A long day but worth it

So we left Kidderminster after I had returned three pairs of jeans to M&S and brought a quite different fourth pair.  David's 85th birthday fast approaches and we had brought all sorts of edible goodies for his "Birthday Week", I had a birthday week last year and now he wants one.  I shall be extending mine to a Birthday Month next March (Its a WHOPPER!).

  

It was finally a really lovely day, we did retrieve the sun cream too.  Below is a most attractive lock that I have certainly photographed before, is it Falling Sands Lock or the other one? Either way its pretty impressive.

The sun shone, hardly another boat anywhere and everything in the garden is rosy.

WaL coming into the lock, is that faded red paint I can see?  Maybe we should have her repainted....

Looks like the paving stones have been replaced but I hope these are protected, I love these echo's of former lives spent on the canals, by folk with a lot harder lives than we have.

I was hopping on and off here, trying to get a shot of WaL coming through the viaduct, its not a bad shot I guess but then walking on a bit I realised that I had missed out the original canal bridge out so here's another.

So faded......

We carried on to Stourport, the chandler shop has still got stock in it but not open, so you call them and go find them in a warehouse away a bit.  Evidently the lease is up on the shop and they are not renewing.  The business will go all online.  

We filled with water and departed the way we came.  Back through Kidderminster, quite a few boats there now.

The iconic church view here.

Around the corner at Sainsbury's was a very recognisable boat, NB Chuffed, home to Dave and Debby,    HERE

I look upon Debby as my Wild Flower consultant identifier, she has commented many times on this blog to help me out, Debby I was sorry that we couldn't stop and meet properly but next time!

NB Chuffed and Debby.

Below this is James, he works all week he told me but he does not want to sit in a pub all weekend so he bikes out to help with locking, today he was here at Debdale Lock but sometimes he cycles over to the Delph Flight or the Stourbridge Flight to help any boater.  Lovely chap, broad Yorkshire accent and he wants to retire to Scarborough.

Say hello if you meet him.

James, Lock helper.

We have friends in Kinver and we were delighted to receive them onboard for dwinks and even more delighted to be invited for supper at their cottage too.  Sarah and Chris, a very interesting pair, Sarah also has blogged about their time afloat  HERE , she is currently working on her blog and will update it soon.

Lovely to have caught with you both, next time we are down the supper will be on us.

The next morning very early at about 8am, we were up and at 'um, as we pulled away a boat moored just in front of us had its captain on deck preparing also to pull away, we had come up behind them yesterday and they weren't fast, so we were delighted to have the lock advantage this morning.

The Vine pub was closed last year, its had a chequered recent past, but today it has new umbrellas and a lick of paint too, looking very much smarter.  Good luck to it.

The Vine at Kinver.

So looking at the boat below, its moored on the CART line moorings, I object to the paint which is totally flaking off into the canal and later into the sea from an environmental position, I had thought as we passed it on the way down it was deserted but no, its someone's home, but how long till it sinks and becomes a major environmental problem? 

Who's problem then? 

Glorious sunny views across open meadows, a few boats here today.  

He's listening to the cricket!

He always copies my ideas and beats me to Instagram to post them....

There's something about how the canal disappears around the hill here just north of Swindon that I love.

I absolutely believe in free will but I still was surprised that this man was washing the outside of his fence.... Nice garden and all but the outside of his fence...? 

Strange I call that. 

Now if someone can tell me if this below is Japanese Knotweed, that introduced and highly invasive weed that cannot be pulled out or destroyed by any known means to man, then we do have a big problem as its all though this patch of woodland growing unchecked....

We pushed on, a five hour cruise, unheard of for us but we did it for them....

Joe and Lesley of now NB Steadfast.  HERE  We have had a bucket full of adventures with them in the past with them on their other boat NB Yarwood  HERE this was when we crossed the Wash back a few years....

NB Steadfast looking totally glistening David after their repaint!

Supper was a great feast together with much giggling again after a long while.

Risking life and limb in Kidderminster

We had enjoyed an easy run down to Swindon last night, but it had suddenly got cold 13 mins before we moored up, the heating had gone on and not at my behest but David's! 

Anyway today was bright-ish and steadily got better, I tell you this Reader because I am receiving photos of babies in summer romper suits & sun hats and having their meals in the garden, I have low level MOI (Missy Out Itus) say it out loud if you don't get.

Our sun cream stayed in the drawer.

Gorgeous wooded hills as a back drop to WaL

NOTE this wide gravel towpath here, more about the consequences of that later.

It really is lovely down here, the scenery is delightful, the people in general are chatty and friendly and the fishermen are the jolliest in the country I think, they smile and greet you, almost unheard of on other canals where scowling and muttered curses are the order of most days. 

Spectacular scenery to goggle at. 

Cookley, I think this is pretty amazing and worthy of the Dordogne.  Some of these houses shown below have "Gardens" which come right down to the canal itself, paths suitable for all breeds of goats.  Frankly I would be twitchy putting the washing out but all the houses were occupied when we cycled past them last year.

I would like to say hello to the owners of NB City of Durham, which has a big Pink Panther painted on it, the captain reads this blog,  I'm so sorry we didn't get to exchange names but hello anyway, did we met before?  David thought he recognised the boat.

Frequent Flyers to this blog will remember that we were here in Wolverley for a few days whilst we had our TERRIFIC solar panels fitted by Pete the Electrician ( He was terrific too email me for his details), but there was a kerfuffle here about a landslip, the lane involved is an old one, today used as a Rat Run by locals, the slip was caused by Severn Water's pipe leak and by golly a whole year later nothing has changed, the arguments continue behind the scenes of liability we are told.  If you look carefully at the photos you will see that the fallen trees are now sprouting covering up the Danger and Go Slow signs.

Landslip.

New growth coming along nicely, the road is closed to car access but bikes can pass by.  A local resident told us that he thinks the road, unstable in other places will not be repaired for cars, just access to the houses.

We had a big discussion about should we stop and enjoy a burger here at The Lock Pub in Wolverley, these are tremendous, but looking at the place, there didn't appear to be any Take Away signs, the clientele were not socially distanced in anyway and given that it was close to closing anyway we pushed on.  

We rocked up in Kidderminster, moored up right outside the supermarkets and went shopping in our masks and gloves and sanitiser.   The new norm.

We managed to get some kit for the boat in Tesco!  Seeing as the chandlers are thin on the ground you have to make do.

The sole moorers again for the third or fourth night I think in a row, no problems at all here in the town centre, well except the uncomfortably high levels of poo from the loathed Canadian Geese.

Supper was chicken bacon and avocado salad with coffee mousse surprise! 

Coffee mousse, very similar to blackberry surprise.

So where are all these boats?

We had been alone moored here at Wightwick I don't know what it is about these moorings,  (Its pronounced Whittick, remember we are in The Black Country here and they speak different), but close to the moorings is a shortish stretch with several bends and motorbikes must come from miles around to drive as fast as they can and as noisily as they can.  I hope they all carry Organ Donation Cards......

I had wanted to visit the gardens here, but they were sold out for the online tickets that is all they have due to Covid19.  We will try to go another time.

But after a wet night we set off about mid morning.  This below is the second lock you come to after the first one. 

 

This is Ebstree Lock.

One great feature of this Canal, is that on virtually all locks there is a wee bridge to make locking so much quicker and to preserve energy in middle aged Lock wheelers (me).

But this one has a trick up its sleeve in that you have to be a waif to get past the lock gate arms.  Were canal folk so underfed back in the 1760's one asks oneself? 

Its a gorgeous run through here and along to the Bratch Locks.  Though this gap in the hedge you get an idea of the rolling hills and dense woodland that makes the West Midlands so very very very attractive.  But please don't tell anyone, let the masses hike off to the South of France.

Bratch Locks, today the Lock Keeper said they had been busy but we hadn't seen a single boat moving.

Soon after Bratch Locks is the Botterham Staircase flight.  These were a bit tough to open so David and I swapped over and he did some work.  Obviously I had to supervise him.

Three pretty deep locks in a row, this is the first one.

With a Staircase Flight, its a wee bit different to operate, first thing you do is read the instruction board, the second thing is to read it again because you think they have made a 

mistake.....  But you need to fill the top lock to go into, then empty the second, so the first lockful of water goes down with you and you don't flood the surrounding areas...  It was muddy in places so someone had done exactly that. 

My view as I exited the first chamber.  He's doing alright so far.

So this was David, being checked by me as he emptied the second chamber, anyway, he emptied it and that was correct.  He is not keen on being supervised.

Todays Pretties

Pretty fluffy white stuff with bee.

I do prefer the pink flowers on brambles.

As a child I think this was what my grandmother called Tansey.

Comfrey thank you Debby, purple, anyone know?

It was a bit longer day than I would have chosen and we finally stopped at Swindon.  The only boat on the often full visitor moorings.  A sunny end to the day but chilly.

Supper was wild salmon with broccoli and peas.

Wet wet wet.

So Reader, here is one of the white cows I mentioned last post but I didn't post the photo of them.  

A man that works here helping to install thirteen in line moorings alongside these fields told us that the owner cares only for these cows.  

Anyone want a mooring?  If yes move quickly as of last week, there were four moorings left and 16 people interested, here are you neighbours.

So we pulled the pins after doing some polishing on the side of the boat.  Hardly any boats moving, we had all the time in the world so rather a nice way to be.

Quite an uneventful run round to the narrows and then suddenly there are three boats behind.

Looks like we got us a convoy - Who is old enough to remember that Ray Stevens song?

Its very green and very narrow, I've always just called it the narrows, its bound to have a real name. 

Interesting rocky outcrops here.

Look carefully behind this boat to see the others, the last boat was cream.

Amazingly no other boat approached and they followed us further along the canal in fact just after I took this shot there was a sudden cloud burst, I even put on my waterproof trousers!  

I'm glad to say that each of these boats turned up the Shropshire Union Canal.  David and I had considered the Shroppie for this shot trip, but I had thought it would be too busy, I may have been correct.

After a good cheap pump out at Oxley Marine, a curious old wharf, where two very "Experienced" gentlemen appear to have the business, possible brothers, one told us that he lives in Yorkshire!!!!!  A three hour commute, admittedly he does not drive home each night.

We carried on with clear water under the boat and trees overhead, but it continued to rain.  When we got to Wightwick Lock there was no sign of any boats anywhere, so in heavy rain we washed the roof of the boat.  The rain and a few buckets of clear canal water did a good job.

We moored up  still in rain, heating on and wet weather kit hanging in the bathroom, great.

Supper was mushroom omelette cooked by David, he was keen to toss it but I managed to persuade him not to. 

 

A bit of sun goes a long way.

So on the farming front, the potatoes are in flower and doing quite nicely along here.

Nice crop of spuds for later in the year.

We wanted to tackle the roof first.  When we arrived at Great Haywood Marina last week, the ladder looked as if someone had tried to steal it off of the roof, it was off of it stand and in two sections.  But it turned out that the nice gentleman who lives aboard, opposite WaL had retrieved the ladder in a storm when it was dangling over the side.  How kind of him.  But the ladder has managed to inflict several more large chips of paint off the handrail.

Repaint coming sooner than you think David.  

When we got to this lock, I can't remember the name but its the one with the very recently CLOSED Midland Chandlers, in fact as we were there the staff were shifting out what I took to be the last pieces of stock into a couple of waiting cars, off they drove and locked the gates.  We had wanted to go in there....  So sad when these shops close and Chandlers are disappearing FAST.  Yes you are correct Reader, this was from the day before prior to arriving at Penkridge....

David fighting with an uncooperative ladder, the ladder seemed to be winning.

This was a boat that we passed this morning leaving Penkridge, it was a glorious mass of blooms and veg, but, I ask myself, how does the helm possibly see whats coming?  Smelt nice though.

  

It was a nice gently run along to Gailey, as we are getting over Lockdown it really is a pleasure to be chatting away to people again at locks and along the towpath, I met two ladies just outside Penkridge who were both in a similar position (and age bracket to my mum) and they hadn't seen their children for months, their social clubs had closed and they took taxi's now to each others houses.  both clutching masks, both charming and both indefatigable. 

Wonderful. 

Now is it me or is windmill a whopper?

Oh my goodness, Blackberries starting soon and we haven't finished the ones in the freezer yet from last year and the year before. 

We moored up here, it was the first open away from trees mooring after Gailey, I was hungry.  Then I heard a curious sound and I was surprised to spot in the field with the white cows, Oyster Catchers, surprised because we have them at home on the coast, I reckon we are as far away from the coast here as you can get but there they are, parents feeding a loudly squawking baby. 

Oyster Catchers, the baby I reckoned was the one with grey stockings.

Pretty isn't it?  In the hedge next to us as we sat in the evening sun.

Supper was wild salmon and this little dessert I knocked up from the fridge, its blackberry and apple surprise, the surprise is guessing how old the fruit is.  

David is very hardy, I have fed him things months and months out of date.

What the heck is he doing?

I forgot to tell you yesterday that as we were coming up to a bend around Stafford yesterday, a boat came into view, he straightened up after the bend and then something curious, he pointed his bow at us from his side of the canal and just kept coming, yes he just kept coming right at us, had David not been on the ball, frankly he would have rammed us no question, as it was David put WaL's 50hp engine in full reverse and applied the bow thruster to put us on the wrong side of the canal just slipping past his bow.  

Without slowing down at all he passed by us, just saying, "Sorry but there's silt there so I just had to keep going" Now I don't know about you but this seems to me to be madness.  

I think he should have just stopped not aimed at us and kept going without even slowing down.

Remarkable.

So the following morning, at length, we set off, we hadn't gone more than 300 metres when almost the exact same thing happened, a narrow boat was coming at us, this time the lady on the back was waving crossed hands above her head to us, STOP! I yelled to David they must have problems... Only to see it was Pauline & Neil on NB Waterlily, now without looking back yet over this blog I reckon that we haven't seen them for three or four years, we first met them on the Thames at Teddington Lock waiting to go down the tidal section to Brentford on 2013.  So having cruised all of 300 metres we pulled over and sat in the sun for a couple of hours chewing the fat and showing each other photos of new grandchildren.  

I just love it when sort of thing happens with boating, a day either side and we would have missed them.

Pauline and Neil setting off again for Cheshire. 

Hope to see you sooner than 3 years next time.

Penkridge, empty!  We decided to land next to these gorgeous gardens.

Well we finally set off and had a lovely hot and sunny cruise to Penkridge.  It was a Saturday night and I was in the mood to party party so we went to Co-Op and brought new door mats for WaL.  Usually each time we pass through Penkridge we make a point of going to The Littleton Arms, but not today, maybe next time, I'll make do with new mats this time.

Supper was baked beans on toast with melted cheese on the top. 

 

Its been a while...

So Reader here we are back from hibernation from what feels like a ice-age but and on the other hand no time at all. 

I was pretty horrified at the prospect of Lockdown, not just for myself but for my mother who very shortly celebrate her 10th decade, don't tell her I told you.    She has come up trumps keeping herself busy with knitting and quilting and very slowly spring cleaning her bungalow.  I think its something to do with how that generation was formed that it seems to me there is an indomitable spirit, indeed my sister-in-law who's mum is well into her 90's told her daughter "I lived through the Blitz and I can beat this Covid".  

Impressive eh?.

So finally finally I have been dragged away kicking and screaming from our beloved grandchildren who are now ten months and very mobile, back onto WaL.  

So,  in unison with many boat owners on first viewing their boats after these months, what a state she is in. The ropes are green, as are the gunnels, there were forty dozen spiders living in the cratch, dusty dirt is all over the roof, so we'll be joining my mother in spring cleaning.

We are only out for a fortnight this time, after what seemed like weeks of discussion between us of where to go and then reasons not to go there......  we have decided on our old favourite of wafting down the Staffs to Worcester canal, now we are handily based at Great Haywood marina its our local canal.  As time is limited for this visit, we are probably not going to get the whole way down but you never know, we may get a spurt on.

As we often do we came up to WaL loaded the fridge and freezer on the mains before going our the next day.  This was also combined with the four yearly Boat Safety Check postponed from March.  

The following morning, when David was out on his bike, well before 8am there was a hell of a wallop then another on WaL, the bed shook then next the ROAR of a revving trad engine next to my bedroom window and the whole bloody boat vibrated.  Our neighbour had arrived back on his mooring driving his Steve Hudson boat. 

He gleefully announced later as we were leaving that "Its a bit tight getting in here isn't it?"

I didn't quite know how to respond...... 

So in a vest and my thick winter fleece we set off, out of the front gates of the marina and turn left, first right onto the Staffs to Worcester canal.  Usually I am off the boat to make the turn, I'm on the bridge checking the traffic but only two boats even in view we took a chance.

See the dirt??????

The river Trent below, last October there was serious flooding here.

This is for Louise, we saw Hares on the same day. Gorgeous.

 

So after a cruise of barely three hours, we arrived at Acton Trussell,  usually there are dairy cows for David to cast his opinion quietly on, but not today, instead fields ready for mowing second cut silage (winter food of pickled grass, cows love it) and he was impressed. 
In the evening I spotted a hare.  I could watch hares for ages, but not this one, he must have heard me and hunkered down out of sight.

Supper was chicken salad with lentil, beetroot and feta, plus a Sainsbury's gooseberry fool which was delicious, David had something else so I ate his too.

Its nice to be back Reader.