Cruise 2016 # 8

Friday 26^th August to Thursday 8^th September

Saturday 27^th August.

We arrived here at Stone on Tuesday, planning on staying just a couple of days. However, it’s now Saturday and we’re still here, with no plans to move along any time soon.

After seeing Alan and Chris on Wednesday, and because we’re on 14 day moorings, we decided to see the Bank Holiday weekend out and turn around on Monday or Tuesday morning. We’ll have to turn around on Monday anyway, because we’ll probably run out of water by Tuesday, and that wouldn’t be at all funny.

Stone is a really busy Staffordshire town and this weekend; or rather on Monday afternoon; there’s a parade on to welcome home their Gold Medal Winning Olympic Champeen. So, it’s got to be worth staying. Besides which, there are a few decent pubs here, where we can enjoy our Sunday lunchtime drinky poos.

When we do leave here, we’ll be heading back to Great Haywood and then taking the Staffs and Worcester canal through to Stourport on Severn, where we’ll turn around and make our way to Market Bosworth for the winter.

Tuesday 30^th August

We’ve spent the entire Bank Holiday weekend here at Stone, and very pleasant it has been too. In fact, we arrived here last Tuesday, so we’ve been here a whole week, which we have never done before. I suppose we just wanted a lazy week.

After seeing Alan and Chris on Wednesday, we kinda chilled out for the rest of the week. On Sunday, of course, we paid a visit to the nearest pub, The Star, and sat in the garden with our drink and snacks.

Yesterday, since we knew we were getting low on water, we moved down to the water point and topped up our tank. Then, since Wifey will insist on doing at least one wash per week, we took the boat up a couple of locks, but, because somebody was already on the waste disposal point, we continued up another two locks; which we would have had to do anyway, because we wanted to turn around; Turned around at the nearest winding hole, and came back down two locks, once again to use the waste disposal facilities. After that, another two locks down and back to our previous mooring point. And, here we stayed for yesterday.

Yesterday was a very special day for Stone, because their hero Kayaker, Joe Clarke, was being paraded through the town and being taken to the big field just behind the moorings. This field, is, essentially a playground, with a Gymnasium, tennis courts and kiddies play area. This was all roped off for that special welcome only we Brits know how to conduct.

Further away from that particular field, is another big field, which we used on several occasions to let Alex off his lead. He does enjoy a good run around when he can. Sadly, those opportunities don’t present themselves very often but, when they do, he goes potty and wears himself out from running in huge circles.

I can happily state, that we’ve quite enjoyed our stay at Stone.

Today we’ll be moving along to Weston, but that won’t happen until we’ve done a bit of shopping. We particularly like the local baker’s multi-seed G.I. bread. Yummee!!

Wednesday 31^st August

Yesterday, after popping into town for some of that GI bread and the paper, we headed off to Weston, at about 9 am. After five miles and two locks, we settled in and moored a short way before the village.

The day was really quite hot, so we didn’t do very much exciting. However, I did finish off Teresa’s pastel cartoon portrait. All I have to do now, is mount and frame it and it will be ready for posting.

Our next stop from here, will be Great Haywood, where we’ll buy a new gas bottle and then turn onto Staffs and Worcs canal, stopping off at Tixall Wide again. We’ll probably walk back to Great Haywood for the paper.

Tomorrow, assuming the weather is kind to us, we’ll make our way to Weeping Cross and, from there we’ll take the bus into Stafford. Our wee pooch is moulting quite heavily at present and, despite regular brushing, he continues to do so. Whilst out cruising, the only way to remove his hairs from the carpets, is on one’s knees with a dustpan and brush.

Unfortunately, using our hoover is out of the question, simply because it draws too much power from the batteries. So, off we go to Stafford to see if we can buy a carpet sweeper at Argos. We would prefer a cordless one, that can be charged up whilst the engine is running. It should then be easier to sweep up those hairs.

Later:

Arrived at Great Haywood at 10 am and, luckily for us, there was a space open on the water point. So, having topped up with water and bought a new gas bottle, we decided to head for Tixall Wide. However, before we could do so, we spotted a boat that was about to leave the nearest mooring point to the junction, so we slipped in there. This meant we could go and get the paper and, later in the morning, take a walk up to the Farm Shop and spend some more cash. Fruit, sausage rolls, pork pie, etc.

So now, tomorrow morning, we can go on to Weeping Cross and visit Queens Shopping Centre, where I’ll pay another visit to Hobby Craft and, if the Asda Home Store stocks them, we’ll also buy that new carpet sweeper. If they don’t, then we’ll take the bus into Stafford later, or the next day and call in at the Argos store.

Today, after a cloudy start, the weather has turned really warm and, just as soon as Wifey has finished brushing up dog hairs – for the last time, we hope – I’ll make us a cuppa. Goodness knows that lady certainly deserves one.

Thursday 1^st September

Well, according to those BBC weather people, today is the first day of Autumn. Now, I do like Autumn weather. Misty in the morning; like this morning; and plenty of colour in the trees. However, it’s only the first day of Autumn for those weather people, but since the trees haven’t started shedding their leaves yet, I’m still on Summertime, so there. And besides, the clocks don’t go back until the last weekend in October, so that’s when my Autumn starts.

Whatever the case, it looks set to be a fine day today, so we’ll be off to Weeping Cross. We’re hoping to get as far as Stourport, but will turn around when necessary and head for Market Bosworth for the Winter.

Friday 2^nd September

Did you know, the weather forecasters work in 3 monthly blocks and, as far as they are concerned, Autumn started yesterday. Similarly, Winter starts on 1^st December, Spring starts 1^st March and Summer starts on 1^st of June. Me? I like to think that Autumn starts on 1^st of November, which is when we moor up for the winter months. What’s more, our Summer starts on 1^st of April, because that’s when we like to leave the marina. Spring and Autumn don’t exist for us. So there!

Today, we’ll take the bus to Stafford and then, if the weather is kind to us, move along to Acton Trussell.

Saturday 3^rd September

Well, we moved along to Acton Trussell, and then we carried on to Penkridge, arriving at about 10 am.

Coffee was first on the agenda, then a short walk for Alex, then a walk into town, initially for some ‘dirt’ for the top boxes; which we bought from the farm shop. In addition, we called into the Butcher’s, naturally, and also bought a big, padded envelope from the Post Office, in which to post Teresa’s cartoon portrait. I know, I know, far too much information. But, such useless info does help to fill the pages.

For the rest of the day, we did absolutely nothing. Today will be a different story, because we will visit the market and, in order to make use of the dirt we bought yesterday, Wifey will buy some plants for the flower boxes on our roof. We’re also hoping to buy a new, winter coat each. If not, then we’ll take a bus ride into Stafford on Monday.

On Sunday, assuming the weather is kind to us, we’ll spend an hour in the pub garden.

Sunday 4^th September

Wifey settled on violas for the flower boxes and, with a little help from yours truly, she emptied out the old, stagnant soil and planted them. Our rooftop now looks much prettier.

Today is pretty dismal, with heavy clouds and very little sun. But, so long as it stays dry, we’ll have our hour at the pub.

Tuesday 6^th September

It is now exactly 10 years since we took to the water. Happy Anniversary to us. We still haven’t covered all that the Inland Waterways have to offer. But, we’ve done a fair chunk of it.

We took the bus into Stafford yesterday, again, and I managed to find a new, shower proof jacket, whilst Wifey found her carpet sweeper and, after getting back to the boat, put that item to good use.

Today we’ll be going up one lock, here at Penkridge, and turning around, to head back towards Great Haywood. (We changed our minds about going on to Stourport.) We’ll stop at Acton Trussell, assuming the weather doesn’t put a stop to that plan.

Now, instead of buying a new frame for Teresa’s cartoon portrait; which I couldn’t find in Stafford anyway; I have ordered one from eBay, which will be sent directly to her. All I had to do yesterday, was post the picture to her. Job done! Now I’m looking for another project, which will probably be a landscape.

Thursday 8^th September

Yesterday was yet another of those, rather scarce, hot, summer days. We arrived at Weeping Cross at about 10 am and, after supping our usual cup of coffee, we set out for the new C0-op, up that steep hill. After a bit of shopping, we decided to try a different route back, feeling pretty sure of our bearings, Wrooong!! What a mess we made of that! We finally ended up three bridges short of the boat and must have covered a good two miles.

Today we’re staying at Weeping Cross and will be taking a walk down to Queens Shopping Centre, where there’s a Hobbycraft shop and where I’m hoping to buy some oil pastels. I’ve been advised by my pastel expert, Emma, to only purchase a small pack and to experiment, which I’ll do.

After that and a cup of coffee, we’ll take our wee pooch for a run around the local field.

Tomorrow morning I’ll do my best to post this blog and will include a copy of Teresa’s colour, cartoon portrait.

Later………

We finally took that walk to Queens Shopping Centre and found a box of 25 oil pastels, for the princely sum of just £3.00p. Now, assuming they are easily blendable, that’s a bargain. If not, then we’ll wait until we get to Fazeley Junction, where we can catch the bus to Ventura Park, where there’s another Hobby Craft and where I can probably buy a much better set.

And that, as they say, is that.

May I wish you all a very pleasant weekend to come.

Dave, Sheila and Alex