Day off from cruising

Last night I went for a couple of drinks with my neighbours. A very good mix of personalities and conversations. It rained quite a lot overnight and early this morning but cheered up mid-morning. Phil and Richard had moved onward but Karen and I went to visit Biddulph Grange garden. A house (private) from 1890s and a garden based on different countries so there was China, Italy, Egypt and so on. Lots of interesting tunnels, buildings, etc. as well as plants. Also we went up the local hill to a folly called Mowcop. Views of about 320 degrees around it. Could see Jodrell Bank in the distance and Chester and the Wirral in the very far distance. Got some essential shopping and will go for a drink tonight - what 2 nights running! I'm moving on tomorrow but Karen is staying until her husband rejoins her on Saturday.

Nothing exciting today...

Not very much to relate today. The good news is that I got logged on okay! Took train to Stoke and then walked to Trentham to get the car. Called at Congleton to pay a bill and have a look round and then parked the car a couple of miles from the boat, walked to the boat and brought her up so that they are together. The wind got up this afternoon so although I moved the boat, I decided not too turn her in the wind. Having tomorrow off and then will start back off on my trip Thursday. Got chatting to a couple of people moored here. One’s a real old Jack the Lad who is taking his own and another boat back to London. Sometimes has help but sometimes he’s doing it on his own. Also a woman who is married with teenage kids but seems to spend a lot of time on the boat on her own while the rest of the family are at work, school, etc. See I’m not the weirdest one out there. If you want to see my old blog it can be found at: http://nb-olivia.blogspot.com

Phase 2 begins....

Saturday July 26th 2008

Drove back up to the boat. Found a note on board from a guy called Simon, who I met 2 years ago when I was returning from London. He has left his boat here while he has gone back to London; he is headed for Llangollen. Here's his blog: http://nbtortoise.blogspot.com/

Very hot today. I went through 4 locks (and got plenty of help with each one!) but didn’t travel very far. Walked back to get the car, found a decent place to park it and walked back the 3 miles to the boat. Have got 4 more locks to start the day with tomorrow but then only a couple of sparse locks until Stoke on Trent.

Sunday July 27th 2008

Another beautiful day today. I started off at the chandlery where I bought a couple of fenders, one to replace one that had come off the boat while I was away and the other because I was a fender short anyway. Then I started off through the next four locks. They were all close together and I got help in three of them. I only cruised about three miles today as I needed to move the car. It all gets a bit silly when I have the car as well as the boat to move. Anyway, I have found what seems like another safe place for it BUT how I am going to retrieve it tomorrow I have yet to work out. I moored close to the Wedgewood Factory but didn’t go to visit it. Considering we are close to Stoke, there are quite a lot of “executive” developments in this area. Nicely done with plenty of open green spaces. In Stone there was a new canalside development that reminded me of Hemel Hempstead. Spent the afternoon sitting by the canal reading on this lovely balmy day.

Monday July 28th 2008

Unbelievable as it may sound I was up and started off at 7.30 this morning. I cruised through Stoke on Trent, through 6 locks and was one mile from Harecastle Tunnel when I stopped for lunch. Within the hour I was off again and in the queue for the tunnel. This is a peculiar tunnel as it is nearly 2 miles long and is one way, so there is a tunnel keeper at each end who notes which boats have entered and they ring each other to check whether all is well. Even more peculiar is the fact that they close off the South Portal and switch on a couple of giant, noisy fans. I have taken a detour up the Macclesfield Canal as I want to visit a couple of National Trust properties up that way. Also I have some car moving to sort out. And I need a rest before the 30 locks that need to be done over the next three days (It’s known as Heartbreak Hill!). Am having acute technical problems with the mobile internet which may result in me throwing the whole lot into the Cut!

Upton upon Severn blues festival

Have just returned from the brilliant blues festival weekend in Upton. With about 40 bands playing we got to see about 75% of them :~) with the highlight for Anne being that Paul Jones signed her programme. I was a bit slow off the mark and didn't get a photo of them together, which would have been a smug shot from her point of view. Oh well. maybe next time. http://www.uptonbluesfestival.org.uk/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

We stayed in a very nice B&B only 2 miles from the town centre and easily walkable. The weather was not too bad - and many of the acts are indoors. Where we were outside, we had to dodge a few showers but it was warm enough (until the cool breeze (!) on Sunday).

Last Day's Cruise - Phase 1

Same sort of day as yesterday except that it was cold instead of humid. Just did three hours and found somewhere to moor for the next week while I return home for various commitments. One of which is the Upton Blues Festival: hope rain holds off enough for the festival to go ahead, unlike last year. Also got some guys upgrading my loft insulation (and I haven’t cleared out the loft yet!). In addition I am taking Paris to the theatre in Cambridge. Might go to the local pub tonight where there is an acoustic night.

Using my National Trust membership

Tuesday July 15th 2008
Visited Shugborough Estate and spent over 3 hours there. Plenty to look at - craftspeople, a working farm, servants’ quarters, big house and a museum with old shops, etc. It was the home of the Earls of Lichfield at one time. Quite warm, humid day but quite windy. Started out about 3.30pm and motored to Weston upon Trent for the night.

A good day's cruise

Had to make up for yesterday’s lost time so was off soon after 9am. It was a warm day with no wind so good progress made. Met lots of helpful people today. One even let me go in the lock before him even though I was second in the line and provided two big guys to do the locking for me :~) Also some of the places I passed through were interesting. I love looking at the back gardens which edge the canal. It is easy to visualise industry and one can imagine the noise of it but I had forgotten that it also has a smell. A kind of metallic smell. I passed the Armitage Shanks factory with all the loos and cisterns stacked up in the yard. Any colour you like as long as it’s white. Had a short break for lunch at Rugeley and then on to Great Hayward for the night.

The 2 hour queue - not for me

Sunday July 13th 2008
Nice morning. Best yet. Started out soon after 10 and arrived at Fradley Junction soon after 12. I got the last mooring space before the locks which was really lucky, as there was a 2 hour long queue for the locks. Decided not to go any further today. Went to people watch instead. This is a real “day out” for Midlanders. All centres on the pub where Harley and classic car owners congregate. Also loads of boats so plenty going on. I bought some nice cheese from The Cheese Boat! Tasted them all and the one with chilli was WOW.

My day off

I caught the bus into Lichfield, which is a really nice city, and had a look around the cathedral and shops before going to the Arts Festival. Good atmosphere and some very good bands but could have done with more stalls, arty things, etc. However it is a free festival and the big marquee and the sound system was brilliant. I decided not to stay for the firework display in case I missed the last bus! Actually I can hear them now as I write this.

Arrived at my first planned destination (despite the weather)

Made good progress despite a couple of hours in the rain. Had to stop to take on water and empty the loo and, of course, that is when the heavens opened. Still it gets everyone talking to each other about our Great British summers. Have stopped at a nice little village, Whittington, where there is an hourly bus to Lichfield and the last one back is just before 11pm. So that’s good. (Thrapston - take note). Has 6 shops and 3 pubs so I like the ratio. Also some friendly locals. One really doesn’t like what the commuters to Brum have done to the community “feel”. Tomorrow I am having the day off to go into Lichfield. Pat couldn't make it in the end due to a plumbing crisis. Hope you get it all sorted out quickly, Pat, and that there is no permanent damage.

Only one shower today...and some sun.

A much better day, only the odd shower. Went through the last 6 Atherstone locks and moored at Polesworth for lunchtime. Walked as far as Alvecote Boats but there was nowhere better to moor this side of Tamworth so came back for a walk around the town. Met some friendly boaters and we are off to the pub for a meal later. Pat’s coming out for the weekend and I am still hoping for decent weather so we can get to the Arts Festival. Just checked the beeb and it looks as though Saturday will be unsettled but Sunday will be good. Thanks, Rose, for reading the blog. It would be longer and better written but I try to get something on before I lose the signal. Actually today it is going well and the response is quite fast. maybe because I have logged on earlier, before all the gamers and facebookers get logged on!

Wet wet wet

Wednesday July 9th 2008

What a day! I hung around waiting for the rain to ease and, at 11.30, started out BUT within the hour it was pouring again. I did attempt the Atherstone Locks but only went through 5 out of 11 by the time I was soaked. I stopped for a cup of tea and am still there now, holed up for the night. However, tomorrow’s weather forecast is better so I’ll, hopefully, make up some time. Atherstone is a strange place (sadly) it has a plethora of dogs mess, as if responsible dog owners have given up because they are in the minority. Also all the shops in the High Street have those cages on windows that you tend to see in the dodgy parts of London. The town has some lovely old buildings and could do with some regeneration. It could be a great place.

Wet feet!!

Soon after starting out the heavens opened and although I cagouled up, I managed to get very wet feet. So much for wearing plimsolls!! It soon dried up but remained windy until evening. I was very pleased with my manoeuvre at Hawkesbury and I made reasonable progress through Nuneaton to Hartshill (not far from Atherton). The weather improved and I went to have a look at tomorrow’s locks. 11 of them. I’m getting very frustrated with mobile broadband as if I get a connection to T-mobile I can’t always get onto the internet and when I can it is VERY slow. Not the technology I hoped it might be. Also my faithful old radio is playing up. What will I do without it. Mushroom risotto for supper. I made enough for two so tomorrow I will be having...mushroom risotto.

More rain!

Monday July 7th 2008
Cruised down to Rugby Tesco and picked up provisions, then on to almost as far as Hawkesbury Junction (North of Coventry). Weather was very unsettled and at times very wet and quite cold. After mooring up I walked down to the Junction and had a drink in The Greyhound pub. Haven’t managed to do anything very exciting yet but am aiming to get to Lichfield for the weekend for the Arts Festival.

Arrived at Rugby

It was pouring with rain and blowing a gale this morning, so went to get a paper and started out at 12.30 when it held off for a bit. I had to keep the revs up in the wind but arrived safely at Hillmorton by 2.30. Got help from some kids at the locks. Everyone has a go at kids but these seemed genuinely helpful. Hang on, I’ll just check my valuables. Nope, good kids. My meagre belongings are all still here. Will investigate Rugby this afternoon and plan to stop at Ansty tomorrow night.

Through Braunston

Although it rained during the night, by the time I was ready to start out the sun was shining and there was little wind. (Note: I will get a bit obsessed by wind speed). Went through Braunston Tunnel and it was quite busy. Teamed up with a lovely couple from Weltonfields marina to go through the locks. They had a brilliant, hardworking crew so I had very little to do. Many thanks to them. At the bottom of the locks was a huge queue to go up, so glad I was not travelling in that direction. I had a short day today as I was sorting out the car (and where to leave it) so moored around the corner from the bustle of Braunston. Just been onto the bbc weather site and the next five days is predicted rain, heavy showers and heavy rain. C’est la vie!

First day of my holiday

Friday July 4th 2008

Started out from Yelvertoft and had a fairly straightforward journey, mooring near Welton ready to go through Braunston Tunnel in the morning. I did Crick Tunnel and Watford Locks today. Neither was busy. Had a walk into Welton as I had never been there before. It’s quite a nice place with a mixture of old and new houses. Fabulous views to the North East. Good weather today but there is a promise of rain and blustery winds tomorrow. A good thing I haven’t got very far to go.