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tillergirl

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Blog Entries posted by tillergirl

  1. tillergirl
    A lovely day again today but very windy. So we decided that we would overnight at Kings Bromley Marina.
     
    Trent & Mersey View
     

     
    Passed this very nice desres
     

     
     
    Trent never very far away again today
     

     
    Crossing the Trent
     

     
    Smiffy made his own Aegir today
     

     
     
    This cutting was a very tight squeeze
     

     
     
    Next stop Alrewas............
     
     
  2. tillergirl
    We left pretty Westport Lake this morning around 9.30 and cruised through Stoke and Meaford Locks.
     
    Stoke is a mix of the very old, the old and the new. Here's a few pictures
     
    abandoned pottery
     
     
     

     
    Middleport Pottery (still in use and been refurbished)
     

     
    These flats are built on the site of Newport Pottery where the famous Clariss Cliff worked
     

     
    entrance to the Caldon Canal
     

     
     
    Get this 2 bottle kilns in the middle of a housing estate................I like that
     

     
     
    Out of Stoke and came across these pretty canalside cottages
     

     
     
    And we are now moored opposite this lovely old boat
     

     
    We are staying here for the weekend visiting friends so next update may not be for a couple of days.
     
  3. tillergirl
    Decided to top the diesel tank up and top up with water so reversed back to Portland Marina. Overnight mooring with electric for 6 quid! Yes please!! Everything that needs charging is on charge.....phones, toothbrushes, shaver and camera.............best not waste the opportunity!
     

     
     
    And we got in here so we must be able to get out!
     

     
    We shall be leaving here tomorrow afternoon. Looks like we are set for the Marple flight for Sunday,
  4. tillergirl
    OK so washing is boring but seeing as I don't yet have an automatic washing on the boat it was launderette time today.............mind you Johnson's Dry Cleaners offer a washing, dry and fold service wash for a fiver (small bagful) so they got it all!! Won't be ready to collect until Saturday. But we have moored at a nice spot so there's no hurry.
     
    We paid a visit to Portland Basin Museum today............wow free entry! Highly recommend anyone pay a visit if they are in the area. They have recreated several shops from the 1920's and also a typical two up-two down house. Smiffy enjoyed a chinwag with landlord of the Bridge Inn they have recreated.............wasn't much conversation going on though and certainly not a pint in sight!
     

     
     
    In the Fish Shop they had a menu board up..............................no idea what some of these food items are
     

  5. tillergirl
    Started snowing here about 8am and although there has been some fairly big flakes it hasn't settled yet..............mind that could change!!
     
    Taking the lull in proceedings to teach myself how to crochet.....................well I am trying. . And if we are still here tomorrow might even do some baking.
  6. tillergirl
    Soooo cold today! But we pressed on to Bridgewater Marina where we have taken refuge to see how the weather pans out over the next 2/3 days.
     
    Leaving the L&L and entering the Bridgewater Canal
     

     
     
    lots of stop planks along the Bridgewater, these were the first:
     

     
     
    And lots of derelict mills.............cotton mills I believe. These are just two:
     
     

     

     
     
    Safe and sound at the Bridgewater Marina:
     

  7. tillergirl
    Set off from Wigan at 9am! I wasn' t ready!!!
     
    Anyway, didnt take us long to get through the last lock in Wigan and Poolstock locks. Blissfuly out into the countryside again!!
     
    Leaving Poolstock Locks behind
     

     
     
    Passed by a number of flashes including:
     
    Scotsmans Flash
     

     
     
    Pearsons Flash & Ink Moss
     

     
     
    Pennington Flash & Country Park
     

     
     
    Set of lock gates as canalside art
     

     
     
    Through Plank Plane Lift Bridge where we one half of forum members LesandGerry. Hope you enjoyed the chinwag! And good luck for the future.
     
     

     
    Arrived in Leigh about 1pm. Tomorrow is another day.
  8. tillergirl
    Raining when we left Crooke this morning at 10am but did try to brighten up a little. Only 3 locks today but Ell Meadow Lock was really hard to work as the gates look as if they have been recently replaced. Nice to see how much the Wiganites value their waterway:
     

     
     
    Passed Wigan Athletic football ground on the way into Wigan.
     

     
     
    Once past there the surroundings turn urban very quickly.
     

     
     
    I missed the statues as we past Wigan Pier so I will endeavour to get some tomorrow. Apologies for the poor quality photo
     

     
     
    So here we are moored outside CRT offices in Wigan. 48 hour mooring so we will hang around for a day. In any case the voltmeter was playing up again today so that needs his attention.
     

     
     
    These Wiganites like their statues. Check this one out!
     

  9. tillergirl

    The Journey Begins

    By tillergirl,

    Well, we finally left St Marys Marina on the 14th March 2013 to start our epic journey down to Brentford - with a few detours. Its been a safe haven for the winter months since we bought Islonian last October. We have made some lifelong friends whilst being there and I;m sure we shall meet some of them on our travels.
     
    Day 1 (14/3/2013) - Rufford to Parbold.
    Islonian decided to develop a leak of gearbox oil. Smiffy found a loose nut and bolt on teh gearbox which was duly tightened and it seems to be ok now.
     
    We saw one of these on the way:
     

     
    And plenty of these:
     

     
    And spent Day 2 (15/3/2-13) here:
     

     
    Day 3 (16/3/2013) - Parbold to Crooke
     
    Another day another drama!!! Alternator light came on just before lunch!!! Oh no batteries not charging now! We have come to the conclusion that since the boat has not been used properly for the last 5 years we are probably going to get a series of niggly thing to fix. Turns out to be a bare wire touching a nut behind the voltmeter. Duly fixed and everything is tickety boo again. Phew! That could have been nasty.
     
    Leaving Parbold.
     

     
    Moody skies:
     

     
    Ambush the Coal Boat:
     

     
    Crooke Hall Inn - might take a walk over for a pint later.
     

  11. tillergirl
    Just a short hop from Weston-on-Trent to Shardlow today as we were delighted to have a visit from daughter no.2! We moored outside the Clock Warehouse so she could find us quite easily.
     
    Leaving Weston
     

     
    Approaching Shardlow
     

     
    Moored outside the Clock Warehouse
     

     
    another short hop tomorrow to Shardlow.................
     
     
  13. tillergirl
    Left Willington late morning............ decidedly chillier than when we arrived there! Stopped at Stenson Lock Cafe and Smiffy got his Full English breakfast today .Also managed to buy the last bag of coal from the chandlery at Stenson Marina..so we're ready if we have some chilly weather as forecast. Past the disused Derby Canal at Swarkstone and onto Weston-On-Trent where we are going to spend a couple of days.
     
    Inside Stenson Lock
     

     
     

     
    Swarkstone
     

     
    Derby Canal Arm
     

     
    Caught up with the River Trent again
     

     
    Probably have a walk with the dogs down to the river tomorrow................
     
  14. tillergirl
    It was such a lovely day we set off quite early with the intention of having a Full English at the transport cafe on the A38. It closed just as we arrived..........such is life If only we hadn't stopped for diesel.............But never mind we managed to get 6 hours cruising in. Alrewas past Branston Water Park, through Burton Upon Trent, over the River Dove Aqueduct and onto Willington. Staying here Sunday too.............moored right near the Dragon and a table booked for Sunday Lunch!
     
    It was lovely to see the sudden burst of life! Some greenery at last
     

     
    Wier across the Trent just past Alrewas
     

     
    Islonian at Branston Lock
     

     
    Burton upon Trent
     

     
    Artwork under the bridge at Dallow Lock, Burton Upon Trent. There is more but you need to visit it to appreciate it fully.
     

     

     
    Aqueduct over the River Dove
     

     
    Where to next? Well Stenson Lock Cafe tomorrow morning where the other half is hoping he will get his Full English that he missed out on yesterday
  15. tillergirl
    Finally!!! The winds have subsided and its been a pleasant day for cruising. Mind you we only got as far as Alrewas and decided we would stay here for the rest of the day. Its a pretty village and the old and new sit nicely side by side.
     
    Leaving Kings Bromley
     

     
    Fradley Junction - Entrance to the Coventry Canal
     

     
    CRT volunteer lockie at Fradley Junction
     

     
     
    Alrewas and carved bench
     

     

     
     
    14th century painting inside Alrewas Church
     

  16. tillergirl
    Today has been a pleasant day to cruise and we managed to get all the way to Great Haywood.
     
    Weston on Trent is a pleasing little place
     

     
    The River Trent was never very far away
     

     
    Here at Great Haywood the Trent passes through the Shugborough Estate
     

     
    A heron patiently waiting for that fish to come over the wier
     

     
    And finally the entrance to the Staffs & Worcs canal
     

     
  17. tillergirl
    Had an excellent weekend here in Stone catching up with friends. Spent a lovely evening out yesterday and partook of a hearty meal and a few ginger pops! We took a Sunday Morning stroll and captured a few interesting things on camera.
     
    Welcome to Stone!
     

     
    Wooden carving of "Chirstine" and plaque explaining why it is here
     

     

     
    Canoeing on the River Trent
     

     
     
    Joules Brewery Wharf (now closed)
     
     

     
     
    And finally
     
    Duckilings!!!! She has 18 (not all pictured) - wonder how many she will manage to rear?
     

     
     
  18. tillergirl
    We left our overnight mooring around 11 this morning after Brian from NB Alton delivered some coal and diesel by road to us. He's a fantastic bloke - a true working boater!
     
    Didn't take us long to get to the northern portal of Harecastle Tunnel but first we had to cross the Trent & Mersey on the Macclesfield
     

     
    Its a sharp right turn from the Macc onto the Trent & Mersey and Smiffy did it perfectly!
     

     
    And as you can see the water is full of iron! This is the bridge that leads back onto the Macc
     

     
    Islonian waiting to go through Harecastle at the northern portal
     

     
    Inside Harecastle.............its gets very smokey in there! And its very wet in places.
     

     
    It set the smoke alarm off!!
     

     
     
    Looking back to the southern portal
     

     
    We are now moored at Westport Lake Visitor Moorings. Two lovely lakes that have been created because of mining subsidence.
     

     
     
  19. tillergirl
    Bosley Flight this morning in winds gusting up to 25 mph! Still we're through now
     

     
    This hill is called The Cloud
     

     
    Looking forwards on the Macc
     

     
    Scenery.............
     

     
     
    Tomorrow - the Harecastle Tunnel all being well and we arrive in time to go through.
  20. tillergirl
    We set off this morning in good time to reach and descend the Bosley Flight. Weather was very chilly and blustery.
     

     
    The wind started to become a problem around 11am. Twice it blew us to the side and twice we were grounded. When we got to the summit there were some people form CRT here effecting repairs to vandalised services. There was also a volunteer lock keeper here who advised us that we would at 60 foot be better mooring up for the night and seeing if the winds dropped in the morning. Apparently, several boats had passed through with increasing difficulty because of the strong gusts. We took his advise and are moored for the night waiting to see if tomorrow brings us some lighter winds.
     
    This is the view from the galley window
     

     
    Our stay here hasn't been without incident though. We have been hit by 2 boats; one who was coming in too fast and the wind caught it. It scraped along the length of the boat. Then at about 7pm a hire boat bumped the back of us and we in turn bumped into the boat in front who had also taken the decision to stay here for the night. Fortunately, there isn't any damage to either boat but we are concerned that they continued down the flight in this wind............its a two and half hour journey to the bottom of the flight............. on a good day. They won't reach the bottom in daylight hours.
     
    A message has been left with the hire company about the irresponsible behaviour of the hirers. I wait for them to return my call tomorrow!!
     
    On a nicer note here's a photo of St Austell & Shirley at Oakgrove Wharf
     

  21. tillergirl
    Its been a glorious day today, sunshine and blue skies. Its also been very much a wildlife day well apart from meeting coalboat Alton en-route!
     

     
    We came across a Muscovey Duck or two
     

     
    And also these strange ducks...............never seen ducks like this with tufts before
     

     
    We passed the Hovis Mill in Macclesfield where Freedom Boats are based. Looks like the mill has been converted into apartments now
     

     
     
    And since we got here early we found a nice spot to moor for the night - Gurnett Aqueduct. Its a popular spot and from about 5pm starts to fill up fairly quickly.
     

     
    Haven't decided whether we will move on tomorrow or leave the weekend boaters to it and stay put.
     
     
    Sunday 7th April
     
    Can highly recommend Sunday Lunch in the Old Kings Head at Gurnett. As you see we decided to stay put.
     
    Islonian is now sporting some Spring flowers:
     

  22. tillergirl
    Just before we left Whaley Bridge I took this picture. Does anyone know what it is?
     

     
    Shame this happened to this boat
     

     
    Flowering about a month late
     

     
    Marple Junction
     

    Along the Macclesfield Canal

     
    Moored at Higher Poynton for the night.
     

  24. tillergirl
    Woke up to find the upper basin where we moored was iced over and it was blowing a gale.
    Washing and cleaning done we have moved around to the other arm at Whaley Bridge. Not that Bugsworth isn't nice it is. The wind was blowing Limestone dust into the boat so we decided that it would be a shrewd move.
     
    Can highly recommend The Fryery chip shop in the village.
     
     
    Depending on the wind we may or may not make our way back up to Marple tomorrow.
  25. tillergirl
    A chilly start to the day but nevertheless a pleasant trip down to Bugsworth Basin.
     
    There is still some snow on the high peaks
     

     
     
    And still some on the banks of the canal
     

     
    Some splendid views along this part of the Upper Peak Forest
     

     
    Arrived at our mooring for tonight
     

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