Chickadee

First time for me. Was helping my Dad out on his stall (roof boxes) two away from the straw guy so ended up going home with a pack. Still not clear on the eco side of it but if it's waste material and encourages more uk food production that's got to be a good thing. Enjoyed the show, everyone was so friendly but didn't enjoy the weather. So cold and wet on Sunday ended up abandoning the tent for the car. Wish we'd have bought the boat up. Planning on going back next year though.

The arts center by the lock has closed and the building is being redeveloped. There is a Gloucester Arts shop near the entrance to the Cathedral. I worked at the boat jumble 2 years ago. It was quite small but still possible to find some little bits of treasure. Now the quays is properly up and running to they quite often put things on on the weekends to like farmers markets are craft fairs.

That's him! Proper gent, gave my Dad a lift home today to.

Well we made it! 114 miles 70 locks most done twice (other than the few wide locks) 7.5 very long days its taken us. The very last bit late yesterday getting into Nantwich basin was probably one of the most challenging bits. Thanks to Tony the cratch maker (don't know his second name) who lent us proper cross straps. I wish we'd had them on day one! Made so much better progress with proper ropes! Now we've got to do it all back the other way but with only one boat. Its going to feel like we're speeding back.

Gloucester and Saul are both ok. Saul is actually lovely and constantly hot and cleaned once if not twice a day. Gloucester clean to and warm but that horrible blue light to stop the junkies.

Exactly. Having just been through towing a boat and I will be returning single handed some of the way. It makes it very dangerous and also encourages people to take risks to get through quicker. I'm 5'3 and some of those locks are deep! I dont want to climb in and out of them if I can help it. I'll put some pictures up later of the more stupid fencing offs. I guess the guys at BW felt pretty silly putting some of them in.

Yep, I'll put some up later. Frustrating day today had to replace towing line and had it to long to start with. The boats were all over the place. Passed loads of people today to and I keep grounding us trying to make sure I'm out the way in time. Ah well another day of learning!

Blimey! good job you didn't see us then. We look like we need rescuing. We're up to Wolverhampton now. It was hard going from Stourport to here as the canal is so bendy. Took a while for me to get the hang of getting over 100ft of boat round some of the tight bends and working out how to slow down the 60ft boat with my 42ft boat! I've snapped one rope but other than that its been pretty good going and my little boat hasn't let us down... (probably regret saying that!) We've only seen three or four other boats on the move since Sunday which is good as I can't really move to quick so I just have to stick to one side and hope they work out that i'm towing. I have total respect for working boats that do this kind of thing year in year out. Doing the staircase locks was interesting i've never done them before so I had to learn how quick and then get the boat with the knackered engine through to. Can't belive all these fenced off bridges on the Staffs and Worcs canal I'm guessing this is from that kid that died. While its sad that he died I think they've made it more dangerous instead of safer.

Argh!! I think this is just the thread I need!! Near the end of a very long day today we came up to a lock somewhere below Wolverhampton where a husband and wife were fishing off the lock landing. They had plenty of chance to move but all they did was take there rods in leaving their keep nets and all their other gubbins right where I wanted to pull in knowing that the lock would probably be against us as we'd passed a boat a couple of locks down. I'm also steering a 42ft boat pulling a 60 something foot boat! I'm not hard to miss and I would have thought quite a concern to someone as I'm heading towards their fishing gear! I was all for plowing into their gear when Dad told me to head for the lock mouth and we'd work it out from there. It wasn't just that we'd need to get the boats on the lock landing but we'd need to be able to bring both boats to a stop without tripping over fishing crap. My Dad said something to the guy and he said he would have moved. Bit late by the time i'm already right next to you! The fishermen that fish near my mooring on the G&S love setting up right next to my bloomin boat this is when I've had my fire lit i'd have thought smoke coming out of a boat is a pretty clear indication that someones home. Had one guy set up a tent across the tow path right next to my boat once to. Even though theres a larger space of grass thats not right on the tow path near by. He moved after a few cyclists nearly got taken out by it. Such a long day today I think i'm a bit over tired.

I took a few but I've yet to look at them to see if any are in focus. I did video the bore for a bit but not until the actual wave had come under us as it joined us on a corner and took a fair bit of concentration!

Well we're on the river. Came out of Gloucester lock and felt like we were hardly going forwards. Such slow going Then once we hit the parting... Wow the bore was fun! All of a sudden woosh! The bore hit and we were off! Loved it! Still scared of the Severn but nice to have a fun run for a change. Fun and games towing another boat but we got there in the end. Just got to work out locks now.

Got plenty for now unfortunately but I'll keep that in mind if we use my boat to take the other boat all the way. Just limped into the docks with me towing for the last bit. I can see me having to tow tomorrow to if my Dad can't sort the problem out. Fun :-/

Right, plans have changed about 5 times but it seems now we're leaving from Gloucester tomorrow morning. Yay! So need a bit of a trip out. Hope this isn't to eventful though.

mmmm ok i'm lead to believe my 40ft has the better engine and we don't know much about the 60ft engine. So probably best to use mine to tow the other then? Still don't know much about engines but since i've been unemployed i've been learning fast!

Hope you don't mind me using this thread rather than starting another one (totally agree about the search engine, I can never find anything but don't have problem on other forums) Looks like we will be going up the Severn at some point over the weekend and taking a 60ft boat with us. My boat is only 42ft we are thinking that it would probably be a worth breasting up but just wondered the best way to do it. Would a center line point be strong enough to take being used for this?

Now thats a great way to see the bore! Beautiful!

How the heck do I always manage to catch the river at the worst times! Thanks for the advice. One day I'll hit this river when it's not full of water from one way or the other.

Looks like we'll be just going up to Gloucester Friday now then leaving Gloucester Saturday first thing. Didn't fancy playing with high tides again.

Thats pretty much our plan. Not sure if we've booked the locks yet. This is Dads idea so i'm leaving all that to him. I've just got to drive the boat. Hopefully we'll get to Upton on the Friday night. I noticed that tide the other week when I was looking to see when the bore would be... didn't expect to be taking the boat up through it! Bloomin typical! I just wanted to go and stand by the river and watch it. Ha. We wont be stopping much on the Severn so just looking for shops and pubs above Stourport really. It will be my first time going up that way.

Ooh also any pub recommendations and butchers/bakers/green grocers etc that aren't to far from the canal. This isn't really a holiday so we won't have time for going to far.

Looks like leaving this Friday I'll be heading up the Severn to Stourport then to Audlem and back. Can't seem to find any stoppages just wanted to check I haven't missed anything though.

It was lovely! Still blooming windy here though. Went out with out my fleece on and shivered! Just lit the fire again after only the second time of letting it go out this year.

All very interesting thanks. Don't think I'll be trying anything with the boat still in gear just yet... Actually I wont be trying anything at all at the moment. It appears I have water in my diesil. Pretty fun 48 hours... Not :-/