We move again

Now that Ann has returned to me we move on to the Ellesmere Canal for that is what it was known when first built before going on to Llangollen. We got our water at Barbridge Junction after turning left on to the Shropshire Union. Then it was only a few miles to the junction with the Llangollen. The facilities at the top of Hurlseton locks were not available due to major works beefing up the canal edges.

The canal is unique because it transports water from the river Dee in Wales all 45 miles to the reservoir at Hurleston. The flow is quite noticeable especially at the narrow bridge holes where it slows the boat down. The byways at the locks allow the flow to pass when the locks are not in use. By the time we had gone up a few locks dark clouds were threatening so we moored near bridge 12 only 3 miles in, set up the satellite dish and got in before it rained.

The next day was a wash out so we stayed in. Watching TV, reading books and listening to the radio or music on CD’s. It got cold and the rain turned to snow for a while and the wind blew.

What a difference a day makes. We woke to some sunshine and moved on to Wrenbury where we walked across a field past the Church and found the shop and Post Office still going strong. Posted our letters, got bread n milk and returned to the boat. Ever since getting on this canal our internet connection with TMobile was failing us. Only now that we have got nearer to Whitchurch has the signal returned. For those first few days we felt quite out of touch.

The canal is still being enhanced by the Shropshire Union Canal Society for the benefit of all users. This includes the provision of seats and picnic tables as well as rings to tie to at visitor moorings making it one of the most user friendly canals within the inland waterways. Should British Waterways tap into the volunteers of Canal Trusts to help improve the system and provide local knowledge and support?

Home alone

I have been looking after Molly and myself for a week now. The bird feeders have been refilled a few times as the birds seem extra hungry at this time of year! Fat balls, peanuts and seed all going fast. There are 4 to 5 birdies seen at any one time as I sit and watch while reading.

Been getting up early with the sun but what does it matter. The clocks go forwards soon. Moving time does not change the fact that the days are getting longer. It just resets our time to nature’s time.

I have been concentrating on upgrading our website so pages and pictures are changing. Pictures have been added to all the chapters in our book ‘Living on a Narrowboat’. Also some new pictures are to be added to the canal pages.

Molly does not let me forget to take her out for a walk twice a day. Just one way or the other down the towpath to a bridge and back.

Somewhere on the branch

We’ve got the jobs done, new lamps for old. Anyone want some old lamps? A few days got us back to Middlewich this time to get more water and provisions for the next week. Ann is to go home to see the grand children while I look after Molly and myself. A taxi to Crewe and two trains getting Ann down south. Plenty of boats are moving up and down, some fast n some slow. Last Sunday we had a good roast lunch at the Venetian Cafe.

Some repair work is going on at Bridge 11 and I wonder if the same is happening down on the Oxford canal.

Aqueduct Marina

And Molly is trying not to fall in.

I will have plenty to occupy my mind trying to update and improve our web site. Not forgetting to take Molly out and feed our faces.

New lights

We got to Venetian Marina and booked a mooring for the boat in April. Got some diesel and found the other facility some distance from the boat. They do not have a water tap here so we will have to go another mile to Barbridge. The chandlery here had some LED light units on offer. I was assured that they were regulated so would be ok in the boat on the 12 to 14 volt supply. They were MR11 units that directly replaced the halogen lamps as found in some nice switched brass lights. We tried one and found the light similar to our twin florescent units.

Went off to get water at the end and on our return saw this couple sitting on the edge of the canal enjoying the sunshine.

No chance for us to relax for now we have two jobs to get on with! Fit those lights and paint the other side of the boat.

Turn on to the Shropshire Union

Well the Middlewich branch really, but not yet! It was quite tricky being a tight turn under the low Wardle Bridge.

We are on the Wardle Canal first, which is a boat length to the lock, the shortest canal on the system. Up a couple of locks then about four miles to Church Minshull where we found the Visitor Moorings provided by the Canal Trust. They ensure that the grass is cut and the mooring is deep enough. Many of the moorings even have picnic tables and barbeque sites. Only 48 hours to stay but the canal is usually shallow at the edges anywhere else!

Up and down the sloping path,
We walked the Weaver Way,
To find a posting box,
And sent our mail away.

But sadly Church Minshull is not much with narrow busy lanes, the traffic rushing by despite the narrow river bridge. After just one night we moved on past the Aqueduct Marina and up Minshull lock.

We had to pass the next Visitor Moorings because the trees prevented Sky reception. Had to move on and stop on a shallow edge beyond the trees. While there a few days I got around to painting the lower sides of the boat. Just enough to cover up the winter scars!

Planning public transport

Geography is a subject to get to grips with. We need to know where roads, places, bus routes and railways are in relation to canals. Our canal maps concentrate on canals and do not often show what may well be a useful station for bus or train. Get hold of a road map to find that canals and railways are almost invisible! The internet and ‘Travelline’ is very helpful in finding the detail to get from one place to another.

Sometimes just moving the boat to a different location will make a land journey so much easier. Two bus trips, two train journeys and a taxi could change to just one bus and a train to get from a to b. If we need to leave the boat it is best in a marina where it will be safe but not all marinas have temporary short term moorings. Getting away in the winter is even more difficult when boats stay in the marina!

Keeping Britain tidy

Mooring at Whatcroft

Canals do need respect and support.

We have filled no less than six plastic bags with assorted rubbish. It was all strewn over half a mile of the tow path. Glass bottles, cans, plastic bottles and bags so disgusting and untidy we just could not leave it lying there. “Very public spirited of you” said walkers as they passed by. “Well there are plenty of bottles and cans which had contained the spirit!” we said. On the way back to Middlewich we could have filled several more black bags! We knew that there was a recycle centre near bridge 173 on the T n M which is where we got rid of all those bottles and cans.

Salt

We stayed for a long weekend. Seyella was not far away so we spent some time with Geof and Margaret exploring the surrounding countryside.

There are many paths through the Silver Birch woods and down along the river Weaver.

We were almost encouraged to take the boat down on the lift but decided it could wait till later. Salt is an abundant raw material round here first discovered by the Romans. At one time much of the salt was transported up and down the river Weaver and up on to the Trent and Mersey canal. Salt is a molecule made from the two elements sodium and chloride. A few factories are busy processing the stuff here.

Drifting

We are to stay a while drifting about between Anderton, Barbridge and Wixhall with very few locks but plenty of miles to explore. That is on the Trent n Mersey, Shropshire Union and even the Llangollen.

Our grateful thanks to our friends Sue n Vic for travelling with us over that hill. As Sue has said in her blog, we have known them for many years and if it was not for the ice in Banbury some years ago I would not have got on the internet to write this blog or even create our web site.

After Tesco man delivered the goodies we set off in the afternoon and managed to do about 4 miles after going down that big lock.

Heading for Anderton but stopped at Whatcroft where we found Geof n Mags in Seyella. Next day we followed them for 5 miles to Anderton. There we found new facilities so topped up our water tank after using our washing machine on the way. We turned round here by the marina and found our mooring for the weekend with those batteries fully charged again.

We had a refreshing cup of tea on Seyella before setting off to see that boat lift and take a walk round the park land with Ann and Geof in the late afternoon.

The Cheshire locks

Since leaving Harecastle tunnel we have gone down heartbreak hill heading for Middlewich. A total of 31 locks in only 12 miles taking three days to do it. Many of the locks were about 10 feet deep so the hill got us down about 300 feet. So far we have been very lucky to be able to keep going despite this prolonged winter. The days were usually warm dry n sunny when we moved. The water tap at Wheelock was not frozen so we topped up our tank there.

We woke up to another day with ice on the cut and grey skies. It proved hard to get ourselves going on down the hill through more locks to the bottom.
We noticed that another factory has turned to dust, Bisto gravy is no more next to British Salt. We got diesel at Kings Lock chandlery, a well stocked shop worth a look in. They allowed me to make my own declaration and charged 65 pence and £1.10 for a litre. Then we went down 3 more locks to the visitor moorings. Before falling asleep after all that effort we paid a visit to friends on a boat called Seyella. Thanks Geof and Mags for the chat, tea n cake. Then we crashed out after getting fish n chips from the shop not far from the canal.

Next day our good friends Sue n Vic on No Problem followed Seyella heading yet further north while we stayed to do some shopping.

The Tunnel

We walked round Westport Lake early in warm sunshine after an overnight snow fall. We saw pieces of old pottery on the shore line looking like sea shells. There were a few water birds about like ducks, moorhens, coots, tufted ducks, geese, swans and others.

We set off to our appointment with British Waterways to travel through the 2 mile Harecastle Tunnel. It opens at 11:30 but the boat which went earlier was able to pass through.

We then had to wait an hour for two working boats to come through from the other end! The old tunnel had sunk in the middle so much of our roof ‘furniture’ was removed. At one point we had to squat down to avoid hitting our heads. After about 45 minutes we emerged at the other end. It was a bit noisy with the ventilation fans on full blast and it was just pitch-black looking back.

The water at the northern end was red with iron which coated many of the following locks. Some of the locks were doubles so we made good progress with our two boats.

In two days we had got down to Hassal Green, having done 18 locks in over 8 miles. We have earnt our Sunday day of rest.

Cruising north

Our next stop was at Stone. History tells us that it was here that Josiah Wedgewood met James Brindley to plan the creation of a canal to run north south for 46 miles either way. So much of the pottery was being broken on the roads that water transport was considered.

We had not moved long enough to fill those batteries but it felt good to make some progress on a sunny day. It got cold over night and we woke to find ice on the canal but were not trapped by it. Took on water and continued up the hill to stop at Barlaston near the Wedgewood factory. We had done the tour back in 2005 when we last passed this way. Many of the bridges on the way were a bit low so had to keep pulling our cover down to get under them while it snowed. That trip was more substantial having done 7 locks and 3 miles. Many of the locks were deep n heavy to open but at least the batteries were full by the time we stopped.

Next day we continued through Stoke on Trent and its industrial wasteland of the potteries.

This is one that has gone since 2005

Sad to see so many derelict building and old bottle kilns, some of which have been destroyed since we past this way. The bridges were so low on the way through that we even removed the chimney to get under one. We stopped to consume soup made by Vic on No Problem and then picked up a plastic bag round the prop as we moved off. It was extremely cold putting a fore arm in to pull the bag off.

Eventually got to Westport Lake in the afternoon when it snowed. On the way we had passed at least one factory working but believe that even Middleport is under threat of closure.

As we were passing through Prince Charles and Camilla were looking at the Staffordshire Gold Hoard to be seen at the Potteries Museum. Huge crowds and cold conditions put us off having a look ourselves.

We have moved!

Great Haywood had become our comfort zone having stayed in the area for so long. It was a place with everything we needed, water, diesel, walks and bus trips. We had got to know many of the boaters there.

It was warm and sunny when we moved north on the Trent n Mersey canal. There was some ice but it had been broken up by moving boats. We went through 3 locks and travelled 6 miles. The locks have bridges across them which saves having to walk all the way round. While the locks were relatively easy we had done enough by the end of our first journey of the year.

It is all very well having so much power stored in those new batteries. They gave us a whole day of use without having to run the engine. Now we have run out of hot water! While our fire is on there is always a kettle of hot water for use, it is just not on tap. While travelling with No Problem we share Sunday roasts together. In the afternoon we walked out round Burston and realised that it was still light at 5 o’clock. The local community are protesting about a possible wind farm being built in the area. If we do not invest in new power generators there will be a power shortage sooner or later.

It was only a short hop past a new marina at Aston near that lock with a mile post that indicates Shardlow 46 one way and Preston Brook 46 the other. Found moorings either side of bridge 90 and waited for Mr Tesco man to deliver our order. It duly arrived and got put away thankfully before it rained.

Power upgrade

Trevor at Adverc recommended a larger alternator and some Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. This type have a longer cycle life and are low maintenance. I am told that the new spec with 600 Amp Hours of battery capacity and a 110 Amp alternator should meet our needs. Only time will tell as the proof is in the pudding. My old batteries were showing their age after 3 ½ years having lost much of their capacity. One of the reasons given for the 70 Amp alternators failing was that it did not have enough output for the loads put apon it.

AGM battery bank

Adverc delivered the goodies to Great Haven Marine Services and John installed it all. We were so lucky to be able to get in and out of the marina in between periods of ice and snow. Got to a mooring by 4 pm travelling through a blizzard! The batteries were full by then and we did not need to run the engine that evening as was previously usual. The next day after 18 hours of use the batteries were still reading 12.3 Volts after supplying 67 Amp Hours of power.

Ice, snow and friends

While we were at Tixel the ice came and then it snowed. It is just a bit depressing when we lose our freedom to move about, not quite knowing when it will clear again. It is OK for a while so long as our water and diesel tanks have been topped up and we are within walking distance of the shops.

A few days later the ice cleared and No Problem arrived late in the day having come down Tixel lock and breaking some patchy ice on the way. By now we were all running out of supplies so placed an order with Tesco. It had warmed up by then and thankfully we were able to get to Great Haywood Junction in sunshine. We got water and loaded the supplies from Tesco which had arrived as arranged on the magic internet.

I was telling Vic about our problems with rain still getting past our sliding hatch. If the wind is in the ‘right’ direction it blows the rain along the slider and under the hatch. One solution may be to grind a gulley across the side to redirect the water. Vic kindly offered the use of his grinder and I cut the groves. Now waiting for rain and wind to prove the solution but next day all we got was more ice.

Never tempt providence

I should never have said ‘Some welding outside has successfully sealed the leak’! It rained enough next day to prove the statement wrong. Two steps forward and one back. If we were to dwell on the negative aspects of boating we could get depressed, but as it is there are far more positives to keep us motivated. It was all sorted later and we actually moved out with a full tank of diesel.

We had been in Great Haywood Marina since before Christmas so getting out was quite an event. Took on water at the junction and found a space for a few nights. Next day the patrol officer knocked on the boat asking when we are to move. “Only just got here” I said. “But you’ve been here since November according to my records” he said. “I’ve been stuck in ice in the marina since before Christmas” I explained. These patrol officers don’t check when you are not there, but to be fair they did not call while the boats were stuck in ice. There is at least one boat with an overstay notice and most boaters have now moved elsewhere.

Snowdrops in Great Haywood
So we have moved away, out to Tixel Wide moorings where we found a few other boats. On the way the wind kept pushing us onto a shallow edge so it took some effort to keep going. Then we had to find a gap in the trees to see the satellite TV signal.

While eating a late lunch we saw a Kingfisher catching his. ‘Now that made it all worthwhile.’

So far so good

Work has been progressing all week now on our boat. We were so unhappy with the result of last year’s alterations that we resolved to have them out and start again. But first an annoying leak had presented itself coming in from the enlarged sliding hatch. Much of the wood ceiling needed to be replaced. Some welding outside has successfully sealed the leak.

We have always been considering how to improve the ‘engine bay’ with more shelves and space for coats and now the engine controls are better placed. Just the varnishing to be done.

Boater’s community

The ice is looking like soft mud. Various objects are slowly sinking through creating small holes. No boats have been allowed to move about in the marina so it is still solid ice. The wonderful community of boaters on the canal are about to move off in various directions. But not before Ann took the girls for a long walk with other dogs from Matilda Rose and Caxton.
It was some time last month that we booked in for some alterations and remedial work at the marina. Work was due to start on Monday but there is a delay due to the ice. They seem to want to put boats in and out of the water before starting on us. Now 3 men on a boat are now trying to move it but the part broken ice is still at least one inch thick! It is getting quite noisy inside with all the ice banging along the side. Now we see waves on the water again.

Two staying guests

Ann went off to Stafford on the bus and came back with Lucy and Meg. I went to meet them at the canal bridge with Molly. We all walked back through the snow covered ground. Next day it rained in the morning so now we can see the green grass again.

View from our window

The sun is shining, the ice is turning to slush and the temperature has reached 10 degrees centigrade for the first time since the middle of December.

We took the girls out for a walk round Shugborough Park which proved to be very wet and slippery in places.

Winter chores

Our boat is moving again. Not forward or backward but just rocking side to side. The ice has let go. It has been covered by a blanket of snow which has all but gone now leaving strange patterns on the surface. When it was covered in snow it looked like the rest of the land except that it was flat. We have read about people risking their lives by trying to walk across the canal or even throwing sticks on to the ice for their dogs. We can’t help ourselves talking about the conditions, a common enemy perhaps. Those of us that are wrinkly can recall previous cold winters like this one. We would drive around with a spade, an old sack for grip under the wheels, a flask of tea or hot soup and clearing our own paths and pavements.
We have done the hazardous deed and filled the diesel tank from a collection of containers. Had plenty of old cloth and detergent on hand to prevent spillage and a large funnel to guide the liquid into the small tank hole. We have been lucky with that other liquid, water, as our hose pipe is just long enough to reach a nearby unfrozen tap. All the taps on the pontoons have been turned off while the temperature was below zero. Boaters have had the daily chore of fetching heavy gallons of water half way round the marina and down the towpath.
Most days we have walked out to visit other boaters on the frozen ‘cut’. Jo and Lesley from Caxton met us in the Cafe by Great Haywood lock. We all had a good natter about life and future plans before going back to Caxton. Another day we went to Rock n Roll in the marina.
It seems that our alternator has been having a hard time with the washing machine. The boat was built with the washing machine already installed so you would think that the engine power system was designed to cope. Not so apparently. Most boaters have larger engines, higher output alternators or mains generators for their washing machines. We will have to rely entirely on the domestic hot water provided by the engine for our washing. The trick will be to turn down the temperature which turns off the electric heaters after filling with hot water.

Surviving

Many boaters are just keeping warm and safe in their boats during the unusually long spell of wintery weather. The temperature has been as low as minus 20 centigrade in some places and the canals have been frozen for nearly a month. There are many worse off than us with the usual supply boats stuck in the ice like the rest of us but life must go on.

After getting back to our boat we set about getting the systems up and running again. Electric on, radiators on, light fire, water on, gas on, kettle on. While drinking that welcoming cup of tea we kept our coats on because it was colder inside than out! I then walked to the shops in Great Haywood to get milk, bread and some vegetables. Then we placed an order to Tesco for a full stock up delivery later and the van arrived next day direct to boat despite the icy conditions. Porridge most mornings keeps us warm inside during the first few cool hours before the sun comes up.

The bus to and from Stafford is running OK so we met our friends there for lunch in Wetherspoons, the building being a grand old cinema. Walking about town was just as tricky as on the towpath. A boat called Rock n Roll is nearby and we invited George and Carol for a drink on board and we discussed the various challenges set before us.

Chapter 14 of our book ‘Life With a Narrowboat’ is now published and can be found at www.moore2life.co.uk.

Power on

The new alternator is fitted and working but the next day we could not move because of the ice. Another change of plan is required. We were going to Rugeley for Molly’s boosters at the vet. Now it will be by taxi on Monday. Not allowed to move and break ice in the marina. Not allowed to run engines after 6 either! So we are back on mains for a while.

During a cold afternoon walk with Ann n Molly we spotted Matilda Rose. Jill n Graham kindly invited us on board and we all had a great chat about our adventures and plans over a cup of tea while it snowed outside. The ice on the canal is being broken up by moving boats but back in the marina it is still quite solid and may not melt for a while.

We wish all our readers a Happy Christmas and an enjoyable new cruising year.

Power failure

I went to Stafford on the bus to fetch Ann back. She had spent many days down south with our grandchildren to see their school activities over the pre Christmas period.
After a walk together in the morning we uprooted the boat and moved, backing up and turning at the junction to head for the marina. Then the beep beep warning started indicating charge failure. Thank goodness we were not far away. Great Haywood Marine Services to the rescue! While diesel was filling our tank the alternator was being confirmed as being a failure. It is the third failure during the five years we have had the boat. I was told that an average of between 1 and 2 years is about right for an alternator being used every day charging five domestic batteries. If only we could tell when it is about to fail as it happens quite quickly without much warning.

We have a temporary mooring with a mains connection while we wait for a replacement alternator to arrive.

The situation with the waterways lack of care, maintenance and money cannot get much worse and may even get better if British Waterways are to change to a National Trust.

Looking after Molly

I have to look after Molly while Ann is away.

We go out for walks twice a day across that river Trent which is high fast and brown with stirred up silt.

That ancient Pack Horse bridge is so well built it has remained intact for hundreds of years. Just as well because it is the only foot bridge across the river to Shugborough Park. There is plenty of woodland to explore and sticks to throw for Molly to fetch back. So far I have not forgotten to feed Molly at breakfast and dinner. Did I?
Been filling my face ok and not all out of tins either. There are a few good food shops here to visit for fresh veg, bread n milk.

Hot off the press!

Have you seen 'Narrowboat World' today? Ask yourselves what is a 'Mutual Trust'. Chances are that is what British Waterways is to become. If so are we members because we have a licence to navigate the waterways? Does Mutual mean it will be organised by its members? Look out for more news on Monday.

Drifting about

We are not moving very far these days, just a few miles towards Stone for a change of view. Five days later we were back in Great Haywood and found a space among the boats and got the bus to Stafford. The town was being decorated for the Christmas season and winter cheer.

Natural decoration

A few medical issues were sorted out like getting flu jabs at the local surgery. A new bottle of gas was purchased at the junction while we topped up with water. Then Tesco arrived with another load of food and goodies.

Tixel sheep n lambs already!

Then we set off to the Tixel wide moorings which proved to be a bit exposed with that cold wind. Soon moved to the marina for diesel and found another space among those boats at the junction.

Did not pick these !

A few days later we were off again, this time going on through Tixel lock and moored at Milford for a few days. Back at Great Haywood we plucked up courage and found a Dentist. Ouch ! Private treatment proves better value than the NHS. Seems that we have been badly let down by incompetence. We both had a thorough examination and look forward to more visits later !

Tree decoration found on a walk

Colwich lock?

The lock is open and boats have been through but those that have come up to Great Haywood report ‘no change’. The bottom gates still need two people to operate them. So I wonder what BW tried to do while it was closed to navigation.

Objections are being made about BW plans to close facilities at Marsworth on the Grand Union canal. Apparently the workshops and facilities are to be demolished and a number of houses built on site. What, I wonder, are boaters to do with the contents of their ‘black’ cassettes and not being able to top up with fresh water. I see an environmental problem happening if it goes ahead.

Winter blues

The lack of sunshine is SAD. It may be sunny now but the days are so short. Nothing to talk about but the weather! Thankfully we have not suffered like others near rivers reminding us about our adventures on the Nene. It must be real nasty to get flooded yet again. For us it is another sunny day and the solar panels are putting a little power in. While we are hanging around it seems that engine charging for 2 hours midday and an hour in the evening keeps up with our demands.

Ann walked across from our Tixel Wide mooring and got the bus to Stafford, returning later with more goodies. The local butcher had some venison for sale so we made a stew which cooked on the stove all day. It tasted so good, just pure red meat and very good value.

That lock between us and Rugeley at Colwich should be open soon and many boats are gathering to get away. We keep getting stoppage messages and really wonder about the government’s commitment to the waterways. There are too many failures of the system being reported lately. The winter months are when British Waterways have planned maintenance to carry out but that is not enough it seems. Our waterways need respect and support from all of us. When that major failure occurred on the Shropshire this summer we were surprised how many towns and businesses suffered from the lack of boat traffic. Now we hear about a large hole in the Caldon canal near Stoke on Trent and yet another failure on that popular Welsh canal. Some are putting the blame on Badgers making their sets in the bank!

Biting the bullet

I had the misfortune to possess Vista having replaced a dead computer. Vista was inconsistent, and slow. At first it refused to talk to my trusty Lexmark printer but was persuaded to behave after some Google help! Despite continual updates there was no apparent improvement. Occasional failures requiring reboots and at least one reformat made me think about alternative operating systems like Linux or Mac. My essential T Mobile USB modem worked a treat and could behave on a Mac but not on Linux. I understand that the USB modem supplied by ‘3’ works with Linux.
Vista seemed top heavy and tried to load everything in memory before being ‘strangled’. Much time and effort was used just sorting out the operating system! Now I am not saying that the change I made was the preferred one but was the most economic and worth a try. MS 7 installed in just over an hour and a half and boots up in less than 2 minutes! No time now to get a cup of tea after pressing the button! My USB modem installed OK and was soon down loading the inevitable updates. MS could not find drivers for my Lexmark printer so I found one myself.
I then fed in all my documents and pictures. One nice feature is the desktop background full screen slideshow. I got Google Chrome downloaded because it is better than I E. I begin to suspect that 7 is a simplified Vista! You never know, another bullet could be bitten if Google’s OS comes out next year!

Places to go and things to do

We had time to stop at Rugeley which is just as well because Ann had tooth ache. The local Dentist was able to take a look and provided antibiotics after some treatment. We walked round town doing some shopping but sadly found it lacking. Several shops had closed down including Woolworths which is still empty. Banks, building societies, card shops and low cost stores are open. Morrisons and Wilkins are quite busy. Charity shops are providing worthwhile goods. “In fact I have replaced my winter coat and disposed of our video recorder.”

It was not far to Great Haywood, only seven lock miles but we had to get past Colwich Lock. The lower gates were always hard to open or close because the balance beams are too short. In fact the locks up from Fradley were just as difficult for the same reason. Longer beams would provide better leverage. They all needed two people to operate them. It will be interesting to see what British Waterways can do about it because a bridge across the lock gets in the way of longer beams!
We now have some time in one area to explore due to the stoppages. We are limited to about 9 miles going north on the Trent & Mersey and three miles west on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire. Turning points mark the limit before the stoppage because we need to be able to return to Great Haywood. There are no turns south before that lock so cannot go that way.

We are not too down hearted because boating facilities are available and the village has a Post Office, shops, butcher and even a medical centre within walking distance of the canal.
We got the hourly bus to Stafford. It took a bit longer than usual due to an accident which meant that the driver had to go a different way. We walked across town to the station and got all our tickets for the train home at Christmas. After a bite to eat at a cafe and some shopping we returned to the boat just before it got dark. Shugborough Hall will be having a firework event over the weekend so we moved north to get away. Molly gets so upset with the bangs and whistles, even the TV had to be turned down or off when fireworks were on that as well!
Now we settle down to shop on line, write and post Christmas cards, wrap some gifts and play games! Ann so likes that Nindendo DS with those games and brain training that she could not wait to use it. And wot fun it is too, even I had a go!

Get a move on

Got to use those daylight hours to get to where were going. Sue told us about an unexpected stoppage at Colwich Lock which we must get through before the 9th of November. No rush really. We are getting away early after breakfast and stopping for a rest and sandwiches midday. We have done all those locks at Atherstone and shopped at the Co-op, passed by Polesworth, down the two locks at Tamworth and even passed those lovely gardens in Whittington.

The Coventry still proves to be one of our favourite canals but there are so many other places, towns, villages and moorings which are spread all over the waterway system that we like so much. I am imagining a utopia waterway with all our favourite places and all the nasty boring bits removed. It is something to ponder about during a few otherwise idle moments? No more than 5 locks in a few miles then a long stretch and no wide ones. At least one tunnel which you can see through. Tow paths for walkers, not cyclists and wide enough in places to sit out under the shade of a tree in summer...... I do not know whether to take what we have and remove the bad bits or to make a list of the good bits and paste them together on an interesting track.

By the time we had got to Kings Bromley we had met both Roger n Pip on Windsong and Derek n Dot on Gypsy Rover.

We’ve been moving most days since turning at the end of the Ashby and now stopped for a weekend.

Now what is this? Well, well.......

This 'orable goolie was seen near Atherstone top lock. Ooooooooo!

Daylight / Nightlight

Before we left the Ashby canal we made contact with friends on ‘At Last’ moored near Burton Hastings. We first met them when they stopped to say hello many years ago while on the Coventry canal between Nuneaton and Atherstone. It was good to see them again and have a good old chat on board. We do try to keep in touch with friends on the cut when we are nearby.

Changing those clocks and having to wake up an hour later takes a bit of getting used to. At the end of the day we now have the lights on for an extra hour. What was it called? Daylight Saving? Daylight is free but the nation is now paying for that extra hour of night light. Might have been better to have fallen forward rather than back! Altering our time does not change the fact that as winter approaches the daylight time is getting shorter anyway.

We moved on to the Coventry canal and pushed through Nuneaton early. Stopped at bridge 23 to dump some rubbish and go to the shops. There is a recycling centre nearby. “Old clothes over there, just chuck that lot over there lov”. Oh why did we bother to keep it all separate? Then we went the other way to find the butcher. Good quality at Frank Parker’s no less. Moving on we got diesel at Springwood Haven, this time being able to make our own declaration before continuing to Hartshill.

More on the Ashby

We moved on a few miles to Market Bosworth visitor moorings and found them empty!

On the way we passed a dredger with one operator getting mud from the canal and depositing it on the tow path. Another operator was using a large rake to spread the wet mud level. “It looked like hard work.”

After a sandwich we walked up the hill to the town in sunshine with the copper leaves blowing about in the gardens.

More boats had arrived when we returned to the moorings. At least most of them are moving most days and we see them returning later. It is certainly slow going on this canal as we have averaged only about 2 miles an hour! Any faster and the boat drags on the bottom or makes a wash despite that dredging! The canal gets better after Shackerstone where there are a couple of miles of woodland to travel through. “Just have to clear the leaves from prop every now and then.”

Having heard that the canal trust had got their spades out of the shed we were disappointed to see what had been achieved. A side pond has been created for wild life between bridge 61 and the turn, but there was no progress north for boats. It is no longer possible to walk along the canal beyond the end of navigation. Having spent a packet on that side pond the trust are now waiting for yet more money to come their way. We found the Wendover Arm more inviting at its end.

The Ashby Canal

Our next stop was at Stoke Golding. The visitor moorings were full as we passed so carried round the bend and stopped next to a muddy bank. The canal has been recently dredged but not edge to edge. Only our front end got near while our deeper back end was stuck in mud! It was a bad end to a damp grey horrible day. To their credit the Ashby Canal Association has been getting a fair bit of dredging done. Unfortunately the mud has just been left to dry out as hard lumps of dirt on the tow path.

We kept an eye on the boats at the mooring and when one moved off we reversed into the space and washed the mud off. We were then able to place an order to Tesco who delivered next day.

When it was all packed away we walked up to the village shop during a bright sunny day which was so different to the previous one.

After the two day limited stay we moved off heading for the facilities at Sutton Wharf where we took on water after using the washing machine. There are many moorings on the way but most still have that muddy dredging lying on top of what was a grassy edge. Perhaps one day it will get spread out to make a dry path. We eventually stopped for the weekend at the ‘Battle field’ moorings which was thankfully clear of mud.
It was here that the War of the Roses finally ended when Richard the third was defeated. Henry Tudor took the crown of England and became Henry the seventh. It is quite something to still be able to walk round the fields where the battle of Bosworth took place back in 1485, over 500 years ago!

Parted company

We went home on a bus, taxi, train and car for a long weekend while our friends looked after Molly and the boat. On our return Sue n Vic gave us a refreshing cup of tea before setting off on their long journey north. We cannot thank them enough for their kindness and help over the years that we have known them. Then we stopped at Hawkesbury Junction to top up with water and use the facilities. We simply lost count of the number of boats moving up and down through that shallow lock on October.

Turning on to the Coventry canal we found ourselves following a slow boat to China and decided to stay on the Coventry if it turns on to the Ashby. We headed for Nuneaton but turned at the next winding point and stopped for the night. Next day we got on to the Ashby at a normal speed. Many of the visitor moorings were full so we stopped on a rough edge near Hinckley.

Do we expect too much?

It was not that long ago when many canals were un navigable. Way back when canals were created only horses were available to pull the boats through the water. When diesel engines were put in the boats they were pushed from the back and moved much faster and made waves. There are now more boats moving about the canals than ever before when they were operated commercially. At least the commercial operators showed respect and consideration.

It is perhaps not surprising that the system is suffering from the strain. Pumps now push the water back up the locks so there is enough to let the boats go down. We are lucky at times not to run aground more often. Even when we started 15 years ago there were problems with the water supply. The use of some locks near summits were booked for use and limited to a few days a week. Many others were locked at night to save water.

With limited money and maintenance effort we all may have to realise that limited use will return, if not by design then by failures of the system.

Moving with friends again

Ann had gone off on the bus to Cogenhoe to find them moored on the Nene. A few days later we were together, No Problem and Moore 2 Life. “I knew they were near when I heard dogs barking. Lucy, Meg n Molly rushed up and each gave me a lick!” It did not take long to move on past Nether Heyford and Weedon. The wide canal is weaving its way past the hills of Northamptonshire with a variety of open farmland and woods. Both boats called at Fred Tarry’s for gas, coal and diesel before stopping past the noisy motorway. Next day we continued up the Buckby flight, across the summit, through the bent tunnel and all the way down to Braunston.

We were pleased to see that at least some work has been done at the tunnel to prevent further land slippage.

Sue and Vic went on next day while we took the bus into Daventry. Why do they all come at the same time? This time there were no less than three of them, two for Rugby and one for Banbury. At least the bus companies are running a viable service. We had done a pre winter clearout and donated the majority to charity in town. It was an enjoyable outing in sunshine and we had a snack at the local cafe.

When we returned we paid a visit to friends in Braunston Marina. There were many other boats gathered on the canal which we passed on the way out next day. It was a very windy Saturday as we progressed north to the locks at Hillmorton where we caught up with our friends again.