Tuesday 26th July to Tuesday 9th August
Tuesday 26th July
After yesterday’s rain, we have a somewhat clearer morning and, since
we should be in Barbridge today, we may have a longish trip today. We’re trying
to keep to a schedule, so that we arrive at Stone before the end of August, at
which time we can meet up with Alan and Chris again. What we’ll do after that
will be decided upon later.
Thursday 28th July
Yesterday was quite warm and, unbeknown to us until we arrived, it was
also the Nantwich Show, but just for the one day.
We walked into town for shopping and managed to find an A3 Watercolour
pad, which will come in useful for the Cartoon Portrait I’m doing for Teresa.
Today we’ll be taking the bus to Crewe, because that’s the nearest
place where we can buy new boots and guitar strings. Yes, I’m going to have
another go at learning that instrument. I had intended to star again a few days
ago, but I discovered that one of the strings was broken, and I don’t have a
spare set. So, off to Crewe we go.
Saturday 30th July
Our trip to Crewe was pretty uneventful, although we did manage to buy
our boots, so that was a result. Unfortunately, the music shop was too far to
walk from the bus station, so I didn’t get my guitar strings. No matter, there
are a few music shops in Stafford, which we will visit from Gnosall next week.
Meanwhile, I’ve been busy producing a pastel cartoon portrait, for my
daughter, Teresa. This has taken quite some time and I won’t be able to deliver
it to her for her birthday next week. But she will get it eventually. I’m doing
this one on A3 watercolour paper, so it’s taking somewhat longer than expected.
It’s also the first one in pastels and I want to get it right.
We were planning on going on to Audlem today, from our current moorings,
which are at Cool Pilate. Alas and alack, there’s a working boat festival,
which means the chances of getting moored there are pretty remote, so we’ll be
stuck here until Monday, at the earliest. Unless, of course, we move along
about a mile, to the marina, which is still a longish walk into town.
This is not a big problem, as we do sometimes sit in one spot for a few
days. We should make up the time though and still be able to meet up with Alan
and Chris at Stone.
Sunday 31st July
Walked into Audlem yesterday morning, just for a bit of shopping and to
see how many working boats were there. The whole place was chocker block with
them, and some were double moored.
The walk into Audlem is about a mile, give or take. So, by the time
we’d finished shopping and walked back to the boat, we probably covered two
miles or so. Not a bad stretch of the legs at all.
Today, if the weather stays kind to us, we’ll walk in again and get the
Mail on Sunday and sit outside one of the pubs for an hour and then walk back.
And, if I haven’t lost another couple of pounds in weigh by Monday, I’ll want
to know why.
Monday 1st August
We walked into Audlem again yesterday, but we left it until about
11.30, so as to be able to do some shopping and round it off with an hour
outside a local pub. Luckily for us it stayed dry and sunny.
This morning we’ll do the same, but miss out the pub, and we’ll walk
around a bit, to see if there are any spaces for us to moor at. Hopefully, all
those working boats will be gone.
Tuesday 2nd August
Yesterday morning, we managed to grab a space just above lock 14, and
there we stayed for the rest of the day.
This morning, after shopping for a few things, we moved up above lock
14, topped up with water and set of for the bottom of Adderley locks. This took
us three hours, but we managed to complete the 2½ mile run without getting wet.
Tomorrow, depending on the weather, we’ll go up those six locks. We
hope.
Wednesday 3rd August
At first sight, this morning looked to be a day full of rain. But, by
the time we had had breakfast, and although it was quite windy, it was still
dry and so we headed for the first of the five Adderley locks. We were in
Market Drayton 10.15 and, after our obligatory cup of coffee, off we went for
some shopping.
We’ve been to Market Drayton almost every year since we bought the
boat, and yet, we still forget that Wednesday is market day here. As a result
of this I enjoyed a pork pie for my lunch.
Now, while we were in Audlem, we got talking to a couple of locals, who
were sitting on a bench watching the boats go by. On the off chance that they
might know Market Drayton well; since they did mention the town; I asked if
they knew of a decent pub here. Not only did they know a decent pub, they also
knew the local brewery, that also has a pub attached. How come we hadn’t found
this place on previous visits? Well, it’s because we never have reason to walk
along the street where it is situated. So, next time we’re here, we’ll be
paying it a visit. Wifey has made a note of it in our Nicholson’s Guide, se we
won’t miss it.
We’ll probably stay here for tomorrow and move on to Norbury Junction
on Friday morning.
Saturday 6th August
From Market Drayton, we passed through five locks and four miles,
taking 2½ hours to reach Goldstone Wharf. From the top of the locks, right up
to Goldstone, there’s a narrow cutting, which is very high on both sides and,
should it pour with hard, consistent rain, can be liable to land slip, or trees
falling across the canal. This happened to us a couple of years ago, when we
came across a fallen tree and had to reverse all the way back to the wharf.
Yesterday evening, as I was charging my phone, I received a message
from my pal Alan and, as I opened his message, another message popped up,
telling me it was too hot to continue charging. I’m assuming the phone was
overheating, though why this should happen is a mystery to me.
Anyway, I mentioned this to Wifey, who then told me that, while she was
doing the washing, our remote Sterling panel popped up the same message. It
would be just our luck, after a pretty clear run so far, to now have a problem
with the Alternator to Battery Charger. WE really could do without that kind of
problem.
This morning, before we trot off to Norbury Junction, I’ll be checking
out our domestic batteries. I’ve checked them several times since we’ve been
out, but haven’t even had to top them up as yet. But, as a result of those
mysterious messages, we think it might be a good idea.
Other than that, the weather looks fair for the weekend, so we should
be able to spend a pleasant hour at the pub on Sunday.
Sunday 7th August
It took us three hours to cover the 8 miles to Norbury Junction
yesterday, but we found a good mooring spot when we arrived. Whilst I made the
coffee, Wifey popped across to the Chandlery cum café for the paper. Later on
we popped across there again, this time for oil and filter and an ice cream.
When we find an out of the way spot, sometime next month, I’ll be diving down
into the bowels of the engine bay and doing a small service.
Today we’ll spend an hour in the pub garden because, just like
yesterday, it promises to be a real scorcher.
Monday 8th August
Well, yesterday didn’t turn out to be the scorcher I expected. In fact,
it was pretty chilly sitting in the pub garden. But, at least it stayed dry.
This morning, after waiting for the papers to be delivered to the
chandlery cum café, we’ll poodle off to Gnosall, which is only a mile or so
distance. Tuesday morning we’ll take the bus into Stafford where, with a bit of
luck, I’ll find the music shop and we’ll meet up with Alan and Chris.
Tuesday 9th August
Arrived at Gnosall at about 10 am and, after our usual, boring coffee,
strolled along to the local shop for bread. We didn’t do much else for the rest
of the day, other than Wifey giving the stern deck a good clean and we three
taking a long walk in the afternoon.
Once upon a time, a railway ran through here and across the bridge,
just behind where we are moored. The lines were removed quite some time ago
and, in their place there’s designated cycle track. From the bridge the track
runs roughly east to west and we turned eastwards, which took us down to the
main road and into the village. Not wishing to pass the local shop without
purchasing something, Wifey popped in for ice creams.
After that, we rested for the rest of the day.
This morning, as already mentioned, we’ll catch the 09.40 bus into
Stafford and, providing Alan and Chris have finished their carpet laying, they’ll
meet us there outside Sainsbury’s.
And that, my friends, is that for this blog.
Wishing you a very pleasant week to come.
All abreast from Dave, Sheila and Alex.
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