her normal dried food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well that was a mistake! She brought the lot up, kindly waiting till we
had gone to bed of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She needed a
clean blanket but otherwise seemed absolutely fine and went back to sleep!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we were all a bit subdued this morning,
but as she seemed alert and wanting her breakfast, we decided to push on to
Brewood where if necessary we could get a taxi to Penkridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we only gave her mashed potato.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was slow going this morning – It’s a bendy
bit of canal and there were quite a few moored boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The permanent mooring at Coven Heath has a
watch-dog – once he saw Meg sitting up on the locker he ran to the stern of every moored boat
barking loudly.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge-hWzzQ4-mlrlDO7AQOtmxoWm2SqfPRTFbOLf8tz7SNDxAk0BumG5X2wN_DyHJSgpOzM6WTqdpP7F_bdWVUu2MgTChHoGmIfM_p0mUbpkFcUTfyzUHRZ-D0jNt7XVxBnzJbhuAPBmB8QJ8RK9cF3ccY5JCcc0vfvlvcwlqoNaoJS9yGp-EuhfGEW8vQ=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="2048" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge-hWzzQ4-mlrlDO7AQOtmxoWm2SqfPRTFbOLf8tz7SNDxAk0BumG5X2wN_DyHJSgpOzM6WTqdpP7F_bdWVUu2MgTChHoGmIfM_p0mUbpkFcUTfyzUHRZ-D0jNt7XVxBnzJbhuAPBmB8QJ8RK9cF3ccY5JCcc0vfvlvcwlqoNaoJS9yGp-EuhfGEW8vQ=w640-h414" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He was wagging his tail furiously, so was he saying hello,
come and play, or telling us to push off?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was a handsome boy though. He looks like a cross between a Staffie and a boxer.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSqZOZ8Ccnotm9d0yvgXiJ96vywgRUcUE70JGXBxbki3AEZ_RCa80yvTmYVjP-i4K_fYWeBCji2o8VVIqBNv_JRddwp-T6BJcmhnXSIy3EFvjGI9KQwboXZmbXvoqA_o1i5BrDI-rk1mEHCODw5EgAhIgKyWBOsYCCnfYyk4WVZrTFySCajdxrmkfhEA=s1626" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1626" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSqZOZ8Ccnotm9d0yvgXiJ96vywgRUcUE70JGXBxbki3AEZ_RCa80yvTmYVjP-i4K_fYWeBCji2o8VVIqBNv_JRddwp-T6BJcmhnXSIy3EFvjGI9KQwboXZmbXvoqA_o1i5BrDI-rk1mEHCODw5EgAhIgKyWBOsYCCnfYyk4WVZrTFySCajdxrmkfhEA=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The giraffe at the end of the moorings had company today. The cold weather seems to have affected its knee joints, I hope they're not too painful!<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgScJVzwb2GwbPXd-BoxJT2jJ_1Hk2eFBcq5ZLyPKiXAecI_QjbB8kNjRT7aC0HWjBqhWjFm6CFs5UgdXLp4Frgi-toAVIntAi9kSxvZJqHxcaMRn8FLyCbi_rfjXgOUoxad-rMJHTXDigESqk0PnJzrvQ_Z4QqADY6xV8eLipWcNWve_YCE5d31ccZMA=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="2048" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgScJVzwb2GwbPXd-BoxJT2jJ_1Hk2eFBcq5ZLyPKiXAecI_QjbB8kNjRT7aC0HWjBqhWjFm6CFs5UgdXLp4Frgi-toAVIntAi9kSxvZJqHxcaMRn8FLyCbi_rfjXgOUoxad-rMJHTXDigESqk0PnJzrvQ_Z4QqADY6xV8eLipWcNWve_YCE5d31ccZMA=w640-h500" width="640" /></a></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once again we had a clear run through the narrows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s shady, and beautiful ferns adorn the
rocky edges of the cutting.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrxyexWxRgfa6XEOeQ1WuzsFGh72_LDFl3jpc8BkEEMP6dBJtcowTDrm7M5dxXxW_k-iJrxWR-K3zVFIiljzcslPz4tZS8Al4ncDEM2oYL7WgUo-zkF2EqaaqaxUdlxuphJeaOPnU57bArBudMhF1_l82nORZCq3miWnzBHl5MeQaIyA1MWH7489Ml9g=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrxyexWxRgfa6XEOeQ1WuzsFGh72_LDFl3jpc8BkEEMP6dBJtcowTDrm7M5dxXxW_k-iJrxWR-K3zVFIiljzcslPz4tZS8Al4ncDEM2oYL7WgUo-zkF2EqaaqaxUdlxuphJeaOPnU57bArBudMhF1_l82nORZCq3miWnzBHl5MeQaIyA1MWH7489Ml9g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn’t long before we were passing the allotments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love looking at allotments and seeing what people
are growing and comparing their results with mine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their sunflowers have done much better than
mine, perhaps Wolverhampton slugs are less
rapacious</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiV0nxO7U_m46QJKoXwj9LEv3n3zkL_Gw5bOgMdDNZ4m0QXOx85goz7G3NUBf6Mazuvvx1oQgcb6u0L1S01U5kJgkpD6IhYNUlxP5aHckLa7H7mQKls6X56FxFkvd3NE4l0-PD-2ANUFU3F3Yuf1XvRhrdr8eXiBGBsqzMrQlHWkyKrZNMbEA8N6Vt8EA=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1625" data-original-width="2048" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiV0nxO7U_m46QJKoXwj9LEv3n3zkL_Gw5bOgMdDNZ4m0QXOx85goz7G3NUBf6Mazuvvx1oQgcb6u0L1S01U5kJgkpD6IhYNUlxP5aHckLa7H7mQKls6X56FxFkvd3NE4l0-PD-2ANUFU3F3Yuf1XvRhrdr8eXiBGBsqzMrQlHWkyKrZNMbEA8N6Vt8EA=w640-h508" width="640" /></a></div>At Autherley junction there were at least 5 boats waiting to
turn right up the Shroppie. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We floated
about under the road bridge, as with another boat hovering in front of us and
the moorings before the junction fully occupied we had no option!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 10 minutes or so a space became free on
the moorings, which was lucky as two boats were approaching behind us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Fortunately </span>they were both going straight
on towards Stourport, or maybe up the Wolverhampton flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left Dave tying up to the rings,
and went along to the junction to see if it was worth stopping for an early lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chap who had been having trouble holding
his position mid-stream was relieved to be pulling in below the lock – with
boats manoeuvring or cruising by he had been at the mercy of cross-winds,
which were slight but very annoying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was clear we wouldn’t
have too long to wait and by the time we arrived he was already rising, or was it dropping, onto the
Shroppie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided to crack on a bit
and moor out in the country for lunch and stopped on the Armco past bridge 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The autumn colours had begun to show,
especially when the sun came out – hazel<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAOJ01vYRW0ABNx24_Y9E2tsToBmrBUfGkeVBrDFRubA9Gf0wKOjDxOVNi3aunzGOWjyEU0EbnLyW4gZtIlQU56TuNORHQlpyuOsyswBv3U7fsgbc_L-B8Wf0PLtxQEI8CXJKxStdcNoifIn58eiNcNj3nAWj_gCzXoi2ptKcNmTJ9NWImXrcpExrPEg=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAOJ01vYRW0ABNx24_Y9E2tsToBmrBUfGkeVBrDFRubA9Gf0wKOjDxOVNi3aunzGOWjyEU0EbnLyW4gZtIlQU56TuNORHQlpyuOsyswBv3U7fsgbc_L-B8Wf0PLtxQEI8CXJKxStdcNoifIn58eiNcNj3nAWj_gCzXoi2ptKcNmTJ9NWImXrcpExrPEg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And cherry</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNJRvAPz79tKMbV1-MquxPBntH1A8kbFwfsdB_JEISHqWCVSOCVkHmOfG0AWW4wo_Pwah9PYTzAU2xtTGbw6hm55jt3IPsVw_1viU1NkdRTuDgS65JVuL8U5x6ELelb-jnm_q0DqQHEFq46Gggm5aiolGskNuGRaPIk8_uNgOhLJ4eHipqAjp31FYLQw=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNJRvAPz79tKMbV1-MquxPBntH1A8kbFwfsdB_JEISHqWCVSOCVkHmOfG0AWW4wo_Pwah9PYTzAU2xtTGbw6hm55jt3IPsVw_1viU1NkdRTuDgS65JVuL8U5x6ELelb-jnm_q0DqQHEFq46Gggm5aiolGskNuGRaPIk8_uNgOhLJ4eHipqAjp31FYLQw=w400-h288" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meg was hungry for her scrambled egg for lunch, but rejected
all the potato as she could detect the presence of a tablet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If she doesn’t pick up soon we will call the vet again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was plenty of mooring on the rings at
Brewood and we all walked up to the village where the butcher sold us some
skirt steak (for beef stroganoff) and chicken (for the invalid).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> When we got back Meg </span>wanted a game of ball too, and then when
we went up to the Bridge for a pint she charmed all the staff, though we refused
the offer of a treat, in case it upset her tummy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first time since the first
lockdown that we have sat in a pub for a pint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There wasn’t much choice of draught beer but the warm welcome and
crackling fire made up for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went
back to the boat to eat – and Meg thoroughly approved of the chicken!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t try to get her to take the
antibiotics, as we think they were only prescribed in case there was an
infection, so provided she continues to improve we will forget about them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 9 miles, 1 lock, 6” fall</p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-1556881971794571802021-10-24T04:39:00.001-07:002021-10-24T04:42:50.835-07:00On towards Autherley Junction<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wednesday 13<sup>th</sup>
October; Penkridge to Moat
House Bridge,
no 74</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It rained on and off all evening, and was grey but dry this
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set off around 9, so we had
a choice of destinations if Meg became ill again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cheerful fisherman was just setting up at
the bow – there is a match this morning, but with only 20 competitors it was
unlikely to cause us any delay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had
hoped to take on water above the lock, but someone arrived as we locked up, so
we just disposed of rubbish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a
luxury not to have to bother with emptying cassettes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we cruised between locks it looked as
though someone might have had a leak in last night’s rain – roofing felt was
being lifted off here in jagged fragments.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6FR9g241sddOiIBbSL6aBhhaJRLKwQsK2Cd4VYsr99mm4x4JjuvhRcYHDebkH3jUZ2-KRbyNbihrxSEpEp00fYcgi_3W9jplJ9VvLTg0rR7FKzIw6QuUrn0suHdpBI6u3cpo5bw2Q7MCipU3NgyKoLf5lZibOdzo9qB5oWphq6j3QoyGl-mgdfzPkxA=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2048" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6FR9g241sddOiIBbSL6aBhhaJRLKwQsK2Cd4VYsr99mm4x4JjuvhRcYHDebkH3jUZ2-KRbyNbihrxSEpEp00fYcgi_3W9jplJ9VvLTg0rR7FKzIw6QuUrn0suHdpBI6u3cpo5bw2Q7MCipU3NgyKoLf5lZibOdzo9qB5oWphq6j3QoyGl-mgdfzPkxA=w640-h500" width="640" /></a></div> Filance Lock is a bit awkward with a vigorous bywash just
below it, and no bollards to moor to as the lock empties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below the bottom gates the brickwork is worn
away at gunwale level where boats have been knocked about, or over-compensated
with the steering. Dave didn't touch it I'm pleased to report!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjPh5bweMYmWgsMncc9fCKQFLQ4BBEEnJYWsYLddQbSECYwHoV-OeG75w-Ou8egKZ3WBrtpgKG9U5bek93YmaC7dzaMwf1jvx8X8ZpC0a3cCPQW-qahA48MygecXkvlEEQcvRZVbol9JDDBcYg6LPT46kTYfu2sG5GDeV1-jdmNu10dSskP87la-tKAQ=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="2048" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjPh5bweMYmWgsMncc9fCKQFLQ4BBEEnJYWsYLddQbSECYwHoV-OeG75w-Ou8egKZ3WBrtpgKG9U5bek93YmaC7dzaMwf1jvx8X8ZpC0a3cCPQW-qahA48MygecXkvlEEQcvRZVbol9JDDBcYg6LPT46kTYfu2sG5GDeV1-jdmNu10dSskP87la-tKAQ=w640-h404" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were quite a few boats on the move today, but no queues
at the locks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hire boat was coming
down Gailey lock so that was set ready for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was very congested above the lock – two boats on the water point/lock
landing, and mooring two and three deep on the wharf opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a boat holding back to allow us to get
out of the lock and past the boats watering up, we pulled in at the far end of
the water point to wait – there are 4 taps here, but even when two boats fill
at the same time the pressure drops, so we opted to wait – and our hirer’s hose
was too short to reach the vacant tap anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The boat we needed to move out of the way wanted to go down the lock, and with a boat already descending, there was a bit of a wait before we
could pull back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stopped for lunch on
the visitor moorings further along.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The towpaths round here are very gritty and with last
night’s rain the ropes were unpleasant to handle. You really understand why when traffic was horse-drawn the
bridges needed rope guards!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqOok4nAcfNT6NvtFm9qPWnFSRLSNn-Lbb5sEmo0wPkMSzgAErzfHSIaMXXpRuiEOYJU6Sa3v8TJWaWjulxxAUk2pHN_czmZ2MRc0MiQufzFrLlP_b8kQv3ZZlPEhJFva-8TIWRK4PLSguY041SJrWn8qCst9mM7EwIySqMhKwTNhKfM4_OQ1JI8aRTg=s2005" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2005" data-original-width="1622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqOok4nAcfNT6NvtFm9qPWnFSRLSNn-Lbb5sEmo0wPkMSzgAErzfHSIaMXXpRuiEOYJU6Sa3v8TJWaWjulxxAUk2pHN_czmZ2MRc0MiQufzFrLlP_b8kQv3ZZlPEhJFva-8TIWRK4PLSguY041SJrWn8qCst9mM7EwIySqMhKwTNhKfM4_OQ1JI8aRTg=w518-h640" width="518" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I used to think these were to stop the tow-ropes being worn away
on the brickwork – but no, it’s the other way round, the brickwork is being protected from the
gritty ropes. There were no more locks now until the junction with the
Shroppie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cruised on past the Four
Ashes chemical works at Calf Heath, with its forbidding signs.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRUW0TMktOAWQQTpVN6nvZLcMN7ulvIbj2Ijz0znK8kj6WtIDLH4bV26RVThD3yrkzs27rcx90wUccvqSVoLzshSXKhD3liQv_7qe19VeucTLH1CHZR0lKZNtoOevezveX1GxJr2_gkzapvJQXRt1N8wK0izWWg3XC3HIJq4n3agE8MiIAHVPfkKfj-g=s1468" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1468" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRUW0TMktOAWQQTpVN6nvZLcMN7ulvIbj2Ijz0znK8kj6WtIDLH4bV26RVThD3yrkzs27rcx90wUccvqSVoLzshSXKhD3liQv_7qe19VeucTLH1CHZR0lKZNtoOevezveX1GxJr2_gkzapvJQXRt1N8wK0izWWg3XC3HIJq4n3agE8MiIAHVPfkKfj-g=w640-h548" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The wording always seems strange to me – shouldn’t it be ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially</i> when you hear an alarm’?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On we went round the bends and past the Hatherton
Branch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hatherton canal used to
connect to the northern reaches of the Cannock Extension canal on the BCN and
was a profitable concern for transporting coal, but was abandoned in 1955.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then large parts of the Cannock Extension canal have been destroyed by
open-cast mining, and the proposed restoration by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://lhcrt.org.uk/index.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Lichfield and Hatherton
Canals Restoration Trust</span> </a></b>is to re-route the canal to join the Wyrley and Essington near Pelsall Common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be nice if that were to happen in
our boating lifetime ….</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjondgk7rp1Bnu7SHbHRN2TQ7nS1d03LQY7PP1F5kc9LaVLWirBA2uMXmm8cjuqInUKvtU6NWzrkj8m3wJAaIzK2AhULC4J1wfqnk3Z8wYhkFi6mamwSQkJ889xIA7KPGxCzfpy0c07zdlxzt3mwu4bxGnNm-rXEGXazYQ7nxsTNwVFuY9qx2wyobmp5A=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjondgk7rp1Bnu7SHbHRN2TQ7nS1d03LQY7PP1F5kc9LaVLWirBA2uMXmm8cjuqInUKvtU6NWzrkj8m3wJAaIzK2AhULC4J1wfqnk3Z8wYhkFi6mamwSQkJ889xIA7KPGxCzfpy0c07zdlxzt3mwu4bxGnNm-rXEGXazYQ7nxsTNwVFuY9qx2wyobmp5A=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Hatherton Branch is now used for moorings, and the first
lock has been adapted for use as a dry dock, as in the arm at Norton
Junction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had hoped to moor for the
night on the open stretch of piling past Deepmore bridge, but it was occupied
so we went a little further on through Moat House Bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a bit shady, but there is little noise from the roads either side
of the canal, or the railway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg was up
for a walk this evening and a game of ball.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">6½ miles, 7 locks</p>
<p> </p><br />nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-40414786596160969302021-10-23T04:18:00.000-07:002021-10-23T04:18:00.823-07:00Progress, of a sort<div><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tuesday 12<sup>th</sup>
October; Penkridge</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meg enjoyed a small serving of rice and mashed potato for
breakfast, but turned her nose up at the paté I'd bought specially – so no antibiotic this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a cat, you can do the
stuffing-pills-down-the-protesting-throat thing, and we had the bites and scratches
to prove it in years gone by, but we never managed it with our old dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, with Meg seeming a little better this
morning we trundled off to turn round at the next winding hole. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_IwZEWVfecOeFRzfHIi20licDEROEq_bNMp3FD5BQjI3GgzeXfaKW1tSb0XAi6h7Ms9kPvMU_q3yDB3UQdDZWMs1teD6HFCwQxuztDK4NBAgYvgf84KwuOPs9_0Krr6wqK6BY3z0BgEgnIOJzW0A-8Xhd3yya4rWdAVtlrskXlo4huqYmHcZX26mShA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_IwZEWVfecOeFRzfHIi20licDEROEq_bNMp3FD5BQjI3GgzeXfaKW1tSb0XAi6h7Ms9kPvMU_q3yDB3UQdDZWMs1teD6HFCwQxuztDK4NBAgYvgf84KwuOPs9_0Krr6wqK6BY3z0BgEgnIOJzW0A-8Xhd3yya4rWdAVtlrskXlo4huqYmHcZX26mShA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The M6 was busy and it was in our ears for most of the
journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before Park Gate Lock we came
to halt, where 8 or more boats were waiting to go down the lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had been warned about a tree blocking the navigation;
the canal was open by the time we arrived but there was a long wait while the
queue cleared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pulled in behind the
last boat, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NB Skylark</i>, whose
single-handing owner was loading logs into his hold with a big grin on his
face!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put the kettle on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind us was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NB Soudley</i>, an ex-Ownerships share boat which, like our old share
boat <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NB Padworth,</i> which we had for 8
years, was self-managed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sharers
were some of the original owners, so we spent a happy 10 minutes comparing notes
and remembering some of the Ownerships characters.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm2NIXYumJKneb-ASujM7o3UeEXYyv2TL0-KPve_o7JY-0OHa3JDiCDjMVuotknq0eklqPwGo_mVgH0OOMLO9TZRcnvX9ryZ0_rOz0FVVpzReoqrFxZ_YIhoMxEyjTSRwvSm1vsN1JyU0ZP4JYiMZlxMGSjiyf-xV8naqnaEsAKtM6exGhhQzr6QE7DA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm2NIXYumJKneb-ASujM7o3UeEXYyv2TL0-KPve_o7JY-0OHa3JDiCDjMVuotknq0eklqPwGo_mVgH0OOMLO9TZRcnvX9ryZ0_rOz0FVVpzReoqrFxZ_YIhoMxEyjTSRwvSm1vsN1JyU0ZP4JYiMZlxMGSjiyf-xV8naqnaEsAKtM6exGhhQzr6QE7DA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Skylark cruises off to the lock</i><br /></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually it was our turn and we moved on through Shutt
Hill lock towards Acton Trussell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg
was feeling well enough to sit up on the locker, her frequent perch when
cruising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looks quite haggard – her
grey eyebrows don’t help – but she was more alert than she looked.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIddnF4fMRmyLlDOj-fFrnJIJikDxduLvaMocQyvoCDdu0A2sv1JjwieiWno1ByRmawpPTK6SY_gxqhrdRUG5CVsCxjGHNldndETaoSCHF1mXp1BYMSaDFSfWD439tEgphvaC2vUm_q0IU0aXC3wkMxcNVU_NebdtS2Xc4N3lnoaAH8HDtW9m8ryu5tQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="2048" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIddnF4fMRmyLlDOj-fFrnJIJikDxduLvaMocQyvoCDdu0A2sv1JjwieiWno1ByRmawpPTK6SY_gxqhrdRUG5CVsCxjGHNldndETaoSCHF1mXp1BYMSaDFSfWD439tEgphvaC2vUm_q0IU0aXC3wkMxcNVU_NebdtS2Xc4N3lnoaAH8HDtW9m8ryu5tQ=w640-h598" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The pretty church over the hill outside Acton Trussell appears completely isolated
across the fields – its nearest neighbour semms to be the large hotel/wedding venue just
round the bend.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA2S-tRqKQKkm7r27VEgnLySyRec90EH7lYtjM8yLxI3XMj25MsEKQI_i_Wm1SIKkn-9uXRtoUEZvOQBdhJhL80QM6nA7F2NNcWoSRZbaZy62k_cCJHs7TKWc4vvWdRjSxV59JvXkIWYUtaKvgYuMbaaLtJJFbdIVa-rgS-oRJTYtt-ZXr2MRtn62xlQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA2S-tRqKQKkm7r27VEgnLySyRec90EH7lYtjM8yLxI3XMj25MsEKQI_i_Wm1SIKkn-9uXRtoUEZvOQBdhJhL80QM6nA7F2NNcWoSRZbaZy62k_cCJHs7TKWc4vvWdRjSxV59JvXkIWYUtaKvgYuMbaaLtJJFbdIVa-rgS-oRJTYtt-ZXr2MRtn62xlQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We waited for the boat coming through Acton Bridge to pass us
before we turned in the large winding hole, and returned for a lunch stop below
Park Gate lock where the barley-sugar steel barrier separates the towpath from
the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then up the lock we went,
moored opposite the Teddesley Boat Company/Bourne Boats and called in to see
what they had for sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
nothing suitable, but we were shown round a boat nearing completion and
another, in for its first blacking, whose owners had given permission for
people to see inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very interesting
indeed, and beautifully fitted out although some of the owners’ requirements
seemed a little strange to our eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
new chandlery has opened where Midland Chandlers used to be, and Dave popped in
to get some WD40 to try and free up the sliding hatch which is very un-slidy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they have only recently
opened they are still building up stock, so there were some gaps on the
shelves, but we were pleased to support a new business, even if only for WD40!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I love the stones around the locks where you put
your feet where generations have done it before you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure which lock this beautiful coping stone is
at,but it’s probably Longford Lock.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuE3xudkqWNndOZOKFIf81NPJvVTJa4TpNh1ehIxqA36m-3zS9TB0o-yCW__1M7foIadO85TPBt_m_rrKvZVrXbQHBpZnXN-ef0OMk-Yin7MBwtr4IdINQkwOstfDArhgm5as1iBdbu9wFdycixISIKooeXknkFoAEdu7KQ9JNevM1cMort9fklxW9Iw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuE3xudkqWNndOZOKFIf81NPJvVTJa4TpNh1ehIxqA36m-3zS9TB0o-yCW__1M7foIadO85TPBt_m_rrKvZVrXbQHBpZnXN-ef0OMk-Yin7MBwtr4IdINQkwOstfDArhgm5as1iBdbu9wFdycixISIKooeXknkFoAEdu7KQ9JNevM1cMort9fklxW9Iw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Perfectly positioned for closing the bottom gate</i><br /></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We returned to Penkridge, where we chose a spot away from
the bridge opposite the mobile home park, where it is quieter and more open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg took her tablet concealed inside a
sausage, but sausages aren’t very good for dogs, so I popped up to the shop at
the bridge for sardines, which we’ll try next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also bought a bag of kindling for the fire as we were running low, so we won’t need to fire up the gas central heating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very cosy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5 miles, 6 locks, some very stiff paddle gear.</p>
<p> </p></div>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-62571632659178736082021-10-18T08:27:00.000-07:002021-10-18T08:27:19.738-07:00Not what the doctor ordered!<div><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monday 11<sup>th</sup>
October; Coven Heath to Penkridge</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The doctor? rather, the vet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A jolly cold morning it was to start with, so it was on with the
lined trousers and multiple layers on our top halves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We took turns steering north into the northerly wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Meg, who was lying cosily on the bed looking out at us, suddenly threw
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unusual, and as I went to clear up
(we always put covers on the bed against muddy feet, and now sick, thankfully) I saw she was
also shivering violently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>She soon warmed up
with the aid of a blanket, but suddenly was panting and overheating – classic
signs of a fever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the slight
scratch she got when she missed her footing on Saturday had got infected? Out in the sticks
as we were, all we could do was monitor her condition until we got somewhere we
could access a vet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least she was drinking water when offered,
and gradually her fever eased but she was clearly not well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we approached Gailey she seemed a little
better and we thought we could easily get to Penkridge, where we were likely to
find a vet reasonably close to the canal, by mid-afternoon at the latest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun had come out by the time we got to
Gailey.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu-TfUgZ62G6Mx0k-zrtplTT7WQZPhJQ-tQKDEopfQ6ifZpM0MBlZVS5R98AW8pAoNJK0l3P7mbcLA9GOoax2seZTKcADINjErWKqzcSMigObEqD7W4inMqmXQOgxau1EA3eH4fEZQ3d2iT_pEszlhQ9Ah0IqW8duZGD35tft-Tpwcm23BYdTjCyItJQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1651" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu-TfUgZ62G6Mx0k-zrtplTT7WQZPhJQ-tQKDEopfQ6ifZpM0MBlZVS5R98AW8pAoNJK0l3P7mbcLA9GOoax2seZTKcADINjErWKqzcSMigObEqD7W4inMqmXQOgxau1EA3eH4fEZQ3d2iT_pEszlhQ9Ah0IqW8duZGD35tft-Tpwcm23BYdTjCyItJQ=w516-h640" width="516" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>The toll house at Gailey, beside the A5</i><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">It can be difficult getting a taxi from an isolated spot,
and even harder to find one which will take dogs, so we didn't plan to stop here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The A5 bridge at Gailey has been widened over
the years and the bottom lock beams have to be angled, as the bridge is in the way of a standard balance beam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are easy enough to open in spite of
this. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGeg63Ss0ZICPJ3qdCB10EQN9C54e5iOH5bqGtcUiDekChqQ5lQTqc2qgMWjek3-xT_oC0KYlrSqsOjVMY1gyfWL3E4fnuxM-ukv16-f6JgSDri2Ly54fvtXWf1MMbZ6ruCykl2rH7jZ1okUtqoY_oqovrxBoM408S3d6ANCAU7sewk5GPXpasIvLskA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGeg63Ss0ZICPJ3qdCB10EQN9C54e5iOH5bqGtcUiDekChqQ5lQTqc2qgMWjek3-xT_oC0KYlrSqsOjVMY1gyfWL3E4fnuxM-ukv16-f6JgSDri2Ly54fvtXWf1MMbZ6ruCykl2rH7jZ1okUtqoY_oqovrxBoM408S3d6ANCAU7sewk5GPXpasIvLskA=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Gailey lock bottom gates</i><br /></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We moored briefly for Meg to have a wee (thankfully that
department is still working properly) then cracked on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The towpath hedge below Brick Kiln lock was alive with bees and other
creatures on the strongly perfumed ivy flowers.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNAZBl9MsvYVBpCArJ6D1BpGwnlWqrAH0sgMVZa3ocN4N9CylXvusKJACyr-zX50k0l4PmACYtoWUkitp5Gmt9eL7j2gtdWckXR0p72noMh6mi9NqlUT3Rhu29pBqlT70y5GiBwIXazTJ7YJwyIux_7beDhaU61QfzXHiJKj5ZvkGmT8YS4fxhajK9tQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNAZBl9MsvYVBpCArJ6D1BpGwnlWqrAH0sgMVZa3ocN4N9CylXvusKJACyr-zX50k0l4PmACYtoWUkitp5Gmt9eL7j2gtdWckXR0p72noMh6mi9NqlUT3Rhu29pBqlT70y5GiBwIXazTJ7YJwyIux_7beDhaU61QfzXHiJKj5ZvkGmT8YS4fxhajK9tQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Buzz buzz</i><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brick Kiln and Boggs locks have sturdy new shelters for stop
planks, though Brick Kiln’s is empty as yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our extra layers were now redundant in the warm sunshine.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUDFiD07yHryJ2y-NQxJyEtvbkS4J2IRvz0DdvJHJk42rypQFWZdW7l6P6LqrUN3-jJg1XSt_8M8AuqVIz9xDuDEupF3zkQHZrHZdUTgdiQgzgU3jXRDHcgkZyQoIW1S_9NJH1YZO1zpK6fMZ7z20C9k7qpdZwtZBGSLAnk2KxxGTP6J9dZDxBZ60vxw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUDFiD07yHryJ2y-NQxJyEtvbkS4J2IRvz0DdvJHJk42rypQFWZdW7l6P6LqrUN3-jJg1XSt_8M8AuqVIz9xDuDEupF3zkQHZrHZdUTgdiQgzgU3jXRDHcgkZyQoIW1S_9NJH1YZO1zpK6fMZ7z20C9k7qpdZwtZBGSLAnk2KxxGTP6J9dZDxBZ60vxw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A passing dog walker had given us details of the nearest vet
to the canal – less than half a mile from Penkridge Bridge – and not only did I manage to get an appointment that
afternoon, we bagged the spot closest to the bridge too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She walked to the vet without needing
to be carried, though rather slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Covid procedures are still in operation - we waited in a huge open-sided
marquee with fairy lights and widely spaced benches, with dogs, cats and a
tortoise all waiting their turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
owners and all the staff were using masks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Owners are not allowed inside (except to pay their bills of course) so the animals
are taken in on their own, are returned with a diagnosis, then you give your
permission for the treatment (in this case an anti-emetic injection, antibiotics and capsules to settle her stomach), the vet goes back in and returns to give the shot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Eventually you get the tablets and can go in
to pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The diagnosis was a touch of
pancreatitis – this can affect older dogs who have had too fatty a diet (not
Meg) but a bout can also, as Dave discovered later, result from a blow to the
chest wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she had crashed into the
iron towpath edge when she slipped while jumping off the stern on Saturday that
seems the likely cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will probably
take her a few days to recover with a light diet, so we will need to cook rice, potatoes,
scrambled eggs or chicken for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So we won’t be going to Tixall Wide after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll turn round at Acton Trussell tomorrow,
and stick around Penkridge till we are sure she is improving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did enjoy the fire this evening, which
is a start!</p>
<p>8 and a half miles, 7 locks<br /></p></div>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-4867165446602158302021-10-16T10:11:00.000-07:002021-10-16T10:11:44.709-07:00Bittersweet<div><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sunday 10<sup>th</sup> October; near Wheaton Aston to Coven Heath<br /></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had an excellent night’s sleep, the weather being very
still, so there was no scraping along the Shroppie shelf, and it was a really
comfortable bed too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The morning was chilly
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set off around 9.30, aiming
to reach Brewood at about 11 to get a Sunday paper and some milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wheaton Aston lock was ready for us, so we
were speedily on our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Industry
Narrowboats near Stretton Aqueduct is always interesting to look at and today there were various boats
on the wharf having work done and the Fellows, Morton & Clayton <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Plover</i> moored alongside. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZCmLV0rhbEZtXtKnNwzZWo5NRi9HRPLf1wg7LYMoKy0x3vPoK7t8AjRvyvOoCFVUrmSTl90M0mXvEUDUj_q3Q8tg1ep3SlkK5R835qkIRPYci_yo0q8nUsf2ZsIjiOEUcC_QFg5DF9iOQnSrbSUqit8YDQuhFC85txf-bGthK-Rb9egneY3ICYVAtYg=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZCmLV0rhbEZtXtKnNwzZWo5NRi9HRPLf1wg7LYMoKy0x3vPoK7t8AjRvyvOoCFVUrmSTl90M0mXvEUDUj_q3Q8tg1ep3SlkK5R835qkIRPYci_yo0q8nUsf2ZsIjiOEUcC_QFg5DF9iOQnSrbSUqit8YDQuhFC85txf-bGthK-Rb9egneY3ICYVAtYg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A long time ago we came past here paying too much attention
to the yard, and ran aground just before Stretton aqueduct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those were the early days before we knew that
the cardinal rule when you run aground is not to try and drive off
forwards!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up standing knee-deep
in the water pushing the bow out and then hauling myself back over the gunwale into the well
deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strong arms and shoulders in those
long-ago days but such bruised ribs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
such problems today.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibGMSc70XnBSRIoMszoFVU2QRruv2IrBrERcDv8Vg3K4kbswTnAy5uTbZF6wukqSK3UI_7QhGhyOmKbrXQMqsuabXCKsvEL8rUs_sdBSZkHENJ5dBWfSe-A5AzHE8MYvvOPcu9sh0CNbzEKL126MiDnoHDOzTrpc_3DH8WSOqgkxfGmInAbnZ6u787uA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1690" data-original-width="2048" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibGMSc70XnBSRIoMszoFVU2QRruv2IrBrERcDv8Vg3K4kbswTnAy5uTbZF6wukqSK3UI_7QhGhyOmKbrXQMqsuabXCKsvEL8rUs_sdBSZkHENJ5dBWfSe-A5AzHE8MYvvOPcu9sh0CNbzEKL126MiDnoHDOzTrpc_3DH8WSOqgkxfGmInAbnZ6u787uA=w640-h528" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">About a mile from Brewood a boat was coming towards us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just about to comment on the
familiarity of the cratch board and the attractive livery <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>… it was Chuffed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are the chances of meeting her on our
first return to the waterways?</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtBkyeVjz9fAZEqq9BlWsqieiedj4YLgjnPqRJVABlhK2888dp3HQdbJDBMY_i-3jXgpmt3vU-NoNtq0mPbi-MJ-FmNTNwSw31AX4vDEEAbj-KsezP9OawUvCtC-_luZB6jQeInJjOwx2dTHJYwaxXDqaz9XtQ5_xnXzISZPaC1ZzEN3YkyMBrnDD1Fg=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="2048" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtBkyeVjz9fAZEqq9BlWsqieiedj4YLgjnPqRJVABlhK2888dp3HQdbJDBMY_i-3jXgpmt3vU-NoNtq0mPbi-MJ-FmNTNwSw31AX4vDEEAbj-KsezP9OawUvCtC-_luZB6jQeInJjOwx2dTHJYwaxXDqaz9XtQ5_xnXzISZPaC1ZzEN3YkyMBrnDD1Fg=w640-h460" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Waving and shouting</i><br /></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We waved and shouted ‘that’s our boat!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it isn’t any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we both moored up and met Amanda and Ross, her
new owners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are delightful and we
were quickly reassured that they are the right people to be her new
owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have booked in for a
repaint next year, which needed to be done, and will keep the lovely grey but
will opt for a darker shade of red, which will not fade so badly, for the
handrail and coachlines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will also
remove the words ‘Coalpit Heath’, which is where the first owners lived, and we
never got around to getting rid of it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It should all look wonderful when it’s done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We chatted for almost an hour and exchanged
emails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really look forward to
meeting them again when she has her new paint job and a spanking new pram
cover!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe by then we’ll have a boat
of our own ….</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhju1nwUwxFSEnr2l31tfyTgk9ec3qr5OXxRD0gZgUu2B_BkTDFHAYu6C-Ki_bMrdLscF0dO9C-9YcOA0qJcBp6Se76jRt1QTQDHkuCIUy2LqJrBvqCbSjBh2sfcpn2aTyWIqW4huLpty6eeuUrpRmlE923rEOl0Y6yectRI5oLaO8RmbK-pQexS5O6uQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhju1nwUwxFSEnr2l31tfyTgk9ec3qr5OXxRD0gZgUu2B_BkTDFHAYu6C-Ki_bMrdLscF0dO9C-9YcOA0qJcBp6Se76jRt1QTQDHkuCIUy2LqJrBvqCbSjBh2sfcpn2aTyWIqW4huLpty6eeuUrpRmlE923rEOl0Y6yectRI5oLaO8RmbK-pQexS5O6uQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Amanda and Ross, and Meg getting in on the act too</i><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the time we got to Brewood it was lunchtime so we had a
break and got some milk and a paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
village was quiet enough for a pony and trap to be waiting outside a pub for
the driver. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwwGyNAOoh5dPBgL5jMNqnl7dRZY1qxfTG1pAqctkOtEBfs3nxLwQtfKOFSE3JO0DlBFhVRpjRR8WHAQRcCWz4noxC43nxrp3cWRghtGu7IIyE-qqG-SydqFnwjcHsClMCQjqLD6tALtYDkKzTnfbr3ksCr1wGxGFdwdqpExjagmxuvhFLlhXzJDFnHQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwwGyNAOoh5dPBgL5jMNqnl7dRZY1qxfTG1pAqctkOtEBfs3nxLwQtfKOFSE3JO0DlBFhVRpjRR8WHAQRcCWz4noxC43nxrp3cWRghtGu7IIyE-qqG-SydqFnwjcHsClMCQjqLD6tALtYDkKzTnfbr3ksCr1wGxGFdwdqpExjagmxuvhFLlhXzJDFnHQ=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The afternoon was sunny, which was great and we had a lovely
cruise down towards Autherley Junction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avenue Bridge
is the unexpectedly ornate bridge where the canal was cut through land held by
Chillington Hall, whose lodge appears on the Nicholson’s map but the hall is off the map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We once walked up onto the bridge, and it doesn’t look as though it has
ever had more than a footpath over it.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1yVtHk0FAsLvtY8jZxSvGDG4RP-lZyGI4YPhiDkG1K4icRwklQjKRhT-K_x-JRofzcNCV-o0YC9kw1lJcsD_JGmHLa8rM0CerKDQqyMZXhzfqfLxqQge0GfST5Qj3sLuGo38DohNtNOUZhT6s7L3G3hm-iGviydkdWe2LShZ_LKtnhV-_1NylYQempg=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1yVtHk0FAsLvtY8jZxSvGDG4RP-lZyGI4YPhiDkG1K4icRwklQjKRhT-K_x-JRofzcNCV-o0YC9kw1lJcsD_JGmHLa8rM0CerKDQqyMZXhzfqfLxqQge0GfST5Qj3sLuGo38DohNtNOUZhT6s7L3G3hm-iGviydkdWe2LShZ_LKtnhV-_1NylYQempg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were soon at Autherley junction, through the stop
lock<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- it is difficult to tell just by
looking whether you are going up or down here, the drop is so small - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and round the turn to pass the allotments on
the way north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of plots had
these hugely tall grasses – far too tall to be sweet corn, and not bamboo, but
maybe they were sugarcane?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this
can be grown here, not for producing sugar in this climate, but as biomass to
put on your compost heap, but I’ve never seen it growing.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga1sBdfIZYCqWuby4Z8rix7l5d6YMR47ezRlxn2WJt_MyT0wveSNNOfQ5QgoEFACrQk3oTSjAsIELNKIofvm2mtY3fyM-LVyqFU3YSiM-9RL26eNzrHmGEHrXXL-oAIae0Ps2VkGV5GstJTQr6RLlc6xAKkQ2B5U31HIGxoDmgekVDeNWNfsYvJ_qxdg=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga1sBdfIZYCqWuby4Z8rix7l5d6YMR47ezRlxn2WJt_MyT0wveSNNOfQ5QgoEFACrQk3oTSjAsIELNKIofvm2mtY3fyM-LVyqFU3YSiM-9RL26eNzrHmGEHrXXL-oAIae0Ps2VkGV5GstJTQr6RLlc6xAKkQ2B5U31HIGxoDmgekVDeNWNfsYvJ_qxdg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>12' tall mystery</i><br /></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next excitement was the narrows once known as Pendeford
Rockin, according to Nicholson’s, after a local farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is indeed very narrow, but does have a
couple of passing places which we had no need of today.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQPA4fAkh2j9SaZRPT2Mdv1DOasqokutoOLxt-XPT_j5rI3MwNY8eVUFSE3TeSenLfUHDcaVJQCPx61ZEvIonXb7mvxQYlkydjjx3vkRgQCPlrubjgibpt4g2dMkIrjfb6-zy9wwdc-OFd8nFfK8n2-TbNrwOAwkG0nB2hr1pg-NWO_j9KEye5pN6nDQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQPA4fAkh2j9SaZRPT2Mdv1DOasqokutoOLxt-XPT_j5rI3MwNY8eVUFSE3TeSenLfUHDcaVJQCPx61ZEvIonXb7mvxQYlkydjjx3vkRgQCPlrubjgibpt4g2dMkIrjfb6-zy9wwdc-OFd8nFfK8n2-TbNrwOAwkG0nB2hr1pg-NWO_j9KEye5pN6nDQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under the M54 we went, where a talented graffiti artist has
made his/her mark.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEmpG7bUxtUmQ3okfTTzwYjCVMrHjMnh3LlmIgeG0rzGdMc_zAQskuX6HBa3LkrRwx1NCrIwpQ6ODdPwjjEEFf1sWV3J5au2PzmUpd04GmYkvc6fWqqUPhG73lH32pa8BT_niOndBoeJKOMJKTcoLYkQCjfhDT39JngLvobbL5xLerZYxyUzvceEthWA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEmpG7bUxtUmQ3okfTTzwYjCVMrHjMnh3LlmIgeG0rzGdMc_zAQskuX6HBa3LkrRwx1NCrIwpQ6ODdPwjjEEFf1sWV3J5au2PzmUpd04GmYkvc6fWqqUPhG73lH32pa8BT_niOndBoeJKOMJKTcoLYkQCjfhDT39JngLvobbL5xLerZYxyUzvceEthWA=w640-h400" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We carried on a bit to get further away from the motorway
and moored after bridge 69.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a little
bit noisy here but it was time to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I cooked chicken paprika for tea, well it would have been if I’d
remembered to pack some paprika!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
the sort of thing that would have been on board already on Chuffed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tricky business this hiring, I’m sure we’ll
discover other things we’ve forgotten this week. At least we'd asked for fenders and piling hooks, so we could moor easily and comfortably.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">10½ miles, 2 locks, Autherley junction.</p>
<p> </p></div><br />nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-45922616897299924772021-10-13T13:36:00.001-07:002021-10-13T13:36:15.845-07:00Just a taste of what we’re missing<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saturday 11<sup>th</sup>
October; Norbury Junction to Wheaton
Aston (nearly)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Every time a likely boat has appeared
on Apollo Duck, it has sold within hours, long before we could have driven uo to see it. And the hire boats were booked solid
all summer and through September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We couldn’t stand it any longer – we needed a proper canal
fix!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually Dave found a week available on the Shroppie so here we are on
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer Wine.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were so excited about getting back on the canals we took
extra care to spot the landmarks we crossed on our journey – the Bristol Avon
(high tide but no boats), the Stratford Avon (no boats), and we waved through the concrete wall at the
BCN as we roared along the busy raised section of the M5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we were keeping our eyes peeled for the Tame Valley
aqueduct over the M5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkq_PlVwIvt4E-jfZO440vMRXdaIJMILYsGCGLm022Sldw0Pc7tor7A9lshJSo3gNn3_Ivny3hltlO_eW5ny3HzcW9CjNu3uu7b5-njQwdhuqkjEmfXPdmaKeO3brUyMmdLA9LUizz92iOje0q1B26ZbCVwxpmHxG7OY_znlAXEh9x4yy80XpaUf9S2g=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2048" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkq_PlVwIvt4E-jfZO440vMRXdaIJMILYsGCGLm022Sldw0Pc7tor7A9lshJSo3gNn3_Ivny3hltlO_eW5ny3HzcW9CjNu3uu7b5-njQwdhuqkjEmfXPdmaKeO3brUyMmdLA9LUizz92iOje0q1B26ZbCVwxpmHxG7OY_znlAXEh9x4yy80XpaUf9S2g=w640-h356" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">- no boats, and the top of Offerton locks (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">still</i> no boats).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The satnav took us off the motorway onto the
A5 past the Gailey toll house, but we couldn't see the canal, then through the lanes towards Gnosall where we
finally spotted some moored boats, and eventually to Norbury Wharf and a bit of action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were too early to get on board, so took
our sandwiches and wandered down to find a bench on the towpath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat opposite a motor and butty which are
being restored by the Shrewsbury & Newport <em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Canals Trust, who </span></em>will then take
them down to Wappenshall when they have been restored and the canal is in water that far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The motor is
sitting so high out of the water because the engine has been removed for
restoration. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtdFU1ybkNUsYqZQ8s09pwFn2mshCUjQdsU7OOSPlmvWDzA8Ju_rUXftXipEd8G72x5pebvg4oohvArSffnqiAp3xh3zqyewGsuZYoV1-QBNW5XS00rPZ3BX6AvwFgkFYBe_iqG1h-9x8EyxQIzToPwNWNMecanN0htT-Qf09KahKJNHICytbHmhEQZQ=s2719" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2719" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtdFU1ybkNUsYqZQ8s09pwFn2mshCUjQdsU7OOSPlmvWDzA8Ju_rUXftXipEd8G72x5pebvg4oohvArSffnqiAp3xh3zqyewGsuZYoV1-QBNW5XS00rPZ3BX6AvwFgkFYBe_iqG1h-9x8EyxQIzToPwNWNMecanN0htT-Qf09KahKJNHICytbHmhEQZQ=w640-h272" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I'm afraid I can't remember their names, Mr Google can't find them and the leaflet two kind gentlemen gave us got left in the car.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The arm opposite the Wharf is just used for mooring at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first lock is currently in use as a dry
dock (the white building at the end of the arm), but when the restoration through to Wappenshall is nearing completion a
new one will be built to the side so the lock will return to its proper use.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-y99ZOGehEbjxsPEDTCtmaJY6ofaKLuO8P-WFCJccIgoYBDFdafVQmo7pPsksJwEkWRu1lThRlbaNoy5B_TkuYpNgjKCfWqU10hZkdeQllOCSwsbiSOYjUI-9OC3vcVAYw9lL6bS_2MyMHT9CJEIsORQtNCAR6fAUS5lDxtytrJ--nFD4qg3IpmvT3g=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-y99ZOGehEbjxsPEDTCtmaJY6ofaKLuO8P-WFCJccIgoYBDFdafVQmo7pPsksJwEkWRu1lThRlbaNoy5B_TkuYpNgjKCfWqU10hZkdeQllOCSwsbiSOYjUI-9OC3vcVAYw9lL6bS_2MyMHT9CJEIsORQtNCAR6fAUS5lDxtytrJ--nFD4qg3IpmvT3g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then we sat in the car, read the paper and watched ‘our’
boat being sanitised on the outside – a lot of spraying and wiping along its
length, a bucket of some disinfectant stuff we supposed sloshed over the stern
deck followed by a good hose down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally we were able to load our stuff on board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was just a suggestion of bleach in the air. We only needed a quick briefing on the engine
and safety stuff, no need to be shown how to steer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we did let the engineer perform the very
tight turn out of the mooring towards Autherley Junction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we were off! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was a bit strange, as this boat is the same layout as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chuffed</i> and it gave me quite a jolt when
I first went inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So similar, yet quite alien. The tiller arm is
very high, which made it quite uncomfortable to use – neither of us is very
tall and it felt very heavy to steer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
found it tucked neatly into my armpit, which is not a comfortable steering
position! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave thinks the top bearing of
the rudder needs attention too. We haven’t been on the Shroppie for years, and were busy
looking out for things we remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shelmore Embankment, for one, with its kingfishers. The stop gate at the southern end, there
to be used in case of a breach in the embankment, looks distinctly ropy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a long way between locks on this part of
the canal, so a lot of water to lose if stop gates aren’t operational.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMAedmsGOoHtbpe8Plr8B7mXgle5pKetQPP26cJyjBiH-9G8e5OWCZtKJf2UzUyCklswun8gpYb-5QKTNqdHPsGRU-K_7r9X0_FiURb0aFn_GsNSwIelOSSAxfHoAam139QgbgQi2yuKlguJSpGU1OHiSWQguxVb4VKiyA8hyPuuQktNsiuI3A8KwViA=s2600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="2600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMAedmsGOoHtbpe8Plr8B7mXgle5pKetQPP26cJyjBiH-9G8e5OWCZtKJf2UzUyCklswun8gpYb-5QKTNqdHPsGRU-K_7r9X0_FiURb0aFn_GsNSwIelOSSAxfHoAam139QgbgQi2yuKlguJSpGU1OHiSWQguxVb4VKiyA8hyPuuQktNsiuI3A8KwViA=w640-h298" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Then through Gnosall, where we once had a good meal in the
Navigation overlooking the canal, and past the garden which seems to be trying
to emulate Charity
Wharf.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4Vfq7SjEX45OkfvGcx68TSJ3POcpn-mBDxgQqzyco5SefjzBt9euF08AEcwyOFQpEzbUtttCtvIfIQ6yDAHci4AIvu1YZPdmE2KVQLaMjTcm0TRr6U_eA91pSViNJeEM9RY0l5wA7JHWmjulqXcANmT52sNBbkA8i9wSbMSO_TzOAuoARqcn_heaMHw=s1803" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1803" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4Vfq7SjEX45OkfvGcx68TSJ3POcpn-mBDxgQqzyco5SefjzBt9euF08AEcwyOFQpEzbUtttCtvIfIQ6yDAHci4AIvu1YZPdmE2KVQLaMjTcm0TRr6U_eA91pSViNJeEM9RY0l5wA7JHWmjulqXcANmT52sNBbkA8i9wSbMSO_TzOAuoARqcn_heaMHw=w640-h366" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had somehow got the wrong setting on the camera, so it was
rather over-exposed and I had to crop some of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll try for a better shot on the way
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> attempting the Four Counties ring in a week!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By now it was getting late and we were tired, so we moored before
we got to Wheaton Aston.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
prepared for the infamous Shroppie Shelf (an annoying concrete shelf that juts
out up to a foot from the back, but inconveniently under water so you can’t see
it till you grate along it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
no wind, so we didn’t think we’d spend the night banging against it (hire boats
aren’t issued with go-kart tyres to keep the boat away from it, of course).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor Meg, doing her best to leap the gap,
found her back paws slipping on the stern deck – no rubber mats on hire
boats!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the poor thing had to be
hauled up the bank – twice! – before we had even finished mooring up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we twigged the problem and laid one of
her towels down to provide grip she was fine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The TV system on board is up-to-date and was already tuned,
so Dave could sit in comfort for the England match this evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seats are the modern lighter-build
Captain’s chairs and very comfortable. Just the place to enjoy a glass of wine.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s weird being on a boat that isn’t ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew there wouldn’t be fenders, so I
phoned ahead to ask for some and also some piling hooks, which they were happy
to supply. Everything else is just different. Sometimes better - for example it's a lovely modern shower - and sometimes, well it's a hire boat so you don't expect more than the basics do you?<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our initial plan was to hot-foot it to Great Haywood
junction, and spend the night on Tixall Wide to try and catch the fabulous
murmuration of starlings we saw a few years ago. Will we make it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means being on a mission, like most
hirers!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7½ miles, no locks, rocky Cowley tunnel and a damp dog.</p>
<p> </p><br /><br />nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-72224083290001351502021-09-02T06:50:00.002-07:002021-09-02T06:54:28.624-07:00Looking forward!<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">Hello again!</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">I'm doing a quick update today
because I’m fed up with seeing the previous post title - 'Sad days' - every
time I check for new posts from the blogs I follow.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><i>Chuffed</i> has been with her
new owners for quite some time now. We had their offer within 3 hours
of the broker putting her online, then had to wait a couple of weeks for
the survey to take place - the market has been so hot that surveyors, not to
mention the hard standing at brokerages, are very busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we had to consider which of the points
raised on the survey were ours to deal with – a couple of things were needed
for the BSS, which was fair enough and due anyway, so they had to be done -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
finally another week for the broker to sort out the payments, but it’s
been all done and dusted for weeks.</p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzv20KP3rKLCu1BqbokYzsZf2V2scTCVlISzoTRPziigQWWGADnxBrkJFkVFTSD9hb-qgDsmxooHW6qurbA5CLi1y0g9axQ6ksNg7BOgNMDx-7UnnXkNixZD1frwJtLW7hFGFv6yLhxCC3/s2048/llangollen+basin.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzv20KP3rKLCu1BqbokYzsZf2V2scTCVlISzoTRPziigQWWGADnxBrkJFkVFTSD9hb-qgDsmxooHW6qurbA5CLi1y0g9axQ6ksNg7BOgNMDx-7UnnXkNixZD1frwJtLW7hFGFv6yLhxCC3/w640-h480/llangollen+basin.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /></div><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><i>Llangollen basin, August 2012</i><br /></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">We miss her terribly, and sometimes
wonder whether we should have shelled out to install solar panels, get a
repaint, a new fridge, a pram cover – but on balance we think a new (to us)
boat would be the answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a shame
we are missing a lovely summer’s boating (hire companies are booked out and
have you seen their prices??).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we
are well aware we are lucky to even have the option.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TI80SRO8H_1Fz5T0cavf6BjokO4u7P18eQx9EUaSdU1HZ1VK-2jq_kiFf4i0zWNjbad50bNZGsf_6VoxzXuKtjZ5NVwiIjhjTCTzP7lCSPJ46Gheu00l7-LfQpPpiq7WPCPY3Wx6MUmN/s1559/beak+near+Wood+lock.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1559" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TI80SRO8H_1Fz5T0cavf6BjokO4u7P18eQx9EUaSdU1HZ1VK-2jq_kiFf4i0zWNjbad50bNZGsf_6VoxzXuKtjZ5NVwiIjhjTCTzP7lCSPJ46Gheu00l7-LfQpPpiq7WPCPY3Wx6MUmN/w640-h456/beak+near+Wood+lock.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Dave and Tess (Boat Dog 1) near Wood Lock, Grand Union 2013.</i> <br /></div><p>We went to see a boat in
Leicestershire last week, which looked rather good on Apollo Duck and in the extra photos they sent us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only 5 years old, it had bow thrusters, a
washing machine, really good storage too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But there were just too many things not quite right about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was rust and/or badly peeling paint in a few places outside, the engine hole needed a good clean, the fridge and oven
were tiny, we would have needed to have a proper dinette built – things that
are not insurmountable on their own, and could be lived with for a while, but
the owner was a smoker so the effort and potential cost involved in cleaning or replacing soft furnishings, and getting
rid of the smell from the heating system and woodwork, tipped the balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfU3ptdJ692da-FRaoamEqseExZ-UIYtLBLaEVt5ZgEkLIuKWNVWIVL2sp1RTLCvG-RN1BqPJfgsLVIZqBaVCdl3yVkjnoEZV3jhLoWmdpBygfWKmVWK_Y9_DbJo9Sd4WM-hk152oLTNZq/s2048/6+brasses+at+lovely+all+oaks+wood.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfU3ptdJ692da-FRaoamEqseExZ-UIYtLBLaEVt5ZgEkLIuKWNVWIVL2sp1RTLCvG-RN1BqPJfgsLVIZqBaVCdl3yVkjnoEZV3jhLoWmdpBygfWKmVWK_Y9_DbJo9Sd4WM-hk152oLTNZq/w640-h480/6+brasses+at+lovely+all+oaks+wood.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Cleaning the brasses at All Oaks Wood, 2019</i><br /> <p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">One of these days I will get around
to posting Chuffed's complete stats, and maybe by then something will have some along
….</p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"> <br /></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This
is what we are after – semi-trad, 57-59’ (ish), reverse layout, off-corridor
bathroom, bow thrusters, preferably less than 10 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solar panels a bonus. Hybrid, probably beyond our budget but you never know. Just what everyone else
seems to be wanting!</i></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplH4MzW5QbSDAAAk6FovEI2Mb-7mMv_JfOBuWXdtq9Om0hH9edsZVDL3IdZEBaHnJdzZeScM29ZqAUdz40T6iBK_9ejaso7a7emAQKaV0ZqwDUVJvxOxfFHCrTmUp16PfOtfykfKePw-w/s2048/22+meadow+mooring.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplH4MzW5QbSDAAAk6FovEI2Mb-7mMv_JfOBuWXdtq9Om0hH9edsZVDL3IdZEBaHnJdzZeScM29ZqAUdz40T6iBK_9ejaso7a7emAQKaV0ZqwDUVJvxOxfFHCrTmUp16PfOtfykfKePw-w/w640-h480/22+meadow+mooring.JPG" width="640" /></a></i></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Lechlade Meadows, 2016</i><br /><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> </p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-640201733684929102021-06-22T06:20:00.000-07:002021-06-22T06:20:03.221-07:00Sad days<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tuesday 1<sup>st</sup>
and Wednesday 2<sup>nd</sup> June; Alvechurch, and home.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cleaning, cleaning, packing and cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did all the little jobs that have been
waiting, touching up here and there, and cleaning the bits that don’t often get
done such as the cupboard doors above the cooker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove into Redditch
to buy a set of bedding in Dunelm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we bought Chuffed, the previous owners had put new bedding on the bed and
towels in the bathroom and galley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had looked so cared-for and welcoming that it was a
no-brainer to do the same for our eventual buyers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just hope they approve of our taste!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left it all in the car for the time being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I regard shopping and cleaning as tedious necessities, so I was delighted
when there was activity to watch on the wharf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Compton</i>
had been out of the water for blacking after being sold and I think it was she
being returned to the water, though it may have been one of the other two
out on the hard - I had to zoom in for the pictures, then crop them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area was fenced off
from the public, of course.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qrlDCO8CTiM-PupNFhnSe1N94vcW3apv17JT4JxKp6zpAfCyH6NX1Qa2dlYo8386OXv9pOtZfeBBvZjt8nGy2Wu8x1_xwlQLHc2styxzWkL_h_c4XjBu5COsTOrE6BnG2ymk0biU8uSh/s2048/2+round+a+bit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="2048" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qrlDCO8CTiM-PupNFhnSe1N94vcW3apv17JT4JxKp6zpAfCyH6NX1Qa2dlYo8386OXv9pOtZfeBBvZjt8nGy2Wu8x1_xwlQLHc2styxzWkL_h_c4XjBu5COsTOrE6BnG2ymk0biU8uSh/w400-h294/2+round+a+bit.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Up.....</i> <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2SeBFhHrNVOzBvBm7-vD0w41u4Ux6KTQ8pddsnUg3Z6yYARVu72C593Xu6OeRUZ93P4p2EqQDM1XxB9VZWA7IDau3J_2gUmGLoTBeR4bA7oqY7hO8Q_6gzMn0wS8eK-WJ_CoDIGV16A4/s2048/1+compton+possibly+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="2048" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2SeBFhHrNVOzBvBm7-vD0w41u4Ux6KTQ8pddsnUg3Z6yYARVu72C593Xu6OeRUZ93P4p2EqQDM1XxB9VZWA7IDau3J_2gUmGLoTBeR4bA7oqY7hO8Q_6gzMn0wS8eK-WJ_CoDIGV16A4/w400-h328/1+compton+possibly+up.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Round a bit ...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ik1eheee9JrTpvGmfzidSN5rLcI8giQrK8rGk1OGYUG_9zdYD0l4ZlRVtOKO4Vtblaad_4PHojcPlc9SnyvtBuNPwyM9oBOXCdUT7SjsVRTMmFqaJJSS0q0T-h0ohGNyPCNmTvK9alCC/s2048/3+a+bit+more.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="2048" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ik1eheee9JrTpvGmfzidSN5rLcI8giQrK8rGk1OGYUG_9zdYD0l4ZlRVtOKO4Vtblaad_4PHojcPlc9SnyvtBuNPwyM9oBOXCdUT7SjsVRTMmFqaJJSS0q0T-h0ohGNyPCNmTvK9alCC/w400-h286/3+a+bit+more.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A bit more ....</i> <br /></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2FDcjW6PVQ4OtgfGVANtSBoB1niuFfJLQpJM9fntCv_kRhofmtvgJ5c1jIleH2VAVuA3SfipzWQJ3YTBGWxaI3aO_34oNY9bR1GVZDoehPTEHOtjNuV25e3GimUFYihhw5HNoL3U2uBv/s2048/4+straightening+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2FDcjW6PVQ4OtgfGVANtSBoB1niuFfJLQpJM9fntCv_kRhofmtvgJ5c1jIleH2VAVuA3SfipzWQJ3YTBGWxaI3aO_34oNY9bR1GVZDoehPTEHOtjNuV25e3GimUFYihhw5HNoL3U2uBv/w640-h480/4+straightening+up.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Straightening up.</i> <br /></div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before the boat was lifted, the bow and stern ropes had been extended and held by two workers on the wharf as she was carefully manoeuvred and
lowered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You can see the stern rope in the picture, and a blue hard hat above the boat roofs. </span>I doubt the boat would have floated off,
but it did have to be moved away and moored so that the next boat to be lifted out
could be pulled into the slings.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsS64RYFBSNIaUIwAXO_pZ2sSbZRGVJLG8bDOaYfpl1Bdv6CUUq0X36ZDNTDBQaK6YM_T4yBLleSWDV04m853y_L5F1UJEna_zVFKJGR-QtNHyCRhugFQ0AWI-6UqBA-qMr4XNkfw-nK7/s2048/5+and+out+with+the+next+one.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsS64RYFBSNIaUIwAXO_pZ2sSbZRGVJLG8bDOaYfpl1Bdv6CUUq0X36ZDNTDBQaK6YM_T4yBLleSWDV04m853y_L5F1UJEna_zVFKJGR-QtNHyCRhugFQ0AWI-6UqBA-qMr4XNkfw-nK7/w640-h476/5+and+out+with+the+next+one.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And the next!</i> <br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had been shifting the bags of kitchen stuff and other
packing into the car while Dave made the final checks down the engine hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very hot
and we felt we deserved a little treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdGjxIsYA-NBmKCkagxkyRdJaYnbkFnsIDADjNdBfVay73W2GBHc5JWRcXuNiN2mzE7rUP9R_9gQqR-M1rSamcr-jVepfaDmHKMfim9BfVIH_7Ldly1Fc3uKj0b8qPfbukZbOe1d4NmOn/s2048/6+magnums.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdGjxIsYA-NBmKCkagxkyRdJaYnbkFnsIDADjNdBfVay73W2GBHc5JWRcXuNiN2mzE7rUP9R_9gQqR-M1rSamcr-jVepfaDmHKMfim9BfVIH_7Ldly1Fc3uKj0b8qPfbukZbOe1d4NmOn/w400-h300/6+magnums.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">No way was I going to cook and mess up my clean galley, so we drove down to the village to get fish and chips for
tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unusually, the chippie only takes
cash, but luckily the Co-op over the road has a cash machine which Dave had to
use, as did the person behind us in the queue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We waited for our order in the alley that cuts between the buildings at
the crossroads.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XvEcQ0aCi-9RT2lG9S5OZ1ceZoRpXU96DApayMDhatTrJn_IV4hdtGQsXO8rqAeAC2KTFiz828aBdpk1xtUHU6KZ9A0QF5jfijGY-Lgvho8jCmZxiIL_8Zf6BR4ZDCqD0G5vpc6fS6AQ/s2048/7+hopping+bob.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="2048" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XvEcQ0aCi-9RT2lG9S5OZ1ceZoRpXU96DApayMDhatTrJn_IV4hdtGQsXO8rqAeAC2KTFiz828aBdpk1xtUHU6KZ9A0QF5jfijGY-Lgvho8jCmZxiIL_8Zf6BR4ZDCqD0G5vpc6fS6AQ/w400-h230/7+hopping+bob.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Formerly ....</i> <br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fish was good, the batter and chips ok, and the picked
onions very poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took the evening
off and went for a walk along the towpath to the footpath that leads down into
a field, then turns back on itself to pass under the canal beneath the
aqueduct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTjex_n7mY8aA732RslD7jjgDPFHDVpaJpZdV4XEDcSqWyTIEg26o68iO-E_l1OY_ZyZsSSaPflr-sEBE9WQ-EikmIArvn17pqOTLRE5tufSzHlvK_ASC5irWcK1BUF-lsTrn16ADgUGF/s2048/8+aqueduct+below+canal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTjex_n7mY8aA732RslD7jjgDPFHDVpaJpZdV4XEDcSqWyTIEg26o68iO-E_l1OY_ZyZsSSaPflr-sEBE9WQ-EikmIArvn17pqOTLRE5tufSzHlvK_ASC5irWcK1BUF-lsTrn16ADgUGF/w225-h400/8+aqueduct+below+canal.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We needed the torch on my phone to avoid wet feet, but Meg
happily trip-trapped her way through the little stream which really was just a
dribble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other side was a path,
apparently fairly well-beaten, running parallel to the canal.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9SaWkbG-2SHyU7TUj_xS-xmGCRLFFadb-GNDGBB_OYQEzS-c978gKJq9oV98boWu23eeVyc6VhC_2TEbnzeklsvcIpyLQ_gF6oSkl1mosN85t4CtV7tBGNMNpEsJRspkMypq220hgNwO/s2048/10+twilight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9SaWkbG-2SHyU7TUj_xS-xmGCRLFFadb-GNDGBB_OYQEzS-c978gKJq9oV98boWu23eeVyc6VhC_2TEbnzeklsvcIpyLQ_gF6oSkl1mosN85t4CtV7tBGNMNpEsJRspkMypq220hgNwO/w640-h360/10+twilight.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_vMqA25QmWJAxwP-qfmKhRD78hPeAoJRCC7RZm-iDQ3MFnO_K59WHY-T_ikLOEgE2deEas-igaEOG8HKKgwS8APBVL9lu3MGp-8JR6BHxHUe73lbvAI193qLZejeawid7H1OAT9UNCaf/s2048/9+offside+walk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_vMqA25QmWJAxwP-qfmKhRD78hPeAoJRCC7RZm-iDQ3MFnO_K59WHY-T_ikLOEgE2deEas-igaEOG8HKKgwS8APBVL9lu3MGp-8JR6BHxHUe73lbvAI193qLZejeawid7H1OAT9UNCaf/w640-h360/9+offside+walk.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">The light was beginning to go, so the photo colour is a bit
odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The path petered out in a tangle of
collapsed wild rose and hedge at the field boundary, so we walked back again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wednesday 2<sup>nd</sup>
June; home</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What was there left to do but clearing up and packing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought it was important to leave the boat
as we would have liked to find her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had made various trips to the
bins for rubbish disposal and recycling, and obviously there was the car to
pack up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor Meg was getting anxious,
as she always does when we are preparing to go away or go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I need to do is put on her red boater’s
neckerchief and she calms down – she seems to realise she will soon be going
either to her boat, or home again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TyPxk2V3e7n65ZrYbcwEbZrPmhBisIJ-_TCg3vmxElojk2bo7683tKMC-luQbyRlVgxw1frjUgJNz0sibXBgbK8m12ylFKJ29XRHevZffq8pAC9YYaR1OG3BAPJcofKh0Za-c94ggcNY/s2048/Meg+-+from+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TyPxk2V3e7n65ZrYbcwEbZrPmhBisIJ-_TCg3vmxElojk2bo7683tKMC-luQbyRlVgxw1frjUgJNz0sibXBgbK8m12ylFKJ29XRHevZffq8pAC9YYaR1OG3BAPJcofKh0Za-c94ggcNY/w640-h480/Meg+-+from+2014.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>First day in charge</i> <br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I took this picture on her very first trip, while we
were based at Caen Hill marina on the K&A; we hadn't yet been able to get back to the main
canal network after the winter as the Kennet, in flood from Newbury to Reading, prevented our next
move to Froud’s Bridge near Aldermaston, so we were on our way west to Bradford-on-Avon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dave performed a miracle of packing with all the extra bits
and pieces; though Meg had less room than usual, she just went to sleep while we travelled as she
normally does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He couldn’t manage to fit a length of plastic water-pipe
in, or the awkwardly-shaped bread-bin, but they found a home with another boater doing his
own fit-out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We double-checked that we had retrieved our own windlasses
before patting dear old Chuffed goodbye and handing in the keys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a pause and a hug before we drove
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tears?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We don't intend to give up boating.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chuffed will be moved to a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.abcboatsales.com/boat-sales/?location_id=4">sales pontoon</a></span></b>,
but their Covid rules mean boats are left for 48 hours before someone goes in
for the valuation. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bye for now.<br /></p>
<p> </p>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-84880900748542310292021-06-21T01:59:00.002-07:002021-06-21T01:59:39.109-07:00Last cruise …..<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monday 31<sup>st</sup>
May; Crown Arm to Alvechurch Marina</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was cloudy and still this morning, and surprisingly
chilly outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave disappeared down
the engine hole for a large part of the morning to make sure everything was
clean and tidy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have taken a
picture; he always keeps it spick and span down there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, Meg gloomed on the towpath.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzTxdNCnLAXVOD3SUJhFJA4UV7_gGOKmkK0TTvF_SxzhX-BCH1S3LL9gvZV9Qgu4fPhyphenhyphenVZ_-y3gH8hkPyb_uwxXPlpZk2N7uN0YSlnI2DFVWOfrj4OYgtuvbe29TOl3ygD5LrhHix1PDC/s2048/1+bored+bored+bored.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzTxdNCnLAXVOD3SUJhFJA4UV7_gGOKmkK0TTvF_SxzhX-BCH1S3LL9gvZV9Qgu4fPhyphenhyphenVZ_-y3gH8hkPyb_uwxXPlpZk2N7uN0YSlnI2DFVWOfrj4OYgtuvbe29TOl3ygD5LrhHix1PDC/w640-h480/1+bored+bored+bored.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>So bored!</i> <br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to my handwritten boat diary, aka the Captain’s
Log, I cleared out the well deck this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wonder what I did yesterday morning then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s bound to have been some sort of
cleaning though, possibly the grill compartment which I know I did
before the oven, which the Captain’s log says I did this afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well, that’s what comes of slacking in
your duties as the blog writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
lunch we cruised slowly down to the marina in the sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made jolly sure I shared the steering on
our last day of cruising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXKqcDXDFlC9huaPnsE_L4si_Xmyp2LmBV15b8bu4i_rcT_3vUWvLr5JnMl4edtgtwn3U3BTCZVjYbDXc1NUsvdDOf2TdwCMu3ECwnXCgpkM5nnwHKdmvEeGYvWXE16bh9KsHbfRsQUNl/s2048/2+slow+please.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1670" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXKqcDXDFlC9huaPnsE_L4si_Xmyp2LmBV15b8bu4i_rcT_3vUWvLr5JnMl4edtgtwn3U3BTCZVjYbDXc1NUsvdDOf2TdwCMu3ECwnXCgpkM5nnwHKdmvEeGYvWXE16bh9KsHbfRsQUNl/w522-h640/2+slow+please.JPG" width="522" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Watch it!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzN6CCeh01KW1lVQJJBZK1fYHOMdNvApMY3Ag09Zv_DNuHU-TTg4ZX0VAiUjfgTrV_2owjKlbiA6nkdw5rzCagA4w4KPGND_0x_0FqzHpvWGP7zQQ41cL0AcAmayiY-b46zHpi_TIaYsP/s2048/3+just+chilling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzN6CCeh01KW1lVQJJBZK1fYHOMdNvApMY3Ag09Zv_DNuHU-TTg4ZX0VAiUjfgTrV_2owjKlbiA6nkdw5rzCagA4w4KPGND_0x_0FqzHpvWGP7zQQ41cL0AcAmayiY-b46zHpi_TIaYsP/w640-h468/3+just+chilling.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Just chillin'</i> <br /></div></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We moored at the wharf and went to hand over our proof of ownership and photo ID. I still haven't got a photo driving licence (renewals for over-70s were suspended for a while because of Covid) but luckily they were happy with my bus pass! We were directed to
moor in one of the share boat berths, as they wouldn’t be back until Friday –
it was Shenstone’s, next door to Debdale’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We used to have a share in Padworth, another ex-Ownerships boat, so we
always look out for her ‘cousins’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were told we could use the hook-up too, though we will have to pay for it of
course.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEFJ2DHF0X_V04RW2AdE6MJvscaNjCqoBdRdUCIShRDfL3whdRT33mL4K_xJjwCrn3jrR3YH4P5V_3GjoMIoKEOd8gF3opFlxDKNWUl-6kTz1bXFiRrRuT-wWZbB1nq1CwqDjDRXj9ekU/s2048/4+shenstones+berth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="2048" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEFJ2DHF0X_V04RW2AdE6MJvscaNjCqoBdRdUCIShRDfL3whdRT33mL4K_xJjwCrn3jrR3YH4P5V_3GjoMIoKEOd8gF3opFlxDKNWUl-6kTz1bXFiRrRuT-wWZbB1nq1CwqDjDRXj9ekU/w640-h404/4+shenstones+berth.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> And then yet more cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave had the wonderful job of emptying, and
then cleaning thoroughly, two cassettes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He does it so well! </span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal">He had spotted a good rail connection to get back to
Droitwich to collect the car, changing at University station instead of going all the way into Birmingham, so later in the afternoon we took Meg for a stroll down
a footpath running from the main road to the far end of Alvechurch station car park, then
after we had waved him off Meg and I walked along the towpath for a bit. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He was back before 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evening was very warm and we would have enjoyed a cool beer at the Weighbridge pub next to the
marina, but there were no free tables outside and we’re still choosing not to
go inside pubs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Less than one mile’s cruising.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-27693666787326802072021-06-15T12:02:00.004-07:002021-06-15T12:18:48.210-07:00Cleaning, elsewhere<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sunday 30<sup>th</sup>
May; Hopwood to the Crown Arm</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That road was certainly a noisy one!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we hadn’t needed the good edge and short
grass this morning we would have stopped much further back and banged in pins
if necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boats started leaving at 7
and by the time we were having breakfast we were almost on our own again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I let Meg out first thing, a black sack
from the fly-tipping was gleaming in the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Overnight it had floated close to the boat (there always seems to be a bit of a current from Wast Hills tunnel).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hooked it and had a deal of trouble hauling
it out – the contents (prunings) had pierced the plastic and it was half full
of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a few hours it would have
been lurking just under the surface, waiting for someone’s prop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave pulled another bag out during the morning,
with plastic bottles in this one. CRT have been notified so we left them there.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWdIAPtSfZRcjiGgR5BYq9tVEadSMJGOsAoDGNA9Hxjeqx9VyGm3xlVf2IDZbaCsgLTTxkH5wh2XOMa9KMKxdFs5GQAe8e1M8smKggD2ltvzTN9OiaZs_D3hPHbudDEUiIClhzj29CV8k/s2048/1+recovered+fly-tipped+bags.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="2048" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWdIAPtSfZRcjiGgR5BYq9tVEadSMJGOsAoDGNA9Hxjeqx9VyGm3xlVf2IDZbaCsgLTTxkH5wh2XOMa9KMKxdFs5GQAe8e1M8smKggD2ltvzTN9OiaZs_D3hPHbudDEUiIClhzj29CV8k/w400-h286/1+recovered+fly-tipped+bags.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This morning my first job was to clean the oven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not exactly my favourite job, but it’s
come up well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I moved on to clear
and clean the well deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hauled the
lockers and hosepipe out onto the towpath, lifted the matting and swept out all
the bits of grit, leaf and grass that had accumulated since the last lockdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave had already cleared the paint locker of old tins, or at least some of them, but I still had to sort out the locker
where I keep useful things like the mooring hook, pins and chain for the bow end, and some cleaning
equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a few bits and
pieces to come home – Meg's ball thrower which a neighbour gave us one year at
Calcutt, for example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I’d taken
a photo, the well deck looked wonderful when I’d done it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By mid-morning we were alone again apart from
the two liveaboards way back behind us.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKPZJ2ZUZ_K9o2iIUNT4dRRPP3smhrluYN2PHmp3VAbc0QuBIbFZk-YD2vEQAFPMKI-dx3nl_HBkv4uU34IN9p3vRr_a08FqeHUqccS-UGXarfSiS7OAUWmLfGCokM_7AqfT7IMBeVNnW/s2048/2+just+us+now.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKPZJ2ZUZ_K9o2iIUNT4dRRPP3smhrluYN2PHmp3VAbc0QuBIbFZk-YD2vEQAFPMKI-dx3nl_HBkv4uU34IN9p3vRr_a08FqeHUqccS-UGXarfSiS7OAUWmLfGCokM_7AqfT7IMBeVNnW/w640-h480/2+just+us+now.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had lunch and then got going straight away – we needed to run
the engine for the sake of the batteries, and it’s really too close to houses here for that, very antisocial on a sunny day when people would be out in their gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no fishermen at Lower
Bittell – instead there were circular patches of
bubbles at regular intervals where the aeration system was in operation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But someone was enjoying the reservoir on the offside – a
lone fisherman in a boat on the far side. And I haven't tweaked the photo to enhance the colour of the water, promise!<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo3uz8VXwNQ65cR5-jDTrQLqKUwlmpCP8Xvdgq1PABSZOOzy4WXHI6kcuULG39UF34YjGgBBcrVzcA1j32xdQBczjm9bgZbqVLmjFFAIPGe0fxdr2QAoFb_xRPo8-UNv2SKhnSLGTYe8x/s2048/3+fisherman+on+lower+bittell.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="2048" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo3uz8VXwNQ65cR5-jDTrQLqKUwlmpCP8Xvdgq1PABSZOOzy4WXHI6kcuULG39UF34YjGgBBcrVzcA1j32xdQBczjm9bgZbqVLmjFFAIPGe0fxdr2QAoFb_xRPo8-UNv2SKhnSLGTYe8x/w640-h461/3+fisherman+on+lower+bittell.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">And yes, it was a real person, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I saw him
move!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Definitely </span>not the ‘fishing’ mannequin
that there used to be here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will go into Alvechurch marina
tomorrow, but wanted to enjoy the canal for a bit longer today, so once we had passed
under the M42 and gone round the bend we moored just before the non-navigable
Crown Arm on the outskirts of the village.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In spite of working hard I had been feeling low all morning, and thought a walk would cheer me up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg would appreciate it anyway!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked as far as
the pub, where there was space to moor but it was rather noisy and busy with
walkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking back to the arm, I
realised we had actually got the nicest mooring between Hopwood and the marina
– very little passing foot traffic, motorway noise muffled by trees, good wide towpath and the
canal wide enough for boats to have a lot of room to pass (which turned out to
be very useful as all the new hirers started passing later on!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cow parsley was in full fabulous bloom</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnVk0HKTQkyrVwzu-2gDdT3frZI6FF-455VDOy16fkWqfBOlnhG9V7cuhyphenhyphenAFjdHLyaQW0odbVIZUKOsBRapKggZOMuutFnDuiASiW29zoLnVfxZk1AwpbaGwyRRmp3WFO_I3t8qQGeTGM/s2048/4+cow+parsley.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnVk0HKTQkyrVwzu-2gDdT3frZI6FF-455VDOy16fkWqfBOlnhG9V7cuhyphenhyphenAFjdHLyaQW0odbVIZUKOsBRapKggZOMuutFnDuiASiW29zoLnVfxZk1AwpbaGwyRRmp3WFO_I3t8qQGeTGM/w640-h480/4+cow+parsley.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">And the May blossom foamed in the trees.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV47vVV4XcHzmjrWeNq7bUB9-Z4hxJpXXFMWWw0jtN7RgKHtiDrg_8CN3xOziCQgXuYTnNw6Pb4YDT286_jwNkSnTaeK46kxoAXAcmMDtXNjUEIuBVjrZg4A2ihDuSp-2tQzMDlth206V0/s2048/5+fabulous+may+blossom.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV47vVV4XcHzmjrWeNq7bUB9-Z4hxJpXXFMWWw0jtN7RgKHtiDrg_8CN3xOziCQgXuYTnNw6Pb4YDT286_jwNkSnTaeK46kxoAXAcmMDtXNjUEIuBVjrZg4A2ihDuSp-2tQzMDlth206V0/w640-h480/5+fabulous+may+blossom.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">And oh look, what a lovely boat!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgGUx8LkfipSvJ9LpW3eAMgKhJ3zwm3tz9Mwwu7dLDiZU5eNQfjO1rHoYMW9jVliiZ9uK6XGaoUgIQW44F-z4YrB2yl8qJsT-YZZpWue0Q8u_MosOXNPtOVBXroL6UsSUb-myrNpFI0AY/s2048/6+what+a+lovely+boat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgGUx8LkfipSvJ9LpW3eAMgKhJ3zwm3tz9Mwwu7dLDiZU5eNQfjO1rHoYMW9jVliiZ9uK6XGaoUgIQW44F-z4YrB2yl8qJsT-YZZpWue0Q8u_MosOXNPtOVBXroL6UsSUb-myrNpFI0AY/w640-h480/6+what+a+lovely+boat.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">What also makes it a good mooring is that the woodland by
the towpath has a footpath through it leading to the far end of the Crown Arm
and back along it to the towpath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
other side of the arm is a lot of newish housing which extends along the canal and
down towards the pub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several
access points through to the houses but it’s quiet where we are, and also
litter-free unlike Hopwood – several plastic wrappers ended up in my empty coal
bag yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg and I enjoyed the
stroll back towards the canal, along the beautiful arm which is mostly shady,
and in water, though closer to the canal it’s carpeted with duckweed.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kFnS2KgdB6gtB9vVAjExSt1KKD0IvsMdL96WssVC2qh9TQ-Om9_LHbm2Au_oAco0pPoXu0j1IrosccoxGIbJW1Lbo-XchDdX4Mlg9roA8NOVzxiLBbIdABOsYRimg6Ouvzu2sLQABelK/s2048/8+duckweedy+crown+arm.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kFnS2KgdB6gtB9vVAjExSt1KKD0IvsMdL96WssVC2qh9TQ-Om9_LHbm2Au_oAco0pPoXu0j1IrosccoxGIbJW1Lbo-XchDdX4Mlg9roA8NOVzxiLBbIdABOsYRimg6Ouvzu2sLQABelK/w640-h480/8+duckweedy+crown+arm.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Luckily Meg didn’t see the moorhen family or she would have
had rather a surprise as she discovered it was wet under the weed!</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaOJpp8w4bx9M2kEys0nhvga392L6QOtvw5eCCIVpD9cuyoqge_5bva4aWbqs65lmsd4NH7vrbiOzQkNSOhN8s0dj0ga5jk3VCdA5KRnnLH3e_cLHz9QV1r0sd4aLbnNmZEvOp414ZVkV/s2048/7+moorhen+family.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="2048" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaOJpp8w4bx9M2kEys0nhvga392L6QOtvw5eCCIVpD9cuyoqge_5bva4aWbqs65lmsd4NH7vrbiOzQkNSOhN8s0dj0ga5jk3VCdA5KRnnLH3e_cLHz9QV1r0sd4aLbnNmZEvOp414ZVkV/w640-h514/7+moorhen+family.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>I busied myself inside, sorting out the galley cupboards and
packing up the tins and packets we would be taking home, while Dave washed and
cleaned the cratch board and windows, then touched up the gangplank
paintwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hardly ever use it, but it
does look nice sitting on the roof!<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN96CeoO9ujRKuefTdkZ2WbMUPdedxwBwzScA3CyOUoPYqF_M_3nQg9T5e1nbwkMOvXW7z8ntoXbAX6aujKsLYVYlhyIG6szgGnODoXeMWzxcKWuyrmIYzZtlbGSZh56iSKsRSMfWLGJq/s2048/9+touching+up+the+gangplank.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN96CeoO9ujRKuefTdkZ2WbMUPdedxwBwzScA3CyOUoPYqF_M_3nQg9T5e1nbwkMOvXW7z8ntoXbAX6aujKsLYVYlhyIG6szgGnODoXeMWzxcKWuyrmIYzZtlbGSZh56iSKsRSMfWLGJq/w640-h480/9+touching+up+the+gangplank.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I got loads of stuff done, packing and cleaning but keeping
busy wasn’t lifting my mood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
thought, to hell with it all, and went for a run, twice round the footpaths in
the woods and along the arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not far,
but it did the trick, or maybe it was the lovely shower afterwards! As there
are no neighbours to annoy we had run the engine for a couple of hours when we stopped, so there was lots
of hot water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I cooked tea I had the
side hatch open and just leant on it, watching the world go by – several boats
but mostly birds and this little flotilla.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYlMFU-J3Lbt-HfZgnTPGqqR2nb6DPiS8G8OPRrMjjPsRimoUfpOmCucSfctZGfeLw01kRu_lUAOA_Zqo-1WvGZiDJpzfgUx_XyjvkhUqVtF5OflHfBn2PP0xWc2OwmTOayWW8HJEu5yn/s2048/10+fluffy+flotilla.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2048" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYlMFU-J3Lbt-HfZgnTPGqqR2nb6DPiS8G8OPRrMjjPsRimoUfpOmCucSfctZGfeLw01kRu_lUAOA_Zqo-1WvGZiDJpzfgUx_XyjvkhUqVtF5OflHfBn2PP0xWc2OwmTOayWW8HJEu5yn/w640-h370/10+fluffy+flotilla.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We just chilled in the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The car is going to be rammed when we go
home, so we felt it best to reduce the number of beer cans (all low alcohol, I must point out)
and wine bottles (erm, not).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we went
to bed we watched the bats from the side hatch, at least 2 kinds and not the
tiny little pipistrelles either.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Less than two miles cruising, no locks, no tunnels.</p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-16288357977160524902021-06-13T09:21:00.002-07:002021-06-13T09:21:45.140-07:00Cleaning<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saturday 29<sup>th</sup>
May; King’s Norton to Hopwood</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First thing today of course, Meg expected a good run in the
park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave obliged while I popped up to
the Co-op for some supplies and the Saturday paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it was down to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave tidied up the port gunwales and I gave
the bow deck and gas locker lid a good wash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the morning we had a visit from the first goslings we have seen
this year.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9ZEacs_NG-12HqCPFgL9avYgaYthQq4UlwY4FSS_6zLZgJTrg6gesX7MpRBRpbi0VjhOwml_qiEynwMS5A4onJ4r4W-CoZckbY9ikf84aTn68W_kwSO6U5_AOmG8MXroKbGehB8H79f3/s2048/1+goslings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9ZEacs_NG-12HqCPFgL9avYgaYthQq4UlwY4FSS_6zLZgJTrg6gesX7MpRBRpbi0VjhOwml_qiEynwMS5A4onJ4r4W-CoZckbY9ikf84aTn68W_kwSO6U5_AOmG8MXroKbGehB8H79f3/w640-h462/1+goslings.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then I spent a while under the well deck – not literally,
but that is where we store the remaining coal and kindling during the summer,
carefully splitting the coal into bags either
side of the water pump so as not to affect the trim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is usually about a quarter of a sack on
each side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once all that was sorted I
had an empty coal sack which was going to prove very useful – the soot from the
stove flue was waiting, safely wrapped up in newspaper, then Dave sorted out
his paint locker and promptly half-filled the sack with old tins! <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We had lunch, then after another play in the park for Meg we
set off towards King’s Norton Junction, where we winded.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5ezJtgBY9twuRnM_Idi7xlMjhs0zLQj__s4N3RzZ2D9voqIcWQrz6jFA5d1lQkM-vZ0y14FQgJ2RBMEvyXinWSuYdsuA1XOXWvFOmjZQL3aPcT0FFyMhQx4_ubCmD1ECuEmCw7A-LHhI/s2048/2+down+the+stratford+-+no.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5ezJtgBY9twuRnM_Idi7xlMjhs0zLQj__s4N3RzZ2D9voqIcWQrz6jFA5d1lQkM-vZ0y14FQgJ2RBMEvyXinWSuYdsuA1XOXWvFOmjZQL3aPcT0FFyMhQx4_ubCmD1ECuEmCw7A-LHhI/w640-h480/2+down+the+stratford+-+no.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The lovely Stratford canal with its disused guillotine lock .... but not today</i> <br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t think we’ve ever turned here before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the offside on the very corner are some interesting looking footpaths which we've not really noticed in spite of all the times we've come this way.<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgAxUa4lyOEHh0BsPBwhCVWGFBhpVe8cXaR3ZMH279zr2lWpzEFEgS-BqgxlxoBKfe0yFVtkL6VSN5V6x-nAPf2kxFNhpllmP8CY4ONhjdlVH0RuhqKBJCFEy4U7Hnjm1TVNIZtQJ4LDp/s2048/3+unusual+junction+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgAxUa4lyOEHh0BsPBwhCVWGFBhpVe8cXaR3ZMH279zr2lWpzEFEgS-BqgxlxoBKfe0yFVtkL6VSN5V6x-nAPf2kxFNhpllmP8CY4ONhjdlVH0RuhqKBJCFEy4U7Hnjm1TVNIZtQJ4LDp/w640-h480/3+unusual+junction+view.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then it was waterproofs on and back through the tunnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the procession of hire boats and
timeshares passing this morning (we guessed they had mostly moored at Hopwood last night),
we met nobody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pulled in on the Hopwood 48 hour moorings, which were completely empty, as far from the main road as we could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had a cup of tea and carried on variously cleaning or sorting
cupboards, getting the dried-on mud from the centre ropes and fenders off the roof and
washing the port side, and some varnishing touch-ups inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the afternoon and early evening the canal
was very busy, and the moorings between the road bridge and the one behind us
soon filled - I counted fifteen boats apart from us, bow fender to stern button
all the way along.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I walked Meg up towards the tunnel in the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two live-aboards were moored further up, and
starting to retrieve some of the 15 or so black dustbin bags floating along the
canal – at least the ones they could reach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Apparently someone had fly-tipped the lot from the road bridge before
the tunnel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyTBGZiQ7JAkRY9sypcKiELTlYVsTG_lc2uU4eTSwJfdKYMSi7UJpP_ETCQrWwSfXggC6Y45sbZDPBYagHnEDqjWuWY9AgFLOH3V_CMwlxN47yfqVrkOlIABieALBtTlYy-GBz_LZR09j/s2048/4+evening+at+Hopwood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyTBGZiQ7JAkRY9sypcKiELTlYVsTG_lc2uU4eTSwJfdKYMSi7UJpP_ETCQrWwSfXggC6Y45sbZDPBYagHnEDqjWuWY9AgFLOH3V_CMwlxN47yfqVrkOlIABieALBtTlYy-GBz_LZR09j/w640-h480/4+evening+at+Hopwood.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Rings were shared all the way along, though we had to invite the new hirers to do so. We had bagged the ones furthest from the road. Boats on the water point overnight too.</i> <br /></div> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3½<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>miles, Wast Hill
tunnel</p>
<p> </p><br />nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-51367571796930949152021-06-12T09:14:00.002-07:002021-06-12T09:14:53.247-07:00The decision is made<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Friday 28<sup>th</sup>
May; Tardebigge top pound to King’s Norton</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was a cloudy morning, but with three tunnels to go
through perhaps it doesn’t matter much!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
went up the top lock and pulled in on the services to empty two cassettes and
dispose of rubbish, glass bottles and the litter we had picked up along the way, to leave
us space for a proper clean-up later on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to take some photos of tug <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Birmingham</i>,
which I had noticed in a little garden area behind the car parking. Stern first, then the bow end.<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF-vRxyt1ZFgEw6wx9joxKEhCYG0IHS6TN6KrBXN0M6pcwiLxzP1uPjLdnr4TPsHqmmQRxfmg78LYXtQwVaZcTkt98KC-MQEDV71nCkLtSZa40WoPM-gAO1gZoPoGMRtKHqGh7lQDBvxS/s2048/3+tug+birmingham+stern.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1631" data-original-width="2048" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF-vRxyt1ZFgEw6wx9joxKEhCYG0IHS6TN6KrBXN0M6pcwiLxzP1uPjLdnr4TPsHqmmQRxfmg78LYXtQwVaZcTkt98KC-MQEDV71nCkLtSZa40WoPM-gAO1gZoPoGMRtKHqGh7lQDBvxS/w400-h319/3+tug+birmingham+stern.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kNmS3oGU4osLGWYJYJiefkW-r-dp5MVDVC-cfCYBJ_SwZnfGhIgsGIqnifxLrYtD8Oel7MowGzYfJb09FG6nymoG_rM17S19IEckIJh4J3_oVwLRQGvn03T2KRFa38TRY0_3fdNqO3vd/s2048/4+tug+birmingham+bow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kNmS3oGU4osLGWYJYJiefkW-r-dp5MVDVC-cfCYBJ_SwZnfGhIgsGIqnifxLrYtD8Oel7MowGzYfJb09FG6nymoG_rM17S19IEckIJh4J3_oVwLRQGvn03T2KRFa38TRY0_3fdNqO3vd/w400-h300/4+tug+birmingham+bow.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>I couldn’t get far enough away for a picture of the entire
thing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was powered, and was built to
replace a steam tug of the same name to tow boats through the tunnels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is plenty of other info on the display
board but it’s a poor photo and all I can remember is that there were two
others, called I think Gloucester and Worcester, I can’t remember
more but I’m sure it’s online if you want to know. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk7JmAGKhWvdcnBWBnio4ysbFOkteZndFE9Hu1J9JwmwyefZewBytKkF7B5AWSORF-4HhH52r7AJve5ba8dQCDxL_ZHmBOKfk3IsvD2Tl_q0seBJ1ZnFnbKdV2jdnoN3DQ_uwhACf6U4d/s2048/2+tug+info.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk7JmAGKhWvdcnBWBnio4ysbFOkteZndFE9Hu1J9JwmwyefZewBytKkF7B5AWSORF-4HhH52r7AJve5ba8dQCDxL_ZHmBOKfk3IsvD2Tl_q0seBJ1ZnFnbKdV2jdnoN3DQ_uwhACf6U4d/w640-h480/2+tug+info.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">I had noticed a large holly bush when I walked Meg round yesterday
afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed some to clean the
stove flue so I went armed with my secateurs, brought specially from home for
the purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cut a suitable piece where it lolled on the ground, about to be driven over when the car parked
there drove away so I felt I was performing a useful service!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had just finished topping up the water tank when someone
emerged from the tunnel to take our place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tardebigge and Shortwood tunnels are pretty dry, and we were through
fairly quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a mooring we
have used before, a couple of hundred yards from the northern end of Shortwood tunnel,
with a single ring if you know where to look, and we stopped for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not by the signs giving info about the
tunnel, where you sometimes find an emergency mooring spot, but we were
prepared to breast up if someone needed to tie up before entering the tunnel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, that decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of years ago we
toyed with the idea of selling Chuffed but in the end we
couldn’t bear to, so didn’t follow up our enquiries. We revisited the
idea on and off last year, but were so desperate to get on the water after lockdown we put it off
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now, after some heartfelt
discussions, we feel it is time to move on - partly because we live a long way
from the main network but there are other factors too, not to mention we are
neither of us in the first flush of youth!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t want to give up boating but it is time Chuffed found some new
owners who will love her as much as we have. (My eyes seem to be leaking as I
type … do you see why there has been such a long gap between posts?) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
moored on the wharf at Alvechurch and Dave went in to get their brokerage
information, before we cruised on in subdued mood, in appropriately drizzly
weather.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the fishing lake opposite the Lower
Bittell reservoir, there were plenty of fishermen hunched over
their rods, but my attention was taken by the figures in hi-vis standing
around behind them at intervals around the perimeter fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Covid wardens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems a bit extreme. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJbUzGxr7_4fIeNPKOvNYre6jFstFchckyP21YGovLhTG-LgSynrtg2gV0G2_nzBM2QzRiKBq5UMbVCOnpzbcgm6TJZVNYjJmpeu9EmxbgLZfSmJ8PRW8WvxX0WlYvXSgYT3DewpCGyBw/s2048/5+being+watched.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="2048" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJbUzGxr7_4fIeNPKOvNYre6jFstFchckyP21YGovLhTG-LgSynrtg2gV0G2_nzBM2QzRiKBq5UMbVCOnpzbcgm6TJZVNYjJmpeu9EmxbgLZfSmJ8PRW8WvxX0WlYvXSgYT3DewpCGyBw/w640-h514/5+being+watched.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You are being watched</i> <br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not entirely sure what they were for, there were no notices that we could
see - perhaps just to remind people about social distancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it was waterproofs on in preparation for
the rather wet Wast Hills tunnel, with Meg safely shut inside; we made excellent time
through of 30 minutes in spite of meeting five boats!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No touching of steelwork and just a nudge of
brickwork when one boat drifted out a little bit.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dave was obliged to take Meg for a good play in King’s Norton
park as soon as we had moored, leaving me to give the flue a good brush with my
holly with her out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtxTe2LJrq9afAjdUZOEz0xKrNDK_Qh2CvnC2gN82QFYAWK2GRzSALRWcSAfmkhXMZqmFdh2HeJVUAgNvlSCIEubRu99bb-eHKwgR-E9GxE1oe6axqXjxXBcNl9d8_NxGhkY1A2tQlbnz/s1495/6+soot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1495" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtxTe2LJrq9afAjdUZOEz0xKrNDK_Qh2CvnC2gN82QFYAWK2GRzSALRWcSAfmkhXMZqmFdh2HeJVUAgNvlSCIEubRu99bb-eHKwgR-E9GxE1oe6axqXjxXBcNl9d8_NxGhkY1A2tQlbnz/w640-h570/6+soot.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Soot</i> <br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We took the chimney home after our last trip, and Dave had
cleaned it inside and out, treating a little bit of rust and touching up the
paint so it's all nice and ready for next winter. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was a constant stream of boats passing, mostly ABCs on
their way back to base at Alvechurch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">9 miles, 1 lock, 3 tunnels.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-28098976555729273562021-06-11T09:50:00.003-07:002021-06-11T09:50:44.655-07:00The Early Birds<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thursday 27<sup>th</sup>
May; Tardebigge</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have got terribly behind with the blog, but ther's a good reason which will become clear over the next few posts. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Well, two weeks ago now the sun woke us at 6, so up we got, had breakfast and
were casting off just after 7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
weather was fabulous, unbroken sunshine and no wind, though it was still a bit
nippy at that hour and the dew was heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My windlass was so cold it hurt my fingers, so it was definitely gloves
on for the first hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The remnants of a
little overnight mist were still wisping at the wood edges and the contrast
between strong sunlight and deep dark woods was striking.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoWo6pPaDxTeFCXGoMXFeAKfYPDgWKg_WwxbF9jGrK13V1WVnHSgjWUyYdhGQb3XISza0ZGdqWzYltf96zEJlWG5Ya83rCdZem7Zi8p2r8UXjeDcVcZ1GewnsrywiYgDNt4VcPvj_uuV5/s2048/1+early+morning+beanfield.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoWo6pPaDxTeFCXGoMXFeAKfYPDgWKg_WwxbF9jGrK13V1WVnHSgjWUyYdhGQb3XISza0ZGdqWzYltf96zEJlWG5Ya83rCdZem7Zi8p2r8UXjeDcVcZ1GewnsrywiYgDNt4VcPvj_uuV5/w640-h480/1+early+morning+beanfield.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There’s a bright
golden haze on the … broad beans</i> <br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I locked ahead and we slipped at once into our lock flight
routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave brings Chuffed into the
empty lock, I close my bottom gate while he climbs the steps and looks after
his side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slowly open my ground paddle
at the top, then leave him to fill the lock and open the gate while I go up to
the next lock, then back I go to close up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP0G_DaGAtaqOELgl8gm5HTtbpV4IZpMda0nK7UxroMoOeiP84DWfppCUojfpiQvf2eZ5XJEpuMw7yC2D7YYBDV1N9Bt-vcztilPn2f_eyS_g_YaEJf_IouiDh-B28sE4q8BoM3KM-gf5/s2048/2+early+reflections.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP0G_DaGAtaqOELgl8gm5HTtbpV4IZpMda0nK7UxroMoOeiP84DWfppCUojfpiQvf2eZ5XJEpuMw7yC2D7YYBDV1N9Bt-vcztilPn2f_eyS_g_YaEJf_IouiDh-B28sE4q8BoM3KM-gf5/w640-h480/2+early+reflections.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Reflections</i> <br /></div><br />We knew that most of the locks would be empty, at least at
the bottom of the flight, as boats had come down the afternoon before and the
locks mostly drain overnight anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
by the time Dave had opened his top gate, I was already walking back from
opening the next bottom gates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
cracked along at a fair old pace even though we weren’t hurrying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few locks later there were a couple of
workboats where they had been renovating the towpath edge with some Armco, but
it was far too early for any activity.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvi3Sm3grvRdBE1HrL3FmgnMMiJZQOWo0EhKdP1hG3DX-oXfYGky_WeQ5masNI7DkOF5n7WcPpv2M_9LNdbZ31_Tcvwd1dCjT_pvoj9vxQNRD1dM748J8riJl1sxnBGcu9FpUB6Dkl7Yz/s2048/3+towpath+edge+works.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvi3Sm3grvRdBE1HrL3FmgnMMiJZQOWo0EhKdP1hG3DX-oXfYGky_WeQ5masNI7DkOF5n7WcPpv2M_9LNdbZ31_Tcvwd1dCjT_pvoj9vxQNRD1dM748J8riJl1sxnBGcu9FpUB6Dkl7Yz/w640-h480/3+towpath+edge+works.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">About half an hour later I was surprised to see what looked
like a heavy frost or light snow on the ramp up to a lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mornings are certainly still a little chilly, but
surely not that cold?</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Fc194sRKN-pZswLyn3ke77dxnZnm4nnPOhcVAq2B3R42bOG5naDEMm-UuA3JHiMKpXYTkNfyh7xv6r74XZt-uTfjlp3E8A2_IyzaYJ0L_zVnn_lDQj6NTD1DskInkbssC6nahH1ujcZt/s2048/4+willow+fluff+not+snow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1791" data-original-width="2048" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Fc194sRKN-pZswLyn3ke77dxnZnm4nnPOhcVAq2B3R42bOG5naDEMm-UuA3JHiMKpXYTkNfyh7xv6r74XZt-uTfjlp3E8A2_IyzaYJ0L_zVnn_lDQj6NTD1DskInkbssC6nahH1ujcZt/w640-h560/4+willow+fluff+not+snow.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Willow</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> fluff</i></p></div><p class="MsoNormal">On we went, with not even a dog walker or early runner going
by in the lovely sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before
8, we passed under the bridge with the car park, where the workmen (all men)
were sitting in their hut just having their morning conference/cup of tea before starting work.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RPuEE_B83BmBSj6mt_93ltRltMHrQfvtzXAOhgFfCWTCWskL2Eo5RA0pJjLp7tcE4JNQASKx5U1CUayqKkf_iUxk8iW5cha2KQ1-ixJHDZ2vdkKdFMi9wbl2V_4hMMekwy8-C5DgxZ3s/s2048/5+tea+before+starting+work.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="2048" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RPuEE_B83BmBSj6mt_93ltRltMHrQfvtzXAOhgFfCWTCWskL2Eo5RA0pJjLp7tcE4JNQASKx5U1CUayqKkf_iUxk8iW5cha2KQ1-ixJHDZ2vdkKdFMi9wbl2V_4hMMekwy8-C5DgxZ3s/w640-h388/5+tea+before+starting+work.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Some of the fields along the flight had a strip planted for
wildlife around the edge of the crop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
recently read an article saying that not only does this benefit pollinators and
other wildlife, it also seems to result in a healthier crop and the same yield
as if the strip had been cultivated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is proper university research, so let’s hope it’s true as that
means winners all round.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZzkK7N8CYZTI4lx63-Ir4aq5HO8lToGorbkMbwPtT4dN8Sl-Zpkgkk24ScbKBUQIsyN7MLSUdyMTW_wzZ-_2Ivj_UVZWTnjepLjKjmfu_mK5M7bHHAIRXRJZibMGAQ3WJJgBpRTcEqfN/s2048/6+wildlife+field+edge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZzkK7N8CYZTI4lx63-Ir4aq5HO8lToGorbkMbwPtT4dN8Sl-Zpkgkk24ScbKBUQIsyN7MLSUdyMTW_wzZ-_2Ivj_UVZWTnjepLjKjmfu_mK5M7bHHAIRXRJZibMGAQ3WJJgBpRTcEqfN/w640-h480/6+wildlife+field+edge.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Quire early on we saw the CRT man on duty as he pedalled
down the flight, then back up again, checking the water levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met one boat who had started down early, but
they hadn’t spotted us coming up as they locked ahead because we were hidden by
a bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I walked up to ask them to
leave the bottom gates open, and went back to change into dry socks and
trainers as the grass had been so wet earlier on. Shorts too for the
first time this year! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even managed a
welcome cup of tea while we waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
nearly at the reservoir before the volunteers came on duty and were lucky
enough to have three for a while, then two, then one as the others went off to help
other boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all glad to see
that the reservoir was properly full, unlike last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We crossed with a couple more boats who were just starting down, and were
moored up in plenty of time for elevenses. Pretty slick I thought with that little wait in the middle, though we had started five locks up! It felt good though, we are very fond of this flight.<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b4U7Qhh5Wzd-mbeFjNd_MQ71RQ0rKG_R3jxqqy0TxBo7XGi6gig7IQwamtneQJUpcvi7GgagOBHS-zdTFUDO2XwuHlr7AvVFmmcmRqaBiMVefO-AwF4c8_PW3TexVL_Xp3KcTgD9mGDp/s990/8+patient+heron.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b4U7Qhh5Wzd-mbeFjNd_MQ71RQ0rKG_R3jxqqy0TxBo7XGi6gig7IQwamtneQJUpcvi7GgagOBHS-zdTFUDO2XwuHlr7AvVFmmcmRqaBiMVefO-AwF4c8_PW3TexVL_Xp3KcTgD9mGDp/w606-h640/8+patient+heron.JPG" width="606" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Someone else after their elevenses!</i> <br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Should we go further?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nah, let’s relax for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were a few things to do and some thinking and planning too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Dave got on with a couple of jobs while I washed the starboard side and cleaned the windows,
including toothbrush work to clear the winter’s growth of algae from the
frames, before we decided we'd done enough for one day and chilled.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2 miles 24 locks</p>
<p> </p>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-21874345643666742752021-05-29T13:56:00.004-07:002021-05-31T11:23:01.850-07:00Oops<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wednesday 26<sup>th</sup>
May; Astwood locks to Tardebigge lock 33</b>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">It was sooo cold overnight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just like winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the sun
popped out now and then to cheer us up and we tootled off soon after 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t see a single boat as we went up the
Astwood flight, just a few pedestrians and a couple of gnomes we hadn’t noticed
before.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIUpBk7dsf7OIDnymqmvg5pqH_g6PQqaTeMn4RiC6bQ9gB53sd3C0NgVHZ3z5vhe2snZIH00dwZxylFrzi90iTRU5-cXBdOoLN1mGVLGC8BcSP5gfhwAeiyZLTgY439eKmNiw97e9A1yI/s2048/1+new+gnomes.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIUpBk7dsf7OIDnymqmvg5pqH_g6PQqaTeMn4RiC6bQ9gB53sd3C0NgVHZ3z5vhe2snZIH00dwZxylFrzi90iTRU5-cXBdOoLN1mGVLGC8BcSP5gfhwAeiyZLTgY439eKmNiw97e9A1yI/w400-h224/1+new+gnomes.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The cottage there at the second lock keeps hens and doves – we
could hear one and see the other.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDQbxFngmDFP4hrODi-NwivgdigtbfD4TZy2Zhpgb1TbFVGsFY8Q0WY78k3j4tjugd1bh3iPJ4S6TytCZJAFhvV0vEyUby7whdcloyWrabXxIV9ZM-lgL8IOQfl53IMB6bCTONskxDTsD/s1826/2+dove.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1826" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDQbxFngmDFP4hrODi-NwivgdigtbfD4TZy2Zhpgb1TbFVGsFY8Q0WY78k3j4tjugd1bh3iPJ4S6TytCZJAFhvV0vEyUby7whdcloyWrabXxIV9ZM-lgL8IOQfl53IMB6bCTONskxDTsD/w400-h270/2+dove.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was very quiet boat-wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We saw our first cygnets of the year, followed a safe distance away by a
bigger clutch.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmX57CZain_KJ9C5fEzGxeYzPJiBY1jtqnh1gAgKo9QBbFnIHoKyVMvfeXb965N0SN3Qe6kUYh8XTlSmrgMQA9Ju1mAvMRHB_3nu4sCrKtsRKxQPqNc2TIAGAfLXgvlMnasC8JsEWtUN7/s2048/3+swans.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmX57CZain_KJ9C5fEzGxeYzPJiBY1jtqnh1gAgKo9QBbFnIHoKyVMvfeXb965N0SN3Qe6kUYh8XTlSmrgMQA9Ju1mAvMRHB_3nu4sCrKtsRKxQPqNc2TIAGAfLXgvlMnasC8JsEWtUN7/w400-h300/3+swans.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the approach to Stoke Works I noticed how the planting on
the long wall of a garage has grown over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once just a framework, years of careful
pruning and training has resulted in some lovely stripes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea what the plants are,
pyracantha maybe.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8T89Vq1dLuxqVWu5Stwk8CKqJbT4HLOhjIT4CjDKumiBCS0ow5P5XqwsXuvE6mwZ5wrWKqIbq5iUFUAi-dt0RC_B8yewEfo0pXRGdS396y6FHPwzCI8wsR26D-OKplWvb5lqHmbOvCAs/s2048/4+linear+training.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8T89Vq1dLuxqVWu5Stwk8CKqJbT4HLOhjIT4CjDKumiBCS0ow5P5XqwsXuvE6mwZ5wrWKqIbq5iUFUAi-dt0RC_B8yewEfo0pXRGdS396y6FHPwzCI8wsR26D-OKplWvb5lqHmbOvCAs/w400-h300/4+linear+training.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We moored above the bridge so I could nip up to the shop in Ryefields Road, about
10 minutes walk away if you stride out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would run out of bread tomorrow and milk the day after, and while I
was there I though Dave might like a treat – he is a great Magnum fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in spite of buying some frozen peas, and
then wrapping up the peas and the Magnum in the newspaper (like in the old
pre-fridge days, which I just remember) I couldn’t quite manage to keep it
frozen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it was a bit bendy, but
still, I’m told, delicious!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirud13Q-M5KiD7k5_MYgcHURhRNG0mB42u3ruilNwnlQcs5ISiSiRezk3P4C6Md3oCO3-9svWAqIb0ZKSTNRWz_hFosBpuoxoBH6pqta1V0QYsLpbhTbozhed5LUzjJ4aTtpxZMJ_4zm5q/s2048/11+bendy+magnum.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="2048" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirud13Q-M5KiD7k5_MYgcHURhRNG0mB42u3ruilNwnlQcs5ISiSiRezk3P4C6Md3oCO3-9svWAqIb0ZKSTNRWz_hFosBpuoxoBH6pqta1V0QYsLpbhTbozhed5LUzjJ4aTtpxZMJ_4zm5q/w400-h275/11+bendy+magnum.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was time before lunch to try and remove some of the
green fur that had developed over the long periods without moving over the last
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43gl3G93LFn_-kZFXBeokQnHJB5jx6EgZbqjOXy94686BXgyHT099fknYxZLTe0oWH_ImYDVyLmWUrDfC-rW5SJCyRndhx53MYPWjFDM0UcUN-U_Vv0PjNNiSgwSR8jvoDWgRSRRJkQOg/s2048/6+green+fur.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43gl3G93LFn_-kZFXBeokQnHJB5jx6EgZbqjOXy94686BXgyHT099fknYxZLTe0oWH_ImYDVyLmWUrDfC-rW5SJCyRndhx53MYPWjFDM0UcUN-U_Vv0PjNNiSgwSR8jvoDWgRSRRJkQOg/w400-h300/6+green+fur.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was remarkably hard to dislodge, then when I found the
right tool it was hard to remove it from that too.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenDHdurxp8tuDvKB1ANPaa60zfvvURx3qcBofdtGpCy0UBARTpM4-UHnwCGR-HW2UIh7wsD2WKQLLcG6JHep0ecRKiO7zXFcZ3sTFuBZDeQDkY_IXMmtZKkLmLkqh0lg9arwBw7gSWIJp/s2048/5+algae+brush.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenDHdurxp8tuDvKB1ANPaa60zfvvURx3qcBofdtGpCy0UBARTpM4-UHnwCGR-HW2UIh7wsD2WKQLLcG6JHep0ecRKiO7zXFcZ3sTFuBZDeQDkY_IXMmtZKkLmLkqh0lg9arwBw7gSWIJp/w400-h241/5+algae+brush.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We moved on again straight after lunch, as we wanted to be
sure of a mooring in Stoke Pound below the Tardebigge flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we pulled out past the industrial units on
the offside, we saw the counterpoint to the Armitage toilet factory somewhere
up country, I can’t remember which canal for the moment – Shroppie maybe, or T&M?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <i>It's the T&M, thanks Pip.<br /></i></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94BnofqQrayKTtCYpJ30tiPYMGUajdQYkVryv_5ZkPo6bXcQhHPZUjd4Ig3Z3rh0uuPR1IS2lzkMzUkE0T3qq2WgJM547VQS_MK91FTrErifCvJN_n8co-5jdC8ckZmYxw3WdLuigwnWx/s2048/7+bog+rolls.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="2048" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94BnofqQrayKTtCYpJ30tiPYMGUajdQYkVryv_5ZkPo6bXcQhHPZUjd4Ig3Z3rh0uuPR1IS2lzkMzUkE0T3qq2WgJM547VQS_MK91FTrErifCvJN_n8co-5jdC8ckZmYxw3WdLuigwnWx/w400-h243/7+bog+rolls.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>As many bog rolls as you cold ever want</i> <br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Then, outside Crafted Boats, we saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b><a href="https://pippa13.blogspot.com/2021/05/we-know-how-to-pick-them20th-21st-may.html" target="_blank">NB Tentatrice</a></b> </i>where Jenny and Chris had left her to have some
work done.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqstJnnVspnkAEbNZgjj7vAQwNcV9ZFuE8X0NJ7QValuwXAGgCV77ifceum070MurrAC97RhN50xSjwy02KMmvIE9mJCQ-2Ot4s9AlS59mv1Mlo1G7Iprss-RQITLua-kXuegvv6484o0B/s2048/8+tentatrice.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqstJnnVspnkAEbNZgjj7vAQwNcV9ZFuE8X0NJ7QValuwXAGgCV77ifceum070MurrAC97RhN50xSjwy02KMmvIE9mJCQ-2Ot4s9AlS59mv1Mlo1G7Iprss-RQITLua-kXuegvv6484o0B/w400-h300/8+tentatrice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>In Stoke Pound, the Queen’s Head pub garden now has a huge clear-sided
marquee taking up half the garden, and we were so busy looking at the customers that we failed to notice that we had passed all the remaining mooring
spots before the lock mooring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
dear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should we reverse back and moor in
the stink of the chip fat opposite all those diners?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, no contest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fingers crossed, we started up the flight and
straight away met 3 boats together, who had been held up at lock 47 – some wood
jammed behind the bottom gate apparently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So we were up 4 locks in the blink of an eye, up the 5<sup>th</sup>
after a couple more, and moored up in the pound between locks 33 and 34.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Much quieter and with a hugely better outlook.</span></p><p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2-9l9UZssAumcG9Zi6RdjnVtsgFwEiN7p4OGcxmqPQ2EbavdrpKXY6AXNlGwun2ifwABw1riwR40n0Gp5Up8-XUVnxFKF0lYx-mzTdi9oyvtXjkp-okRRiAyu4M6P2G9UNAcnH9y1i0e/s2048/12+evening+sunshine+above+lock+33.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2-9l9UZssAumcG9Zi6RdjnVtsgFwEiN7p4OGcxmqPQ2EbavdrpKXY6AXNlGwun2ifwABw1riwR40n0Gp5Up8-XUVnxFKF0lYx-mzTdi9oyvtXjkp-okRRiAyu4M6P2G9UNAcnH9y1i0e/w640-h480/12+evening+sunshine+above+lock+33.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is just room for 2 boats on the Armco, but we wouldn’t
stop here in the middle of the day as we would be in the
way if boats wanted to pass each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it was quite late, and quiet, and before we went to bed we double-checked that lock 33 was firmly closed, and we slackened our ropes in
case the water level dropped overnight.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">17 locks, 3 miles</p>
<p> </p>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-50796965412772544992021-05-28T12:59:00.004-07:002021-05-28T12:59:26.992-07:00That dratted wind<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tuesday 25<sup>th</sup>
May; marina to below Astwood bottom lock</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the appalling weather we had been having we’d been
watching the CRT page on the river level indicator boards rather closely. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we were fairly sure our initial plan of
cruising up to Stourport would be scuppered, which indeed it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things kept us at home anyway, but today we
left at 9 and by 1 o’clock we were lunching on the boat, wondering if the wind
would abate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We needed a boost of shore
power for the batteries anyway, and to fill up the water tank, so didn’t try to
leave till after 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the wind had
other ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was blowing almost straight
down from where we needed to go, and with a boat on one side of us and the
pontoon on the other we were doomed – we reversed out, but before the bow was
free and Dave could swing the tiller, the wind had shoved the bow back down the
marina and we ended up at 90 degrees to the pontoons pointing the wrong way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we’d have to reverse out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually no – the wind was so strong that we
couldn’t make enough headway (or whatever the word is when you’re reversing) to
keep us from being blown sideways towards the pontoons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave made a snap decision, positioned us
perfectly and we managed to get back onto the pontoon, with me on the bow rope
to keep us from blowing into our neighbour.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">B*gger.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oh well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
re-attached the shoreline, then Meg needed a walk so we went down to the
staircase where there is plenty of space for a game of ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way back we climbed through a gap in
the fence to a well-worn footpath following the very edge of the rugby club,
with much less scope for losing your ball in the cut.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWCDy4CM5Wzo5S-3gFttE4RdRsbFkpKt3UM3b_yTlmf8h5QS-XEa_NWJKDpFW8LKQ3MLSn2emcfevec-oaP9lTG8f9n396PN7AXGzVYAavr4PYP4RT7wrjys8w-_2cgbJ74mL3RKsTbWT/s2048/1+new+footpath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWCDy4CM5Wzo5S-3gFttE4RdRsbFkpKt3UM3b_yTlmf8h5QS-XEa_NWJKDpFW8LKQ3MLSn2emcfevec-oaP9lTG8f9n396PN7AXGzVYAavr4PYP4RT7wrjys8w-_2cgbJ74mL3RKsTbWT/w640-h480/1+new+footpath.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We got back to the boat, and I put the kettle on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Dave shouted through the stern doors,
‘the wind’s dropped a bit!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out I rushed
to confer, zoomed back in again, kettle off, shoreline unplugged, bow rope
untied …. Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The perfect weather
window, just good enough, and we escaped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Too late for the volunteers on Hanbury locks, but a boat had just come
down so it was a fairly quick ascent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They clearly knew the flight, as the side ponds were full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Side ponds work well here as a water-saving
device. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a boat coming down empties
the lock, they should use the side paddles to divert some of the lock water into the
side pond rather than the whole lot disappearing downstream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a boat enters the lock to come up, the
crew opens the side paddles to partly fill the lock from the side ponds instead
of taking it all from the pound above. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib1LyOKwsM7d-DMdFzPolvYbWf_JOMWChzO0rvPSbkJjZd5IED1Qxy9wUnjwBOulxkroFOKQZFBMl9he5Z0ZqwNyWSX1JkNzyAgXmMC6Pi7qz-Errnura4rxDfnfzRygKfcg621usgifr/s2048/2+side+paddles+open.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib1LyOKwsM7d-DMdFzPolvYbWf_JOMWChzO0rvPSbkJjZd5IED1Qxy9wUnjwBOulxkroFOKQZFBMl9he5Z0ZqwNyWSX1JkNzyAgXmMC6Pi7qz-Errnura4rxDfnfzRygKfcg621usgifr/w640-h480/2+side+paddles+open.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Water rushing from the side pond</i> <br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can hear the water rushing under your feet where you
stand on the boards above the culvert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The water enters the lock just by the back gates, and doesn’t throw the
boat about at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave took the picture
into the sun, hence the flare.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UCX3rREZU1PCT-vLdKVEmBpWlnTkkFMQT3T54tqj4wbGlV63RAk1gpT-7mX9nwpF4mao6DW28qKZ_w-dJEs39eqsN8EoVIAbyJteCkE4hPQyqfGziswskQNwFbha5tMWNAmDueJ7nnqo/s2048/4+side+paddle+filling+lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UCX3rREZU1PCT-vLdKVEmBpWlnTkkFMQT3T54tqj4wbGlV63RAk1gpT-7mX9nwpF4mao6DW28qKZ_w-dJEs39eqsN8EoVIAbyJteCkE4hPQyqfGziswskQNwFbha5tMWNAmDueJ7nnqo/w640-h418/4+side+paddle+filling+lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The flow slows as the side pond empties, the crew shuts the
side paddles then opens the ground paddles by the top gate in the normal way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The side ponds tend to drain overnight, so
the water hadn’t gone to waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgXfKY8JYb2R2I9W37pN9vNAe3iPbbT_YAQRzDKufUL2LDEsIFSASUyXnC2lQVu3jYP3xIHWZ7dt0Wc8JDiFrL4g6Iso6AwESCyFe48YNv_RiO9t2-v25fZ_jLEIh12hWQBtdUVQJ2scB/s2048/3+side+pond+nearly+empty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgXfKY8JYb2R2I9W37pN9vNAe3iPbbT_YAQRzDKufUL2LDEsIFSASUyXnC2lQVu3jYP3xIHWZ7dt0Wc8JDiFrL4g6Iso6AwESCyFe48YNv_RiO9t2-v25fZ_jLEIh12hWQBtdUVQJ2scB/w640-h480/3+side+pond+nearly+empty.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we came out of the top lock, Dave spied a fat rat
creeping out from a sluice by the lockies’ hut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I zoomed in, and have cropped the photo, and I’m pleased with the
result!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shot off into the hedge, then
came back again as I closed the gate.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmgZnIhtFCLn6xWg4n6zWNixMEzbqj98vg4YjYfvxcFW_KCPvQjbLAdcyN0cWMCz0Kc5WWK830J3LC4ut1SYIHwPWxVZ9Ok8bl6q24AtbuGXnRXNAdueqv9eVrcmFhRXxxNCD-ybR3dNG/s940/5+ratty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="940" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmgZnIhtFCLn6xWg4n6zWNixMEzbqj98vg4YjYfvxcFW_KCPvQjbLAdcyN0cWMCz0Kc5WWK830J3LC4ut1SYIHwPWxVZ9Ok8bl6q24AtbuGXnRXNAdueqv9eVrcmFhRXxxNCD-ybR3dNG/w640-h438/5+ratty.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We turned north at Hanbury junction, away from the racket of
Saltway (the busy road into Droitwich) and pottered gently along in the evening
sunshine, out of the wind and content with our lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hedges are foaming with May and Cow
Parsley, a beautiful sight.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbMXfitPj2dq2ljnF-VVbCxTYUzrzUVd3s143bLrnrYxyIamPYBrqFWRMlMF1j67PFglYMr1gndqubK1SJULcumCf62v7e_sAiRbpmqnWv5MtdIr0bW60azpekYONlYhSv64XILYXFsg7/s2048/6+green+and+white.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbMXfitPj2dq2ljnF-VVbCxTYUzrzUVd3s143bLrnrYxyIamPYBrqFWRMlMF1j67PFglYMr1gndqubK1SJULcumCf62v7e_sAiRbpmqnWv5MtdIr0bW60azpekYONlYhSv64XILYXFsg7/w640-h480/6+green+and+white.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We moored a few hundred yards before the Astwood flight, one
boat a hundred yards behind and another closer to the lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Bats and a moon too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Perfect but for one thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have a difficult decision to make in the next few
days.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1½ miles, 3 locks</p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-31841784467340765262021-05-25T13:43:00.001-07:002021-05-25T13:43:34.921-07:00Between trips<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Some time in May ….</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After our last trip we had rather a full car, as we brought
home the lifejackets for servicing and the pair of dinette seat cushions as the covers
needed a good wash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why bring the cushions home
you ask, and not just the covers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
having discovered years ago that it’s wise to replace seat cushion covers
before they are completely dry in case they have shrunk, and with no washing machine on the boat, it was
the only way to make sure I could get them back on again!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsC-uuypWmBEuSPisTouOg1HUCHx29cBti2q8Cqot05xkeJMq67NwLTLqhJAhUHgZBGtUSBth7etsSm9ZxygdVxbcw88PcnJzKcHoHYfO3MYP6jRPqt0AwcMDBw7eSYFFpRTC64KMv8aim/s2048/not+a+banana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1142" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsC-uuypWmBEuSPisTouOg1HUCHx29cBti2q8Cqot05xkeJMq67NwLTLqhJAhUHgZBGtUSBth7etsSm9ZxygdVxbcw88PcnJzKcHoHYfO3MYP6jRPqt0AwcMDBw7eSYFFpRTC64KMv8aim/s320/not+a+banana.JPG" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Not a banana</i> <br /></div><br />I’m fairly sure the covers hadn’t shrunk but it was still a
struggle getting them back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they finished drying, a lot easier at home with big radiators!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcDIpkiZxWbQj9VhoGlRHWhLqJUmS7QpJ7gvpowTV6-hsL_LxPvEvukozbZVAVQj2HUi83cXyjKzOzQl2oCvzqCcpIUU6RZ0XaasHsqa0RTELTAvjNv0LIA5GOTBI2LWt_YcBJRs8w47G/s2628/radiator+drying.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2628" data-original-width="1197" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcDIpkiZxWbQj9VhoGlRHWhLqJUmS7QpJ7gvpowTV6-hsL_LxPvEvukozbZVAVQj2HUi83cXyjKzOzQl2oCvzqCcpIUU6RZ0XaasHsqa0RTELTAvjNv0LIA5GOTBI2LWt_YcBJRs8w47G/s320/radiator+drying.JPG" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Need to straighten that zip</i> <br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Then it was time to service the lifejackets. We had watched a video on how to do it, but had some questions so I emailed the suppliers, Marine Warehouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When does the gas bulb need replacing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what happens when the date on
the cartridge has expired?<span style="color: black;"> Here are the answers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">With the cylinder it won't need to be replaced provided it
hasn't been fired and isn't corroded in any way.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">The Black cartridge has a use by date because it is not
guaranteed to work after this time. It may also fire accidentally.</span></i><span style="color: black;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So we ordered replacement cartridges and duly fitted them,
following the instructional video they supplied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxTJVjxJcdcr4ObF-eE2WKRuR5D2NG7nb8CvnAv_HNithZNwTcCcI8083x1HghJh5OeeKE0hkU6iZS8SQJUV5H-seIFBB4OnImPSoQTTh51yvEuJWYE6imgqCkvvT1JKyUdvdOAUkY4iv/s2048/1+mine+stayed+inflated+ok.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1705" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxTJVjxJcdcr4ObF-eE2WKRuR5D2NG7nb8CvnAv_HNithZNwTcCcI8083x1HghJh5OeeKE0hkU6iZS8SQJUV5H-seIFBB4OnImPSoQTTh51yvEuJWYE6imgqCkvvT1JKyUdvdOAUkY4iv/s320/1+mine+stayed+inflated+ok.JPG" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>First check it still inflates!</i> <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSejBFEDFHaUWVF6EYkBdH3BEQQfOOyNWtvAIAEnSWqN0o6oELrdhYCQJJqq9fKwWRDl_nGo67aS_ktsTb7pgQWL-8oHHXNa7zqVhoO0N6rs_bdtn3oUHH8WKxTo4dnZ2RFBiArghQgkTs/s2048/about+to+screw+in+new+cartridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSejBFEDFHaUWVF6EYkBdH3BEQQfOOyNWtvAIAEnSWqN0o6oELrdhYCQJJqq9fKwWRDl_nGo67aS_ktsTb7pgQWL-8oHHXNa7zqVhoO0N6rs_bdtn3oUHH8WKxTo4dnZ2RFBiArghQgkTs/s320/about+to+screw+in+new+cartridge.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Then you can fit the new cartridge.</i> <br /></div><br />And don't forget to screw the gas cyclinder back in properly. The hardest bit was re-folding and re-packing
the yellow inflatable part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed my
whistle had become detached so fixed that back too.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01E0LdrmX4fnM26EKY0ZzhLENJra0ynFBqufiIXrGAmPQFZW7tq4GLXXNthoOvLwIvn3AQNuOp-2gGC-nFCktF8dppbAqmE4TCs4tEEe32vUIMX6QcPgMdL9-s7KxZ1pIPew8pYmpWBwD/s2048/2+but+whistle+had+come+adrift.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01E0LdrmX4fnM26EKY0ZzhLENJra0ynFBqufiIXrGAmPQFZW7tq4GLXXNthoOvLwIvn3AQNuOp-2gGC-nFCktF8dppbAqmE4TCs4tEEe32vUIMX6QcPgMdL9-s7KxZ1pIPew8pYmpWBwD/s320/2+but+whistle+had+come+adrift.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When could we get back to the boat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a lot of catch-up work to be done
in the garden, and also the small matter of the weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent several days dodging the spots, not
always very successfully and getting quite muddy too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with heavy rain and gales, we wouldn’t
have been able to leave the marina!</p><p class="MsoNormal">But we arrived today so all's well. <br /></p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-81132686301618683302021-05-08T07:39:00.001-07:002021-05-08T07:39:37.210-07:00and home again<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wednesday 28<sup>th</sup>
April: Oddingley to the marina</b>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Well it certainly rained last night and it was still going
when we got up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg had to go out first
thing of course but she was very quick thank goodness.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmI8Ng3eoWNyEi_fuzuLdimoihNkBhHbBPt18Lfumb1PC5f3yJamP0SPLruwxTrz1BO5Xken6hBVWs0Dp1rDlVrJgVH95XVEhcc_gXJEKeyci4xYpToPWCRA-beLJ4fC2XEtjTRB1GWxo/s2893/1+rained+overnight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="2893" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmI8Ng3eoWNyEi_fuzuLdimoihNkBhHbBPt18Lfumb1PC5f3yJamP0SPLruwxTrz1BO5Xken6hBVWs0Dp1rDlVrJgVH95XVEhcc_gXJEKeyci4xYpToPWCRA-beLJ4fC2XEtjTRB1GWxo/w400-h150/1+rained+overnight.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The forecast seemed confident it would stop raining by 9, so
we finished breakfast and had another cup of tea, then bingo! the Met Office
was right, so we set off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No-one had
arrived to moor near us last night, and there were only a couple of boats on
the long Dunhampstead public mooring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could easily have moored up to pay the Fir
Tree farm shop a visit, but it’s going to be windy later and we
preferred to get into our berth before it got too bad.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1h6kMwtplT4L6RheWk2zATPHUlR3J4fepfggKQRfeAKvSPre8bEBDmDHIjgJRX14yfSKlsQm2wLTVXSsCwQ3GQy91042y8I5Kh88W38pB8d4oE-3JqOxgpgPAoKiCxyvuDB7Vv2z0f7qA/s2048/2+no+longer+a+pub.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1734" data-original-width="2048" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1h6kMwtplT4L6RheWk2zATPHUlR3J4fepfggKQRfeAKvSPre8bEBDmDHIjgJRX14yfSKlsQm2wLTVXSsCwQ3GQy91042y8I5Kh88W38pB8d4oE-3JqOxgpgPAoKiCxyvuDB7Vv2z0f7qA/w640-h542/2+no+longer+a+pub.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were dripped on slightly in the tunnel, but it didn’t
matter as we already had our waterproofs on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We will need to adjust our headlight before we do any more tunnels
though, as we would have dazzled anyone coming towards us – but as with the
rest of this trip, there have been few other boats to worry about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The towpath north of the tunnel is always a bit damp …</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDzUnFhlyodBGDwMSKzZ43BRyXSWah5fVhNEazlngYOUev4DoqhiMPCF55xEwJBX5g2R6RQ4yXGOXR2IM52bhNtjoWX4Mi6p_lceFu5f2r0WETSPnDPHHAyc6ck7WJbqxN_HWEcyBr5an/s2048/3+soggy+towpath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="2048" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDzUnFhlyodBGDwMSKzZ43BRyXSWah5fVhNEazlngYOUev4DoqhiMPCF55xEwJBX5g2R6RQ4yXGOXR2IM52bhNtjoWX4Mi6p_lceFu5f2r0WETSPnDPHHAyc6ck7WJbqxN_HWEcyBr5an/w640-h492/3+soggy+towpath.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s not far to the junction with the Droitwich canals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a residential mooring on the offside
as you approach the New & Used Boat Co, which is at the junction, and we
had a hitch-hiker here for a while.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7IGIxiJ3dU5HjpMUEBy0vuFi4CC_t3rkb0-nlEakgNLgIRc14rTg6VzaBpxH8lhK4ZLGdQgxLMbawQIlrHr6zJBQPzS75SryDMlF9fj-p2_RI79Ad3GJO9nNFotscs9X1xqD8N1Dkyxn/s2048/4+hitch-hiker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1661" data-original-width="2048" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7IGIxiJ3dU5HjpMUEBy0vuFi4CC_t3rkb0-nlEakgNLgIRc14rTg6VzaBpxH8lhK4ZLGdQgxLMbawQIlrHr6zJBQPzS75SryDMlF9fj-p2_RI79Ad3GJO9nNFotscs9X1xqD8N1Dkyxn/w640-h520/4+hitch-hiker.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I just missed the action shot when he took off again, didn't even get his toenails as he sprung into the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a lockie to give us a hand down the Hanbury
flight – the bit I really appreciate is that they close up the bottom lock for you, so the crew can get
on board without having to close the bottom gates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are deep locks and the
bottom landing is not the easiest to get on and off at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The wind made it very difficult to negotiate the marina
entrance, and Dave decided to forgo a fuel top-up in favour of getting back in
our berth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That manoeuvre went
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind got considerably stronger
over the next hour and we were glad we’d got a move on earlier. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were packed and on our way home at 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The car was rammed – the dinette seat
cushion covers need a wash, and we had the foam inners along for the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always try to get the foam back in place
before the covers are completely dry just in case they shrink, so that meant
taking the whole kit and caboodle with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The chimney needs a bit of tlc, so that came home too, in a sack to keep any loose soot off everything else. </span>We also
have our lifejackets, which need a full check on before we go on the river later in
the year (we hope). The timing will depend a lot on when we are allowed to have family to stay.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3 miles, 3 locks, 1 tunnel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trip stats</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Droitwich Spa Marina to Worcester and back -</span> Droitwich junction canal, Worcester
and Birmingham
canal. 19 miles of narrow canals, 34 narrow locks, Dunhampstead tunnel twice.
</p><p> </p>nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-86983009569724552992021-05-06T05:43:00.002-07:002021-05-06T05:43:20.583-07:00Off with their heads!<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Tuesday 27<sup>th</sup> April:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perdiswell to Oddingley</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last night we could see the supermoon through the trees, but
unfortunately the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thin cloud prevented a clear photo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could see
more detail through the binoculars, but it wasn’t really that super.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8NXL_9rBEdWDdLuvyoA5eWCVgGVbOQDOiKecK9J86xmGKJhR2Y96XSvnQYWyhANEoolv66gS5c6WXB4cRln6wmwHI0cuVnTAwjX5An9xqOa2dJF_uHs9ksw2Thhn7tVrDhIbO_k0NbJx/s2048/1+last+night%2527s+supermoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="2048" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8NXL_9rBEdWDdLuvyoA5eWCVgGVbOQDOiKecK9J86xmGKJhR2Y96XSvnQYWyhANEoolv66gS5c6WXB4cRln6wmwHI0cuVnTAwjX5An9xqOa2dJF_uHs9ksw2Thhn7tVrDhIbO_k0NbJx/w400-h306/1+last+night%2527s+supermoon.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a quick trip to get some milk from M&S, we were
away at 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lovely sun of the last
few days had disappeared and it was cloudy more or less the whole time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it warmed up a bit and there wasn’t much
wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blackpole and Tolladine locks were
in our favour, and we paused in the first to check the drain hole from the
shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that the pipe bends
to join the one from the basin and there is only one outlet, which explains why
poking a bit of pipe down it didn’t get through to the outside.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Gc6hN2yX_NHXOFZSAhdwu0SddgrqNaaCcUZ4sP9UjsRG2YpSwrgtVMZg3hDX_RHbVYDGEPhLS5_A8966IcSDm50VZKYQGfet5Nk5q2fPzDRpI9yDF63_cfKm7j7NVx_1UPCpwdfdbS5Y/s2048/2+blackpole+lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Gc6hN2yX_NHXOFZSAhdwu0SddgrqNaaCcUZ4sP9UjsRG2YpSwrgtVMZg3hDX_RHbVYDGEPhLS5_A8966IcSDm50VZKYQGfet5Nk5q2fPzDRpI9yDF63_cfKm7j7NVx_1UPCpwdfdbS5Y/w400-h300/2+blackpole+lock.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were cowslips in flower at Blackpole, or it may have
been Tolladine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have taken a
photo, cos they won’t be flowering now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we approached the Offerton flight the contractors were on their way towards
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know they have to trim the grass
but really, do they need to blow the bits off the towpath?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a bit, hmm, suburban isn’t it, and now
there will be grit all over the grass too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He did stop as we approached but there was a lot of dust in the air.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0SxaaisPjri5syzAbN7YeWECdsh5DFW_QuIXMI3zG9egbPppXhWgKgSEDX0mYlt4IxuzUEgmDK531kTEmy9_nPaubi7B3YTJV0RXaq60aX18NdDhRq2j6rrP0jX2SqZVstnkez3C-yf6/s2048/3+blowing+the+dust.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0SxaaisPjri5syzAbN7YeWECdsh5DFW_QuIXMI3zG9egbPppXhWgKgSEDX0mYlt4IxuzUEgmDK531kTEmy9_nPaubi7B3YTJV0RXaq60aX18NdDhRq2j6rrP0jX2SqZVstnkez3C-yf6/w640-h432/3+blowing+the+dust.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">And all those lovely flowers we saw on the way down had been
strimmed to oblivion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know the area
round the lock needs to be clear, but <i>all </i>the way to the ends of the lock
surrounds?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does mean there will be access to pick
blackberries later, but all that lovely pollen and nectar for the bees has gone for a burton.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXBpjX-DWvRRTf_csGSpFIEumDz_r_9v6rV6Qc1HZhbhCN5MdNKe7uadm3m_5voBwuGkGGVkP4BpGklgwn6DiTqMdKsQACwBxScxSjPyIlZ1i8ZHAfCdBv9eOkfu315xvCNZmnkz_ZFA-/s2048/4+escaped+the+carnage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXBpjX-DWvRRTf_csGSpFIEumDz_r_9v6rV6Qc1HZhbhCN5MdNKe7uadm3m_5voBwuGkGGVkP4BpGklgwn6DiTqMdKsQACwBxScxSjPyIlZ1i8ZHAfCdBv9eOkfu315xvCNZmnkz_ZFA-/w640-h480/4+escaped+the+carnage.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Survivors</i> <br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We arrived at lovely Oddingley in time for lunch, and were
surprised to find the moorings completely empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we picked our spot and decided to stay
till tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have seen very few
boats out and about this time, and most of the hire boats were still moored in Lowesmoor Basin
in Worcester
yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though later on, there was a
flurry of time-shares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After lunch Dave
washed off the dust from the starboard side. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHctl_BpLsEoRzFMYOgwwFjRMixDZmDW_4IPXkEVF4vpw6YB8oG-SEu0XlywiMr7fPzCh9pvzOkAxMKZRlwP-giS8A-_jfLZS1qiPiN-ZRXpGg920X4xwcJW8Q3Bhsmu3ABRj0Lwd3fkhc/s2048/5+washing+starboard+side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHctl_BpLsEoRzFMYOgwwFjRMixDZmDW_4IPXkEVF4vpw6YB8oG-SEu0XlywiMr7fPzCh9pvzOkAxMKZRlwP-giS8A-_jfLZS1qiPiN-ZRXpGg920X4xwcJW8Q3Bhsmu3ABRj0Lwd3fkhc/w400-h300/5+washing+starboard+side.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />We weren’t quite in the right place to get the house and
church in the picture as well, and the cows with their calves had disappeared
over the far side of their field, so this is the best I could manage.<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJFpYXzqXVN1W_UzdqSVDsK34HpgydNlQlJkMvWCrnT7BqEm10Uc4MgeueUNFM3fpB4Z7r815_1mV1FdtI7JMfoOed4NCv6FsIDUCRvA3SNrYY3k0ha5gSWqXg-uVPo09FYcnE0ryYhCO/s2048/6+oddingley+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJFpYXzqXVN1W_UzdqSVDsK34HpgydNlQlJkMvWCrnT7BqEm10Uc4MgeueUNFM3fpB4Z7r815_1mV1FdtI7JMfoOed4NCv6FsIDUCRvA3SNrYY3k0ha5gSWqXg-uVPo09FYcnE0ryYhCO/w400-h300/6+oddingley+view.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Then we all walked over the level crossing, down the lane to
the footpath and up the hill to the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t take a photo of the view, because I took several last
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, there was something totally fabulous to see under the trees. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BcxQQCJ2plO4Rh2H3Dplg6yZOA44jW6Qqwc8PxsvSmFpZ4XUffB18_-V5Cej1vz0n03QMub3i5HacJl4VTV9SD3C2FbGZ0EnGUwkOK9mUumYDPBj7IUuvrMcrZMQ75mKklt9Dw4_k5tf/s2048/8+trench+wood+bluebells.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BcxQQCJ2plO4Rh2H3Dplg6yZOA44jW6Qqwc8PxsvSmFpZ4XUffB18_-V5Cej1vz0n03QMub3i5HacJl4VTV9SD3C2FbGZ0EnGUwkOK9mUumYDPBj7IUuvrMcrZMQ75mKklt9Dw4_k5tf/w640-h480/8+trench+wood+bluebells.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The primroses were still flowering, the birds were singing
and it was glorious.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rMZ3mX6by1tPAeYKklxPh0J4ZE7Scer6Qdw8msi-GOq_fT3O5qT2XkRGUMDZ_xpeP8d5sCKZZN02qjCPcYF6kj5eCBTpu5kh-36jGBZdgWoKjsmUpZblGYnaSS3vvzxXNe6hGeR08YF9/s2048/7+bluebells+with+dog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rMZ3mX6by1tPAeYKklxPh0J4ZE7Scer6Qdw8msi-GOq_fT3O5qT2XkRGUMDZ_xpeP8d5sCKZZN02qjCPcYF6kj5eCBTpu5kh-36jGBZdgWoKjsmUpZblGYnaSS3vvzxXNe6hGeR08YF9/w640-h480/7+bluebells+with+dog.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is so wonderful about carpets of bluebells in woodland is
that they mess with your sense of perspective, and for brief moments you can
imagine it is literally a ‘sea of bluebells’ – I’ve seen this phenomenon elsewhere, and it
seems to be leaning trees and odd bits of fallen branches in the distance that create the
illusion.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsYM4PYF_Tlnxduh15Ke8nBHr0KXJfWMMrJXLyEbTrOXQpxqVjE9Am_fPyTLRAEXEzAdS0Km9lxLjipsKb9GJKVj_WzRSKOS125-__XcG_W3c_65R2iS0W8s7c5XYIRUUWC8mWd7VKrcS/s2048/9+trench+wood+bluebells.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsYM4PYF_Tlnxduh15Ke8nBHr0KXJfWMMrJXLyEbTrOXQpxqVjE9Am_fPyTLRAEXEzAdS0Km9lxLjipsKb9GJKVj_WzRSKOS125-__XcG_W3c_65R2iS0W8s7c5XYIRUUWC8mWd7VKrcS/w640-h480/9+trench+wood+bluebells.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, I love it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
could even smell their perfume in the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The stroll back across the railway at Dunhampstead and down the towpath was
a bit of an anticlimax after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </p><p class="MsoNormal">The Fir Tree
pub, which closed down a while ago, is now a farm shop. We would have checked it out, but it wasn’t open
at the time we passed. We made it back to the boat in time to beat the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave fixed a loose bolt on the fire, and soon after that the
fire was blazing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> 8 locks, 4 miles, a sea of bluebells</p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-30952149276579281322021-05-03T08:35:00.003-07:002021-05-03T08:35:34.015-07:00Retracing our steps<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monday 26<sup>th</sup>
April; Commandery to Perdiswell</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the usual late evening sirens along the main roads
nearby, it was a very quiet night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
hadn’t quite decided whether to go up-river to joining the Droitwich Barge Canal, or
to turn round, so Dave took Meg off to Fort Royal park before we went down the
lock, and I nipped up to the Zero-Waste shop ‘Pack it In,’ which is in the Old
Market Hall in the Shambles, to get some dried apricots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQzD8NVSZxdwj6D4_Ze_bfC4DIc8sMysZBL19EzKo2JWm9xxL-jPzGDle6bw7uWRs4AEZfIRHAt_zNR4XA2JGLX3oiy7tJWYAbsr64JKSivXtdrzGx6gYZcl2lDtZUN4336sQ3eMDmdXD/s1747/1+recycle+for+worcester.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1677" data-original-width="1747" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQzD8NVSZxdwj6D4_Ze_bfC4DIc8sMysZBL19EzKo2JWm9xxL-jPzGDle6bw7uWRs4AEZfIRHAt_zNR4XA2JGLX3oiy7tJWYAbsr64JKSivXtdrzGx6gYZcl2lDtZUN4336sQ3eMDmdXD/w400-h384/1+recycle+for+worcester.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Worcester now has smart new recycling bins in town</i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />In the end we decided to turn round as the forecast is not
that brilliant over the next few days and we need to be home before the
weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after disposing of the
rubbish and cassettes we turned – not without difficulty because of the wind –
and started back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Blockhouse Lock the
willow trees were shedding their wiggly catkins.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk26yJULgDLd48iYKgVzN440fC1gJtVx30f965AW-ROlJ7ngen3PJLqG6NQQalMp2HrCaSRxy0lFlMghazJRNPjDSxkfEp343LgknA3J3HW2dh_TZIO-fDvEsc9wFO9h6Rmlw6OB_gSd16/s2048/1+wiggly+catkins+blockhouse+lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk26yJULgDLd48iYKgVzN440fC1gJtVx30f965AW-ROlJ7ngen3PJLqG6NQQalMp2HrCaSRxy0lFlMghazJRNPjDSxkfEp343LgknA3J3HW2dh_TZIO-fDvEsc9wFO9h6Rmlw6OB_gSd16/w400-h300/1+wiggly+catkins+blockhouse+lock.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While I waited for the lock to fill, this beautiful boy
started strutting around.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEosE862jO43fCrokC-Y5TaG2zJis5W-QkLRmA7ySej6x56Sq1Qn_ms_jL3CVmq21WmS3aL1vCradRREgm41mD0UwUIjggJD-KFecTiGCxRLURhiJ9NVtevSUGAH8zaYGM1kEhZnzPxQP/s2048/2+beautiful+boy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEosE862jO43fCrokC-Y5TaG2zJis5W-QkLRmA7ySej6x56Sq1Qn_ms_jL3CVmq21WmS3aL1vCradRREgm41mD0UwUIjggJD-KFecTiGCxRLURhiJ9NVtevSUGAH8zaYGM1kEhZnzPxQP/w640-h424/2+beautiful+boy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>He was clearly out to impress, puffing out his chest and
fanning his tail, but his lady love was not impressed and soon scarpered.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <span> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKURuXcj9K2L0AVZdr3P33GcTfxM_6XwGLgo4cjhRfNFE40TNcFwgyBIgPjricjv1f8WMo4VvnUjEY33uipiympga4PVu6aP-dFmp_srIQi-lBVMquK6J8j0RBieE0ELIjToE3tC4SU41/s1376/3+rebuffed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1376" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKURuXcj9K2L0AVZdr3P33GcTfxM_6XwGLgo4cjhRfNFE40TNcFwgyBIgPjricjv1f8WMo4VvnUjEY33uipiympga4PVu6aP-dFmp_srIQi-lBVMquK6J8j0RBieE0ELIjToE3tC4SU41/w640-h534/3+rebuffed.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">We enjoyed this boat name – while you are wondering how it’s
pronounced, you notice that the owner has given you a little hint.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YOINGQAXC6tHreXrNF4WLfCX0F2koEnW_oZLEXPig7wHy-I_CjIJD9yP_LnFNRMpvpMynzJ8-bmi09mNTyzuFriSgrIfxB7G9RyWsf8vHLN3gcjp1sqNRMTvFVuN7TZIuSbqzpj0lpHj/s2048/4+who+am+I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="2048" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YOINGQAXC6tHreXrNF4WLfCX0F2koEnW_oZLEXPig7wHy-I_CjIJD9yP_LnFNRMpvpMynzJ8-bmi09mNTyzuFriSgrIfxB7G9RyWsf8vHLN3gcjp1sqNRMTvFVuN7TZIuSbqzpj0lpHj/w400-h272/4+who+am+I.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was a bit early for lunch when we stopped at the park by
the mural (bridge 11), so while I had a quick play with Meg, Dave rubbed down
and prepped a rusty patch on the port side while the towpath was on that side.<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONyGd8qTIIJXO-mrlMaJO9Y-t19jFXf_W3Cd3n7vDx4iXBdLonF8vvRM5BgUTXYaYcHdx6_AFOi3N1dc7ci8PtcVNYZhyOXgj2Cun8j5lxYPZNBTA-WySYh8NGTb3p0hopXv0-INkzCb9/s2048/5+sorting+out+a+rusty+bit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONyGd8qTIIJXO-mrlMaJO9Y-t19jFXf_W3Cd3n7vDx4iXBdLonF8vvRM5BgUTXYaYcHdx6_AFOi3N1dc7ci8PtcVNYZhyOXgj2Cun8j5lxYPZNBTA-WySYh8NGTb3p0hopXv0-INkzCb9/w640-h480/5+sorting+out+a+rusty+bit.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We carried on to Perdiswell after lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun was bright and the canal was
sometimes quite sheltered (and sometimes really not).</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC2awikAP7OcRJA-hW9X4TBkUqT5rL02nIt-UwpG7Jq0rhLTvDpQlaTnBRPAhIcwikbBvzofdPrrVyIOm2lBGryTcuvkG5UFe0Lvc_MbOhbx20Z3yhEm3hmngECeRSvmyWzVpb62QRzhS/s2048/6+past+glory+bridge+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC2awikAP7OcRJA-hW9X4TBkUqT5rL02nIt-UwpG7Jq0rhLTvDpQlaTnBRPAhIcwikbBvzofdPrrVyIOm2lBGryTcuvkG5UFe0Lvc_MbOhbx20Z3yhEm3hmngECeRSvmyWzVpb62QRzhS/w640-h400/6+past+glory+bridge+12.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Past glories remembered at bridge 12</i> <br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At Bilston top lock the volunteer was letting down some
water, but let us up straight away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
told us that the duck we saw yesterday, then with 12 ducklings, had started out with
13 the day before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we saw her a bit
later that afternoon, she was down to 9.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had moored up by 3 in a good patch of sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meg was agitating for a walk before we had
even finished tying up – this must be one of her top 3 moorings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So off to the park she went with Dave, and I
followed a little later to test out my knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had to stop running a couple of weeks ago as my left knee was playing
up – arthritis I think, and when this happened with my other knee maybe 15
years ago my doctor said, you need to strengthen your thigh muscles to support your knee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did, and haven’t had pain since, well a bit
recently because I have been very slack over the winter and not been keeping
fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I got back to being good with my
exercises and now the pain's nearly gone and I can start running again.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had my shower, then discovered that the pump that empties the
shower tray wasn’t pumping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Man that Can abandoned the newspaper and came to sort it out (I had to cook tea, you
see).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sod’s law says that the drain hole
would not be on the towpath side, so it all had to be done from indoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some sloshing about, and poking with a
bit of water pipe that was knocking around, it still wasn’t clearing – so he
tried to blow whatever it was through, and eventually it worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know, from cleaning out the sump on
occasion, it was likely to have been an accumulation of dog hair that had dried
in the pipe! Though how so much of that gets down the shower we are not entirely sure.<br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can't remember exactly what we had for tea, but it did include the last of a big bag of purple sprouting broccoli I bought from the 'Veg Shack' near the marina before we left the other day. There is a footpath leading from the main road back to the canal which crosses the original line by a derelict lock, and I forgot to download the photo as it was on my phone, not the camera. So here it is.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55k2DEDhYo1kt2sXZ6w6VWigmorj_AstaZjdVBXjuU_apKtGWwdj2Gdwo2-mp7S_EWjKUycR5kQf5PAsgFV1BmUhUuNEOJCSL-ow9me2evCoOxczLgXXVgTHullCchngKU3DMG2Z603Rj/s2048/8+old+Droitwich+lock+with+purple+sprouting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55k2DEDhYo1kt2sXZ6w6VWigmorj_AstaZjdVBXjuU_apKtGWwdj2Gdwo2-mp7S_EWjKUycR5kQf5PAsgFV1BmUhUuNEOJCSL-ow9me2evCoOxczLgXXVgTHullCchngKU3DMG2Z603Rj/s320/8+old+Droitwich+lock+with+purple+sprouting.JPG" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Derelict lock near the Droitwich Junction canal</i> <br /></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7 locks, 3.5 miles, a little run and non-hurty knees<br /></p>
<br /><br /><br />nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661407231368533890.post-64661261271571834712021-04-26T13:42:00.005-07:002021-04-26T13:42:53.367-07:00Down to Worcester<p><b> 25th April; Perdiswell Park to Commandery</b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal">We slept well, not getting woken by the cold as we did last
night, or a peculiar noise as we did in the marina the night before, when<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave got up and opened the side hatch to see
what was happening and there was a large carp abruptly flipping round with an
almighty splash and heading out to open water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It must have been grazing the algae on the hull.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I took Meg over to the park for her morning outing, then we
were visited by our first ducklings of the year, a large brood of twelve.<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxqqBsE5qjnBW5NXkn7Qt2zHup3HJUJKh6Q-hl2wfjJ1WCQcVYNiHaYIobFPLhLUqetRmKBanzl4iAzforMBVxWyzSoMqtBB7XPKROW60x89_WTOueZSawRhaB5dCIaxzOEWEdPJCbjaE/s1644/1+first+little+bumble+bees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1644" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxqqBsE5qjnBW5NXkn7Qt2zHup3HJUJKh6Q-hl2wfjJ1WCQcVYNiHaYIobFPLhLUqetRmKBanzl4iAzforMBVxWyzSoMqtBB7XPKROW60x89_WTOueZSawRhaB5dCIaxzOEWEdPJCbjaE/w640-h354/1+first+little+bumble+bees.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Fluffy little bumble bees</i> <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialmfXy4n0upwY_n7Iyna-2Z-PyT0gbtU0K41MyDPgSy1wYAqJllr_DZhGUdsmNBfWvy7U_nL-2MonUaJiT3mFKiR2TU_4LFUa44uM2AelvzVUPWvgaKxiVYywsJ3Tid285XgETQkASuj3/s2048/2+full+brood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialmfXy4n0upwY_n7Iyna-2Z-PyT0gbtU0K41MyDPgSy1wYAqJllr_DZhGUdsmNBfWvy7U_nL-2MonUaJiT3mFKiR2TU_4LFUa44uM2AelvzVUPWvgaKxiVYywsJ3Tid285XgETQkASuj3/w640-h458/2+full+brood.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>All twelve of them! How long will they last?</i> <br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I walked through the tunnel under the railway and up the
alley to buy a paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>M&S foodstore
was closest, but don’t open till 10.30 on a Sunday, and Lidl too but they don’t
do papers, so a trek up the hill to Sainsbury's it was (granola bars and choc chip cookies may also have found their way into the basket).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After another cup of tea we finally got going at 11, dropping down the
first Bilston lock and spotting someone coming up the second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met two more boats at each of the
Gregory’s Mill locks so had an easy passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The swans are nesting between the two flights, and there are notices on
Gregory’s Mill top lock not to let them through – it’s another’s territory down below.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYr3SWasLU45ExnJPVYuo4zpX6OPvVvzVLK2dMv6hCxpej3HGS5qjhhO3Bmb2pQDFEIVqTyCsy_BFlak6qJWjpajj7NNZQh2t5zO3TAWF_pLmbr3LPPlQP0umG0mr5-_pmK2gjbdtMaaz/s2048/3+swan+nest+bilford+locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="2048" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYr3SWasLU45ExnJPVYuo4zpX6OPvVvzVLK2dMv6hCxpej3HGS5qjhhO3Bmb2pQDFEIVqTyCsy_BFlak6qJWjpajj7NNZQh2t5zO3TAWF_pLmbr3LPPlQP0umG0mr5-_pmK2gjbdtMaaz/w640-h435/3+swan+nest+bilford+locks.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Below the bottom lock were some grapple/magnet
fishers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see them trying, and failing, to haul
something heavy to the side as we dropped down the lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They thought it might be a motorbike; the little lad solemnly informed us that they had
already pulled out 2 knives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlKMnfLqY1AzcHhq4AsFUXE4x_TjlmSLm46mlit52TWYpBzds_b4hClBYdTSRUtFVkmuQyY6NuC4gMTcLYIhb0yh0tmR59HCKlfjqRTzfKgvAVq5WdZHUPqXkh27v7pVYO1ClQyhI1p_W/s2048/4+magnet+fishing+grappling+gregorys+bottom+lock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="2048" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlKMnfLqY1AzcHhq4AsFUXE4x_TjlmSLm46mlit52TWYpBzds_b4hClBYdTSRUtFVkmuQyY6NuC4gMTcLYIhb0yh0tmR59HCKlfjqRTzfKgvAVq5WdZHUPqXkh27v7pVYO1ClQyhI1p_W/w640-h402/4+magnet+fishing+grappling+gregorys+bottom+lock.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>We just hoped the motorbike, or whatever it was, stayed out of reach of boat propellers! We had planned to stop at the park with the mural for lunch,
but meeting the other boats had saved us time so, anticipating Blockhouse lock
would be set for us, we went on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was indeed, so it wasn’t long before we had moored at the Commandery and were preparing
lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal">We walked down to the river in the afternoon, downstream
past Diglis river lock to the footbridge, and crossed the river to see how the
fish pass construction was progressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It looks finished and ready for fishy action, but the area is still
fenced off to people though it’s not obvious why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the most you can see.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CRqGdbnVJ6U6xTGBAcW3FVBoDEwYDPk4GbWse1JXgzjQjWoPagWBXYJOnhlOOTIWxp50JxbnRnikgJ3tBCp36mpqgm5MPmPrMn7IZIGp3XRgFJZ_Ta8tNoek8rXg36m5PD_O9impnSzM/s2048/5+diglis+fish+pass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CRqGdbnVJ6U6xTGBAcW3FVBoDEwYDPk4GbWse1JXgzjQjWoPagWBXYJOnhlOOTIWxp50JxbnRnikgJ3tBCp36mpqgm5MPmPrMn7IZIGp3XRgFJZ_Ta8tNoek8rXg36m5PD_O9impnSzM/w640-h480/5+diglis+fish+pass.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>We're looking forwarad to when the viewing window will be open. <br />
<p class="MsoNormal">On our way back we admired the cherry blossom by the flats
overlooking the river. Check out that glorious sky!<br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgpFbKtX8a3Fb8z42cgHFWFr-NXJBjIK9TFyI2i3KsHKadyuYIe_kFFSMBG63luNxzJXn70pPCnRE4FKWEyiSZUjrqmNU4Qg0viJmtErbuFJiFEC1OVXUbBJx5UeLgCqmZ938QL-sxE1y/s2048/6+cherries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgpFbKtX8a3Fb8z42cgHFWFr-NXJBjIK9TFyI2i3KsHKadyuYIe_kFFSMBG63luNxzJXn70pPCnRE4FKWEyiSZUjrqmNU4Qg0viJmtErbuFJiFEC1OVXUbBJx5UeLgCqmZ938QL-sxE1y/w640-h480/6+cherries.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">We fancied a pint in, or rather outside, the Anchor by the
basin but it was very crowded so we went back and had a cup of tea
instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Without Sky on the boat, Dave is having to listen to a footy
match (Spurs v Man
City, some cup final or
other) on radio 5live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very
stressful.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Carabao Cup, the old League Cup I believe, sadly it wasn't Spurs' night.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Before it got dark, three inebriated City supporters wove their noisy way past our window. Dave glowered at them (discreetly).</p><p class="MsoNormal">5 locks, 2.5 miles, no cup for Spurs.<br /></p>
nb Bonjourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09570964751076622402noreply@blogger.com0