Thursday, 14 August 2008
The last post (for two weeks)
I walked into Stafford to get the bus over to the car. It was about 4 miles but didn't take long as it was interesting terrain. Found two Starbucks, one Costa and one Nero - so I guess it is up and coming! Seems quite a nice place. The car was fine and I filled her with fuel at 109.9p p/l and got some lunch. Back to Olivia, loaded up car and then took the boat to her long term mooring (i.e. for next couple of weeks). Decided to log on and got the first signal for AGES - yippee- although some of the things the laptop does all by itself are scream makingly frustrating. Hopefully I'll sort them out when I'm home and at a loose end (and within short distance of a technician!).
Last long haul for Phase 2
There was a storm last night but today's threatened rain held off pretty well and I not only got through the 10 planned locks but I pushed on and got through number 11 and moored ready to go through the twelth in the morning. Quite a long day and I was fearful that I'd never find a decent place to moor at a decent time but just as I was giving up, a place revealed itself. had a little walk a bit further along to identify my next "storage" place for the boat.
Wolverhampton environs
Tuesday August 12th 2008
I was very glad that I moored at Brewood as there was no other convenient place to moor for over 3 hours. Parts of these suburbs of Wolverhampton reminded me of Hayes! Although some effort has been made with the newer housing, the old houses are not very nice. Olivia is doing really well even if she does get smoky when she is hot and idling (don't we all get hot under the collar). Met some very nice people - keep running into the same boats who are doing a similar route to me. Moored at Gailey tonight ready to start through 10 locks tomorrow.
I was very glad that I moored at Brewood as there was no other convenient place to moor for over 3 hours. Parts of these suburbs of Wolverhampton reminded me of Hayes! Although some effort has been made with the newer housing, the old houses are not very nice. Olivia is doing really well even if she does get smoky when she is hot and idling (don't we all get hot under the collar). Met some very nice people - keep running into the same boats who are doing a similar route to me. Moored at Gailey tonight ready to start through 10 locks tomorrow.
No signal for TEN days...
so here is the update.
Sunday August 3rd 2008
I got up early to cruise to Nantwich. Only 2 locks today although they were deep ones with scary ladders. I met up with Lynn ok. Very close to where we moored there was a concert starring Girls Aloud. Tickets were £32 but we had ringside seats (for sound anyway!). Shame is wasn’t someone more to our taste. We found a nice Italian restaurant for supper. With the concert some places were only open to regulars. We are off to Liverpool in the morning.
Monday 4th to Wednesday 6th August 2008
We started out for Liverpool. Went to Nantwich Station but when our train arrived (a single coach) the driver said he couldn’t take us to Crewe as there had been a fatality on a level crossing further along. We went back to our cars and Lynn drove us to Chester where we got Merseyrail into Liverpool. The ticket only cost £4.20 so we probably saved cash. Our hotel was only 300 metres from the station and was right in the heart of things. We dumped our bags and had a walk round calling into the Catholic Cathedral and, later, into the Cavern Club for a drink. We found a lovely French bistro close to the hotel for a meal. On Tuesday it rained early on so we went to the Walker Gallery and then we went on the "Ferry cross the Mersey" and to the Klimt exhibition at the Tate. We ate at a restaurant opposite the hotel and then went back to Chester and from there to the boat. We were both surprised at how compact the city was. Today we set off down the Shroppie, stopping at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker before mooring for the night at Audlem Locks. It started raining so we decided to eat in tonight.
Thursday August 7th 2008
We made our way up the Audlem Flight. A nice sunny day. We went back to Nantwich to fetch our cars and then had a meal at the Shroppie Fly.
Friday August 8th 2008
Lynn put an old padlock on my front door - for which I have no key! Luckily it was to hold the two door parts together so can still open door but not open it as a stable door. That will teach me to declutter and throw out useless items! We moved cars and cruised down to Market Drayton . Couldn’t find a decent pub to eat in so we ate at home again.
Saturday August 9th 2008
Rained all morning. We went to Market Drayton Museum as Lynn wanted to trace her grandparents and any clues would be welcomed. We moved my car a place called Gnosall which I will pass in a day or two. It also has good bus connections. Then we had lunch - we tried Staffordshire oatcakes! Very nice. When the weather cheered up we took the boat through the next 5 locks. It started raining at about lock 2 and we got drenched.
Sunday August 10th 2008
Lynn left at 12.30pm and I cruised for three hours to High Offley. Very windy, but fine and sunny day.
Monday 11th August 2008
Still no signal so that is 5 or more days!! I cruised to Gnosall for a few provisions and to check on the car. I loaded up some laundry and some old paperbacks. On to Wheaton Aston for diesel, elsan and thru the only lock for today. Ended up quite close to Brewood and only 6 miles from the junction. If weather holds I should get to Great Hayward in good time.
Sunday August 3rd 2008
I got up early to cruise to Nantwich. Only 2 locks today although they were deep ones with scary ladders. I met up with Lynn ok. Very close to where we moored there was a concert starring Girls Aloud. Tickets were £32 but we had ringside seats (for sound anyway!). Shame is wasn’t someone more to our taste. We found a nice Italian restaurant for supper. With the concert some places were only open to regulars. We are off to Liverpool in the morning.
Monday 4th to Wednesday 6th August 2008
We started out for Liverpool. Went to Nantwich Station but when our train arrived (a single coach) the driver said he couldn’t take us to Crewe as there had been a fatality on a level crossing further along. We went back to our cars and Lynn drove us to Chester where we got Merseyrail into Liverpool. The ticket only cost £4.20 so we probably saved cash. Our hotel was only 300 metres from the station and was right in the heart of things. We dumped our bags and had a walk round calling into the Catholic Cathedral and, later, into the Cavern Club for a drink. We found a lovely French bistro close to the hotel for a meal. On Tuesday it rained early on so we went to the Walker Gallery and then we went on the "Ferry cross the Mersey" and to the Klimt exhibition at the Tate. We ate at a restaurant opposite the hotel and then went back to Chester and from there to the boat. We were both surprised at how compact the city was. Today we set off down the Shroppie, stopping at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker before mooring for the night at Audlem Locks. It started raining so we decided to eat in tonight.
Thursday August 7th 2008
We made our way up the Audlem Flight. A nice sunny day. We went back to Nantwich to fetch our cars and then had a meal at the Shroppie Fly.
Friday August 8th 2008
Lynn put an old padlock on my front door - for which I have no key! Luckily it was to hold the two door parts together so can still open door but not open it as a stable door. That will teach me to declutter and throw out useless items! We moved cars and cruised down to Market Drayton . Couldn’t find a decent pub to eat in so we ate at home again.
Saturday August 9th 2008
Rained all morning. We went to Market Drayton Museum as Lynn wanted to trace her grandparents and any clues would be welcomed. We moved my car a place called Gnosall which I will pass in a day or two. It also has good bus connections. Then we had lunch - we tried Staffordshire oatcakes! Very nice. When the weather cheered up we took the boat through the next 5 locks. It started raining at about lock 2 and we got drenched.
Sunday August 10th 2008
Lynn left at 12.30pm and I cruised for three hours to High Offley. Very windy, but fine and sunny day.
Monday 11th August 2008
Still no signal so that is 5 or more days!! I cruised to Gnosall for a few provisions and to check on the car. I loaded up some laundry and some old paperbacks. On to Wheaton Aston for diesel, elsan and thru the only lock for today. Ended up quite close to Brewood and only 6 miles from the junction. If weather holds I should get to Great Hayward in good time.
Saturday, 2 August 2008
...and a good signal from good old Middlewich
I had a reasonable day today. It's windy but rain held off and, in fact, it has been quite hot. Did 7 locks and 7 miles today plus a little shopping and a much needed visit to the bank. Lynn has booked us a stay in Liverpool so will add our adventures as they happen (or maybe a day or two later :~) ). She is coming out to meet up with me tomorrow. Moored up early today and in a nice place. Have opened a can of cider, cheers all.
Two nights without a signal...
So here is the update...
Thursday July 31st 2008
An interesting and busy day. I turned around and came back down the Macclesfield to the Trent & Mersey. At the first lock a guy fell in. He wasn’t concentrating and lost his footing. Reminded me that I really must not fall in. Did a further 12 locks today. Weather held off ok. It was humid but did not rain. I walked back to get my car. It took only 1 hour to walk although the boat trip took 5 and a half hours! I also rescued a runaway toddler. He was running along the towpath in his toddling style. I put my arms out and he ran into them, closely pursued by his nan.
Friday August 1st 2008
Another busy day - going down 14 locks!! It was a bit blustery today but the rain held off and, in fact, it was quite warm and sunny. Have to go off now to retrieve the car. Will either walk the 4 miles to where I left it or, if I feel too weary I can walk one mile and hop on a bus (last bus 6pm so looking at the time now maybe I’ll be walking!). Writing this offline in the hope that I get a clear signal in a minute. I didn’t get on yesterday. What did annoy me but is now amusing me, is the fact that I seem to get a different error message every time. Hope my students didn’t write the software! By the way, ignore the time of posting which for some reason is completely wrong. I’m at a place called Wheelock tonight. It’s near Sandbach which is near Crewe.
Thursday July 31st 2008
An interesting and busy day. I turned around and came back down the Macclesfield to the Trent & Mersey. At the first lock a guy fell in. He wasn’t concentrating and lost his footing. Reminded me that I really must not fall in. Did a further 12 locks today. Weather held off ok. It was humid but did not rain. I walked back to get my car. It took only 1 hour to walk although the boat trip took 5 and a half hours! I also rescued a runaway toddler. He was running along the towpath in his toddling style. I put my arms out and he ran into them, closely pursued by his nan.
Friday August 1st 2008
Another busy day - going down 14 locks!! It was a bit blustery today but the rain held off and, in fact, it was quite warm and sunny. Have to go off now to retrieve the car. Will either walk the 4 miles to where I left it or, if I feel too weary I can walk one mile and hop on a bus (last bus 6pm so looking at the time now maybe I’ll be walking!). Writing this offline in the hope that I get a clear signal in a minute. I didn’t get on yesterday. What did annoy me but is now amusing me, is the fact that I seem to get a different error message every time. Hope my students didn’t write the software! By the way, ignore the time of posting which for some reason is completely wrong. I’m at a place called Wheelock tonight. It’s near Sandbach which is near Crewe.
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