Shiralee Cruise 2011 #9

Thursday 2nd June.

Popped into Ellesmere this morning to dispose of a few books to a charity shop and the newspaper.

Returned to the boat and simply chilled out until lunchtime. After lunch it occurred to me that we don’t use our bus passes anywhere near as much as we should. So, off went Wifey to check out the bus timetable for Oswestry and Shrewsbury and discovered the following.

The bus to Shrewsbury is ever hour and takes 45 minutes to get there. This would only leave us a couple of hours for a good look round, and we wouldn’t be leaving Rusty for too long. Alternatively the trip to Oswestry only takes 20 minutes, also giving us ample time for a good look round and a coffee.

We’re undecided yet as to which one to do, but I’m favouring Shrewsbury, simply because we have passed by the town on numerous occasions when visiting our Welsh cousins, but have never stopped to investigate. Having said that and after looking at the map for Shrewsbury, we’ll probably go to Oswestry, the walk from the Shrewsbury is quite a trek.

As a point of interest, did you know that Shrewsbury is surrounded on three sides by the River Severn? Assuming the map to be North to South, then the open end of the town is to the North East, and the A5 is to the West.

Saturday 4th June

Oh, the best laid plans, and all that. Yesterday we had planned on a visit to Oswestry or Shrewsbury, we did neither. Instead we decided to get on our way towards Grindley Brook, because the nice weather man had sent us some sunshine. After all, who wants to bee cooped up in a stuffy old bus in such fine weather?

We set off at 08.30 and enjoyed a leisurely cruise until 11.30, when we pulled in just past the Preese Arm. This arm goes down to a boatyard and Whixall Marina, taking the boater through a couple of lift bridges. According to the Nicholson’s Guide one of these bridges is particularly difficult and so, since we have no need of the facilities there, we decided to stop above the arm, which is where we are now sitting.

Later in the day we had the laptop out but, even though I did manage to download my emails, I had a really difficult job sending replies. I even had Sheila pass the dongle to me through the window, so that I could put it on the roof, which usually makes a difference. Not this time though.

Down near Rugby, on the Oxford Canal, is a new marina called Barby Moorings and we very much wanted to check it out. I actually got to the opening page but, when I tried following any of the links, I had an error message telling me there was no internet connection. When I looked though, there most certainly was a connection, at which point I gave up.

Our next stop is at the top of Grindley Brook locks where, I hope, we’ll be able to connect. We moored below the locks on our way through, but no luck there, so I don’t ho;d out much hope.

Once again the day has started out bright and sunny and the canal is giving up the heat stored yesterday, so we should enjoy another two to three hours of cruising and we’ll only be slowed down by a couple of lift bridges. Grindley Brook boasts a pub, a garage and a café cum gift shop, so we will spend today and tomorrow there.

Sat. cont.

It is now 06.30 and I have just spent the best part of an hour on the Internet. Although the signal was week – only 2 bars – I had very little problem, except a wee bit slow. I am puzzled, because yesterday, with 3 bars up, was a complete disaster!!

Sunday 5th June.

Yesterday started out just like Friday, warm and sunny, so the 6 mile trip here to Grindley Brook was very pleasant. Sadly our summer seems to have consisted of a day and a half because, by early afternoon the clouds gathered and merged and the heavens opened up.

Later in the evening a hotel boat came up the locks and pulled in just in front of us. Hotel boats usually come in pairs and this was no exception and they usually moor up side by side, which is what these did. We had occasion to curse these blighters a couple of years ago, although I misremember where exactly it was.

We came face to face with just such a double unit and, just because they are classed as working boats, we were obliged to give them right of way. The problem with this is that, until you actually get really close to them, you can’t tell it’s a working unit. On this occasion the hotel pair stayed in the centre of the canal, almost forcing us into the bank. The air was blue by the time we passed them and I really didn’t care what the passengers thought.
Later today, assuming we’re not likely to take a soaking, we’ll walk down the locks to the local watering hole, The Horse and Jockey. Although we’ve passed through here a few times, we’ve not had the pleasure. Instead we’ve gone on, or stopped short at the Willeymoor Tavern, which sits beside another lock of the same name.

Tuesday 7th June, not a very nice start to the day, but then we have been told to expect rainy periods for the rest of the week.

Yesterday we negotiated 10 locks over six miles and, having left Grindley Brook at 8 o/clock, arrived at Wrenbury at 11. Instead of passing through the two lift bridges and heading for previous moorings, we stopped just before the first one and are now on 48 hour visitor moorings and just a short walk from two pubs, The Dusty Miller and The Cotton Arms.

Being in need of medication I called the local surgery and, after talking to a doctor there and explaining what I needed, I was told to pick the items up at their own pharmacy later the same day. Sadly I was not told that the pharmacy closed for lunch between 1 and 2, so we found ourselves waiting for 25 minutes for it to re-open. Even then they didn’t have the complete list, so we’ll have to walk back there today.

I spoke to Alan yesterday and was told that the car wouldn’t start. After suffering through one of the coldest winters at Mercia and, on several occasions, being left standing for several days at a time and starting first time every time, how can such a thing happen after having the car serviced just a few weeks ago? Hopefully it’s not a big problem costing fortunes to put right.

We rarely have problems with cars, although the previous Alfa gave us enough grief for the short while we had it, which was why we went for a newer model. The one silver lining here is that there is ample time to get it fixed before we need it again.

Somewhere near Rugby, on the Oxford Canal, is a new marina called Barby Moorings, which we plan on visiting later this year and will spend a couple of days there, just to give the batteries a boost. However, if the place looks and feels good, we may book ourselves in there for the winter of 2012. This marina is just a short hop to the M1 and, therefore, being so much further south than Mercia, much less of a drive to Harlow. This year though we are already booked into Mercia for a second term.

Today we have to stay until at least midday and we also have to pick up my medication, so we’ll stay another night and go on to Swanley tomorrow.

Wednesday 8th June.

Today we’re off to Swanley, but that assumes the weather will stay calm and dry. According to those nasty weather people we can expect plenty of showers today, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed.

Yesterday we had lunch in the Cotton Arms and, to my surprise the Guinness was still just £3.10p whereas, at the Queen’s Head on the Montgomery, it stood at £3.25. There really are some sharks around and so, despite the excellent food at that establishment, there’s a good chance we’ll give it a miss next time around.

The Cotton Arms provided us with a choice of full meals and half bites. Sheila opted for a spaghetti meal with side salad, which was far too much for her at that time of day, whilst I had a light bite of sausages and mash, which hit the spot quite nicely. We will, most definitely, dine there again.

Now, according to our boat information, the fuel tanks on Shiralee holds 169 litres, in old money that’s about 37 gallons. We can usually arrange it so that we fill up every four weeks or so when cruising, by which time we would expect to have used something under 100 litres. Allowing for 1 litre/hour for cruising and battery charging and ½ a litre/hour for heating and, having already run a total of 155 hours combined, during the six weeks or so we’ve been on this canal, I reckon we should have reduced the tank by about 125 litres.

Swanley is not that far away, which is where we’ll top up later today, but there’s something I can’t figure. We should be down to about ¼ of a tank and yet, when I checked with the dipstick yesterday, the tank appeared to be at least half full. So, either the tank is a funny shape, or it holds far more than we have been led to believe. I suppose I will now have to ask Liverpool Boats about this.

Thursday 9th June.

Yesterday we stopped off at Swanley for diesel and to collect our mail; they are such kind and accommodating people there and held our new TV for us a few weeks ago.

Not surprisingly we managed to cram in 130 litres of diesel, which is the largest amount by far that we have ever purchased in one hit. Mind you, we have been cruising the Llangollen and Montgomery for six weeks. We would normally top up every four weeks, which is when my pension pops up in our account. Next time though, it will only be two weeks to a top up and, therefore, a lot cheaper.

Today we’ll be off the Llangollen and back on the Shroppie, maybe at Nantwich, which is about three miles away, or it may be as soon as we leave this canal through Hurleston Locks.

So, since I have managed to get online today, and it’s not always been easy along this canal, I’ll see if I can post this latest offering.

Cheers for now.

Dave, Sheila and Rusty.