CONFESSIONS OF A HIRE BOATER

[Janet S]

SATURDAY 13TH MAY - STONE TO COLWICH LOCK BRIDGE

 

8 locks

5 hours cruising

 

Arrived early in Stone to collect our boat, Rosemary, from Canal Cruising Co, so went for a wander round town until they were ready for us. Had a £5.00 voucher to use in the local supermarket, so had some fun trying to make our shopping add up to exactly £5.00. Well, we didn't want to go over the limit, and we knew we wouldn't get any change, so what better way to spend half an hour than searching the supermarket for something that cost exactly 18p. Have you any idea how hard that is? Almost as much fun as searching B&Q for the cheapest item on sale. Try it sometime! I won, with a tin of baby carrots. I think the staff were about to call Security when I stood in the middle of the tinned goods aisle, punching the air and shouting "Yessss!!!".

 

Eventually we went for a wander along the canal to pass the time, till we saw the woman from the boatyard gesturing us across. If we could've walked on water to get there quicker, we would! It didn't take long to get everything loaded onto boat, then we were off. As usual, the handover procedure seemed to take forever (we couldn't wait to get away!) but I have to say that the instruction and information given was excellent. The boat was clean and tidy, but not for long - we'd brought enough food and clothes to last for the entire summer, so it wasn't long before every available surface was covered in bags and boxes. Well, knowing the British weather in May, we needed to have all eventualities covered! Only took a couple of hours to pack everything away in the evening. The boat, although only small, at 34 feet, had plenty of well-organised storage space.

 

Weather was a bit overcast, but quite warm and pleasant. We were supervised through our first lock, and then we were off! Nick's canal planner said we'd only make it to Salt Bridge, but as usual, we cruised on almost until sunset. The heavy rain started about an hour into our trip - little did we know that we were going to get this for the next thirteen days! We both had rain cascading off our caps like miniature waterfalls - what else could you do but laugh?

 

Only one slight disaster - we'd managed to leave behind a coolbag with a supply of cheese and salad stuff, but no matter - we had enough food to feed an army on board.

 

Made it past Great Haywood Junction, and moored up for the night just past Colwich Lock Bridge for a nice dinner and a bottle of Chardonnay.

 

SUNDAY 14TH MAY - COLWICH LOCK BRIDGE TO MARSTON FARM HOTEL

 

7 locks

9.45 hours cruising

 

Oh yuk! My turn for weed hatch duty. Not the most pleasant of tasks in the early morning rain, is it? We're very good about it though, and do it religiously every day. The weather was very drizzly, but thankfully cleared up later on, enough for us to be able to sit out on deck with a Guinness and a barbecue at the end of the day. Did a bit of shopping in Rugely for essential supplies. Don't seem to have much in my diary about today, so it must have been pretty uneventful. Did see my first ducklings of the trip though. Yes, I'm one of the sad ones who buys extra bread to feed the little 'uns, and goes “Aah, aren’t they cute?” at every opportunity. Well, they ARE, aren't they? Who can fail to be moved by the sight of a mother swan cruising along proudly with cygnets nestled on her back? I wish they'd restrict duckling broods to eight or less though. Veered off course several times trying to count them!

 

MONDAY 15TH MAY - MARSTON FARM HOTEL TO OCKER HILL, TAME VALLEY JUNCTION

 

23 locks

10.5 hours cruising

 

Today was a brilliant day - rain on and off, but plenty of sunshine in between the showers. Early start, so just grabbed a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits for breakfast - didn't get the real thing till nearly three in the afternoon - delicious sausage butties, eaten whilst cruising under Spaghetti Junction. What an experience, feeding bits of bread to ducklings whilst watching traffic whizzing in all directions overhead. You really do see another side of life on the cut.

 

Had a bit of trouble with the engine, but only needed the carrier bags, rope, dead dogs, bodies and the like removing from the prop and the water filter rinsing out and replacing. Crew of two on passing boat stopped to see if we needed assistance, but we were fine. I like the way that people on the cut always ask if you need help if they see you having difficulties. Why can't it be like that in real life?

 

About a mile further on, just past Minworth railway bridge, we came across the same boat, completely grounded and going absolutely nowhere. Luckily we were able to help, and give them a pull off. They were very grateful and I know why - last year I managed to run our boat aground on a sandbank on the Aire and Calder (and I've never been allowed to forget it!) It was such a relief when we were towed off by a passing oil tanker!

 

Had a bit of a scare going through one bridge. The boat rose up out of the water as if we'd struck an iceberg. Turned out to be a huge cable reel, either fallen off a lorry on the road above, or chucked in by mindless muppets. As we knew there was a boat following us, I went on shore and managed to drag it out of the bridge hole with the boat hook, where hopefully it was visible to others. Gave us quite a fright! We've run over things before, but never quite as badly as this!

 

Headed down to Tame Valley Junction for nice secure moorings at Ocker Hill. Although the signs say Private Moorings, there are actually 48hr visitor moorings if you go in under the bridge. R.J. did a brilliant job of reversing the boat into the available space - I certainly couldn't have done it. Were made very welcome by a couple of guys and a barking mad dog. It wasn't just barking - it really was mad! They say they often have people moor up out on the canal who don't realise that there are secure visitor moorings, so they usually watch out for them and invite them in.

 

Weed hatch duties were next. Much better to do it at the end of the day than face it first thing in the morning. Surprisingly clear, so didn't need to get wet. Guinness on deck, then lovely roast beef dinner with a nice bottle of Chateau Neuf du Pape. Managed to lose two items off the inventory. Decided to empty a saucepan of water out of the kitchen window, forgetting that there were also two soup bowls in there. They slid gracefully to the bottom of the cut, whilst we collapsed into helpless giggles…

 

TUESDAY 16TH MAY - TAME VALLEY JUNCTION TO BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM

 

8 locks

8.75 hours cruising

 

Nice leisurely start to the day today. The sky was a bit overcast, but warm and dry. Lovely bacon butties on deck as we set off. Never have a cooked breakfast at home, but it's perfect on a boating holiday. The sun came out as we approached Walsall locks - absolutely glorious. Much more green and rural than I expected. There was a notice at the bottom lock to ring BW for assistance with one of the locks, and they called us back within minutes and were waiting for us at the top lock. Bit sexist, some of these BW guys. I was the one doing all the steering, but they decided to give all their instructions to Robert, who was working the locks, who then had to relay it to me. What is it, do women become invisible when they're steering?

 

The Wyrley and Essington canal was a real treat - absolutely fabulous. The water was crystal clear - so clear that you could see right down to the bottom. There were thousands of fish, some of them massive, all darting about amongst the weeds and lilies. Saw the biggest pike I've ever seen, just basking in the sunshine, waiting for its next meal to swim past. Also saw several bikes, a wheelbarrow, carrier bags and cans, and for some strange reason, several mobile phones under a bridge! At one point, just past Devil's Elbow Bridge, the propeller was totally fouled, causing the engine to sputter and die, but didn't take too long to sort out. A large collapsible water carrier had attached itself, along with a few carrier bags.

 

It was twenty past four in the afternoon before we saw another boat on the move. We had the whole canal to ourselves.

 

Having concerns about safe and secure moorings after reading about bandits, we decided to moor up at the Black Country Museum for the night, right at the entrance to the Dudley Tunnel. Very nice and quiet, apart from one of the horses who kept sticking his head over the wall and making horsey noises.

 

WEDNESDAY 17TH MAY - BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM TO TARDEBIGGE

 

4 locks

8.5 hours cruising

 

Started off in beautiful sunshine, but it only lasted until early afternoon, then the heavens opened again. Canal nice and clear again, with very few boats around. We only saw five on the move all day. I know it was mid-week, but if people want to keep these canals open, they really ought to use them more. Gas Street basin was a bit of an eye-opener. Heaving with people in the sunshine. Good to see the canal area being regenerated and being used so well.

 

We wanted to explore a little bit, so went round the Soho Loop, Icknield Port Loop and the Oozells Street Loop, where we came across the first and only bandits on the entire trip. Two little beggers chucking pebbles off a bridge. Their aim wasn't very good, so no damage done.

 

Went through the top lock at Tardebigge in the pouring rain, ready for an early start in the morning. We've had a lazy couple of days, but still found ourselves several hours ahead of our planned schedule, so sat over a bottle of wine and debated what we were going to do. Decided to do as much as possible of the Four Counties Ring before we hand the boat back, and if possible, a quick trip up the Caldon Canal to the top of the Leek Branch. Will mean a few long days, but we don't mind that. We wouldn't be able to do the bit from Great Haywood to Autherley Junction, but we'd manage to get more than three quarters of it done if we kept ahead of schedule.

 

THURSDAY 18TH MAY - TARDEBIGGE TO DIGLIS BASIN

 

55 locks

12 hours cruising

 

Up and away for 7.30 this morning, ready for the assault on Tardebigge. I'd been looking forward to this for months! It was decided that I would steer the boat, and R.J. would work the locks, working one lock ahead for speed. The weather was glorious for this bit, with any rain only lasting a few minutes before giving way to sunshine.

 

Our system worked very well - I cruised into the lock, dropped the paddles at the back and closed the gate, then opened the paddles at the front and parachuted back onto the boat (some of those locks empty very quick, don't they?). In the meantime, R.J. had opened the gates of the next lock ready for me to go straight in and repeat the performance after he'd come back up and let me out! Unfortunately, every single lock was set against us, but we still did all 29 locks in just four hours, so we were well chuffed! Not bad for just the two of us, eh?

 

No time to waste congratulating ourselves though, as we wanted to get down to Diglis Basin for the evening. Everything went very smoothly for the rest of the day, apart from one incident just before the last lock. I'd been hovering around the lock entrance, waiting for it to fill, when a sudden and unexpected gust of wind sent me towards the bank. In trying to manoeuvre back into position, I ended up with a close encounter with an overhanging tree branch, which whipped off my much loved and treasured First Mate cap straight into the canal. I was ready to leave it, but R.J. yelled at me to get it, leapt back on board, and then began a series of balletic movements with the boat to try and retrieve it. Absolutely hysterical - every time it bobbed to the surface, the water movement from the prop would suck it back under again. Just as we were about to give up, seeing another boat heading towards the lock, and knowing that we looked like total pillocks, it finally came into view and I was able to retrieve it with the boat hook. What a relief! I don't know what the people on the boat thought, as they'd seen us pass them about half an hour previously - they must have wondered what we'd been doing all that time!

 

Once again, it was chucking it down when we moored up, but suddenly the rain stopped, the sun came out and we were treated to the brightest, most vivid double rainbow we've ever seen. Simply amazing. The lock keeper said we were ok to moor on an empty pontoon right by the lock, so we were perfectly positioned for a quick getaway in the morning. Wanted to get on the river and up to Stourport first thing - we were trying to meet up with Moley in Kidderminster, and he thought we wouldn't arrive until Saturday - we were therefore determined to prove him wrong!

 

Another nice dinner and a bottle of the best Chateau Neuf again as a reward for all our efforts - this time with a slight twist! It was rather cooler than room temperature, so whilst I had a shower and the dinner cooked away in the oven, R.J. decided to warm it up by putting it in the grill compartment for a few minutes….well, you can guess the rest! I emerged from shower and sat down for an aperitif of gin and tonic when he suddenly leapt up, yelling vague obscenities, and dived towards the cooker. The wine emerged steaming! We had to stand it in a sinkful of cold water to get it back to drinking temperature. Didn't seem to suffer too much though!

 

FRIDAY 19TH MAY - DIGLIS BASIN TO DEVIL'S DEN

 

21 locks

12.5 hours cruising

 

Very dull and overcast this morning, but during the day we had a few long and sunny spells. When it was wet, it was really wet, but not cold, so we still had an enjoyable time. We were up in plenty of time to be first in the lock onto the Severn, which to be honest, we'd been dreading. We'd heard so many scare stories about rivers, and hadn't had a lot of experience. In the end the only problem we had was the boredom! We much prefer canals. The river was too wide, too fast flowing, and very little of interest to see, compared with all the things you see on a canal.

 

When we arrived at Stourport, it was a great relief, and what a nice set of locks. Very old fashioned, scenic, but what a wind trap! Once we got into the first basin it was like fairground dodgems! Narrowboats all over the place, being taken side on by the wind. Took a good bit of tiller whanging to get our little boat to go where we wanted. One 70 footer gave up trying to collect his crew, and turned round! I'm pleased that R.J. handled it OK - as hire boaters, we're used to some owners looking down their noses at us, but he got our boat back on the right course like an expert. Helps that she had a good engine too.

 

Because of the delay in Stourport when I went to find a supermarket and managed to get lost, we were later than we expected to be, so it was perfect timing to meet up with Moley in Kidderminster, and go for a nosy round his boat. It was brilliant to see it after reading about the fit-out for so long on the forum. He's doing a great job, with a lot of attention to detail. It's going to be superb when he's finished. Managed to meet the long-suffering Mrs Mole and the molettes too, which was nice. It's good to put faces to the names.

 

On then to the Staffs and Worcester canal, which must be one of the prettiest canals in the country. I thought it was absolutely stunning, cutting through the sandstone cliffs and winding through the countryside. The locks at the Bratch were fabulous, if a bit confusing for a few of the boaters going up and down.I absolutely loved it, and would love to do it again. We finally moored up for the evening way out in the country at a lovely place called, ominously, Devil's Den. Very peaceful and quiet.

 

SATURDAY 20TH MAY - DEVIL'S DEN TO WHEATON ASTON

 

20 locks

11.5 hours cruising

 

As per usual, sunshine to start, followed by lashings of rain, rain, and more chuffing RAIN! Having made it to Autherley Junction, still way ahead of our planned schedule, we took a few minutes to think, then decided that we DID have time to head off up the Shroppie and do most of the Four Counties (we'll go back in Wet Betsy sometime and finish the bit we missed!)

 

Can't remember much about the day, as I haven't filled in my cruise diary fully, but do remember watching the most beautiful kingfisher swooping across the canal over the boat, before coming in and landing on the roof, just to show off his glorious plumage. Also remember the Bratch locks - really lovely. Amazing bit of construction. Do hope the photo's I took come out OK.

 

Moored just past Dirty Lane Bridge near Wheaton Aston, then settled down for dinner and listen to Eurovision on the radio (we'd had the television removed from our boat before we set off). We were moored in a lovely spot, but right next to a field of the noisiest sheep and cows you can imagine. Sounded better than the Eurovision winner though!

 

I work for a major tour operator, and can get exotic all-inclusive holidays for less than half what we paid for this, but I'd still rather have a couple of weeks on the cut at this time of year. Who needs sun, sea and sand when you can have rain, rain, more rain, stiff, leaky lock gates and terminal backache? Not me. No contest! How many times do you get back from that foreign holiday and feel that you've achieved something? You don't, do you?

 

SUNDAY 21ST MAY - WHEATON ASTON TO SHROPPIE FLY

 

22 locks

Lost track of cruise times, but moored up at 20.30, so guess it was a long day!

 

My diary entry for the day says RAIN, RAIN, MORE F***ING RAIN, so I'm guessing that it was raining! The morning felt like a long slog, with really lashing rain through miles of very pretty countryside, but no LOCKS. We like locks!

 

Woodseaves Cutting was very dramatic, with lovely ferns growing up the sides of the cutting. Very narrow though - I was steering, and I'm very glad we didn't meet anything coming the other way. I'm not the best when it comes to reversing. R.J. had made the sensible decision to stay inside and cook breakfast, while I drove and turned slowly into a damp icicle. Seeing that I was about to expire from exposure, R.J. sensibly ordered me to moor up, then presented me with a beautifully cooked breakfast of left-over naan bread, blue cheese, beans & black pudding. You'd have to have been there to appreciate it! Very nice it was, and I enjoyed it, and my cup of tea before he kicked me back outside into the rain! Still, he is the captain, and us humble crew must obey. We knows our place...

 

Saw Emily Anne at Norbury Junction. Unfortunately Daniel wasn't on board for us to say hello to, but I'm sure we'll come across him on the system one of these days.

 

Finally stopped raining when we reached Adderley Locks, and gave way to blazing sunshine as we tackled Audlem locks. Didn't manage to have dinner and wine as usual - ended up with no dinner, but pints of Old Speckled Hen and salted peanuts in Shroppie Fly more than made up for the lack of food. Fell into bed, exhausted.

 

MONDAY 22ND MAY - SHROPPIE FLY TO WHEELOCK

 

16 locks

11.5 hours cruising

 

Up early to be first down the lock before somebody nicked it! Also got a telling off from a nice BW man, for mooring at the water point. Didn't arrive until 8.30 in the evening, so we didn't prevent anyone using the facilities, and we were the first boat moving in the morning. If we'd moored any farther away from the pub we'd never have found our way back! Nice and sunny start to the day as we went through Nantwich, but we only had an hour or so before the rain set in again.

 

TUESDAY 23RD MAY - WHEELOCK TO CHURCH LOCK

 

18 locks

5 hours cruising

 

Once again, rain on and off all day, but a few spells of sunshine to brighten things up a bit. Had no end of fun going up the Cheshire Locks (Heartbreak Hill). Very difficult. The force of the water was so strong, even with R.J. opening the paddles carefully, that the boat was just being thrown to the front of the lock. We had to resort to tying her up at the back of the lock, which worked a treat, but took a little longer. We'd done these locks before, and didn't remember them being so bad, but then we remembered that last time we'd been travelling in the opposite direction!

 

Moored up very early (three o'clock!!!!) at Church Lock, in exactly the same place as we did when we did the Cheshire Ring a couple of years ago, and took a walk to Harecastle Tunnel to check out the arrangements for going through tomorrow. We'd already been told that we didn't need to book, but it was a pleasant walk, and it took us by the pub, so what more could you want? Had a nice chat with the guy in charge, who told us just to turn up in the morning - no need to book at this time of the year.

 

Had a pint of loopy juice in the Red Bull, then headed back to boat for more Guinness and a BBQ, although it was a bit windy! Didn't dare have more than one pint of whatever it was, as it went straight to my knees. One of us would've ended up in the cut if we'd drunk any more!

 

WEDNESDAY 24TH MAY - CHURCH LOCK TO THE FOXLEY (CALDON CANAL)

 

9 locks

8 hours cruising

 

Intended to be away early to be on first run through Harecastle Tunnel, but both too hung-over to surface too early. Remind me, do NOT let R.J. persuade me to drink vodka shots after Guinness and bottle of wine EVER again! I don't think I've ever been as snibbled! (with apologies to our beer hamster for taking his name in vain!)

 

Arrived at the tunnel entrance at 12.30, (hangovers too bad for an early start!), but didn't go through until 13.45. Wasn't too sure where to moor up, as it isn't signposted. Headed for right hand bank as obvious place, but bollards were marked for Fire Rescue boat, so did a bit of reversing and moored on opposite bank. (BW, please take note!) Rescue boat was moored up ok, with plenty of room, and tunnel keeper saw us and didn't go apoplectic with rage, but we decided to play safe and move. Wouldn't want to give hire boaters a bad name, would we?

 

Plenty of time for a nice cuppa and chat with some of the other boaters waiting to go through. Having been advised by the tunnel keeper yesterday that it wasn't a good idea to go through first because of the fumes, we played the dumb hire boaters and respectfully asked a group of Americans if they'd like to go first, as they'd done the tunnel before. After emerging from the other end of the tunnel, I think on reflection, we should have gone first! Going through the tunnel they were all over the place. The whole tunnel echoed with loud bangs and crunches, and with our lights we could see that they were veering from side to side, crashing the walls and generally making a mess of things. It got a bit fume filled towards the end of the trip, so we were relieved when they opened the doors and we could actually see the light at the end of the tunnel! Number of passengers were checked on way in. Very tempted to have reshuffle in tunnel and confuse things on the way out. I think we just have evil minds!

 

In the afternoon, we turned off onto the Caldon Canal, intending to head up to the top of the Leek branch, but in the event, had to stop after a couple of hours as R.J. wasn't happy with the way the engine was responding. We moored at the Foxley public house, nice and secure and had a lovely dinner with swans sticking their heads through the galley window for titbits before going ashore to sample the Guinness.

 

Think we've discovered what the problem with the engine is - we need a pumpout! Definite list to one side and the exhaust's just about under water! Oops! Maybe we SHOULD have had it done the other day when I mentioned it! Perhaps we shouldn't have drunk quite so much wine and Guinness…..?

 

Much better day today - apart from a heavy shower of hailstones as we waited for our trip through the tunnel it was dry and sunny all day.

 

THURSDAY 25TH MAY - FOXLEY TO STONE (hire base)

 

17 locks

10.25 hours cruising

 

Woke up to a beautiful day with blazing sunshine, so sat on deck for an hour or two, feeding the ducks whilst R.J. slept. Shouldn't have had so many cups of tea - I was under instructions not to use the loo until we'd had a pumpout!

 

One of the many highlights of the trip for me was seeing my first ever baby pigeon, in a hole in a stone wall just after Star Lock. Newly hatched, white scrawny little thing. We'd only been discussing the previous day that you never see baby pigeons.

 

We had a long wait at Bedford St staircase lock, with boats going up and down (mainly Canal Cruising Co boats, all on their way back to base for Friday or Saturday) but finally made it to the Black Prince base at Etruria for a much needed pumpout. Very tricky to moor up where they needed us, so a nice man (a very nice man!), jumped on board and gave us a brilliant lesson on how to steer in Nice to see her floating level in the water! Had a nice drink in the sunshine with the crew of another boat, then decided to head back down to Stone, past our base, and see how far we could get on our last day. Couldn't fill up with water at the first stop we tried, as some muppet in a hire boat had moored right in front of the water point. Some people just don't use their common sense.

 

R.J. treated himself to a lightweight, long throw, aluminium windlass at the Black Prince shop - against advice from me, although it was a seriously good price. It wasn't until we got to the second lock of the afternoon that he had to admit I was right - it was too long, and nearly took his knuckles off when it banged against the lock beam! I felt a definite "I told you so" coming on. I couldn't stop laughing! I have a multicoloured windlass that I bought for £2.00 at the Preston Brook show a while back - suits me fine, although he won't be seen dead using it. Men!

 

Came across a bunch of tanked up England fans at the Star pub - jumping on and off the boat and generally being a nuisance, but they were all in high spirits, not out to cause trouble. Managed to get water after the lock, then cruised on for another half hour or so to get out into the countryside to moor up for the night.

 

FRIDAY 26TH MAY - STONE - STONE via GREAT HAYWOOD

 

9 locks

8 or 9 hours (lost track by this time!)

 

Nice leisurely start to our last day, with a cooked breakfast (the contents of the fridge needing to be cleared!) to sustain us through the inevitable rain and drizzle. Really hate these last days, knowing that we have to hand the boat back soon.

 

We had decided to head back down to Great Haywood, which we'd already done on the first day of our trip, but there was nowhere else to go. The weather turned nice and clear and sunny, but with quite a bit of wind, which made locking a bit hairy at times - combined with the vicious bywashes from a couple of the locks, it made steering quite interesting, to say the least.

 

It was lovely cruising along in the sunshine. Why couldn't it have been like this for the past two weeks? One glorious moment, when I was sat at the front of the boat, watching a flock of geese stretched out in a line across the canal. All of a sudden they took off in formation, showering me with water - how I wish I'd had my camera with me!

 

Had a bit of fun with our GPS system. Saw a fishing float in the trees, so marked it as a waypoint and collected them on our way back. It guided us there to within 10 feet! Sometimes I just love modern technology!

 

Moored up just one lock down from base at Stone, and proceeded to pack away all our stuff and clean the boat - always the worst job at the end of the holiday. I wish we could just pay someone to come on board and do it for us while we went to the pub!

 

SATURDAY 27TH MAY - HAND BOAT BACK

 

Locks 1

Hours cruising 0.5

 

Well, at last it was time to hand back our boat, and look back on the holiday. I know it rained for thirteen out of fourteen days, but to be honest, I don’t really remember all that much about it. It’s amazing how you blot out the bad bits and only remember the good. We had a great time – can’t wait to do it again next year. We’d been worried about all the reports we’d heard about bandits, particularly through areas of Birmingham we’d been warned about, but only had one minor incident during the whole trip. Any slightly worrying encounters were easily defused with a “hello” and a friendly wave or a chat.

 

So, according to my list, we did the Trent and Mersey, Coventry Canal (detached portion), Birmingham & Fazely Main Line from Fazely to Salford Junction, Tame Valley Canal from Salford Junction to Tame Valley Junction, Walsall Canal, Walsall Junction Canal, Wyrley and Essington, BCN old main line, Wolverhampton level, Worcester & Birmingham, River Severn, Staffordshire & Worcester, Shropshire Union and part of the Caldon Canal.

 

Altogether, according to our GPS system, we did 250 miles, and 243 locks. It was good fun having the GPS - we could make sure we stuck to the speed limit and keep a map of where we'd been to print out and add to our cruise diary. Good to see that she got to 6mph on the River Severn. She enjoyed it so much she practically rolled over to have her tummy tickled.

 

Another year over with, although we still have our Wet Betsy to enjoy the rest of the summer. Our next big trip is in May 2007, when we'll try (yet again!) to tackle the South Pennine Ring, providing, of course, that all the breaches, landfalls, collapsed buildings, dry canals, earthquakes, plagues, floods and pestilence have all been sorted out by then!

 

One last word of praise, for the Canal Cruising Co - excellent place to book. Boat was clean, tidy and well-equipped. She handled well, and was very warm and comfortable for the two of us. We got a good price, excellent tuition and advice, and would recommend them to anyone. We're planning to book with them again for 2008.

 

Janet

[Moley]

Wow! Now that's something like a cruise log.

 

I'd been wondering what was keeping you, now I know.

 

A couple of oddities though:

On then to the Staffs and Worcester canal, which must be one of the prettiest canals in the country. I thought it was absolutely stunning, cutting through the sandstone cliffs and winding through the countryside. The locks at the Bratch were fabulous, if a bit confusing for a few of the boaters going up and down.I absolutely loved it, and would love to do it again. We finally moored up for the evening way out in the country at a lovely place called, ominously, Devil's Den. Very peaceful and quiet.

How'd you manage to do the Bratch before Devil's Den?

 

SUNDAY 21ST MAY - WHEATON ASTON TO SHROPPIE FLY

22 locks ... but no LOCKS. We like locks!

Maybe that should be 22 miles?

 

And I've just been going through my mobile, clearing out my texts inbox.

 

31st May, 22:41 (when we were out chugabout):

“HOW can you STILL be awake at this time on a boating holiday? With our schedule we were lucky to have time to drink our wine before we fell asleep with our heads in our dinner! Woke up picking spaghetti out of my ears several times!”

Mucky grub - tell us more.

 

29th May, 00:22

“Boat handed back on time, very reluctantly. Tried very hard NOT to act like hirers. Got a few horror stories to tell about the ones we came across! Viking Afloat were the main culprits”

Go on then, spill the beans.

 

“In the meantime we still have our Wet Betsy for the rest of the year”

So what sort of craft is Wet Betsy?

 

23rd May, 20:30

“Long lie in till 8, full English breakfast then a bit of worm charming (will explain later!)”

Now that's been intriguing me, not sure whether I should have made it public, explanation please?

 

Again though, great log, many thanks, and was nice to meet you.

Ade.

[dor]

Great report Janet, you certainly put some canals under the boat.

 

The T&M locks aren't too bad, the trick when going uphill is to sit right at the back with the engine gently in reverse holding you against the gates, and don't start opening the second paddle until the cill is covered.

[Janet S]

How'd you manage to do the Bratch before Devil's Den?

 

Obviously got my notes mixed up. Mind you, with the way he had me up and down those canals, it's not surprising. I didn't know what day it was some days!

 

Maybe that should be 22 miles?

 

Errrr! Yes, it should!

 

Mucky grub - tell us more.

 

Sorry. I'll PM you later about this. Wouldn't want to get Snibble excited!

 

So what sort of craft is Wet Betsy?

 

Wet Betsy is a small but perfectly formed rigid inflatable boat, with an outboard motor. We bought her from Preston Marina last summer. We can stick it in the boot of the car with the camping gear and head off when we feel like it. When she grows up, she's going to be a narrowboat.....

 

Now that's been intriguing me, not sure whether I should have made it public, explanation please?

 

Simple really - I bought a kids fishing rod and had to go looking for bait. The fish on your canal aren't partial to corned beef or sweetcorn so I had to go and hunt worms!

 

Janet

[DHutch]

Only just got around to having enought time to read all this (ive been saving it...)

 

Great report, good read, thanks!

- I should make an effort to trascribe what gets written in our log on to the forum.

 

 

Yay, us!! And you remembers the 'E' in ann Anne!!

- Shes now south of warwick, or so im lead to beleave! Waiting for the next southwards stint, and possably some painting.

 

 

Also im suppresed at the number of times (twice?) you ended up down the weed hatch dueing the fortnight.

- We often go year-to-year without any problem, clocking up 8/10 weeks crusing duing that time.

- And Last year all we got round the prop was our own sternrope (long story) althought this year is off to a bad start, we're only 2weeks into the year and had a lump of wood stuck going though birminham. although it came out after 2mins 'attention' with a lump hammer.

 

 

 

 

Daniel

[Janet S]

Hi Daniel,

 

On our very first trip on a hire boat a few years ago, we were instructed to check the weed hatch every morning - like idiots, we've done it ever since! R.J., my OCM, is a real perfectionist, and if we didn't, he'd spend all day worring about it!

 

 

How often do other people check theirs? Is it a trick by hire companies to put customers off?

 

Janet

[Bones]

i check mine when the power doesn't seem so good and the steering isn't so hot.

[dor]

I usually know something is on the prop when:

 

The engine note changes and/or

The prop wash looks different - wider and/or

The tiller starts waving about and/or

The boat seems to be going slowly relative to the engine revs.

 

Most of these will only be recognised by someone familiar with the boat, so I can understand why hire companies say check it every day. I once had a hire boat crawl past us with the engine going flat out, and the steerer none the wiser.

 

However on most occasions when I think something is there a quick blast of reverse clears it - I rarely need to open the hatch.

 

Autumn is one of the worst times with all the leaves. They build up on the prop and you go slower and slower until you nearly stop. The first time it happened to me I thought the prop must have come loose as every time I check it there was nothing there. Of course as soon as I stopped, all the leaves fell off.

[Enfield Phil]

I usually know something is on the prop when:

 

The engine note changes and/or

The prop wash looks different - wider and/or

The tiller starts waving about and/or

The boat seems to be going slowly relative to the engine revs.

 

 

OH I had better get down the weed hatch this comin weekend

[DHutch]

How often do other people check theirs? Is it a trick by hire companies to put customers off?

We only open ours if we suspect a problem. Which is very rairly, three times in my intire memory of the boat.

- If its leafy or reedy or will give it a quick reverse, but generaly the big old thing just plods along slowly screwing its was though mile after mile of canal.

 

 

Daniel

[Janet S]

Aaaaarrrrgh!!! We've just been total plonkers then, checking it daily?

 

Have to say though, that several times we've found carrier bags, rope etc round wound the prop. Maybe it's better to clear it before it builds up to cause a problem, rather than waiting for the engine to stop, as it did on our last cruise?

 

Janet

[Sir Nibble]

Aaaaarrrrgh!!! We've just been total plonkers then, checking it daily?

Yup.

[Janet S]

It's so much part of the holiday now that I'll miss it if I don't have to do it!

 

Janet

[TeeELL]

Janet,

great cruise diary, especially having followed Moleys updates before.

I too have the 'check the weedhatch daily' ingrained in me from years of hire-boating, but I have managed to cut it down to checking when necessary. However, a daily check is probably fairly sensible, removing the fishing-line and bits of weed/poly bags may reduce the likely hood of picking up more bits. My best indicator that the prop is getting fouled is the subtle change in direction of the prop wash; with the tiller straight the prop wash goes, virtually, directly behind (with my handed prop the wash bias is slightly to starboard). When the prop is fouled the wash becomes more markedly oblique and and exits much more to starboard and at this stage a gentle reverse selection usually sorts things. Real fouling, of course, creates lots of disturbance no thrust and no steering way - then it is time to get down and dirty in the weed hatch. I keep a variety of tools handy for serious prop clearing - 'combat knife' strong blade with a good handle to give lots of leverage, heavy duty kitchen scissors (the short variety advertised for cutting chicken etc), normal side cutters and a fantastic ratchet operated, single handed set of bolt croppers that will work through wire up to 30mm thick - brilliant! All these items are kept in the engine 'ole and have para cord attached line to prevent them escaping to the bottom of the cut! Having had to use the bolt croppers during a 2-day birthday cruise in Feb (snow/sleet and ice on the cut) I have also invested in some arm length heavy duty rubber gloves - I even use them when fettling in the weed hatch!!

Edited June 15, 2006 by TeeELL

[Janet S]

I have also invested in some arm length heavy duty rubber gloves

 

I wish we'd thought of that. I still have flashbacks to R.J. up to his armpit in freezing water, wearing pink marigolds!

 

Janet

[TeeELL]

Janet,

I can empathise with R.J. On the occasion mentioned, having endured 45mins of fishing about in freezing water, I decided to put on a glove and a yellow Marigold over the top and some black tape around the top to stop the water getting in. The concept worked very well, with the glove providing enough insulation to allow me to work at the problem for long enough to resolve it. The tape gave-up just as I was fishing out the last of the miles of cable, plastic and other debris. Thats boating!

[NB Esk]

Hi Janet, great post, really enjoyed reading thro' it, thanks.

 

A tip for the weed hatch thing...........if you need to clear a fouled prop, put the kettle on, have a brew and then pour the rest of the water down the weed hatch. This should just take the edge off the temperature.............try it.

 

Cheers.......

[Breals]

GREAT log Janet! Glad you liked the 'Curley Wyrley', I loved it too, its a really lovely stretch with weird contrasts between lush windy canal and scenes of suburban dereliction. I don't think you give the Severn enough credit though, its quite pretty and I like the open waters - its wide enough to go inside and mix a Pimm's and emerge again without hitting the bank - lol!

[Janet S]

tip for the weed hatch thing...........if you need to clear a fouled prop, put the kettle on, have a brew and then pour the rest of the water down the weed hatch. This should just take the edge off the temperature.............try it.

 

Now why didn't we think of this?

 

Janet

 

[KG1]

Great read Janet

Many thanks for sharing

[Supermalc]

Fantastic read Janet. Glad someones put it back at the top as I'd forgotten about it. You've nearly done the whole system in two weeks.......others take years LOL.

 

My friend has had boats for years, but just 'plays' with them, and has only been moving about at all for the past 10 or so. Even so he still gets stuck in.

 

At least you've a weed hatch. He'd kill me for posting this pic if he knew LOL.

 

If every you want a trip on my boat, just get in touch. Despite it being a river, with few locks, there is a lovely day trip through Lincoln I can give my friends. Surprising how few take the offer up.

 

[Janet S]

If every you want a trip on my boat, just get in touch. Despite it being a river, with few locks, there is a lovely day trip through Lincoln I can give my friends. Surprising how few take the offer up.

 

If we're in your area, we'll certainly take you up on your kind offer.

 

Janet

[Keeping Up]

At least you've a weed hatch. He'd kill me for posting this pic if he knew LOL.

Agreed Janet that's a great log.

 

It's not only Malcolm's friends who have to go over the back of the boat to clear the propellor, here's Malc himself showing how to do it without actually going for a swim.

 

 

Allan