Rob-M

I left Gloucester Docks a few weeks back at 8am and tied up in Worcester on the floating pontoon visitor moorings in the afternoon, I was going to stop at Upton but it was full. I had a chat with the lock keeper in Gloucester before leaving to check the tides, I also used http://www.riverlevels.info/river-severn-gloucester-gloucester-severn to keep an eye on the levels before setting out.

We stopped at Kinver a couple of weeks ago as we were boating past and called in to look at sofa beds. The lady in the office called Ralph and showed us in to his mobile showroom, Ralph promptly arrived discussed options with us and after a fair amount of discussion we placed an order. No deposit required and we got a call this week to say the order was ready for delivery and we will pay once it is on our boat so hopefully next weekend we will be happy owners of the new sofa bed chairs.

Me too.

If I was going that way I would head to Fradley Junction then straight up the T & M to Preston Brook, which would take in Harecastle and Heartbreak Hill. Then round the Bridgewater. Once you know how long you have to get back to London you could then look at the options for the return, either round the Macclesfield or back to Anderson and on to the Weaver. Also you could come back via the Middlewich branch and down the Shroppie through Nantwich, Audlem etc.

I was out with Joe today so thought I better get an order in for a new set of fenders as I really need to replace the sagging set I have at the moment.

When you are on a butty with a line going to the tow path pulling you along and the boat coming towards you can't see it and they are not going to be able to get there roof full of crap under it. I gave a multitude of hand signals (no horn on the butty) and steered towards the bank but there was still a last minute full on bow thruster moment for the on coming boat when he finally realised he wasn't going to pass me on the right.

Glad you made it through all the way. Having down the Stratford on Swift it is a bit of a worry entering an empty lock with a lot of power on and using the top paddles to help stop the boat.

Last time I went that way I decided not to stop and kept going to Fazeley Junction, a long day but I like the chippy in Fazeley.

I see Mike got his hat back, must of stopped raining.

I would say within a 1hr drive you could be on the Trent and Mersey, from Preston Brook down through Middlewich and down towards Stoke on Trent, then across the Middlewich branch, up the Shropshire Union to Ellesmere Port and down to Autherly Junction, plus some of the Llangollen and some of the Staffs and Worcs. So plenty of cruising opportunities. There are online moorings at Norbury Junction which is not far from Crewe.

I'll be going by car on Sunday hopefully.

It's been there for the CRT Explorers Schools week which is always busy. Hopefully I'll catch you Saturday and I expect I will be in the beer tent Saturday night.

Hopefully Swift is moored there somewhere as I will be onboard over the weekend and opening the cabin to the public.

The Tudor Arms is opposite the Black Shed at Patch Bridge, almost canal side.

I will be in, either on my own boat, as crew for someone else (Team Albion again if invited) or maybe see if I can get an entry from the Heritage Working Boat Group so I can use a 70ft working boat and get some bonus points.

With plenty of stock.

Sarah posted it in post 1620 if you look back through this thread.

On that sheet you never looked at until you got to Hawne Basin.

At least you can see there is no sofas, fridges or any other obstacles in your way.

That looks and sounds wonderful.

I thought the same.Well done Team Albion on a top 10 finish, I think that is respectable for a first attempt on a short boat.

Just walked in the house having finished painting outside and now it is p@##ing down with rain. Wish I had gone boating instead of staying home and painting.

You can get a very thin tongue and groove effect MDF panel in Homebase (http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/easipanel-tongue-and-groove-standard-panel---915-x-516mm-880113) which can be painted. I'm considering using these over the top of my existing wall covering and then paint it white. Edit: To add link

You need to get an historic boat then you can moor in the thick of it. From my experience people arrive very early and get as close as they can but most are moored well beyond the junction from bridge 90 off towards bridge 88.