Slow Boat To Chester

[cheshire~rose]

Ah yes, I remember 'Aquagem' going past!

 

Busy day at Henhull...

 

 

Do you take photo's of all the boats that pass you? I suspect it only appeared a busy day at Henhull because we turned up

 

Yep that is the back end of Aquagem (AKA Carrie~Lou) dissapearing into the distance with the lovely Tina (Aunty Fab) on the green "They're Knot Whippets" behind. The off white boat with the blue cratch cover is called Jarrett (you will have heard the Gardner) and has Adrian (Cloggy) at the helm and so you had four forum members chug past on 3 boats when judging by the space we could have pulled over and socialised and completely gridlocked the canal

What a pity we did not realise you were there.

 

Last nights sunset:

 

[dor]

Pure coincidence I assure you! I didn't realise when I posted the photo that it was of your convoy.

 

At the time I just wanted a picture of our mooring (to show what a nice spot it was) with a moving boat in it. Just like the old buses of London, you wait ages for one then three come along at once!

 

In fact, last Friday & Saturday are probably the busiest I've ever seen on this bit of the Shroppie.

Edited May 28, 2012 by dor

[cheshire~rose]

What an amazing coincidence!

 

We did not move the boats yesterday, well in truth we did, around 50 feet forward onto a wider bit of towpath where we had our own picnic table. We set about dealing with some of the shameful lack of maintenance that Carrie~Lou has suffered over the last couple of years. The side against the towpath is the side that is usually offside when we are on our mooring and it was very scabby along under the gunwhales and had various other scars and bits that were needing a bit of tlc. She is now minus rusty scabs on that side, they have all been prepped, rust treated and have some red oxide to protect against the elements until we can progress with a coat of something prettier.

 

Today we will move on and get up through Audlum. It feels quite odd because for the first time this cruise we are starting to realise we now have a deadline and cannot just stop when we please for however long we want. Dave is due to go back to work a week tomorrow. We still have masses of time to get back but we have to keep an eye on progress so we can comfortably get back to the mooring. It feels odd to have a deadline and it has been fun playing at being CCers.

 

Today's photo is yet another of those Shroppie sunsets that are so demanding! They always make you get your camera! (but never fail to please)

[Darren72]

Was it free to moor at boat musuem if you went in to the musuem?

[cloggy]

Was it free to moor at boat musuem if you went in to the musuem?

The simple answer is yes then £4 for every day after that.

[cheshire~rose]

Sorry there has been no update to progress. A combination of a lack of battery power or a lack of internet signal at times I could have done so have conspired against me!

 

We are now moored up in Market Drayton. We set off up through Audlem (all three boats) with a variety of craft coming down to assist with passage. We could not believe our eyes when both the water point and ALL the moorings outside the shroppie fly were vacant! Never in a million years did we think we would have been able to tie all 3 boats up there, take on water, get rid of rubbish and glass to the bottle bank. Us girls did some shopping while the boys had a pint! Then off we went again. Tina was in the lead so I walked up to set the first lock for her. The boat ahead of us decided to moor in the next pound so I walked on the set the next lock which was in our favour ........ in fact the entire flight was no only in our favour but no gates had leaked sufficiently to mean I had to open any paddles before opening a gate. Tina and I were making a cracking pace up through the flight and I would open a paddle after I left each lock so it was set for Dave who was bringing Carrie~Lou in behind. Adrian was following on and we soon realised the hire boat behind them which had a few thousand crew had decided to send lock wheelers along to assist both Dave and Adrian so as fast as I turned a lock as we left it I could see someone with a windlass approaching to get it ready for Carrie~Lou.

I have been teasing Adrian & Tina mercilessly refering to them as "water pikeys" (It is juest because I am really jealous of the quality of the clutter they have amassed on the roof of the boat ) In one of the charity shops at Ellesmere Port one of the staff had suggested that perhaps Tina & I were "partners" and someone else asked if we were sisters ........ As us giels worked the Tina's boat through there were a number of people walking the towpath and I did wonder if perhaps seeing two women working the boat through they might also have the assumption we might be "partners" at which Tina coined the phrase that we were "Team Pikey Dykies" What fun we had with the intercom after that!

We moored up below Adderly flight last night and found a complete signal black hole! We moored up next to Tracey on "Billy Whizz" and had yet another pleasant banter but we were all tired after the locking so retired to bed fairly early.

 

 

Yesterday Dave and I headed up the locks early. We wanted to get into Market Drayton to see if I could get to see Doctor at the medical centre there to discuss a minor health issue. Tracey lock wheeled for us. I was hoping to get some eggs from the farm shop at the top lock but the lady had none there. I was clutchng an egg box I had saved in case she had some and when she saw it she said it was too early for her to have collected them yet but took my box to he hen house and brought it back full of eggs, all different shapes, colours and sizes and reassuringly covered with straw and poo. We also had some bacon from her and twenty minutes later we were tucking into a bacon and egg sandwich with the most glorious golden yellow yolk and a fantastic flavour!

We managed to get a prime mooring at Market Drayton. It is the first time we have had cause to seek medical help while out boating and I was extremely impressed with the efficiency and lack of fuss it caused at the medical centre. I arrived at reception at 11am. he asked the name of the boat and already knew the address of the wharf which she used as the rest of our address. By 1pm I was leaving with a prescription having seen a very freindly and helpful doctor who has voved to look into the possibility of having her bunion done so she can get 6 weeks off work to go boating too

Around this time Adrian and Tina had causght us up and before long we were being introduced to Henry Bear - the chief salesman at Adrian's all time favourite shop - the home brew shop! Having sampled various tinctures there Tina and I managed to do one charity shop wher I bought a large terracotta plant pot. W had to find the fella's again so they could look after the pot while we continued shopping. They were in The Red Lion and we never made it out of there again before the rain started. There had been a function on and not all the sandwhiches had been eaten so they were placed on the bar for anyone who wanted them. There was a plate of scotch eggs made using the "Joules" sausagemeat. The pigs are fed on the mash from the brewery next door to the pub. There were not very many scotch eggs left when we left the pub and my appetite had also left me! They are amazing and I want to find out where I can buy some of that sausagemeat!

Someone walking past the boat had read out a sign they had seen and our ears pricked up - Quiz night at The Talbot - yes we were up for that!While we were in there finding out what time it started I got a call from Jerry P who is moving his newly acqired boat Mr B south to it's new moorings. We wondered if our paths might cross and sure enough he was in Market Drayton (wondering where he could moor) Adrian asked around the boaters in The Talbot if there was space for a 62' close to them and it appeared not. The guys popped out to hlp him find somewhere to moor up and a quick bit of reversing found a perfect spot for Mr B. Now we had a proper quiz team! The irony only came to light later that Mr B had actually been tied up just the other side of the bridge from us the night before. They had struggled up through the locks finding everyone had been set against them by boats ahead (The rotters!) and then found no internet or phone signal when they tied up.

You will be very pleased to hear "The Banterees" quiz team did not completely disgrace themselves last night. We came 2nd missing out by just 2 points to the winning team. We seemed to spend a lot of time convincing each other to change perfectly good correct answers to wrong ones so the moral of the story is to stick to your guns then we would have thrashed them!

Today we ae staying put as it is damp and there is a retail opportunity to be had. I may also have to have a wander back along the towpath to have another gawp at that Kelvin in Mr B

[Mick_B]

For the love of God!!!!!!!!!

 

This thread has been running 3 weeks now and I find it by accident today????

 

Apologies Jan but things got a bit hectic last weekend so I had no chance to catch up with you. Fabulous time had in LLangollen. Glad you're all enjoying the trip.

[cheshire~rose]

Keep up at the back Mick!

Hope you enjoyed your ride out Mick.

We are now ensconsed in 'Spoons for a lazy brunch. I have heard we have another forum neighbour turned up and Dor is heading this way too :-)

[Mick_B]

Had the best weekend I've had for years. It was like every bike in the UK had been polished and brought to the LLangollen area. Great weather, great scenery, great beer and more great beer.... Oh! and some nice boats too of course.. :cheers:

 

 

[cheshire~rose]

Everything is really conspiring against me to stop me from getting any updates on this thread but at last I have some power and a weeny bit of signal too!

We all had a day doing not a lot in Market Drayton. Various blokes were parked in the creche at Weatherspoons so the girls could visit local stores to aquire vital supplies then deposit them with aformentioned blokes for safekeeping while they sought out the more elusive essential supplies By mis afternoon there were 6 of us occupying a corner of 'Spoons totally surrounded by shopping trolleys and bags. So much so that a lady came in, plonked her own bags down close to us and asked if we would mind them while she got herself a drink

Shortly before we set off Forum member "Dor" came past us and so at last we were able to say hello! He must be making better progress than us because we have not seen him again since.

It had been agreed that we would all set off around 10am next morning and at 9.57pm prompt the bow of Mr B appeared in the bridgehole just behind us. Walkie Talkies were deployed and off we went. Tyrley flight seemed very hard work for some reason. I seemed to spend a very long time at one of the locks but then I did turn it a total of 5 times Travelling with 4 boats and 6 people is no easier that 3 boats and 4 people but it is lots of fun! All the boats leapfrogged their way through the flight with different people opening and closing paddles and gates for different boats along the route.

I tried to take a photo of all the boats in convoy through Woodseaves but it did not work

I did however take a photo of Jerry & Sara (with Sweep the dog) taking Mr B through THAT iconic bridge:

 

A while later Jerry (who was at the back of the convoy) radioed us to say that he had to stop as Mr B was choking him with smoke. We all quickly pulled over and the guys wandered back to see what had gone wrong. It would appear a tap had vibrated to an open position causing rather too much diesel to end up in all sorts of places where it was not really required. It was good that the "fix" for the problem did not only cost no money but did not even require him to get his toolkit out. Another tick in a box on the "Vintage Kelvin Owner" the learning curve for Jerry. Dave took the tiller of Mr B for a short distance to allow Jerry to monitor what was happening in the engine room. Dave also noticed that the wooden tiller end on Mr B was loose and squeaked if it was twisted. Dave showed Jerry the "fix" for that problem (one which Carrie~Lou also sufferes from) - Remove wooden tiller handle, lean down and dunk it in the canal. replace wooden tiller handle. Allow the now wet wood to swell solving the problem. No money or tools required. Another tick in the "owning a narrowboat" learning curve for Jerry

We were in need of a pump out and planned to stop ar Norbury. While we were there we felt we may as well get diesel as well. We had also lost one of the side fenders while moored in Market Drayton so that needed replacing and of course we had to buy the statutory bakewell tart from there too. We have been struggling for battery power for much of this trip and we did not feel our leisure batteries were quite doing their usual job. It had been a bi hard to gauge because many days we have not cruised for long or sometimes not at all. As the days have progressed we became more certain that something had not been quite right and so when I saw there was an offer for batteries at a very reasonable price at Norbury I suggested to Dave we ask them to test ours to see if that was the problem. We have had them since September 2009 and so while we would have liked them to last a little longer (doesn't everyone?) it did seem possible that that were at that age where they might start to fail. Sue enough one of them had gone down and the other two were borderline. That was an expense we had not planned but it had to be done so Carrie~Lou has been spoiled rotten (again!)

We all tied up at The Navigation at Gnosall last night. It was lovely to get a warm return welcome from the staff there last night. We also had a truly gorgeous steak dinner too. We are certainly going to try and get this far on an occasional weekend in future although I don't think it is quite practical from our Calf Heath base. Tina & Adrian are going to be staying here a few days while we and Jerry need to move on. It is going to feel very odd to say goodbye to two of our boaty friends after spending such a long time with them. We will probably get down to Brewood today. Not very far but while Jerry is aware he needs to make some progress on his journey we also want to let him experience some of the better boaty stops along this section as he passes.

Edited June 2, 2012 by cheshire~rose

[cheshire~rose]

I forgot to mention we had a very brief encounter with Windy Miller as well yesterday as he went in the opposite direction to us

 

I have another photo of Jerry with Mr B. He will hate me publishing this one because the boat has a fine dusting of blossom that he had not got his broom out to remove yet

 

[cheshire~rose]

We waved a slightly sad farewell to Cloggy & Auntie Fab at Gnosall this morning and Mr B headed off with us. It has been much cooler and I have had to light the stove and burn some of the coal that NB Alton sold us. I have had a lamb tagine bubbling on the stove top since lunchtime. Jerry & Sara are joining us to consume it a little later.

We are moored up just after bridge 8 (after Brewood) We popped into Brewood for a few supplies. The moorings there were heaving with boats and I have been impressed by the number of boats that are sporting bunting and flags. Brewood is all decked out in red white and blue just as you might expect such a lovely village community to be. I think there are lots of things happening at the bars in the village this weekend. I hope they enjoy themselves and forecast weather does not spoil it for them.

I have a photo of Jerry's first tunnel:

 

 

I think we are both kind of deflated now. Tonight's mooring is the one we come to when we want a short winter cruise at the weekend. It is home territory for us. I was reminded of that when we encountered 4 boats coming the opposite direction in the narrow stretch before Little Onn, Jerry was ahead, kept calm and steered a straight course doing a fine impression of a long experienced boater while a couple of the boats coming the other way seemed get themselves in a bit of a pickle. It must have been when they heard that Kelin engine pass

We suddenly found one boat drifting across the canal completely blocking our path. I went to the bow to give their bow a shove with my foot to get things moving again. I smiled and exclaimed "It's all getting interesting through here isn't it" the reply I got was "It's bostin" - yes we are back into the range of The Black Counry

Neither of us want this trip to end and yet we feel drawn to get home and get one with the stuff we left behind when we set off. The plus point is that we have achieved more than 3 weeks of really enjoyable cruising reaching parts of the system we have never been but Dave has not used any of his annual holiday yet. We are both pretty much fully recovered as well. One more day's cruise tomorrow in what is forecast to be damp and miserable weather. We may stay on board tomorrow night and round the trip off at Calf Heath or we may cut and run and head home. Only time will tell.

[cheshire~rose]

So ..... We made it, not just to Chester but to Ellesmere Port and all the way back again.

We are home and finally dry after the sort of day when anyone in their right mind would never have untied the ropes. I must say hello to the gentleman who was moored along from us just as we set off this morning on the blue boat who said hello to us. I have forgotten the name of your boat perhapps Carrie Anne? I wish you had realised we were moored there and popped along to say hello last night. I hope you read this! It is lovely to meet people along the way who have been following the reports. I hope you did not get too wet today.

Dave said there was no point in both of us getting soaking wet today so I should stay inside. We did briefly think about staying put this morning. After all we still had 2 days before we HAD to be home but we knew Jerry had to get some miles under his belt to achieve his deadline and we had got to the point where we were ready to get home to water the plants and the mountain of mail. I decided I would oblige by staying inside but starting to gather everything together. All was well as we lead the way and saw a number of our neighbours from our marina out and about along the way. People who know that bit of the canal will be aware of how tricky Pendeford Stop can be to anyone who either does not know the canal of is not very experienced at handling a boat. In true "sods law" fashion as we nosed through the stop the bow of an oncoming boat appeared through the bridgehole (which is on a blind bend) we were past the point where we could reverse and so we stopped sharpish and allowed the oncoming boat time to reverse and get themselves sorted out before we passed through. Of course poor old Jerry who had been following us also had to stop sharpish and then loiter awaiting the oncoming boat to negotiate the bridge and stop. Of course Jerry was also on a very windy and wet embankment loitering. Dave had slowed to a stop awaiting sight of Mr B's bow appearing through the bridge hole. We waited. Dave started to reverse a little then waited some more. Then we waited some more and reversed some more. Reversing is never very satisfactory but even less so when the pound is full of lilly pads, as curvy as a page three model, has lots of overhanging branches and its cold and wet. We waited some more. Still no boat appeared. I suggested Dave get across to the towpath while I get my coat on so I could walk back and see what help Jerry needed. It seems that Jerry had been working on perfecting one of those broadside through the shallow &narrow bit manouvres that all new boaters need to perfect and even the most experienced boaters will sometimes practise when finding time to loiter on a breezy embankment Dave got the stern of Carrie~Lou reasonably close to the towpath and I stepped off onto a large clump of long grass on the edge of the piling. It was then I realised the grass was not on the edge of the piling at all but overhanging. I have now joined the club of boaters who know what that damp sinking feeling truly feels like All I can say is I hope Jerry realises how heroic I was selflessly throwing myself into the cut in a mission to try and assist him. I was now wetter than Dave!

Of course sods law struck again when I got back to the stop just in time to see Jerry had almost got his manoevre perfected and only needed a small shove to the bow to get it to slot in the hole. On the plus side I only got a bit of a dunking, although I had my mobile phone in my hand at the time I threw it onto the towpath and it survived. I did not hit anything on the way down and it was shallow enough for me to hop out before I really knew I was in there! Probably the biggest plus point was that Jerry was still round the blind bend and so he did not witness my embarrassment

This photo shows Jerry expertly bringing Mr B through the bridge having safely negotioated the stop

We arrived back at Calf Heath and went into the bar for a last drink of the trip. Andy the landlord wished to be remembered to all banterers and is hoping a few might be back next Easter (although he suspects Tracey on Billy Whizz and Adrian & Tina (Cloggy) might not wait until Easter before they return

We have been away just over 3 weeks but it feels more like 3 months. It has done us the power of good to cruise without being on a mission. We have spent some wonderful time with wonderful friends. There have been lots of gorgeous doggies of all shapes and sizes that we have enjoyed spending time with. We have had some good beer, some great food, some great beer, some fantastic charity shop bargains, some great beer, seen some wonderful scenery, drunk some great beer, seen some interesting boats, drunk some great beer, relaxed, laughed, drunk some great beer and probably most importantly RECOVERED!

I still cough a little but the doctor warned me it could take 8 weeks before it went. Dave is all set to try driving his car again tomorrow and any concerns we had about him being semi crippled for another 4 or so months have vanished as he has made an astounding revovery. One of the bestest things about it is that we are now in June and Dave has not used any of his holiday allowance yet - wonder when we can go boating again

Thank you to everyone who wound paddles, opened and closed lock gates, pulled pints, made us laugh, waved at us as we passed or simply expressed an interest in my waffling on this trip report. Just for a moment there I almost believed we were proper live aboard pikies boaters. Sadly my "Fisher Price" "My First Logs" were never likely to be up to any more than placing on the BBQ when the food finished and we were ready to turn it into a brazier. I have a lot to learn before we spend months on board. One valuable lesson learned today is never to trust strongly growing green grass when it is at the edge of the towpath.

I wonder how long before the solid house floor stops feeling like it is rocking?

Edited June 3, 2012 by cheshire~rose

[little duck!]

Thank you for sharing your trip with us on here, I have loved your photos! I hate that end of trip feeling and start counting down to the next one! It sounds like you both had a wonderful restful time that has done you the world of good! Glad you made it to Ellesemere Port, the stretch between Chester and Ellesmere Port seems to be a little neglected compared to other areas of the canal but still worth a vist at least once!

[Auntyfab]

You forgot to post the photo of you both sailing off into the sunset.

 

 

We really enjoyed travelling with you and it was fun for us live-aboards to have a "holiday".

 

Only one bone to pick with you - I am now addicted to Philadephia chocolate.

 

Hope to see you soon - we still owe you a curry.

[cheshire~rose]

So if your holiday is over then does that mean it is back to thr grindstone for you two then? Doncha just hate the morning rush hour?

 

Dave took his car out for a little drive today to test that his reconstructed foot would stand up to working the pedals. He was secretly hoping that he might still struggle to drive and ideed he did find a problem when he tried to carry out an emergency stop. It has been so long since the car moved the discs have rusted up A few more sessions of braking as he went down the road soon fixed it so it seems he will indeed be back to work on Wednesday.

 

You might owe us a curry but I did end up kidnapping Rachel!

[windy miller]

Enjoyed reading the cruise diary, I think I mentioned I was green with envy on about page 3. Of course, as soon as we get moving the weather crashes - Sunday was a washout so we abandoned ship and came home to watch the Thames Pageant, another washout with a limp commentary.

 

What a pity we were going the wrong way - would have loved to join you all in a mini-banter in the Anchor or the Junction.

 

If it's the boatyard I'm thinking of that gave you an unsatisfactory pump-out, it must have been busy with hireboat turn-around day and you got the attention of the apprentice. I've no vested interest except as a satified customer - we've always had excellent service there and also bought some bargain batteries recently, same as you.

 

Look out for us passing in August if you're still in Calf Heath, we'll be passing on our way to Nottingham on The Big Summer Cruise.

[cheshire~rose]

Enjoyed reading the cruise diary, I think I mentioned I was green with envy on about page 3. Of course, as soon as we get moving the weather crashes - Sunday was a washout so we abandoned ship and came home to watch the Thames Pageant, another washout with a limp commentary.

 

What a pity we were going the wrong way - would have loved to join you all in a mini-banter in the Anchor or the Junction. Yes we felt the same.

 

If it's the boatyard I'm thinking of that gave you an unsatisfactory pump-out, it must have been busy with hireboat turn-around day and you got the attention of the apprentice. I've no vested interest except as a satified customer - we've always had excellent service there and also bought some bargain batteries recently, same as you. _maybe it was - we have always been satisfied there too so that is why I did not name them. sometimes sh*t happens or in this case not

 

Look out for us passing in August if you're still in Calf Heath, we'll be passing on our way to Nottingham on The Big Summer Cruise.

What a shame the weather spoiled your trip. Please let us know your plans for August when you know them. We plan to move Carrie~Lou up into Brum for a bit of a do on the weekend of 11/12 August (will probably go up the Wolverhampton 21 on 10th and back on 13th) Then on 25th we will be crewing a different boat, the ex working boat Python for The Chesterfield Canal Trust from Alvecote over to Shackerstone for the festival.

Where is your usual mooring? We have seen your boat around a number of times and I don't think you can be that far from us. It is such a lovely looking boat we have always commented on how much we like it when we see it but we can't place where it is we usually see it!

[Janet S]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your regular trip reports Jan, but this was even better as it included Jerry P with his first boat.

 

Really entertaining reading, and sorry we didn't get chance to pop across and see you when you were in Chester.

 

Glad to hear you're both recovering well.

 

Janet x

[Mick_B]

Welcome back to the real world. :cheers:

[windy miller]

 

Where is your usual mooring? We have seen your boat around a number of times and I don't think you can be that far from us. It is such a lovely looking boat we have always commented on how much we like it when we see it but we can't place where it is we usually see it!

 

Lyra's moored at Shebdon, near bridge 44 amongst the interminable line of boats that slows everybody down (well, mostly). We are usually happy pottering up and down the Shroppie between Tyrley and Brewood - a lovely bit of waterway that reminds me of 'the great grey green greasy Limpopo river all set about with fever trees' that Rudyard Kipling cast into my imagination as a young child.

 

Everybody comments on the big brass opening ports on each side, fitted by the previous owner and presumably from a dutch barge. Lovely to feed the ducks from in summer and a pain to polish! We've only had one negative comment from a tart in high heels - 'looks like a flipping submarine!'

She might have been referring to the olive green paint but you can't please all the people all the time and it makes a change from your Average Blue Boat.

[cheshire~rose]

We love the olive green colour and the lines are, to our eyes very pleasing. I know when we have seen your boat it is one we always comment favourably about. It was only when we saw you that I knew why the boat name mentioned on your profile rang bells with me!

 

We will often tootle up to Brewood for a weekend out and so no doubt that is why we recognised the boat. We have probably passed each other loads of time without even realising it. I do love The Shroppie too. I love The Staffs & Worcs too, we have an enviable base where we can choose to do either, both lovely canals but with completely different characters

[Argey_bargey]

Did I no see your moored at Llangollen basin at the beginning of May Cheshire rose???? I remember u only had the green boat the man wiv long hair said u had another boat. We was sitting on the bench in front of your boat chatting & drinking your home brew wiv a couple of Aussies!!!!

[cheshire~rose]

Did I no see your moored at Llangollen basin at the beginning of May Cheshire rose???? I remember u only had the green boat the man wiv long hair said u had another boat. We was sitting on the bench in front of your boat chatting & drinking your home brew wiv a couple of Aussies!!!!

 

I think this must be a case of mistaken identity. We have not been on The Llangollen for a few years and the last time we did we were with different partners in different boats!

 

Dave would love to have long hair but ........... well never mind

 

As for the home brew ...... I am wondering if the man with the long hair was Adrian (AKA Cloggy) on here as he has been known to enjoy a drop of home brew and was on The Llangollen in May. Did they have 4 Italian greyhounds?

[Argey_bargey]

Cant remember about the dogs but its deffo the chap in your picture towing a boat backwards to Barbridge Junc. It was a fully dark green boat wiv lots of plants on top.