The last leg.

This is an example of why I am not a lover of this canal,  endless trees, long straight sections and no views or anything of interest to look at.

Endless trees. 

More trees

On the plus side there has been a good section of cutting back thats has happened recently.

 

Next day we set off and sometime later David blurted out Oh blimey we didn't get fuel,  I helmed while David dipped the tank and he said that we had enough to get to Wheaton Aston where an ancient garage has an extra long hose that pops over the wall down to the canal and sells cheaper diesel.

Then 20 minutes later the engine coughs and splutters and dies a death.  We drift but without any power to get us to the tow path.  Five minutes later a boat hove into view and we signalled to them, it was Kevin and Carol off of NB Eleanor.

Well they rescued us, it took a while of abortive rope throwing, but we ended up with Kevin on our boat and his wife alone on her boat.   Not seeing anything obvious we wondered if it was indeed a fuel problem.

Well WaL started up again and Kevin said that they would follow us incase it happened again.

We got to the outskirts of Gnosall, embarrassingly Kevin had had to walk as their boat couldn't get in to pick him up...

WaL had completely cut out again here and Kevin helped us pull her onto the visitor moorings.  I'd already checked Google and there is a garage 4 minutes away on a bike.  We thanked them both and they chugged on.  If it wasn't he fuel then at least we had road access to call Canal And River Rescue.  Thank you Kevin and Carol for your help. 

David cycled off to purchase two cans and fuel, it was a messy business with diesel ending up on the rear deck of Wal, David's shorts and hands and all over the outside of the cans.  That done I highly recommended that he repeat the process.  So and hour later,   WaL started up and we gingerly set off.  

It would appear to have been some muck in the fuel that had caused a blockage but then cleared itself, it was an error to have let the level get so low, normally D knows in his head with mileage and litres.

I called ahead to the garage at Wheaton Aston, the chap said I've already closed, I've just come back to answer the phone...

So we were faced with the only place in striking distance for diesel was closed until Monday morning, this was Saturday at 2pm.  David didn't want to do that so I called up the Napton Narrowboat base at Autherley Junction, they only had enough for their own boats as they were due a delivery midweek.  I called the wee wharf Oxley Marine which is also just at the junction,  no answer, not many options.

I had the wizardly wheeze to ask a liveaboard if they had any spare fuel to sell.

Okay said David, give it a go.

Five minutes later we came across a line of boats and I called out to a person with his back to me, he turned and I was a tad surprised...

A very kind pair.

Quite a sight.  

But these two as you can see were happy and laughing.  He leapt over and emptied the jerry can into WaL, 21 litres, they ABSOLUTELY refused all offers of payment.  

A gift. 

From boaters to boaters in need.

That will teach me to make snap judgements about appearances.

Well in the event we did stay in the shade, falling leaves, drizzle and gloom of Wheaton Aston until Monday morning.  We went to the pub for Sunday Lunch and were on the deck for the fuel to open at 08:45.

Oh flip I forgot what this hill is called, but here it is.

Here's the garage, it only sells diesel, I would imagine safety standards may have changed a bit now.

This was outside the garage Sunday.

Lots of yellow in the trees now.  Not much red.

Aylesbury ducks, my favourites, I used to keep these ducks.

Rosehips.

I carefully went down the steps to get this shot.  David has wanted me to do this each trip on this canal.  But the tree has ruined the shot.  I would have stepped into the middle of the road but Watling Street (or the A5) is so busy I feared being suncked under the wheels of a lorry.  I fell up the wooden steps going back and bruised my shin.

Autherley Junction this morning was a bit tricky as another boat was exiting the lock when we arrived?

Meeting this on a bend with a bridge was a bit of a surprise, but the crew leapt to his bow and pushed us off, he then jumped off and guided his boat around that bridge.

One of the worst blind bends on the Staffs to Worcester canal.

Unbelievably we have seen 4 Kingfishers, here is the last one who DIDN'T fly away, you will have to squint, I didn't have time to zoom in.

We tried something different for packing up.  We arrived at the marina in the early afternoon.  I had packed our clothes on the last stretch, so we felt it would be a quick get away the next morning, was it heck.  I reckon we took 3 hours, but included in that was the overwintering of the boat.  One of the last things I remembered to run the taps, now the water was on zero but it still took over 20 minutes...  But we did remember to turn off the gas, this time.

Well that's us done for this summer.  It was a drab last week not least due to the non stop grey skies, chilly temperatures and too many trees.

We may come back to WaL if the weather is dry, when she gets her annual service, we'll see.  Got to nip over to New Zealand in January to see those angels and got to tell my mother we are going.  

So Abyssinia  

TTFN.

Shortbread and good udders.

The two Lovelies George and Carol who had volunteered to help us here at the Audlem Locks, a flight of 13 or so were arriving at about 10am.  

We were moored up at the very bottom and here the first two or three are spaced out, so at about 9:30 we set off and started those ones. 

The first one we met a boat coming down, the husband was winding down the paddles with great gusto , when he finished he leapt onto the roof, jogged along the roof and jumped down to drive out.... He's lively I said to his wife, 

Oh yes he is, he drives me mad, never sits still for five minutes, 

You can get treatment for that these days, says I

Yes I know and together we both said "A bang on the head" I did tell her that my husband does not have that problem.

The two treasures arrived and off we set after hugs and kisses.  

George went ahead prepping and Carol and I stayed with WaL and in turn we too each went ahead.

Here is Carol finishing off and George walking.

Action shot of Carol.

We finished two locks short of the top.  We were going to have breakfast together, this was a open spot whereas at the very top you are in dreaded trees.

We had bacon rolls, pink sparkle (Thank you Carol I shall look out for that one again in Morrisons) followed by that porridge cake, this time an odd combination of apricot and pistachios, but thats almost empty larders for you.

They told us before they departed of how the famous Shroppie Fly has been taken over but this time by a couple who've had previous experience in the town with a tapas bar...  

Even though we had supper organised I felt it was important to not only try out but also to support canalside pubs, so after a pleasant afternoon reading we trotted off downhill.

 As we went crunching on carpets of acorns as we went, evidently this is a mast season for acorns, the towpath all along is carpeted with them.

So supper was beef stroganoff with tiramisu.  Good value I thought for very good food and super service too.

Recommended.

The next morning we did the two remaining locks of the  Audlum flight finishing at the farmhouse with the farmerswife bringing out freshly baked pasties (David choice one) and I couldn't resist her shortbread.  Still warm and absolutely not on my regime but oh my word how delicious they are.

Highly recommend!  She even takes card payments.

I happen to mention that we too were farming, yes and dairy farmers... (I use the expression WE lightly) and oh no we sold the cows and brought a boat... The husband's face looked askance at me not exactly a frown, she said oh my husband could never do that!  The lady followed me out again with stocks to go onto her covered stall of cream teas, scones jam and clotted cream.

Tell your husband that he has some fine heifers here says I.  They are good aren't they?  Fine enough for the Dairy Event 

(That's prestigious show for the finest dairy cows in the land) 

I didn't say that David had shown our cows there in the past and won prizes.

So attractive these fallen leaves on the water.  

On the Adderley locks now, a very pleasant run of five, we passed 3 or 4 boats making it a doddle.

So here below and out of sequence is a good quality cow, not one of the heifers as they'd walked away.

 Note the topline, nice and straight, the depth of her chest, not too bony, the good attachment of the udder to her body but we can't see the feet but feet are very important too. A nice Holstein cow.

Periodically there will be tests for you.

Hopelessly out of order. Its taken ages to do these photos and then they are in the wrong order, where I am now trying to upload these photos is driving me bananas.  

Please bear with me until normal service is resumed.

We stopped briefly in Market Drayton to service the boat.  David walked over the bridge to the boatyard there to buy some black rubber tubing and some shackles to adjust the bow fender with.  He was very pleased with the cost, under £5.  I was very irritated that the rubbish receptacle being closed. but we set off soon afterwards to do the last five locks here at Tyrley.  Rubbish point there okay, in fact a local lady resident was using the bins.....

The locks at Tyrley can be problematic after rain due to their fierce by-washes that can bash a boat bandy.  I changed into my wellies for the most attractive walk up to the first lock, I was dazzled by a Kingfisher too.  This walk has always been muddy, everytime, except for today.

The lovely walk up to the first lock.

Beautiful open undulating hills at the top of the Audlem flight.

The charming Farmers wife who even closed the gate for us, buy her shortbread!

So we reached the top of all the locks on the Shroppie, bar one more at Wheaton Ashton, plus we reached the limit of my affection for the Shropshire Union canal, from here on I dislike it.  Too many trees, too many bushes and rubbish interweb.

I went in to have a shower and wash my awful boat hair.  David sailed on with a podcast on on his bluetooth hearing aids, sometimes he puts that on when I am with him and just occasionally says "yes" to keep me quiet...

He moored up at Goldstone Wharf  with the help of two other boaters who kindly adjusted their ropes and we could squash in.

Supper was chicken pasta, its one of those 500 calorie meals per person to make up for the tiramisu last night.

 

Oh I say, one of these charming cottages is for sale, any takers?

 

A long day to Audlem.

 So this morning at the crack of 9am, we untied WaL and as we did so noticed the boat in front was also making a move, good I thought, always helpful to have two boats in these doubles although boaters will know that Bunbury are the last of the double locks heading southwards.

I walked and greeted the crew on the other boat.  So when I got there I prepped the staircase flight of two locks, this involves filling the top lock and emptying the bottom lock (but this time the bottom one was empty.

The other boat arrived first and I had opened both heavy doors.  The crew emerged and ambled up to the first lock gates. 
Am I getting old and crotchety to think that a thank you or even an acknowledgment of setting the gates might have been expected?  She looked clueless frankly and copied my actions.  Where are you headed today? I asked breezily

To the Llangollen 

Oh lovely says I, have you been there before?

Oh yes...   So not a rookie.

Anyway David left the top lock first to more easily negotiate the slight bend and remains of the fallen tree from a few years ago and I walked on.

Finally on at the service point and glad that WaL was in front as they made very slow progress behind us.

It was breezy and grey with the wind taking the bow in places.  We looked over to our right at Hurleston junction as we passed and didn't see a single volunteer today, they may have been having tea in their wee shed of course, but when we had ascended earlier in the summer every lock was prepped for us, that day.

Lucky strike.

Easy though Nantwich,  below is the attractive aqueduct, back in the summer we went several times in both directions under it.

 

Out of sequence but this is Hurleston Junction without helpers. 

Barbridge junction pretty quiet today onto the Middlewich Arm.

We headed on down towards Audlem past the very pleasant moorings of Coole Pilate where more boats were moored than I was expecting to be out and cruising in October, but it is dry and not freezing.

We inched slowly to the moorings at Audlem, there were a few spaces but only a few.

Heating on, showers and a spot of relaxing for David who'd had an early start today, he'd thought it would take six hours but in the event only five hours.

Supper was a very tasty beef stir-fry with double teriyaki sauce.

Up and at 'em tomorrow but help is coming.... I hope.  

Two good eggs and cheeses.

Hello Reader and welcome back, lots to tell so settle down.

Well after the last trip home from Tattenhall marina a few weeks ago taking about six hours I declared this was too long and that we should break the journey, David didn't think that an overnight stop in Buxton was a very direct route so we settled on Warwick service station, the Days Inn.  A snip at £40 although there was a £5 charge for the overnight parking on top.  The room was spotlessly clean and the bed very comfy.  I'm going to go about booking another one to see if it was an introductory off or their usual price.

We had been overnight in London where we had attended our daughter's 40th Birthday party.  I don't usually admit to having a child of 40 and this is probably the last time I do.  (She's not the eldest either).

Here's a snap of David at the party...

It was an afternoon party, where all the children were invited and much crafting available for them to do....

As we drove up the motorway David continued the fun by picking all the jewels and stickers off.

For supper I googled good pubs and we picked The Malt Shovel at Gaydon half a mile from the M40.

I wanted to eat some veg so ordered the roast beef and as we are married David ordered the same and the same wine too.  

I have to say Reader it was the very best Sunday Roast I have ever had out,  thick slices of medium rare beef, spicy red cabbage, parsnips, carrots and a mixture of mangetout savoy cabbage and broccoli, we even ordered a portion of cauliflower cheese, the whole lot served with "Proper gravy" in all it was absolutely fantastic.  So if you are a user of the M40 at Junction 12,  try out the Malt Shovel at Gaydon.

So we arrived at Tattenhall an easy 2 hours later.  While we were loading the luggage two boaters walked past and said nice things about WaL.  They thought she was new, well she kinda is again now.  The conversation went on a bit and one said (as many people do) that red paint can fade and that was why he would never buy a red car....

Reader my car at home is red, my boat is red and at the time I was wearing a red top.  We have been advised by the new pigments and paints available that this isn't likely to be the case going forward.  Who knows?  Who cares?  We love it.

I'm glad to say that WaL was absolutely fine, started first time and after David had returned from planting the car further along we departed.

Farewell Tattenhall.

Poxy Canadian geese, we reckoned over 100.  Maybe if they re-introduce wolves they would eat the bloody things? 

As we past The Shady (Oak) pub David recognised NB Briar Rose,     HERE       David wasn't sure whether the new owners had already taken her over or Adam and Adrian were there, problem solved when Adam popped his head up.  Their new boat is going to be ready soon.  A brief chat as we were to get ahead to meet George and Carol otherwise we would have stopped and chewed the fat.

Adam very kindly came to our first lock of the afternoon windlass in hand to lendahand.  

Adrian and Adam, both good eggs.

Just look at this weed!  This stuff grows like Topsy, grows in great drifts that breaks off drifting down the canal and can get around your prop and definitely under our bow several times.

 

Almost blocking the canal in places.

Just room for one boat here on the best mooring with uninterrupted views of Beeston Castle

Another great drift.

I spotted this on the horizon that I hadn't noticed before.  Can it possibly be original?

But just look what's been built on it's doorstep!

See what I did here....?  Red berries red boat.

The above pictures of the beginnings of autumn colours are for you Marilyn, I think it's still a bit early.

As I walked along on stretch the perfume from this was so strong, I couldn't decide if I liked it or not.

 I'm not a great one for cats although I had several as a child.  But I tell you Reader this small black cat was simply begging to be adopted, he was right next to me doing the last lock of the day.  I was on the verge of taking him and would have done so if David hadn't of had some strong words of abjection.  But is it theft if the cat in question is itself wanting to come and live with you?

I had to say goodbye to him.

Time by now was getting on.  With only Bunbury to do we had a choice to do it now or in the morning.  On seeing a short section of armco we did moor up despite David saying we'd be fine to moor at Bunbury locks either below or above.  I did not share his optimism, so Bunbury in the morning it is.

Supper tonight was a shared carton of thai chicken soup and some of the load of cheeses David had picked up from the Cheese Shop in Nantwich this morning.

Shropshire Blue is a cracker.