Atherstone Flight

Not one of our best journeys!  We climbed the flight in the pouring rain, all the way up the 11 locks behind two single handers. One of these, the one at the front, was very, very slow , nothing wrong with that but in the rain it just gets wearing!  The other chap was poetry in motion the way he stepped off his moving boat whilst entering locks and the way he moved about the lock and stepped back onto his boat as he left each lock. Jenny felt positively slow and plodding in comparison.

However, at one lock the board on the top gate, used for crossing the gate, was missing, which could have caused a bit of a problem for Jenny , her legs are too little to step across the bottom gates when opening them, but Super Sid came to the rescue by stepping from Hunters Moon whilst she was moving into the lock, so he could close one of the lower gates. That too was poetry in motion but we should not be surprised because he has been known to be nimble on his feet in the past!

The flight, which normally takes a couple of hours, took us 4 hours! The final three locks wee manned by volunteers. They were a very welcome sight!

Stopped for lunch, fed up and wet and cold. Flaming June!! Not here!

Decided to call it a day, find a pub and get back in touch with the world!

Rain across Atherstone flight. 

Jenny's Predictions

Whatever happened to the good summer Jenny forecast earlier in our trip. All the signs pointed towards it but so far  it was as useless as the Met Office forecasts!

The past couple of days have bought challenging, cold northwesterly winds with rain threatening.. However, we have managed to stay dry with rain coming in the evening and overnight.

We are pressing on with our return journey having now reached Fazeley Junction, near Tamworth.

We had an unnerving incident with a hire boat yesterday when the helmsman lost control and smashed into us! The lady on board apologised, the bloke steering said he couldn't control the boat and the third person on board said it was all our fault!  When the crash happened Jenny was inside making tea. The jolt sent a shudder right through the boat and the noise was startling.  Plates rattled, glasses chinned and Jenny wondered what on earth was happening! We were both okay as we're the folk on the hire boat which was the most important thing. Then we went on are way shaken but not stirred!

Tuesday 28 June
We left  our mooring at Fazeley early to visit the facilities to dispose of rubbish, empty, cassettes and fill with water. We then managed to get to near the bottom lock at Atherstone before the heavens opened and decided to call it a day.

Back on Board

Saturday morning

We have had an eventful and emotional week back in Chichester and have now returned to Great Haywood Marina to complete are rather curtailed travels by retracing our outward journey.
Whilst back in Chichester we managed to catch up with children and grandchildren, visit the nursing home that we hope Jenny's mum can move into, Sid had his Consultant appointment, which was a little worrying but enabled him to acquire yet another gadget, (recommended by his consultant), and we had a meeting with the manager of the Kings Lodge Nursing Home to assess Jenny's mum's needs when she moves there. Quite emotional!

 Then to end the week the result of the referendum, which stunned everyone but we are lucky enough to live in a democtratic country and it is what it is and I am sure  after a period of challenging adjustment the UK will emerge changed but still a 'Great' country.

We left Great Haywood this morning in bright sunshine and soon found a queue at  the first lock. This was soon worked through by the four women who had gathered there from boats travelling up and down through the lock whilst setting the world and our respective travelling companions to rights!

We have found a pleasant mooring for lunch just outside  of Rugeley and feeling rather jaded still and with rain threatening we have decided to stay put!

As we moored Sid made another friend, Roy, who introduced himself after congratulating Sid on his 'boatman's hitch'. " Your the only other person, apart from me, who I've ever seen doing that". Once again, what can I say?

What's this in the water?

A Good Samaritan had tied this huge tree trunk to the side of the canal to keep it out of fellow boaters way! Too heavy to  pull out of the water!

Tixall Wide

Today we have passed the results of the enormous amount of rain that the Midlands has experienced recently.  Flooded fields after field where it is difficult to distinguish the river amongst all the water!

After a long day, to make up for lost time with trees across the canal etc we arrived at Tixall wide.

View from our Tixall Wide mooring 

This is a remarkable stretch of canal where the water is as wide as the Thames and the surrounding countryside is stunning. We had noted it on our way through earlier in our journey  and thought what a beautiful mooring, away from the motorways and railway, on the edge of the Shugborough estate. But, sadly, although it would have been the perfect place to spread out onto the towpath to enjoy a bbq in long June evening, it is absolutely hammering down with rain and our solar light has illuminated at 4.30 in the afternoon!

So much for the good summer Jenny forecast!

Hunters Moon is going into Great Haywood Marina for a rest whilst we return to Chi.

Tree Trouble!

Well, we have had a body in the canal and today our progress was once again hindered by a tree fallen across the canal! We had made an unusually early start, for us, in order to get to Penkridge to meet Dave and Val from Trentham, for lunch.  We were going well and it wasn't raining when, having passed under bridge 77, there it was, a willow blocking our way.  On inspection and after a phone call to Canal and River Trust to report the blockage we decided to have a cup of coffee and wait.  Another boat had joined us so we all went and had another look at the tree and decided to wait for the CRT men to arrive.

Eventually another boat 'Periwinkle' arrived from the other direction and Sid went to speak to the occupants.  The next thing Jenny knows is that Super Sid has found his hand saw and a pair of pruners and is clambering on the front of 'Periwinkle's ' bow sawing the offending branches. He was a hero and before long a had chopped a passage way through! We were under way again.

I wonder when the CRT men turned up??

Because of the delay we would not get to Penkridge for at least 2 hours so decided to moor at Gailey and get the bikes out to cycle to Penkridge. These got us there in 20 minutes along the rather bumpy and in places muddy towpath and we stayed dry.

However, as we enjoyed a very pleasant  lunch in the Star washed down with a couple of excellent beers the threatening thunderstorm arrived together with torrential rain. Dave and Val took pity on us and suggested folding the bikes and giving us a lift back to Gailey.

Thank you both. It would have been a miserable and even muddier ride back along the towpath.

Change of weather!

Rain, rain and more rain! Off with the shorts and sunhats and on with the waterproofs, heavy shoes and, today,  Sid had to don his gloves ' cos his handies were cold!

                         

The countryside is looking so different now with the onset of early summer  with the hedgerows filled with fragrant honeysuckle, wild roses, elderflower and pointed purple foxgloves. If the blossom on the blackberry bushes all turns to fruit we should be in for a bumper crop.  Thick green foliage along the towpath has taken over from the may blossom of a week or two ago and tall, stately, yellow flags are blooming along the water's edge.  The ducklings, goslings and cygnets are growing sturdier day by day.

The mowers have been busy on the rather overgrown towpaths, so what with the abundant rain making the towpaths muddy and the grass cuttings we have a rather messy cocktail being walked onto the boat!

Heading for Penkridge tomorrow to meet with Dave and Val again before they head of on their travels in their new caravan.

Quote of the Day!

Fisherman heard remarking " Too many b......... boats on this canal".
What can I say!  No boats, no canals equals no fishing!!!

What is wrong with fishermen? Not only are they generally morose and uncommunicative but some also have no idea about canals.

Today we were approaching a lock and there on the lock waiting section are a row of rods. Two young men suddenly appeared from under an umbrella to turn them sideways not aware that we needed to pull into the waiting area to drop Jenny off in order for her to access the lock. They were totally unaware that this area should not be used for fishing at any time but they got cross at us . There were words and Sid 'politely' pointed out the error of their ways.

Back to Kinver

We wanted to moor at Kinver again so we could visit the Rock Houses. These are amazing houses actually hewn into the sandstone rock high above the charming village of Kinver. They were inhabited until 1937 by families whose menfolk worked in the surrounding iron works. This fascinating piece of social history has been restored and preserved by the National Trust.

Reproduction of the inside of the Rock Houses

It was well worth the visit not only to the rock houses but also to Kinver Edge, which is a labyrinth of amazing trails.  One of these climbs to the highest point where there is a 360-° panoramic view over five counties, and across to the Cotswolds, the Malven Hills and to Wales.

On top of the world 

Sid made it to the top!

Amazing!

Canal Closure

We left Stourport after bidding farewell to dear friends, Bridget and Dave to return up the Staffs and Worcs Canal to Wolverley to meet more 'old' friends, Ruth and David. We were making good progress on a bright morning when we spied a fellow boater waving to us as we approached Kidderminster. We  slowed to hear what he had to say. We were told that the police had closed to canal due to an incident!  Both the towpath had been closed since mid morning and speculation was rife. We moored up behind the last boat in a queue of 5. This was immediately outside Tesco!

It was interesting how fellow boaters were reacting to this news.  Some just decided to have lunch and enjoy a good book, others went and did a bit of shopping, others walked up and down chatting to fellow boaters and others just complained!

The news soon spread that a body had been found in the canal. We didn't know any details but obviously the canal and towpath were a crime scene and would not be open until forensics had finished their investigations.  However,  the complainers were not happy, "couldn't they just let us through", "what difference would it make if they just let us through", "I don't want to spend the night here," ( it was not the most salubrious of areas and the natives were troubled souls on the whole and the pub on the opposite bank looked a bit rough), however the police had to do their job and no amount of asking the young bobby at the cordon was going to make things happen any sooner.

Two more boats joined the queue and time ticked on. Sid and the chap in the boat behind us did a bit of fishing whilst waiting! They had both encountered  an obstacle or two beneath the water on mooring. They retrieved a bicycle and a supermarket trolley! A good catch! How many more live in the depths of the canal near a supermarket and beside a busy towpath in the middle of a town, I wonder?

We had made contact with Ruth and David to explain our predicament and they changed their plans to come and meet us in Kidderminster.  Not long after they arrived the call went up that we were on the move. It was about 4.15 and after a quick pow wow Ruth and David decided to travel with us to our original meeting point, Wolverley, and then get a cab back to theiri car after having a bite to eat at The Lock. It was a  very pleasant little late afternoon  cruise through a couple of locks and some pleasant countryside.

The end of a strange day!

Google account problems!

We have been experiencing account problems! Nearly up to date now and will insert any missing photos ASAP.

Watch this space for the exciting instalment regarding ' the body in the water'.

Stourport-on-Severn

The broken engine mounting bracket - the saga continues!
When you left  us last Sid had made a repair of the bracket and we hoped it would get us down to Stourport where we were due to meet Bridget and Dave and new bracket.

 However,  we received a message from Dave the next day to say he had been unable to get the part but he gave us some places to try. Which we did. BUT, there is not one of these parts to be had in the  UK at present. They are all on back order awaiting a delivery from the Netherlands and this is not due into the country until the 21st June.  Oh blow!! Or something like that.
Various phone calls and an overnight thunderstorm later, we slowly make our way to Stourport with Sid's repair failing. He is rather unhappy about that!

Once in the basin we make our way over to the Starline  Hire Boat jetty where we receive a warm welcome from Bridget and Dave. In view of the fact that a part can't be obtained Dave has arranged for a chap he knows to weld the broken bracket. The 'boys' take the bracket to the welders , it will be ready in thr morning, whilst Bridget and Jenny catch up with 24 years of gossip  etc. Lots of chat!!!

We can now relax and enjoy a great evening with great friends! Lots of wine and laughter!

Great friends

The following morning the repaired bracket is collected,  a brilliant repair it is too, Sid  fitted it and voilà Hunters Moon is good to go. Thank goodness for good friends.

We have had a lovely explore of this charming town this afternoon , which has the air of a seaside town about it and is locally known as Stouport- by Sea and we can really understand why.  The basin is steeped in history and surrounded by some beautiful Georguan houses and the clocktower dominates with its regular chimes on the hour. Another little gem on our travels .

Hunters Moon in Stourport Basin

At this point we were supposed to be heading onto the River Severn but due to family issues we are heading back to collect the car and return to Chichester for a week or two

Wolverley Court Lock, just outside Kidderminster

For a few days we had been aware that the engine did not sound right. Sid had a check around and discovered we might have diesel bug. More of a nuisance than a great problem and one that can be sorted by a visit to a Chandlery!  According to Sid!
However, the different sounding engine seemed to get more different! Sid investigated further and found a broken engine mounting bracket! A bit more of a problem!

Horseshoe sculpture of a horse at

Horsefair in Kidderminster 

Since we are not far from Stourport on Severn,  where there are boatyards and a Chandlery where a part could be delivered to, Sid decides to do a temporary repair to the bracket and then travel gingerly down to Stourport.  However, this will involve lifting the engine and supporting the engine whilst he removes the broken bracket, repairing, with Araldite and Chemical Metal, allowing that to dry overnight and then replacing repaired bracket the following morning.

Then we have a stroke of luck. Dave and Bridget, 'old' friends of Jenny who live and work for a narrowboat hire company in Stourport are going to Gloucester and will try and source the part  for us.

Meanwhile, we will motor down to Stouport to meet up with Bridget, Dave  and hopefully new engine mounting bracket on Wednesday.

Summer at last!

Not sure how long it will last but today the sun shone, the countryside looked beautiful and we had a lovely journey. We arrived in Kinver, a pretty little place with some perfect mooring for us to enjoy a tasty bbq in the evening sun. We were also tempted, on our arrival, to sample a couple of glasses of local beer in The Vine. A perfect day!

Steady Progress

The further we travel south on the Staffs and Worcs Canal the more we fall under its spell. It is full of charm and beauty and today it has been very quiet with very few boat movements  and that dreadful north wind has dropped so we have been able to don our shorts and T shirts again and discard the fleeces.

An interesting stretch of water today has taken us through the Bratch locks, three quite separate locks that look much like a staircase and take the canal down over 30 feet.  Then through Bumble Hole Lock, to Botterham Staircase  locks, which lower the canal another 20 feet.  We are making steady progress towards Stourport - on - Severn, where we hope to meet up with 'old friends'.

The Narrows! Nr Wolverhampton 

Last night we moored in Compton! And tonight we are moored in Swindon! Familiar names to our friends and family if not quite the places they may think.

Jenny at the Roundhouse, Gailey

under blue skies 

Sid makes another fruend!

 We all know what a friendly chap Sid is but he does seem to attract quite a lot of 'nutters'!  Since the fellow very early on in our trip he has he also befriended a casual ' nutter' and just recently another ' nutter' this time a female variety!  Sid and his female aquaintence have had several little chats by locks and moorings and this evening,  whilst we were enjoying a G and T in the bow, after a cold morning turned into a beautiful sunny afternoon and evening, she appeared by our side.  It is rather sad because she is a single handed boater, I take my hat off to her coping with travelling on her own, who is obviously lonely and just wants to chat.

However, we weren't that worried about her problem with moving the car from a lay by into a better parking spot for the night or the problems between her sister, who lives in Scotland,  and her dogs coming to stay on her boat , we just wanted to enjoy our evening drink! How selfish is that?

And, yet another!  At 10.00pm the other night there was a knock on the boat. Jenny was startled and Sid tentatively went to the front of the boat and looked out. The elderley chap from the boat moored in front of us was there and he wanted to let us know that he was about to run his engine. Rather late Jenny thought bur Sid, in his friendly way said okay.  It was good of him to let us know but we were just about to take to our bed so not good timing.  It did not run too long fortunately!

And finally, Sid sitting in the evening sunshine at Kinver,  a lady approaches him whilst Jenny is preparing strawberries and creme fraiche in the boat, holds out a tray and says "would you like a cupcake". What can one say!!!!!

First cuckoo

Jenny has been waiting to hear one and at last on 1st June as we were preparing to leave our mooring we heard the first cuckoo! I say we because although 57 feet apart we both heard that beautiful sound at the same time and caught each others eyes down the length of the boat and mouthed "cuckoo!". A magic moment!

Yesterday Jenny also saw three thrushes. A rare sight these days.

The weather is more autumn like today and not only fleeces are being worn but also waterproof trousers and warm jackets. The wind is really cold. Hopefully we will have warmer weather later in the week.

Staffordshire and Worcester Canal

Whatever happened to all our beautiful weather. It was back to fleeces and long trousers today in a very challenging cool north wind!  However, at least it was a good bank holiday weekend!  We are still optimistic that it is going to be a good summer and thus is just a blip. All the signs are good!!

We left Great Haywood Marina and turned onto the Staffs and Worcs Canal in bright but breezy conditions but the clouds started to build by mid morning so we stopped very early  and found that we had moored just a few miles outside Stafford on the edge of Cannock Chase. A bit of a strange little journey because we passed through places called Milford and Walton, we even passed under Walton Bridge (104). Tomorrow we go through Acton (Trussel). All very familiar sounding place names!

Summer roof garden planted

Heron bids us farewell from the marina

More'Old Wives Tales'

Just to reinforce Jenny's weather forecast for the coming summer yet another sign has been pointed out to us!  "The rooks are nesting high" was heard from the checkout lady at Tesco, so there is now no doubt we will all be praying for rain and cooler temperatures this year!