Better late than never...

 Well well, Reader we are back and well into our journey and I have been very neglectful of you and not written a word..... 

until now.

So I thought it best to give a bit of a precis and bring you up to speed.

We had a start late this year, normally we are back onboard 

NB What a Lark after Easter but this year there were 'Happenings' at home, David manage to catch CV, his second dose, in the house at the time we had our middle daughter Koo, husband Bob and two babies who had plans to travel to Holland to Bob's Dutch family on Easter Sunday, when we looked at David's test while peeling the spuds we couldn't believe it.  David was despatched to the garden where he spent most of the Easter weekend, Koo, Bob and the children evacuated, luckily they all stayed negative and were able to go on their family trip to Holland afterall.

So as we were a bit late by the time David went negative again and it was clear that I hadn't got it,  we decided to be later still by celebrating youngest daughter Verity's birthday in London by going to the Whitechapel Gallery, a great exhibition of Artists Studio's.

Birthday Girl and her daddy.

So finally we were ready, arriving at the boat on a bright and sunny afternoon.  Lots of accompanying faffing with the doubled up luggage being repacked and loaded back to the car and separately a list being made up of all the vital things I've forgotten.

So then where to go....?  

The Ashby had been talked about, The Caldon canal also a favourite but due to a leak in an embankment I think it was, the work for repairs started back in November and have over run as more damage was uncovered, the canal is shut probably going to open in a few weeks more in mid June, so not there then.  Out of the blue I said what about Chester..? So that's kinda where we are off to.

An amusing ditty, as we were leaving I got chatting to a wife on the boat next door.  It was a share boat and they had it for a fortnight but more accurately the husband was having it for a fortnight to go fishing, his wife was going home to and I quote, "To do some decorating".  

Now call me old fashioned but I would stab through the heart any man that thought he was going to be away from home on a jolly and I thought I was going decorating.  

I throw that question open to any person here reading. 

First day out and just look at the weather.

The first day we left the marina we didn't go far but moored up on the lovely open, straight and low trimmed hedge section south of Weston.  Last year we had moored exactly and done a fabulous walk in the woods over the other side of the railway bridge and noticed that the bluebells were coming but not ready.  This year we timed it just right and had a glorious walk there surrounded with the blooms at their peak.

Pretties walking up to the woods

Natures pink and blues

WaL as seen from the footbridge over the railway near Weston.

A couple more stops one of course at David's favourite shop that is M&S food at Stone where treats were brought, quite a few of them.

We carried on that afternoon to Barlaston, last year I had expressed a desire to go visit some of the still remaining potteries particularly Wedgewood, last year it was closed and today it was again and the following day too, as was Moorcroft Pottery and Middleport, not at all annoying.

A round of applause to the people that have done tree trimming all the way along this section of the Trent and Mersey.

I like willow trees looking like this.

These two were playing so cutely along the bank.

While we were doing the Stone locks I chatted to four ladies on a boat for a week, they were very jolly and enjoying their week onboard.  

I mentioned that I'd been disappointed that the Wedgewood museum was closed and that I had last visited it 41.5 years ago prior to getting married

"You've been married for 40 years?"

"Oh yes"

"To the same man?"

"Why yes"

"Blimey none of us have managed that, not even close"

Much chuckling followed especially as their boat was leaving the lock and as one lady scrambled over the beam, I joked,  "Yes careful, get yer leg over" 

"Oh I haven't done that in a very long time...."  

Obviously I shan't identify the exact boat. 

Trentham Lock

Lots of concrete in Stoke.

I can't find any information about this refurb at Lock 64 I think it was, I'm delighted its going to be saved but blimming heck what a job.

Etruria museum closed of course. 

I'm very sad to see the disintegration of these historic buildings, this wall clearly in a state of collapse

Fingers crossed for regeneration

The waterways on this section were pretty quiet as compared to this month last year, I wonder if it's that the Staycation phase has much diminished and folks have gone to find the sun abroad, just a handful of boats moving.  

I had quite wanted to go to The Plume of Feathers pub here again but it was a Sunday and it was very busy so we passed by, had a snuggly afternoon and moved off in the morning washing up at Westport Lake.  

We hadn't been able to moor here on previous visits and didn't really expect to today but plenty of moorings available so we did.  Quite a lot of goose poo which I object to, well I suppose it's more accurate to say I deeply object to the presence of Canadian Geese full stop, but here they held road blocks unchallenged along the tow path in gangs, spitting and hissing at passers-by as they felt fit.

We walked around the lake, it took less time to do than you would think. Afterwards we made a donation to the Wildlife Centre in the form of a cream tea, next time I'll just make the cash donation and not trouble them with one of the driest scones ever.

Next morning on we went to Harecastle Tunnel.  We hadn't booked this time but were prepared to wait.  Within five minutes of arriving and listening to the safety talk we were underway.  He said they'd been busy that morning but we hadn't noticed many boats passing us.

The bright water at Harecastle from the iron levels in the water hereabouts.  An inconveniently moored work boat that made the turn tricky 

Screech of brakes just saving taking the wrong side of the bridge...

Someone please save this old building, if not I'm sure it is going to fall down one day soon.

Anyway an uneventful passage through the tunnel today but it was cold.  We almost moored up just passed the Tesco and Aldi at Kidsgrove but in the end decided to go down to Red Bull service the boat and head on for the delightful moorings at Church Lawton.  As we were pulling in there in the distance was a woman waving her arms and yelling.... Oh gawd I thought we'd taken their intended spot on the water point, David couldn't hear me at the stern so in we went and then

"Lisa!"

It was non other than the lovely Pauline and Neil on 

NB Waterlily they are on their way south, we were lucky to see them here and not a sail by as we came out of the tunnel not being able to stop.

A wonderful treat to meet again.  We spent most of the afternoon gassing on their boat which with good friends is so easy to do.

The next day errands were run, us in the car to pick up shopping ordered and while we were out and about and it was raining, ( Doesn't it rain a lot in almost Cheshire?)  light showers forecast today, on the south coast that would be about 15 minutes rain but here it rain almost all day, we nipped down to Sandbach home of a lovely little Waitrose and picked up a new pillow for David, an anti-snoring pillow, just as well we did drive as he'd have never have got it into the bike basket!

Back to WaL and Pauline & Neil joined us for the evening and 

much merriment was had.

We said goodbye to the delightful pair wishing them well for their trip to the Thames while we virtually pass by their home marina. 

They departed at about 7am later we reversed to the water point to top up again acutely aware that last September we missed one water point then another and then had to carry saucepans and the kettle when things got bad...

As we set off to the locks in earnest two adorable volunteers arrived with a wheelbarrow and spades, one stopped to help me and the other walked on setting the paddles for the next locks.  Lovely couple of guys one had volunteered seven years ago when his wife died and he was left adrift.  He'd met great friends and was here three days a week.

Today they were continuing  in re-laying the footpath with a slatey shingle, the chappie told me that in winter or the wet weather (So that's everyday) it was a great improvement and the chaps had been wheeling all the shingly slate by hand, they were to finish at the lock as it is now too far to heave the stuff.

Past Church Lawton, 

Glorious views and countryside all around this section.

Fields ploughed ready for maize planting, winter feed for the many cows hereabouts in Cheshire. 

Mow Cop in the distance, a day later David cycled up it.

Cows and blossom what could be prettier?

This couple had lived onboard for 16 years, he's in his mid 80's now she in her mid 70's, she has a badly broken arm but was helming in the locks.

My favourite of all birds, the Grey Wagtail, so named because its yellow.

A few boats moving today mostly down Heartbreak Hill the same as us.  We came up behind another nice vintage boat called NB Billy, the owner told me that although its recorded as a 1904 boat, he'd taken it to Ellesmere Port museum and there under its original name it was written in a book it being built in 1892.  It looks amazing sadly I only got a snatched photo but later this year it is being put on Brokerage, it's owners have lived aboard for five years and want to return to dry land.

Anyone in the market for a stunning vintage NB in the truest sense of the word look on ABC Boats later this summer. 

Anyway NB Billy's crew informed me that this morning a Hotel NB and its Butty had set off from Church Lawton and they were causing a slight traffic jam.  But what a place to sit and wait, the views over the surrounding countryside are fabulous.

I could happily live in any of these cute as can be cottages and watch boats

We moored up finally down in Wheelock.  We had tasty food onboard so passed up the Italian here but did go to the pub.  The Cheshire Cheese.  Where we were welcomed by the landlady like old long lost friends, I so wish we could transport her and the wee pub, that was having live music that night but a bit too late for us to wait, transport her to my town.  We will definitely go there again.

Nibbles at The Cheshire Cat in Wheelock

  

Well we weren't going to eat out tonight but looking at the menu they had calamari which we love, so with three nibble dishes for £10 we couldn't resist, chicken goujons and nachos made up the trio.

HERE We'll call in again.  

I'll leave this jumbo posting there for now and when I'm strong enough I'll do another.

Talk soon.

  

 

   

Not quite what I requested...

 Greetings Reader and a Happy New Year to you.  You find us here at Great Heywood, on WaL nicely snugged up but in the marina.

We were intending on going out on the cut but in the event we didn't, this due to a Covid scare, one daughter was with us 9 days ago and on her return to London 2 out of the family of 4 tested positive and then a day later 3 out of the 4 were positive....  So David and I started testing and remained negative.  David was poorly but with a cold from another grandchild, symptons masquerading as CV.   

I brought up a half used box of tests and when I went to open the second box it proved to be David's bowel cancer faeces testing kit (unused) so when we get home we'll just check that we are negative still with the correct testing kit.

On this trip (after testing, mask wearing, socially distancing and mostly outside) we have had a new cratch cover fitted from Kinver Canopies which Reader I am very pleased with.  The old one had shrunk considerably so much so we couldn't get the zips fully closed.  We had Kinver out well over two years ago.... but our turn came up finally and we had the template done last November.

Also this trip we have had a frightfully good egg Tom Holmes, out to fit a much bigger towel rail fitted in the bathroom, a header tank fitted on the engine to give hot water when the engine has been on, something we had wanted.  

He serviced the Lockgate stove and fitted a new starter battery.  The thing I am most delighted with is the radiator of course, every wife will tell you that its the husbands bath towel that gets prime spot.

Well now during the past few months David and I celebrated our Ruby Anniversary, yes I was a child bride.  We had a lovely family celebration at home, I mean where else has anyone been recently?  I had wanted to have been somewhere hot but here we are in Staffordshire in January with the marina mostly iced up.  Frankly its lovely to have had a change of four walls to look at.

So we've been here and there.  I've tested out my new boating coat, no one tell my sister I have "another" new coat, but I have to say at the moment I am pleased with a longer waterproof windproof spacious hooded coat with big pockets.

Lets just call it a Lockdown treat, or another Lockdown treat.

Oh I should say that in early November the Boat Sharers joined us for a weekend onboard.  I took some photos which I had meant to have done a blog posting about but it failed to materialise so I'll include them here.

If you hate photos then as they say on Match of the Day "Look away now" normal service will be resumed probably in April, perhaps he'll have taken me to the Caribbean by then .  

"Breath", "hold" and "do not"   come to mind.

So some from November first;

Our 40th with a divine creature called a grandchild.

Shrugborough Hall looking very tired and even more tatty

Essex Bridge over the River Trent.  I just read that it was built in the late 1500's by the Earl of Essex who was a great "Favourite" of Queen Elizabeth 1st.  Its a 100 metres long and I photograph it every time we visit here such is my love for it.

A carpet of yellow leaves primarily for you Marilyn, the gardens were open today FOC and deadly dull as you might expect in November.

A single Nerine, the only colour on the whole estate.

This is the rear of the hall, at the front the stonework is dirty and cracked with paint flaking off the window frames, I wonder if the jolly old National Trust are going to stump up for the repairs....?

So this was a Boat Sharer helping to locate the source of the water leak from the water pump.  The Hero fitted a wee tray underneath to catch the drips.  Water pump was replaced soon afterwards.

A training exercise for these men, only knee deep here but the training was to swim/float under the bridge then get back on their feet further down which they all managed.  Just watching them made me shiver. 

Pretty Muscovy ducks. 

It was cold back then, but not quite as cold as this week.

With the man I love.

Bridge repairs at Sandon, was it a gas pipe?

See the cratch cover not properly zipped up?

Friends now for 43 years.  We share winter hats and everything.  

This is my husbands attempt to turn into the Marina without the aid of the bow thrusters or cissy buttons as we've been informed they are called.  All I can say is thank goodness for rubber bumpers.  This picture primarily for Nev's wife Rachel on NB Percy, who reversed their NB in,  one arm tied behind her back, blindfolded while drinking tea and singing God Save The Queen.

So here we are in January and an ice-age.

Marina frozen over 

Believe me when I say the pontoon was like an ice rink.

Old cratch cover almost set alight by close contact to the stove chimney....

New one that fits and everything.

I kid you not, swimmer from the river getting re-clothed with the aid of husband, taken from my my favourite bridge.

You can see the 100 metres a bit better here.

Yes every bit as cold as it looks.

So we went a hiking up on Cannock Chase, see the frost behind us?  

Interesting tree here, about a metre off the ground and then divides into four branches, I wonder if that was natural in gales knocking off shoots or man made.

We walked a long way, there are 5000 pathways, its a bit featureless so I feared getting lost.  I took the precaution of taking a location of the car.

We arrived by chance at the Cemetery for German Soldiers of two World Wars.  We've been here before when we have visited Penkridge on WaL.  

Its such a touching place I wanted to go in again.  Its maintained by the War Graves Commonwealth and what a great job they do.

Ceramic memories recently installed.

We walked through Tixal Wide and over the Shrugborough Estate, had David not been unwell we were going to have come to Tixal to spend a few days but Reader just look at the mud. A no brainer to avoid. 

This is a gatehouse to Shrugborough, there is a pair of them both occupied with tended gardens but Jeepers look how small it is, WaL is much bigger I feel.  The smoke it was polluting the atmosphere with made us cough. 

So that's about it for this visit.  We are home tomorrow home from what David is calling our winter sun holiday....

You'll be hearing from me again in the spring.  

Almost home.

 So today Reader I am writing this post on my phone, I started this afternoon and almost completed it when my phone rang, after chatting to a daughter for 15 mins I returned to the post and it had vanished.

Not at all annoying I can tell you.

So here is a second attempt, if this fails then I don't know what I'll say.

So the next morning David set off before 7am, he estimated that it would be an hour before my presence was required.  I arrived on-time and holding his coffee.

I was delighted to see an Egret on the canalside, I scrambled to get my phone camera but he flew off but landed close to two herons!  I have only ever seen individual herons never two before, I've often wondered about breeding...

The Egret and two Herons.

So Marilyn, I tried hard, but this is pretty much as good as it gets this autumn for colour, a vague yellow in the centre of this bush.

So here is the stop lock that marks the end of the Shroppie canal and onto our favourite, the Staffs to Worcester canal.  We are turning left towards Great Haywood and our marina there.

Someone should grab this gorgeous house and restore it, cut down these ghastly trees and give it the love it deserves.  David refused to buy it for me, I thought we could retire here.

This one too.

Left turn.

All of a sudden the narrows are upon you even though we were pretty early.  I said that the oncoming boat should go in the passing place as we are long,. David said we should go in the passing place because we are long.

Ducks got a fright but no bumps or even near bumps.

Oh Marilyn what a cracker.

We carried on to Coven, the sky was quickly filling in and the forecast heavy rain wasn't far away.  On arriving at Coven there were two workmen cutting bricks finishing laying a patio, dust was everywhere and an earsplitting noise was awful, but they were using an electric cutter so I figured they wouldn't be long doing it.  It was spitting as we moored up and pouring as David finished putting the tonneau cover on the back.  We dried off and went off to the pub here, the Anchor.  Never stopped here before but George said it was good.

So it turns out the manager has just changed.  It was a pouring and cold Saturday, the wood fire was set but not lit, we ordered and I asked the waitress as it was cold could the heating be switched on?  Oh yes he's just done it.  Well the food arrived and we sat in our coats as did most of the other customers.

I asked again about the heating as the plates were cleared, oh yes it's on..

I went to the loo and on my way touched every single radiator on the place and none were on.

 The man next to us said the old manager would have had that fire lit, this one won't.

Well it was a truly average meal and we went back to WaL to get warm.  We stayed there for the rest of the rainy day and guess what, those men were still cutting tiles and bricks in the wet.

Another early start this time to half fill up with water at Gailey, then off down the locks no other boats about and the lock needed turning.

I usually walk these close together locks and just as we got around the first bend a hire boat pulled out in front of us, we hadn't lost anything as we still had to turn most of them.

They were Swiss, spoke German and had hired seven times before.

A lovely morning really, a bit slow as a bit of a queue had developed but when we landed at Penkridge we were one of only three boats.

We'd made a booking for The Littleton Arms in the centre of Penkridge, we never go past Penkridge without going here, kinda regretted going yesterday but the country needs us all to go out and spend our money post Covid.

It was warm there, I'd taken a cardi, a  vest and a coat just in case.  The food was very good.  Curiously we have noticed that yesterday and today the extras on the menu were all potato types, mash, chips, sweet potato fries and new potatoes, but the Sunday roast had four veg so we both had that.

Absolutely delicious.

So the next day we dropped down into Great Haywood, another cold and miserable day only brightened up by the arrival of John and Louise from NB Ploddin' Along.   You may remember that we spent a fun filled fortnight in May with them on the GU.  Well they got petrol and came over for lunch.  I fetched out the recently discovered champagne from its hiding place at the back of a cupboard behind shopping bags and Louise and I very much enjoyed it.

After a tasty lunch of fig feta and red onion tart we played cards until they had to leave.

Sad to see them go.  and sorry I don't have photos of them to put up you see Reader, we have left the boat, unpacked and packed again arriving today here in Devon, as three months ago when I was out at my mother's David did a jolly thing and booked a hotel on the beach here in Devon where we plan to do a small amount of the South Western Coastal Path, we have done odd sections over the years but as I type this there is a monsoon outside, if it's too wet tomorrow then we will just stop in the spa here.

So when I get home and have my laptop again where all my photos are I'll post again. 

But this last 2.5 weeks have been brilliant, meeting our good friends, four sets was the icing on the cake.  The Four Counties Ring was very enjoyable with a good variety of countryside and towns, flat and locky.  We've lived it and would easily do it again to stop off in the places we missed this time.

PS please forgive the font size issues, I'm so bored of this now....

Norbury Junction and more chums

 

Last evening was cold when we landed,  plus the light was fading to get a good shot of the view here.  

Not entirely sure where were but way north of Norbury Junction, if I were able to pinpoint the mooring it's possible I might have been able to name that hill or mountain but let's just say it's bound to be Welsh.

Last nights mooring, pity we weren't here longer.

So the journey continued without much incident, none actually but here are some cows that David likes to see.  Did I ever tell you Reader that he is an ex-dairy farmer?  That profession largely accounts for his inability to stay in bed much past 6am, earlier in the summer.

David started up a milk retailing business in our area, pretty successfully too, but if a milkman went sick then David went off out at 1 or 2am, he said that he would never have looked upon a 5am start as a lie in.

One Sunday I offered to help out and go with him to do a Sunday am round I think it was, my mother came down to look after the three little children and off I went at god knows what time...  Well I made shocking mistakes, got cold, got sleepy and we ended up having a ghastly row and Reader I never "Helped" again and probably David was grateful I didn't. 

Pretty cows that bring back happy memories eh David?

Interesting skies today, hot and sunny, freezing and grey then hot and sunny again.

So we arrived at Norbury Junction, we have only passed through here before and apart from filling with fuel not moored up, so as we approached there was a swathe of empty moorings available, well did a spot of fannying that is to say lining up the solar panels with the only gap in the hedge and moored up.  

The rain was making itself unpopular coming and going and David disappeared to move the car along but more importantly buy milk and eggs.  

A little later along the path came Steve and Chris.   We met them back in 2012    HERE    this was Crick that year when   NB WaL was the Fernwood Designs boat on show.  Very sadly Fernwoods is no longer in business, but if you look at Steve's photos you will make out my friend Amanda and myself both in profile and both in warm clothing in the Ferwood's tent as it was perishingly cold and very wet.   

So although we have been loosely in touch since then, we of the Fernwood Fan Club, haven't met up with each other since that day.

Steve is a frightfully good egg and very kindly let us have a good gander at NB AmyJo and her new portholes which I want to have, they have had glass panels put into the side hatches which are fabulous, ours on WaL really need a bit of attention.

We had a lovely evening chatting and laughing and learning from them.  I can't imagine they learnt anything from us, but we both thank you for your time and help.

The four of us at The Junction Inn here at Norbury where we had super fish and chips. Sorry about the shocking clash of red handbag and purple fleece, shocking.

Well the next morning we wanted to roll along again but there was another blockage, a tree down across the canal way down the canal at Gnosall although the hireboats went through, we thought that they wouldn't really have an eye on the CART website, they would likely end up queueing somewhere.  So David did some boat polishing and I helped by doing a spot of buffing.  Much later there was a boat appearing down the way and we asked them if they had come through yes it's all sorted.  So off we went.  On reaching Gnosall, we couldn't see any sign of a tree down, no broken twigs, no sawdust, no trunk and no fallen tree, so that was a mystery.

This is another fallen tree, almost out of the way now but not at Gnosall.

Well it was a nicest sort of an afternoon, it stayed dry, sunny, the rain stayed away but we did have the winter gloves on now.

We carried on at Wheaton Aston, we debated about stopping for fuel, but the cheap as chips place garage there looked closed, it was about 5pm, so we didn't bother.  

A small wait for the on and only lock here gave me the opportunity to off load a smelly bag of rubbish, I'd taken the BW key with me just in case it was a locked fence and gate around the bins.  So when I had touched the bins, yuk, I went into the showers to wash my hands.  Well Reader what a find, what a joy a Book Swap and there was a pristine copy of  

The Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo.  

HERE

I'd watched in awe of her creating dishes in what appeared a cupboard with a Baby Bell cooker but the book was pretty expensive at the time.  

So I can add it to my own collection of pristine cookery books mostly kept in a 'hard to get at cupboard' now, mostly unused too.  Still I'm very pleased.

Finally we moored up just north of Brewood.  George had told us that  Brewood is mostly in gloomy trees, so to moor up before it or after it.  We had intended to go to one of three recommended pubs here, but time was slightly pressing and that treat will have to wait to the next time.  

Supper was Chicken Malabar biryani, absolutely gorgeous, I'll pick that up again next time I'm in Waitrose for sure.