Market Drayton to Wheaton Aston
Tuesday 11th June
Yesterday we made our way towards Shebdon Wharf but, as we
are wont to do, we stopped at Goldstone instead, which leaves us eight miles to
go to Norbury Junction.
It’s raining this morning and we’re supposed to be setting
off for Norbury Junction, where we’re hoping to pick up a water filter. We’ve
had problems of late where little black specks have been coming out of the cold
tap in the shower room, which we’ve put down to said filter breaking down. The
filter is in line before the kitchen cold tap, which is why we’re not having
the same problem there.
We’ve also got a problem with the hot water from the
calorifier; boiler, to you landlubbers; whereby the water from there is
pulsing, rather than coming in a steady flow. We think the expansion tank may
be playing up, or it could be it’s now gunged up with some of the rubbish from
the aforementioned filter. Whatever the case may be, we’ve got to try to get
them both fixed.
In the past when we’ve had the pump continuing to run on
after shutting off the tap, all we’ve had to do was to pump the tank up and
increase the pressure, but this hasn’t worked this time. My best bet would be
to phone Andy for advice but, since we have no phone signal here I’ll have to
wait until we get to Norbury.
Wednesday 12th June
I think Sheila and I are a bit slow off the mark, because it
took us a while to realise that the problem with the flow of hot water was more
to do with the filter breaking down, than the expansion tank playing up. It
suddenly became patently obvious that the wee bits of charcoal were blocking
the control valves.
Anyway, whatever the case, we had to get to Norbury and buy
a new filter and so, come rain or shine, off we went, after first phoning the
chandlery to see that they had one. We were lucky, they did and they promised
to put it aside for us.
So, eight miles and rain all the way later, we arrived at
the junction and, rather than spend the rest of the morning fitting the new
filter, we buoyed ourselves up with a cup of coffee. On the way to the
chandlery I phoned Andy and asked if there was any way of clearing out the
debris in the pipes. “Give it two or three weeks”, he said, “and it will
eventually flush itself clear. Otherwise you’ll have to dismantle the water
system”.
I won’t go into all the grisly details here but, suffice it
to say we had no end of trouble fitting the new filter and had to return to the
chandlery for a couple of plastic inserts for the fittings, after which all went
well.
We also found that the water pump was pulsing when Wifey
filled the washing machine, so the valve leading to that must also be blocked
up, and I’m certainly not about to try heaving the machine out of the boat to
get at the valves.
Unfortunately we’re in a dodgy position here, both for
telephone and Internet signals which is why I had to phone Andy on the way to
the chandlery, and is why I am unable to download emails today. We’re currently
moored just before the bridge but, after topping up with diesel later this
morning, we’ll moor up again further along the cut where the signal is
stronger.
The good news is that we bought a new chimney, but only a
normal black one, not the £30 dearer stainless steel variety, which we’ve
decided to leave until later in the year. We’ve had far too much expense of
late and are trying to minimise rather than splash out. However, once a week
while the fire is still being used, we’ll be cleaning the new chimney out.
Hopefully that will prevent it from disintegrating as quickly as the old one.
These things are so poorly made nowadays that we’re virtually replacing them
twice a year.
Thursday 13th June
Oh boy, another disastrous happenstance yesterday morning
but, thankfully, the rest of the day was pretty normal.
Around about 9 am Wifey walked to the chandlery to buy a
paper and see if the way was clear for us to top up with diesel. As luck would
have it the last day-boat was about to pull out, so off we went for our diesel.
Now, unlike garage pumps, which carry on pumping until you have filled your
car, chandlery pumps usually cut out at 100 litres and have to be re-zeroed. I
fully expected this at Norbury, because I was expecting to take in about 150
litres or so.
Leaning over the back rail when filling up can be pretty
uncomfortable, to say the least and so, as soon as I heard the pump click off,
I fidgeted around a bit trying to find an easier position when, all of a
sudden, out spurted the diesel. Sadly, just at this point the nozzle hadn’t
quite made it back into the tank and yours truly copped a face full. Not only
that, but my jacket and jeans also received their fair share of the stuff.
So, being virtually blinded with diesel, I called out to
Sheila for something to wipe myself down with but, what with her chatting to
the lady operating the pump, and the noise of said pump, she didn’t hear me, a
fact that made me kind of mad and set off an explosive blast of, ‘why do you
never listen to me?’, or words to that effect. Fortunately, being an
understanding wife, she immediately fetched me an old towel and, what’s more,
she wasn’t reduced to a fit of laughter, unlike some folks I could name!!
In purchasing a new, but cheaper chimney, we were trying to
cut down on expenses. Instead, I now find I need a new waterproof jacket. Not
that the now mucky one has been much use in heavy rain, but it’s now completely
ruined. Indeed, had I not been wearing my glasses at the time of this mishap, I
could have suffered some serious eye damage.
Of course, with our luck running at a low level of late, we
decided to spend the rest of the day chilling out and left cleaning the boat
for another day. In compensation for my stupid behaviour we wandered back to
the chandlery later and bought ice creams, which went some way to pacifying my
overheated stress levels. We also bought a new, and much bigger, black, plastic
tunnel light. The so-called brass object that currently adorns the front of our
cratch, has tarnished pretty badly but, rather than try cleaning or painting
it, we’ve bought one that won’t need cleaning.
Now, what was that about economising?
I phoned Alan later in the day and he solemnly promised to
send us some sunshine, but I was even disappointed in that, because we had
heaps of rain instead. Can nobody keep their promises these days? Oh, and I
received very little sympathy regarding my earlier plight. So much for love and
affection from your nearest and dearest, I can just imagine him chuckling over
my misfortune. And, as for the other Alan, well, it’s just as well he wasn’t
close to hand at the time, as I have no doubt he would have been rolling about
on the floor.
Friday 14th June
We left Norbury at about 10.30 yesterday morning, somewhat
late for us but, with only two miles to go to Gnosall, it wouldn’t have paid us
to leave any earlier. The trick to finding moorings at the spot you want is to
give boaters at your destination enough time to move on, thus leaving a space.
The stretch of canal that runs through Gnosall; or rather
Gnosall Heath to give it its correct title; covers about 100 yards before the
Navigation Inn, then under a bridge and a further 200 yards or so to another
bridge, beside which lies The Boat Inn and then under that bridge for about
another 100 yards of moorings, give or take. We managed to find a space before
the Navigation Inn and arrived shortly after 11 am, which means we can top up
with water on our way out in the morning.
Today we’re catching the bus into Stafford for a bit of
shopping, mainly to find me a shower proof coat because, even though my old one
has been through the washing machine, it still reeks of diesel and besides, it
won’t be waterproof now.
Saturday 15th June
Today, as was forecast, we have rain again, so we’ll
probably get a soaking on the way to Wheaton Aston. Thankfully it’s only 5
miles and doesn’t include locks.
Yesterday we took the bus to Stafford and, along with
shopping at Sainsbury’s, we managed to find me a waterproof jacket, so even if
it does rain today I won’t get wet, I hope. We’ll stay at Wheaton Aston for the
weekend and visit the only pub there on Sunday.
Sunday 16th June
Wheaton Aston is one of our favourite spots for mooring
along the Shroppie, although the moorings themselves are pretty dim due to
being in a valley, with houses above us on one side and trees lining the other.
However, it does have a pub by the side of the canal and it also has a couple
of shops and a Post Office.
We arrived here at about 10 am and, after the now obligatory
coffee, took a stroll to the nearest shop for the paper. The pub is called The
Hartley Arms and is only about 100 yards away, so that’s where we’ll be at
lunch time today. There is another pub called The Coach and Horses, but that’s
at the other end of the village. Perhaps we’ll give it a try on another trip.
We seem to have succeeded in reducing the amount of time
between Rusty’s tummy upsets, as she now goes a week or more. Naturally we’ve
tried cutting out certain foods, the main culprit, we feel, has been the
sausages, which can be bought at some pet shops. The other thing is that she
seems to have an awful thirst these days, could she be diabetic? Do dogs get
diabetes? Must look that one up on the I!
And that’s it for this blog. Take care folks.
Dave, Sheila and Rusty
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