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.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
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.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
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
Monday, 28 July 2008
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!
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!
Monday, 21 July 2008
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).
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).
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
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.
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