Shiralee Cruise 2012 #10

Weston Arm to Montgomery Canal and back to Ellesmere


Thursday 31st May (cont)

Let’s start with another plaque from that shop window in Audlem!

Well, we’re off to Maesbury this morning, come rain or shine, and it certainly looks like rain. We should be on the Monty until next Tuesday, when we’ll be returning to Ellesmere to collect stuff from the chandlery, after which we’ll continue on to Llangollen.

Tomorrow we will be moored up with the port side – left to you landlubbers – against the towpath so as to get to grips with more paint repairs.

Friday morning, if we can find a bus timetable, we’ll take a ride into Oswestry, which is only a very short ride away.

On Saturday, well, that’s too far ahead to worry about!

Friday 1st June.

Summer is supposed to be here but, having made our way to Maesbury, where it immediately started to rain, we put off the painting and instead sought out a bus timetable from the local Tourist Info Centre, which doubles as a café cum shop. Sadly they no longer supply bread. So, just as well we had decided to pop into Oswestry.

We did manage to at least rub down the offending rust patches and cover them with rust preventative paint. If it is still dry when we get back from town we’ll cover the white patches with green.

In truth the whole boat needs a new coat of paint, but this will require a steady hand around the wording and picture. Can I do it? Well, so long as I can find a really good, soft brush and don’t drink too much beforehand, all should be well. I can always make one of those sticks that artists use to rest the brush-hand on.

Finding a timetable was a doddle compared to locating the bus stop, but I think we finally have it. Hopefully we’ll find other people at the stop and can ask them. The bus goes at 10.04 and takes only about 10 minutes to reach town, but it doesn’t return until well after midday. Looks like we’ll be spending some time drinking coffee and wandering around a bit.

Saturday 2nd June

Yesterday we managed to get quite a lot done. The bus to Oswestry only took about 15 minutes, leaving us over two hours to kill.

Oswestry is something of an urban sprawl in itself, with shops and pubs in just about every side street. The bus route actually runs through a big trading estate, with some of the big national, such as Homebase and Halfords, represented there.

The Market Square is quite small, less than half the size of that in Harlow, yet it still boasts three pubs, none of which we sampled yesterday, I might add.

After a coffee and muffin, we took a wander around the indoor market and then visited a couple of other shops, including a jewellers and an Orange outlet, where we explained about being unable to use Sheila’s SIM in any of our phones.

“When did you last make a call on it?”, asked the nice man.

“Oh, it must be well over a year ago”, says Wifey.

“Well then”, replied the nice man, “that’s why. If you don’t make a call for more than six months, the account is

automatically suspended, just in case you lost the phone, or had it stolen.”

That SIM had about £15 on it and it has now been lost. This begs the question as to why the account is suspended, but only after six months. If somebody found it after it was lost, and if it wasn’t protected by a password, how would Orange know to suspend it? Doesn’t make sense!

Anyway, we then invested in another mobile for Wifey, because there are some areas on the cut where O2 has very poor, or non-existent service, but, as in the case of the Shroppie and Llangollen, the Orange signal is quite good.

Twenty five quid and half an hour later, Wifey walks out with yet another new mobile. She now has two Pay as You Go mobiles, one with Orange and one with O2.

But the story doesn’t end there because, after we’d had a break at home and did some more painting on the boat, Wifey sits down to figure out how to use the new mobile and how to set things up. The nice man in the shop had, supposedly, set her PIN for her, very much the same as the nice lady at the O2 shop when I upgraded mine. And, just as happened to me there, so the same happened to Wifey. After about an hour of messing with the blessed thing, it suddenly asked for a Code. But, it wasn’t asking for her SIM, it was asking for a PUK Code, whatever that is. Of course, when she tried entering her PIN, it wasn’t recognised and, eventually, after much fiddling, the damned thing blocked the SIM, so we now have to return to the Orange shop to get it sorted. Great, more time wasted!

But that’s for later today. First we have to get ourselves to The Queen’s Head, which is half way back towards the Llangollen, where we’ll take the bus back into Oswestry. This time it shouldn’t take as long, because the service from the is much more frequent.

We would also like to finish off one side of the boat but, as it is looking like even more rain for today, I have my doubts about that. We will, however, enjoy lunch at the local pub, which is called, unsurprisingly, The Queen’s Head.

Our Rusty in a quiet mood

Sunday 3rd June

Another barrel of laughs yesterday. Yet again we took the bus into Oswestry, but not before we moved the boat, and ourselves of course, to the moorings at The Queens Head. With just two spaces left we were fortunate in being able to do so.

Anyway, having just missed the 11.44, we waited a further 30 minutes for the 12.14. Fortunately the nice Orange man had nobody else in the shop and could sort our problem out straight away. Although, with the amount of time he spent on the phone to the office, straight away didn’t quite fit the bill.

So, how were we to know that all their phone PINs are set to 1111? No booklet accompanied the phone, and he certainly hadn’t told us before we left him on Friday. The sole reason for the SIM being ruined, was not knowing that one simple fact.

Eventually, after waiting an age for head office to transfer the previous number to the new SIM, we were on our way.

However, having picked up a few more odds and sods, we eventually arrived back at the boat and Wifey proceeded to fiddle fart about with the phone, entering contacts and such. Having finished her faffing, we thought it might be a good idea for me to give her a call, just to check the phone was working. It wasn’t!

It ‘appeared’ that she now had a new number, because I received a message telling me the number was unavailable. So, we tried the number that, supposedly, came with the phone. Invalid number!

Great! So, Sheila decided to phone me. Unavailable! This then clicked in our brains and told us that Wifey’s nice new Orange phone was out of range. All she then had to do, was take the phone outside and, hey presto, all OK.

What a palaver!

Wifey lounging about

We calmed down after that, and believe me, after yet another failed mobile – or so we thought – the fur was all set to fly, with me thinking she’s another phone up. Happy days.

Maybe lunch at The Queen’s Head today? Who knows.

Monday 4th June

Oh how exciting some days can be, but yesterday wasn’t one of them. Although, we did enjoy a really good meal at The Queen’s Head, for the rest of the day it simply poured with rain, and there’s nothing less exciting than watching the rain stream down the windows of the boat. It’s akin to sitting in a caravan, on holiday, surrounded by kids moaning about not being able to go out because of bad weather.

Mind you, we did put the telly on to watch Gary Barlow and his Commonwealth tour to find singers for his Jubilee record. We both enjoyed that one and found it very uplifting, somewhat like the Forces Wives programme.

So, yesterday was probably more enjoyable than we expected, despite the rain.

Today, as the weather men have promised a dry one for a change, we’ll be making our way back to the Weston Arm, where we’ll stay overnight. We’ll leave there around midday on Tuesday and move up the Frankton Locks and back onto the Llangollen.

Moored up on the Weston Arm

Tuesday 5th June

Dry, but a wee bit chilly yesterday morning, but we made it to the Weston Arm by about 10.30. Strange to say, even though it was a dry day, neither of us felt like doing much, just touched up a bit of paintwork here and there, and filled in some of the magnolia on the cratch.

We did stay up rather late though, in fact an hour past our normal bedtime, and watched the Jubilee Concert. In parts the sound was pretty awful but, in others, they seemed to get it right for TV audiences. Could have done without some of the earlier ‘stars’ though, and it’s a shame McCartney couldn’t come up with something original. No wonder Her Maj. turned up much later. All in all though, not too bad though.

The Weston Arm has room for about six ‘legally’ moored boats, with room enough for another three on the water points. Since there is only enough room for three boats at the bottom of the locks, we often find that boats also moor on the water points overnight. It’s just as well that the locks don’t open until midday, and that at least one of those ‘illegally’ moored boats makes its way further down the canal before then, otherwise there could be a few altercations between those wanting water and those who wish to stay on the water point.

When we’re finally through the locks today, I’m hoping we can moor up at the top, rather than return to the last place we were moored up on the Llangollen, which will be easier for phone and dongle.

Wednesday 6th June

Well, as I expected, no room up top for us to moor overnight, so we moved on to the first available moorings, which were between bridges 66 and 67. Of course, as I also suspected, not enough signal strength to post this blog, which already runs into seven pages.

By the time we had passed through the four Frankton locks and found the moorings it was already past one pm and, with the overgrowth of grass along here, coupled with the wind and rain, we decided against further paint work.

Ah well, another lazy day of chilling out and reading. Oh, but we did switch the telly on again, this time to watch Rolfy and his art class.

Today is a must for getting to Ellesmere, come rain or shine. We have stuff to collect from the chandlery, shopping to do and I want to see if I can find a TV repair man for our 12 volt job, the power supply of which I blew up a few weeks ago whilst attempting to make up a proper, 12 volt lead. I find it staggering that a company advertise a 12 volt set, for use in caravans, boats and trucks; on ly one of which is possibly fitted with an inverter; and them only supply a 240 volt adaptor. There’s no point in supplying the adaptor if you don’t have a 240 volt supply to plug into! Dumb, I call it.

Thursday 7th June

What a surprise, it’s raining again.

When we finally arrived here at Ellesmere yesterday morning, we immediately collected our coal and other bits from the chandlery and, after lugging all that back on a sack barrow, a cup of coffee and on to the town for shopping.

It was a really lovely day when we left the boat but, after about an hour of wandering and stopping off at the butcher, chemist and baker, we finished our shopping spree at Tesco, which was when the heavens opened up. No coats, no brolly and looking like drowned rats by the time we reached the boat with trolley and two bags. Like I said, a lovely day.

Needless to say no painting got done, just another chill-out day, which suits us retirees just fine.

This morning is looking pretty bleak too, so I’ll just have to knuckle down to designing the panels for our back doors. They will be two panels for each door, with castles at the top and roses at the bottom. I might even slip a cartoon dragon in with the castles. Hopefully that job will start today, but you never know what can come up to stop me, like sunshine perhaps, which would see us both with paint brushes in hand outside the boat.

Enough said for this blog methinks. Time to post.

Best wishes to all you landlubbers.

Dave, Sheila and Rusty.

Shiralee Cruise 2012 #9

Grindley Brook to the Weston Arm of the Montgomery


Monday 21st May

Ooops! Sorry, forgot to include photos in last blog. However, since the weather looks set to improve over the next few days, perhaps I’ll be able to take a few new ones.

Tuesday 22nd May

Fine weather all day yesterday and, just to get the ball rolling, we moved on another mile to Whitchurch, walked into town, found the bolts I needed for the TV aerial framework, did some shopping and bussed back. The weather looks set to be good again for today, so perhaps we’ll get some more work done.

Of course, being a hot and sunny day yesterday, and being as how we had to go into town first, I didn’t start on the aerial thingy until early afternoon. Bad mistake! By the time we’d finished - I still haven’t rewired the aerial – I was hot and sticky and completely knackered. Needless to say, that after rewiring the aerial this morning, I have no plans for exerting myself this afternoon.

Wednesday 23rd May

I thought my foot slogging days were over when I finished RAF basic training at Swinderby back in 1965. Not so. It seems that every time we moor up anywhere near a town of any size, there I go again. Monday was no different. We arrived here at Whitchurch and off we went. Of course we missed the bus. Can’t complain though, found the bolts I needed for the aerial and enjoyed a coffee whilst waiting at the bus stop. Well, you didn’t think I’d walk back, did you?

Yesterday, after sorting out the aerial on Monday afternoon, in the blazing heat of the hottest day of the year so far, we then folded back the cratch cover, removed the windows, rubbed the frame and windows down, gave it all a good undercoat and first topcoat. Again, all in the blazing heat of the hottest day of the year so far.

Today started out real well. Up at 05.10, washed and kettle on by 05.20. Dressed and struggling to change the empty gas cylinder over at 05.25. Finally, by 05.35 I am wrapping my laughing gear around my first cuppa of the day.

Later this morning, depending upon when Lady Ann decide to arise from her pit, we’ll move on to one of our favourite mooring spots along here, where I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting stuck in to some more painting. At the moment the front of the cratch is looking a bit ‘in your face’, because it’s glaringly bright magnolia. Later, assuming I’m not expected to sweat my cobs off in yet another hottest day of the year so far, it will be transformed into a beautiful deep maroon called Bounty by the manufacturers.

The longest and most delicate part of this operation will be the coloured diamonds down the middle, which I have yet to mark out. This design is quite popular with boaters and we have been thinking about it for quite some time now.

We still have lots of paintwork repairs to do, and I have yet to design the castles and roses for the back doors, but we’ll get there eventually and Shiralee will look as good as new. Well, almost.

Thursday 24th May

Yesterday morning we left Whitchurch and made our way to a short stretch of moorings at Whixall. Once upon a time there was a small shop here selling gifts and groceries, but it closed about two years ago. Even so, many boaters still stop here, only to leave disappointed. It also used to be that the grass here was kept short, but that too has ceased to be. Such a shame really because, despite the fact that there’s no mobile or Internet access here, this is a really peaceful spot and one of our favourites along the Llangollen.

Once again we put the fine weather to good use and finished the main paint job on the cratch. We are now left with the layout of the diamonds which, once we get to the Preese Branch, about half a mile away, I’ll be able to get stuck into.

The Preese Branch is a short stretch off to the left of us that leads down to a BW marina and chandlery, where we can pick up a new gas bottle and other odds and sods. If we stay for a couple of days we might even get some repair work done to the rest of the paintwork.

For the weekend we hope to be at Ellesmere.

Friday 25th May

Yesterday was HOT! VERY HOT!

We moored on the Prees Branch as expected and took a walk down to the BW marina and Chandlery. Would you believe it, they only open for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon? What is more, they also have a credit card system for purchasing diesel. This means that you only have three options when paying, either 100% domestic, 60/40 propulsion/domestic, or 100% propulsion. Knowing full well that we use far more diesel for domestic purposes than we do for propulsion, we won’t be topping up at this place, or anywhere else offering the same deal.

Having completed the base coats on the front of the cratch, we finally got around to marking out the diamonds. All that’s left is to fill in the colours. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us over the next few days, when we’ll complete the job.

Today we’ll visit the local chandlery although, having peeked through the window yesterday, it’s unlikely they’ll have much of what we need then it will be back to the main Llangollen.

Saturday 26th May

We didn’t bother with the chandlery yesterday, preferring instead to be on our way whilst it was still cool. Only four miles to bridge 50, one of our usual stopping off places. However, despite the trees on both sides of the canal here, there was no escaping the heat. We did manage to fit the new tunnel light that we purchased back at Wrenbury, but that was all. No painting possible after that. Too darn hot, as the saying goes.

Today we’re off to Ellesmere and will probably stay for the weekend.

Sunday 27th May

Just for a change we moored outside the marina here at Ellesmere yesterday, where normally we would go down the arm towards the shops and town centre. Being outside the marina would make it easier for lugging back stuff we need from the chandlery. Not that we found much of what we needed there, just oil and a light bulb, the rest will be ordered for us on Monday.

Walking into town from here is a slightly different route than usual, in that we take the road alongside the marina and past the cricket pitch. It also took us past a pub that doesn’t appear in the Nicholson’s Guide, called the White Hart and being the oldest pub in town. We might just be tempted to pay it a visit later today, if the weather is not too hot.

From Monday morning we’ll be heading towards the Montgomery Canal, where we’ll spend a week or so and then return to Ellesmere for shopping and prescriptions.

Monday 28th May

Yesterday we trotted off to do some shopping at Tesco. Nothing odd there, you might say but, in this instance definitely different. We bumped into Bill and Babs from Keksy’s Farm in Sawbridgeworth. Apart from a few days ago when I mentioned seeing them, we hadn’t met up for about three years.

Anyway, we spent some time going over recent events, as you do and, just as we were about to part company and complete our shopping, Babs had a bit of an accident and knocked over a case of bottled beer; Grolsch I think. It was then left to a member of staff to stand by until a cleaner could be found to clear up the mess.

You remember me telling you about the Whie Hart pub, the oldest in the town, well, it’s the oldest in Shropshire and doesn’t open until 13.00 on Sunday, which is not a lot of good to us people who like to get in early. So, we instead wandered along to the middle of town and found The Swan, a one bar pub which seemed to cater for just a small section of locals. Still, with the lager at £2.90 I wasn’t about to complain about lack of customers. Much too hot yesterday, even for a cold Guinness.

Today, before leaving here, we have to take another walk into town, this time to visit the local DIY store and to buy Wifey a birthday present.

Tuesday 29th May

We finally left Ellesmere yesterday morning at about 09.30, stopped off to pick up a gas bottle, stopped off again to fill up with water, and made our way to our current moorings at Bridge 63 where, I wasn’t surprised to discover, that we have no phone or Internet. Which meant I couldn’t let you all know where we were.

Some time ago we swapped Sheila’s phone for an 02 and tucked her old Orange away in the cupboard. Having dug the wretched thing out yesterday afternoon, we put the Orange SIM in but, for some odd reason, the phone wouldn’t recognise it and kept asking for the SIM. It was OK with the 02, but not Orange. I can only assume that we used that phone with the 02 SIM at some point and it has locked up to 02, and I have no idea how to unlock it. The chances of finding a shop that does such things, is pretty remote around here.

Sitting here in the wild and woolly Shropshire countryside, at 05.30, the outside view is of thick fog and nothing much else. All we need now is an early rising holiday boater to come by and give us a nudge. We’ve had enough of them doing so in high winds but, with this fog we could be in for a right bashing.

Hopefully, later this morning, if we can find a spot where the phone has a signal, we’ll be able to book passage down the Montgomery Canal today. We have to phone before 10.00 and the lock keeper starts boats moving at about midday. Apparently, in order to preserve the natural balance of this stretch of waterway, only a certain number of boats are allowed on the canal at any one time.

Just a short way down, after the four locks, is a mooring called the Weston Arm, which also has water and waste disposal facilities. We are hoping for two things today, that the weather stays dry and that we can get some painting done.

Wednesday 30th May, crumpet day!

Another thick, foggy morning, which means no work on boat until it dries off. Shame!

We are now on the Montgomery canal, moored for a couple of days on the Weston Arm, hoping to get some badly needed paintwork done. We managed a small amount yesterday after noon, despite the heat. The problem here is that, once the sun is up we have no shelter from surrounding trees or buildings, the whole area here is completely open.

Tomorrow we’ll head off to Maesbury, which is as far as this canal currently goes, about seven miles and four locks in total. The rest of the canal is being worked on by volunteers and, eventually, but who knows how long ‘eventually’ is, it will extend all the way to Newtown, which is a total of about 30 miles. Remember, volunteers only have so many free hours that they can work, and the Droitwich Canals took 38 years of hard work before they were finally re-opened, all from volunteer labour.

Thursday 31st may

Summer has now departed and we have rain by the bucket load. It actually started yesterday afternoon, thankfully after we had finished painting. It’s raining right now, at 05.30 and we should be moving on to Maesbury this morning, where we were intending to paint the other side of the boat. Maesbury is about seven miles and four locks away, and it is where the pub was charging £3.60 for a pint of Guinness last year.

I phoned Sandy yesterday; she’s the friend whose husband is looking after the car until they leave Mercia at the end of June. She tells me that all three pubs in Willington are holding a Beer Festival this Bank Holiday weekend. I can just imagine the chaos that will cause, especially as both Monday and Tuesday are Bank Holidays.

Now, back at Audlem, on the Shropshire Union, I took some photos of old plaques in a shop window; what you might call latter day bumper stickers; and I thought I might include a couple to round off this blog.

So, since we have a reasonable strong signal here on the Weston arm of the Montgomery Canal, let’s post, and the best of health to all.

Dave, Sheila and Rusty.

Shiralee Cruise 2012 #8

Hurleston Locks to Grindley Brook


Tuesday 15th May

Don’t moan, the man said, but what else are you supposed to do with this continuous rain? Looks like we’ll be staying here at the bottom of Hurleston Locks today.

Wednesday 16th May

Surprisingly enough, no sooner had Wifey dressed and sat down to brekky, the rain stopped and the clouds started clearing. So, we gave it a while, just to make sure it was going to stay that way and, at about 07.45 we set of for Hurleston Locks, of which there are just four, all clumped close together. By 0915 we were through them, watered up and moored at Burland. Later in the day, after the rain made its dramatic return, several boats did stop, either for the occupants to dry off, or simply for a spot of lunch, but nobody else stopped overnight.

Burland is a place we have stopped at in the past and, at the designated moorings there is room for just two boats, although it is possible to tie up using hooks or pins all along this stretch of the Llangollen. The village boasts just a small shop and not much else that can be seen from the canal. It doesn’t even appear to have a bus service, although, if there is one, it doesn’t cross the bridge in front of us.

Today we will stop at the local marina for coal and diesel, then we’re off to Wrenbury. We like Wrenbury because, just a short walk across a field full of cows, is the village with a Post Office, Surgery, Hairdresser and Stores with Off Licence. Further along the canal is a Holiday Hire Company and a caravan park, along with a couple of pubs, one of which is rather posh and expensive, the other being a normal village pub that does reasonably price beer and food. That one is for us and is one we’ve sampled on our last trip up here.

Thursday 17th may

So, what’s this about Global Warming? For the past month, 21 days have had rain at some point. This morning is no different although, I have to say that, when we cruised the Llangollen last year, albeit somewhat earlier, the situation was very similar.

Yesterday was, in complete contrast, bright and sunny for the most part, although the wind was pretty chilly at times.

Just a couple of hundred yards from our moorings at Burland, lies the Swanley Marina, which is where we spent two days last year, mainly in order to give our batteries a well needed boost. Yesterday though, we simply had to wait for them to open in order to fill up with go-faster juice and purchase some coal.

After that it was simply a matter of cruising the 4 miles and 5 locks to Wrenbury, which we easily achieved in just 2½ hours.

We were going to walk into the village for a few bits and pieces, but decided to leave that until this morning. Instead we took a stroll along to the local chandlery looking for a new Tunnel Light and Horn. But, with the chandlery there simply to satisfy their own needs for their hire boats, the only item that attracted us was the brass light.

We asked the receptionist there about a horn but, although she felt sure they had some, she didn’t know where they were kept. She did promise to give me a call just as soon as their engineer returned from whatever mission he was currently on but, to date, we have heard nothing.

With the Tunnel Light costing £57 and a similar amount probably being asked for the Horn, if they have one, there’s a good chance we’ll wait until we find a bigger chandlery with a more varied selection.

Now, I’m not one to cast aspersions upon any particular group of people. Not being perfect myself I don’t expect others to be either.

However, if even a small percentage of the following is true, I have to wonder just how stupid we are when it comes to electing the people who tell us what to do and, more importantly, what NOT to do.

According to information recently received by yours truly, of the 635 members of the House of Commons that we, as tax payers, actually employ:

29 have been accused of spouse abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
9 have been accused of writing bad cheques
17 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year

Their collective expenses for the past year alone have cost YOU a staggering £92,993,748!!! And that, in case you are wondering, averages out at almost £150,000 EACH!!

On top of that, and despite their behaviour, all 635 members are assured of the very best in Gold-Plated Pensions.

WOW! Don’t you wish you could be an MP?

“Incidentally: If you get an E mail telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tins of ham then delete it. It's Spam.”

Yesterday evening, for only the second time since leaving Mercia, we actually watched TV, but just the one programme, Lewis. But, with the plot being so convoluted, I have my doubts about watching the next one in the series. In fact, as I understand it, this will be the last series although we will get the repeats.

Friday 18th May

We have a slight drizzle of rain this morning, probably because we’re moving on again. No doubt it will get heavier before we go. But, that’s just my cynical side showing. As usual, depending upon the weather, we stay or go. A light rain is bearable. A howling gale is not. If we do manage to get away we’re hoping to reach the bottom of Grindley Brook Locks, which is about 5 miles and 4 locks away, with a couple of lift bridges in between.

Yesterday we had the pleasure of seeing a Woodpecker climb a nearby telegraph pole, and watched a Wren flying to and fro with material for its nest. Whether this bird had finished by the time we settled down for the evening, I have no idea, but it was certainly at it for most of the day. The material it carried back always looked the same and could have been discarded swans feathers.

We also purchased a solid brass tunnel light from the local chandlery. This will be added to the new horn, as and when we find one. After that, and when we can find a few days of dry weather, we’ll be prettying up the front of the boat with some painted triangles and such, prior to fitting the aforementioned items.

The reason for the prettying up is because the timber of the cratch is looking a wee bit drab and so, instead of simply rubbing down and re-varnishing, we thought we’d try doing a reasonable paint job.

The next thing will be the back doors, where we intend to add some panels with roses and castles on. I also might add a dragon and fair maiden. Well, why not? On top of those two jobs there are quite a few scratches that need repairing. Where we’re going to find the time and, more importantly, the weather to carry out these tasks, your guess is as good as mine.

“There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did”

Now, it’s not as if I don’t have enough to occupy myself with in the early a.m., but I’ve now set up my page on Facebook. So, anybody out there reading this that also has a Facebook page, please let me know. If I find enough ‘friends’ I shall probably keep it going. If not…….!!

Saturday 19th May

Ah, Saturday, the weekend is upon us, a time when we try our best to avoid cruising. Saturday morning is the time when many holiday boaters are returning their craft, whilst the afternoon is when they are starting out. So, although you have probably spotted the fact that we have cruised on most Saturday mornings, this has only been in order to be at a 48 hour spot for the weekend and our sacrosanct Sunday lunchtime drink.

Today we only have less than a mile and six locks and we’ll be moored up for the weekend. The locks are those at Grindley Brook, the bottom of which we are currently moored. If we get our skates on and leave early, we could be at the top and moored up before other folks have had their breakfast. We know for a fact, that there are at least two holiday boats ahead of us, so we really do need to move early.

Yesterday started dull but calm, with the threat of rain, but enabled us to reach our current moorings without problems. In fact we did have some light rain, but we made the 5 miles, 2 lift bridges and four locks in 2½ hours.

Sunday 20th May

At last, the weather seems to be improving and, although a wee bit cloudy this morning, it’s certainly much warmer.

Yesterday, since we had no other plans and the weather not too bad, just a bit drizzly, we decide to set out early and go through the six Grindley Brook Locks, three of which are staircase. Fortunately we got away before the holiday boaters, otherwise it could have taken us all morning. Two of the holiday boats contained American holidaymakers on their first time out but, even so that ½ mile or so took us 1½ hours, even with the aid of the lock-keeper.

In the afternoon we watched a pair of Sedge Warblers going about the business of feeding their young. At least, we assume that’s what they were doing, because they were flying hither and yon, but coming back without nesting materials. Their song is quite charming although, with my limited hearing range, I have to really perk up to hear them. They’re only tiny birds, similar in size to a Wren, so it could have been one of these that I saw at Wrenbury.

Today we’ll stay here and sample the beer at The Horse and Jockey. Tomorrow we’ll toddle off to Whitchurch, which is only about half an hour away, and we’ll get the bus into town.

I’ve changed my mind about using screws for the TV support section and will be looking for some long bolts instead. Somehow I don’t think the screws will be strong enough, especially in strong winds.

Monday 21st may

Our intention today is to take the short run up to Whitchurch, but that depends upon how long it takes for the sun to burn off this thick fog. When I sat down to the computer I could clearly see the outline of a tree in the field opposite, that tree has now completely disappeared.

This state of affairs has not prevented the sedge warblers from going about the business of feeding their young

Yesterday was quite pleasant, with our visit to the Horse and Jockey, where they do not keep Draught Guinness, but do sell the canned stuff, something I won’t pay pub prices for. Sadly I had to settle for a Beck’s lager instead. They also don’t sell decent salted peanuts, only those bullets called Bobby’s Nuts. These have never been a lot of cop and I believe are now made by Walker’s who, you would think, would have enough savvy to know how to process peanuts so as to be edible.

Now, from here until we reach Ellesmere, which is several stops away, I’m not too sure of the signal strength on the dongle. I do know that there are several places along this stretch where the mobile is pretty useless. Therefore, and since I have already typed up eight pages of this current adventure, I shall proceed to post this blog.

Hopefully my comments about our esteemed and crooked parliamentarians doesn’t get my collar felt by the fuzz, otherwise you probably won’t receive any more such info.

All the best for now from,

Dave, Sheila and Rusty.

Shiralee Cruise 2012 #7

Audlem to Hurleston Locks


Wednesday 9th May (contd)

Despite having come down 11 locks, the moorings between locks 11 and 12 are still about 60 feet above the houses. On the opposite side to the visitors moorings lies a stretch of BW moorings, although there do not appear to be many boats there at present. This is probably because many of them have moved to the new marina, which is below lock 15, and at which we stayed last year for a couple of days. We will also be calling in there tomorrow to pick up some coal. Yes indeed, it is still not warm enough to let the fire go out.

The pictures posted in Blog #6 are all from last year and were taken by Wifey with her Fujica. If the weather stays reasonable today I’ll try to take a few more with the Olympus. Not that there’s anything wrong with those that Wifey took last year, it’s just that we have none of the moorings and locks, nor of the Shroppie Fly pub, which is where we should be this afternoon for a lunchtime snack. We also only have the one photo of the town, and that’s of the church, so we do need a few more.

We have a new, free magazine called The Tillergraph, a copy of which we picked up at Audlem Mill gift shop yesterday. Inside the magazine is an article entitled Liveaboard Life, which concentrates on blogging. It’s written by a boater named Kevin Blick, who lives aboard his narrowboat ‘Star’.

Kevin has some pretty good pointers regarding blogs and what to put in them and, more to the point, what not to include. For example, moaning about anything to do with boating is a definite no-no, as is the dreary and hum-drum stuff that everybody has to do in a normal day, like shopping and cooking etcetera. He also suggests that a drop or two of humour goes a long way to ensuring the success or otherwise of the blog.

So, from this day hence I will try to avoid the mundane, in so far as it probably holds little interest to you, my avid readers, and will try to inject some more interesting info with, if possible, a dash of funny/peculiar/odd happenstances as they crop up.

Of course, this means that some of the daily entries may be a little short or, if nothing of interest occurs during that day, no entry at all. Perish the thought!

There, that’s almost two full pages added to the previous blog. Who’s a clever boy then?

Thursday 10th May.

Unlike most days for us retirees, yesterday was full of stuff to do. The first of these was a walk to the bottom of Audlem Locks where we know there to be a canal-side shop. Last year this little cabin-by-the-lock didn’t have a great deal to offer; just eggs and a small amount of fruit and veg. This year has shown a vast improvement and includes a whole range of meat products, funny ornaments, such as Bill and Ben Flower Pot Men on strings and a peculiar Corn Dolly.

It seems that the young owner and his missus have some kind of competition going as to who can find the most bizarre item to put up for sale. One item is a bright, glass bowl with a long, thin stem to it. I thought perhaps it was for adorning the roof of the boat, whereby it would catch the rays of the sun – when we finally get some – and sparkle. But no, the darn thing is for filling with water and sticking into plant pots so as to water the plants. How weird is that when we have all this rain?

Talking of which, by the time I had taken 45 photos along the canal and in town, collected paper and milk, and enjoyed a snack at the Shroppie Fly, the heavens opened up and it didn’t stop raining for the rest of the day. But, once again, the rain gods were smiling upon us, because we only had to suffer a mere dampening, as opposed to the drenching we would have had to endure had we stayed in the pub any longer.

I have to say though, that I was a little disappointed with the pub this time around, because it didn’t really live up to its reputation or our expectations. We arrived at about 12.30 and found only a few customers there, so we were served quite quickly. There was only one young man behind the bar, with the boss/owner/manager, sitting at the customer’s side of the bar fiddling with his iPad. When he finally moved it was to disappear behind the scenes – possibly to do the cooking? – never to be seen again.

I wasn’t impressed with the food either because, although it was tasty enough, it could have been hot rather than just warm. Also, and unfortunately for him, the lone barman was left to cope with the gradual influx of customers all on his own for the next hour that we were there. Nobody came to help him and we could see him becoming more and more frustrated with his situation.

Oh no, nothing like the normal state of affairs, where there would be at least two people serving and, on busy days, another taking orders for food.

Today, unfortunately, we have heavy, leaden skies and drizzle which, by the time we get moving – if we actually do – will probably increase to a downpour and we won’t be going anywhere. Our plan is to pass through the remaining four locks, call into the marina for coal, then move on for a couple of miles and moor up in the sticks for a night or two. We really would like to be in Nantwich for market day on Saturday. Wouldn’t it be nice to get some decent Spring weather?

Incidentally, and changing the subject somewhat, we have only erected out aerial twice, with the intention of watching just one programme – Country File on Sunday evening – and we haven’t missed it at all the rest of the time. I am now seriously considering getting rid of the telly and replacing it with a decent record deck, or even a Hi-Fi unit that also plays LPs, of which we have quite a few nestling underneath our dinette.

Saturday 12th May

Yesterday was a disaster cruise wise, we actually managed to move about ½ a mile and had to pull in due to high winds. You had to see the waves rippling down the canal to believe the strength of the wind.

Our initial intention was to visit Overwater marina and pick up some coal but, with the wind that strong and knowing the layout of the marina, we decided to wait until we reached Nantwich and get some there. Unfortunately this will mean a long-ish walk with our barrow, but it’s better than negotiating the marina.

Anyway, where we moored up there was already another boat about 50 yards ahead of us and, later in the day, when the wind was even fiercer, they tried to move off. Their efforts failed miserably, as we knew they would because, as fast as they pushed the front out with their pole and before they had a chance to get moving, the wind pushed it back in. At times it was quite comical to watch. Eventually they gave up and stayed the night.

Today is bright and sunny and we’re moving on to Nantwich, with a bus ride to town and the Saturday market. It’s only four miles away with two locks, so won’t take us very long.

Monday 14th May

We have just spent a really great weekend at Nantwich, mind you, it was a bit of a job getting here. After leaving our overnight moorings just a short distance from Overwater marina, we hit some pretty high winds again and decided to stop again, this time at a picnic area called Coole Pilot – sorry, the book doesn’t tell us where that name came from – and, after about half an hour and a cuppa later, with the wind easing off somewhat, we moved on and finally made it. The wind did seem to pick up again along the way, but we gamely pushed on and finally arrived at about 11 o/clock.

A walk into town was next on the agenda, mainly because we wanted to visit the market for new plants for our boxes, and a further walk into Morrison’s which, as you would expect, is as far away from the canal as it is possible to be. Shopping over we caught the bus back and my legs gave me a good telling off later.

For the most part the weather was fine on Saturday and most of Sunday, when we took another walk, this time to a pub called The Star in the village of Acton. From our moorings this is about a mile away and means a long walk along the towpath, crossing a bridge, walking through an estate and back along the main road. The layout of The Star is somewhat different from most village pubs, in that the bar to the left of the entrance has been set aside as a restaurant, whilst the bar to the right is split into seating and a games room.

This pub boasts a few real ales and cider, along with the usual lagers and such. It also has a monthly Wine Evening where meals are £20, accompanied by the wines of course. Must be a good deal because this month’s meeting is already fully booked for the 28th. Assuming we return this way, we’ll probably stop off for a meal, only we’ll try to moor up closer to the bridge.

At one point yesterday, whilst we were enjoying a cup of coffee, I chanced to spot a water vole swimming along the opposite bank. The animal seemed somewhat panicky and was trying to find some way of leaving the water. This canal in particular is lined with huge stone slabs, which are probably about 6 or 8 inches high, so impossible for such a small animal to climb over.

However, just opposite our boat is a section of stone that has broken away at some point, leaving a chunk of stone resting on the canal bottom, with a small gap between it and the other piece. On the first pass the vole didn’t seem to consider this a possible point of egress and, having come back and passed it a second time, we really thought it was going to die from exhaustion but, it eventually turned around again and climbed up into the crevice. It stayed there for quite a while, cleaning itself up and resting, after which it climbed to the top and disappeared into the long grass. I did manage to take a few snaps of the creature but, with the stone crevice being quite dark and not having a powerful enough telephoto lens, I don’t hold out much hope of anything decent.

Today we have to leave these moorings but, since we didn’t arrive until late morning on Saturday, we’re going to take a bus ride into town again. This time I need to pick up some bits and pieces that will enable me to re-position our TV aerial. After that we’ll be off to the bottom of the locks that take us onto the Llangollen Canal. At present the rain has stopped and the wind from last night has calmed down, so, with luck we’ll get going today without having to fight more gale force winds.

Tuesday 15th May

…..and another wet start to the day, when will it end?

Yesterday morning we had intended to take the bus into Nantwich for some bolts, which I wanted to use in building a framework for the aerial to sit on the roof. But, being the tight fisted wallah that I am, I decided that the 2 ½ inch screws in my tool box would do the trick. We therefore left at about 08.15, with the intention of topping up with water and going on to Hurleston Locks and the Llangollen canal.

When we arrived at the water point we had to hover in mid stream whilst another boater finished what he was doing, after which I pointed the nose in the right direction and moved in to moor up. Just as I was easing the bow in to the hard-standing we heard an almighty bang, looked up and saw that the boat in front, which was already half way under the bridge, had been rammed by another boat coming the other way.

Now, the boat under the bridge was barely moving at the time, so the other boat must have been going at a fair old lick for the bang to have been so loud. Obviously the offending boater didn’t even bother to slow down when he saw the other boat coming towards him.

Anyway, several minutes later, as we were topping up with water, the owner of the damaged boat came running past in pursuit of the other boat. He eventually caught up with it and, when he came back, asked if we might bear witness to the event and I duly gave him my mobile number and name and thought no more about it.

So, when we arrived at the moorings below Hurleston Locks, what with there being a queue of boaters waiting to go up, we pulled in and moored up, by which time the wind had picked up again and so we decided to stay put until this morning. Methinks this was probably a big mistake, because it is now teeming with rain. Still, this is the beauty of being retired and living on board our boat, we are in no hurry and, if necessary, we’ll stay here for another day.

I’m waiting now for the rain to ease off so that I can take the pooch out.

Back to yesterday, where the saga of the head-on battle between ‘Percy’ and ‘Snowgoose’ took another turn. Some time after mooring up, along came the damaged boat, ‘Percy’ and, after the owner spotted me waving to him, he pulled in to show me the damage. Now, although I couldn’t see the dent to the offside, Dave Mullina, the owner, invited me in to see the damage caused to the inside.

Apparently the force of the impact was so severe as to cause cabinets and his shower stall to detach themselves from their fixings. So much so that, after asking the local boatyard people at Nantwich to give him an idea as to costs of repair, discovered that he was looking at about £3,000 worth. Naturally I gave him my email details too, since I would have no way of receiving any insurance forms by post until we returned to Mercia.

Apparently, when Dave caught up with the old idiot on ‘Snowgoose’, the fellow said to him, “So, I’ve been hit by holiday boats before, it’s no big deal”. To which Dave replied, “You’re not on a holiday boat, and what does that have to do with it anyway?” At that point he hadn’t had a chance to inspect the damage otherwise I think he would have thumped the man. Fortunately Dave does not live on his boat, which begs the question, what would we do if it happened to us?

All for now, and here are a couple of extra photos that I took at Audlem.

Boaters operating Lock 12 at Audlem

The Shroppie Fly at Audlem

All abreast from,



Dave, Sheila and Rusty – who still hasn’t been taken out yet ‘cos it is really tipping it down.



Dave, Sheila and Rusty

Shiralee Cruise 2012 #6

Gnosall to Audlem

Monday 30^th April

Hi from Gnosall. Yep, we’re still here, but will be heading about two miles towards Wheaton Aston this morning in order to turn around and come back to Gnosall. I know, confusing huh? Not to worry, all will be explained.

I’m pleased to say that the rain has now gone, it’s a bright and sunny day, with only a light, but cold, breeze.

We decided yesterday that, since we really do want to go to Market Drayton, then we would have to turn around and head back the way we came. However, since we still need more stuff for the fridge and I still need to fill my prescription for this month, that we would turn around and come back to Gnosall and then, tomorrow morning, we will take the bus into Stafford.

From Gnosall the trip should be somewhat faster than it was from Wheaton Aston, where it took in lots of country lanes and a couple of outlying villages. We would also like to shop at Sainsbury’s and visit the 02 shop to have them enter a PIN onto my mobile. I suspect that, when Lyndsey, their sales girl, entered it when I upgraded, she misheard and entered the wrong code, which would account for why I am unable to do anything with it.

Tuesday 1^st May

A beautiful day yesterday and quite warm, more rain last night though, the towpath now looks like a herd of elephants have passed through.

Gnosall is a very pretty village, with two pubs within easy reach of the canal, a very good butcher and a friendly mini-market. Unfortunately the welcome to boaters doesn’t extend to making the towpath easy to walk upon. From experience of past visits we know that, even a short period of rain turns the towpath into a mud-bath. Householders are not expected to traipse mud into their homes from the streets, why should visitors to this charming village be expected to suffer it? Not good enough Gnosall! Clean up your act!

Today we’re off to Stafford, for a bit of shopping and prescriptions, and to call into the 02 shop again. Tomorrow, all being well with the weather, we’ll be heading towards Market Drayton, hopefully the fallen tree the other side of Goldstone Wharf has been cleared.

Wednesday 2^nd May

Would you believe it, Boots, the biggest chemists in the country, did not have my diabetes test strips in stock. What’s more, they didn’t even recognise them and had to order them in for today. So, after spending all that time travelling to and from Stafford, Sheila has had to take the bus there again this morning but, on her return, came the bad news, Boot’s supplier was unable to get hold of any.

Now, the little gadget I now use is, in fairness to Boots, a fairly new addition to the medical profession. But you would think that such a huge company would be aware of this and would keep supplies in stock, wouldn’t you?

Today, much later than usual, we made our way to Norbury Junction and will stay for tonight. We can’t really stay much longer because there is a rally going on here this bank holiday weekend and all the visitor moorings have been reserved for those boaters attending. No matter, we won’t be there long enough to cause a problem.

Jemima Puddleduck at Norbury junction

I’m pleased to say the weather has been pretty good to us today. Wifey is now on the blower to BW to see if the way is now clear after Goldstone, and has been told that it is now all OK, but that we should pass with caution. Covering their butts I call it.

Friday 4^th May

So, what happened to Thursday? We-e-ll, I just didn’t get around to entering anything when I first climbed out of the pit, I was so busy looking at stuff online that, by the time I had taken Rusty out and given Herself a cuppa, I completely forgot about it.

Still, apart from a gentle cruise from Norbury to Shebdon Wharf, all of three miles and no locks, oh, and rain later in the day, a-and discovering that the local pub is not open at lunchtimes, nothing untoward or exciting happened yesterday.

Once again the sky looks rather bleak this morning; we might have rain and we might not; and we’re off to Goldstone Wharf again this morning. There the local pub is open lunchtimes and we have promised ourselves a pub lunch, since we missed yesterday’s one.

On Saturday we will, once again, attempt to get down the five Tyrley Locks to Market Drayton, only a week late but, better late than never.

Saturday 5^th May

We have a pale, pink sky to the east, but with luck we won’t get the clouds and rain until we hit Market Drayton. The plan for today is to leave early-ish, say 07.30, an get through the five Tyrley Locks ahead of the competition, the approach to these locks from both ends is quite narrow, so it’s best to avoid meeting other boats if possible.

Yesterday was great. We left Shebdon Wharf before nine o/clock, took a slow amble to Goldstone Wharf and arrived at about 10.15. Mooring up here can be a pain, because, unlike most places it is not possible to tie up with the ropes angled ahead and behind the boat. Due to the odd lengths between mooring rings, our 56 foot boat ends up with the ropes pointing towards the centre and I also secure the centre line so as to avoid excessive movement when other boats pass.

The Wharf Tavern at Goldstone is a very pleasant pub with good food and a selection of real ales. Not that I go for that kind of thing, I find such drinks far too sweet and cloying. But then, that’s my palate, spoiled by Guinness and Lager over the years. Anyway we indulged in a pub lunch yesterday consisting of a chicken and chilli sauce baguette, with side salad and chips. The chips were particularly weird, all wrinkles and holes, most peculiar. Still, they tasted like chips, so who’s complaining.

Sunday 6^th may

At last, sunshine, most of yesterday and this morning has started bright too. This is just as well, because Market Drayton has a Farmer’s Market today and, since we also have Morrison’s shopping  to do and the usual Sunday drinky-poos, and it’s a fair old walk into town, we would prefer to do all this on a dry day. Sheila also wants to buy some new plants for the flower boxes, I do believe it’s going to be a busy day.

Actually, after arriving here yesterday morning we took a slow walk into town for a few bits and bobs from Wilkinson’s, so I’m going to be stretching my legs two days running. It’s all necessary exercise, but my legs do give me gyp during the night following such walks.

If it stays bright this morning it would be an ideal time to repair some of the damage to our paintwork. For those of you unfamiliar with the construction of narrowboats, below the gunwale and above the waterline is a protective strip called a ‘rubbing strake’, which is supposed to protect against scratches when coming in to land. So, how come the paintwork still gets damaged between this and the gunwale? Me no understandee! I suppose, without it the damage would be much worse.

Wifey is saving our pennies quite vigorously on this trip because, we not only have to pay for our moorings for the winter, but we also need to have the bottom blacked. This entails taking the boat into dry-dock and having the paintwork, below the gunwale and down to the underside, all scraped and jet blasted to remove nasty deposits, then re-painted a nasty, sticky, gungy black. This does not come cheap and, lucky old us, we’ll be able to take a short break at a local B&B, one which allows dogs. Alan and I once carried out this work ourselves, back in the day when we moored at Kecksy’s Farm in Sawbridgeworth, and it is a rather messy job.

All being well weather-wise, we might even outstay our 48 hours tomorrow and continue with the paintwork. We also have plans for brightening up the front of the cratch and the back doors. The front with pretty coloured diamond shapes and the back doors with Roses and Castles, where I might even slip in a Fire-Breathing Dragon or two, just to be different. The latter job will have to wait until we get to Audlem, where there’s a rather good chandlery and gift shop and where I should find a book on the subject of roses and castles.

Before we get back to Mercia we want the boat all gleaming and shiny again. It’s been looking pretty sorry for itself these past couple of years.

Hopefully, if we take Wifey’s camera with us today, we’ll have a couple more photos to include in this blog. Unfortunately the weather has not been conducive to camera work lately. But, it seems to be brightening up now and, now that we have our Blogger back, things are looking up. Whoopee!

Monday 7^th May

Well, so much for the camera yesterday, having taken it with us into town, we had so much to do that we completely forgot to use it. However, from what Wifey tells me, we do have some of Market Drayton on the computer, all I have to do is find them.

As for the Farmers Market, that wasn’t there either, despite the huge sign by the side of the canal advertising the fact. It would have helped had the person who designed it had left space for the date. As it is the sign simply tells you there is a market on Sunday, which is not much help really, and it is blooming frustrating to walk all that way for nowt!

The Tudor House Hotel, Market Drayton

We did manage to get all the shopping, but we did so after a quick half at the Salopian something-or-other pub, a real spit and sawdust, one bar place. Wot? No Guinness? Shameful. I’m afraid a lager had to suffice.

Once again we have a calm and bright start to the day and we have five locks and four miles to go this morning.

Tuesday 8^th May

Yesterday we managed five locks and four miles to the bottom of Adderley Locks and, pretty soon after our first cuppa, we had some rain. Later in the day it became a veritable deluge and carried on for the rest of the afternoon and evening. It never ceases to amaze me just how many people continue cruising in nasty weather. I realise that some are holiday boaters and wish to get on with the business of enjoying their holiday, but how does anybody enjoy cruising in such a downpour?

Thankfully this morning has dawned bright and calm and so, with a bit of luck the 12 locks to Audlem should go well. This will bring us to moorings opposite the Shroppie Fly, a pub that does real good food. Also I have to try for the test strips that I need for my blood sugar tester.

My diabetes nurse at the surgery in Willington introduced me to a new testing machine but, when I first presented the prescription to the local chemist, they had to order the test strips in. This should have warned me and now, having found that even Boot’s have had none in stock, I’m chasing my tail from town to town, trying to find a chemist who has them. Even Boot’s were unable to order them in. I now have less than three weeks supply left, at which point I’ll have a serious problem without a new batch.

Now, I had hoped to post this blog today, what with it being pretty long but, as with most things Internet-wise, connection can’t always be relied upon and, our moorings at the bottom of Adderley Locks is a poor place for the Internet. I don’t think I’m going to have much success at Audlem either, the moorings there are pretty enclosed and I don’t remember how successful we were there last year.

Ah well, you’ll have a long read when I do finally post.

Wednesday 9^th May

Yesterday was a real boon to us, having 11 locks to pass through in just two miles, with the sun shining and only two boats ahead of us, we considered ourselves to be pretty fortunate. We left the bottom of Adderley Locks as early as half past seven, but still we were beaten to the top of Audlem Locks but, with the fine weather we really couldn’t complain at the three hours it took to get through them.

When we’ve moored at Audlem in the past we’ve usually settled for the moorings outside the Shroppie Fly pub but, since we were approaching from the opposite direction, we stopped above locks 12 and tied up besides the underwater ledge. This can be a bit of a pain when other boats pass by, simply because normal fenders don’t stop the underside of the boat from hitting the ledge. However, some time ago we purchased two go-kart tyres and fixed eye bolts to them. Now, with the tyres being so much wider than fenders, we’re pretty much shielded from the bumps.

Once again, after our cuppa, we moseyed on into town to order my test strips. Hurrah! It seems the Boot’s here at Audlem can get them in for today.



The Church at Audlem



All in all a pretty good day yesterday and this seems like a good place to stop and post. But first I have to locate some photos.

All abreast

Dave, Sheila and Rusty

Shiralee Cruise 2012 #5

Gnosall to Goldstone Wharf and back to Gnosall




Monday 23rd April (Contd.)

Hi again. I have just posted blog number 4 and then sent you all an email to that effect. As usual the pesky programme refused to send it – that’s Outlook – and so, once again I have had to disconnect the dongle, reboot the laptop, reconnect dongle and click on send/receive, at which point the message went out immediately.

If anybody reading this blog has any idea what the heck is causing this, I really would appreciate some info. This situation is driving me up the wall.

I’m hoping for some finer weather so that I can get out there with the Olympus and take some new photos. Not that there’s anything wrong with those taken by Wifey with her little Fuji, but I would like some up to date ones for the blog.

Maybe I’ll get lucky at Norbury Junction and, next week at Market Drayton. Meanwhile, a short walk to the local shops here at Gnosall, then off to Norbury Junction where I’m hoping the chandlery will have a fan belt to replace the one we used.

Tuesday 24th April

We are now at Norbury Junction and I can only get one bar on the dongle and no connection. Nowadays this is a rare occurrence, probably 3 are forever improving their service. Well, that’s what they tell us anyway.

Shiralee moored at Norbury Junction

Nothing untoward yesterday, apart from more rain, that is and we even managed to order a replacement fan belt and, just to pass the time, Wifey cleaned and polished the rest of the brass plaques, which I replaced. Well, couldn’t let her do all the work, could I?

Today we’ll stay here and then, until we reach Market Drayton on Saturday, it will be mooring somewhere from nowhere!

Wednesday 25th April

We had intended to move on a further five miles but, as the weather forecast on Yahoo told us yesterday, we are due for about a month’s worth of rain over the next 36 hours. So, unless this rain stops, or reduces to a very light rain, without the heavy wind, we ain’t going nowhere baby! So there!!




The Junction Inn at Norbury


We ordered a new fan belt from the local chandlery on Monday and was promised it would arrive yesterday. It didn’t. In fact the supplier can no longer get hold of the size we want because the importer has lost the contract for Isuzu parts. Surely there are other importers and suppliers who stock the size we want? Nope!

Hopefully the one we fitted will last until we return to Mercia. Meanwhile I’ll telephone Justin back there at the workshop and get him to find one.




View of cafe, chandlery and boats from bridge at Norbury


Thursday 26th April

The forecasters were wrong, we had the month’s worth of rain yesterday, which means of course, that we should be able to leave Norbury this morning. We’ve lost a day, but that’s no problem as we only intended to travel five miles and stay for another two nights, which, after just one more overnight stop would then have seen us in Market Drayton, where we need to get our fridge topped up, it’s looking rather sparse at present.

Yesterday morning, just as I was enjoying a little ‘surfing’, my connection dropped to almost zero. Later in the day, after I found a break in the rain to investigate, I found my poor old dongle lying on its side and, what was worse, the small, plastic bottle it was housed in was waterlogged. Luckily the dongle was still dry, but, after drying the bottle out and replacing the dongle, I simply didn’t get around to putting it back on the roof. So, no Internet this morning.

The sky is cloudy but with no wind, so we have a good chance of moving on this morning.

Friday 27th April

Despite the nasty weather yesterday, we left Norbury Junction and headed towards Market Drayton. However, afte a couple of miles we had had enough and pulled in by The Anchor Inn by bridge 42. We have moored here in the past but have not used the pub, although Jackie and Dave told us they have enjoyed a good meal here.

About half a mile away to the south east of us is the hilltop farming village of High Offley which boats a 15th Century church, and quite a big one by the looks of it from our moorings. It appears to stand all alone on top of a hill, most impressive.

Today, hopefully, although the weather looks set to baulk us again, we’re hoping to make Goldstone Wharf, about five miles away but, even as I hammer away at this keyboard, it is raining and not looking too promising.

Saturday 28th April

Yet again, no service in the dongle here at Goldstone Wharf and, as we know from experience, no mobile reception either. But, rain or shine we’re off to Market Drayton today, where I’m pretty sure we’ll have both.

According to Wifey; and she keeps a record of such things; we have now had rain on every one of the past 10 days and, looking at the sky out there this morning, today is quite likely to be the 11th.

Making our way here yesterday morning; for the most part in the pouring rain; took us two hours, a journey of five miles which, had it not been for at least a mile of moored boats, should only have take an hour and a half. The Shropshire Union is very popular for long-term mooring, probably because of the huge amount of farmland on both sides of the canal, and the fortunate thing for those of us on the move, is the moorings supplied by the SUC Society, all of which have proper mooring rings.

Opposite us lies the Wharf Inn, a very fine establishment, if memory serves, although we have decided against a meal there this time around. Perhaps, on our return, we’ll indulge. Sadly there are no shops here, which is why we must move on to Market Drayton, whatever the weather. Our refrigerator is looking pretty spars, and we don’t even have crumpets for breakfast. What is more, we only just have enough bread for toast and we’re getting pretty low on milk.

Sunday 29th April

It would not be difficult to call yesterday ‘a funny ol’ day’, not least because we travelled about 12 miles (unintended) without a drop of rain, after 11 days of the stuff.

We are, as you all know, enjoying our cruise along the Shroppie, and you also know we are heading for Market Drayton but, for reasons that will be explained, we are now back at Gnosall.

With five locks and four miles to go from Goldstone Wharf to Market Drayton, we left at 07.45, somewhat earlier than usual, so as to be the first at the top of Tyrley Locks. We had travelled less than a mile when we spotted, what appeared to be a fallen tree across the canal.

Now, this section of the Shroppie lies in a pretty deep cut, so it looked like we might just pass under the tree as it was straddling the canal at an angle, with the main trunk and branches resting on the opposite bank.

Sadly there was no way we would pass under this obstruction and, even though we do own a tree saw, we were fearful that any interference would invoke the wrath of the tree gods and bring it all crashing down on Shiralee.

Our only recourse now was to report it immediately to British Waterways. Have I told you about the poor mobile reception along the Shroppie? Fortunately, during the ¾ of a mile reverse back to Goldstone Wharf, we managed to find a dog-walker who ‘phoned BW straight away. (Perhaps his mobile is on steroids!)

At Gnosall last week we did enough shopping to see us through to Market Drayton. Of course, with hindsight this was a big mistake because we were now faced with a dilemma, do we await the arrival of the emergency crew and removal of the tree, or do we return to Gnosall for much needed supplies? Well, not knowing how long it would take for BW to remove this obstacle – bearing in mind that that particular section of canal is pretty narrow and, with five locks just another mile or so ahead, up which several boats were quite likely to make their way, it being a Saturday and all, AND, just how was the BW barge going to pass any boats that did come up the locks, not to mention the time taken to remove the tree and secure the canal for safe travel – well, it seemed prudent to go back to Gnosall and spend the weekend there.

It took us almost an hour to reverse Shiralee back to Goldstone Wharf where, fortunately, there is a winding hole, then turn around and head back to Gnosall, a journey of a further 10 miles in quite a high wind. We made it by 12.45 and, of course, made ourselves a cup of good, strong, hot coffee, before venturing into the village for some goodies.

Our shopping trip was also quite eventful in that, upon deciding not to purchase pork pies and sausage rolls from the mini-market, because we were going to pay a visit on the butcher, when we did arrive at the butcher’s he was just tidying up ready to close and go home. Something about making the missus happy, if I heard him right! His words were said with something of a chuckle. Go figure!

However, here I must relate what happened on the last occasion when we walked into his shop a little late on a Saturday. Having disappointed us on that occasion he gave us a pie of some sort, I think he preferred to do that rather than throw good food away. This time he gave us an apple pie and a packet of faggots, which both went down rather well at dinner time and we still have half the apple pie for today. Yummee!

And that, my friends, is why we are now spending our second weekend at Gnosall. We are now safely ensconced just behind the water point, we have a pub sitting above the next bridge and we have shops for more goodies, including the aforementioned butcher’s for the stuff we missed yesterday.

In fact we do not expect to leave here until Tuesday midday because we need to take a bus into Stafford in order to fill my prescription for the month of May. We also need to call into the 02 shop and get them to sort out my new mobile, which I am unable to set up a PIN on, although the nice sales lady did so when I upgraded.

So, on Monday morning we will top up with water, travel about two miles to the nearest winding hole, turn around and return to Gnosall, only we’ll stop at the same place we did last weekend. We’ll probably stay there until Wednesday morning and repeat our cruise towards Market Drayton. By which time that tree should have been removed but, if this pesky weather continues, there may be another tree blocking our way. Who knows the vagaries of British summertime? Summertime? This is more like Autumn!

Posting now

Well, I was going to post this before Wifey climbed out of her pit, but the posting of photos gave me a problem, so I’ll try again later!

Monday 30th April

Well, so much for that idea, posted the blog, added a photo, added another photo and that’s when it went pear-shaped. The second photo was nowhere to be seen, and then, after scrolling down, there it was at the end of the blog. So, I pressed the back button and the posting disappeared, which is why I’m going to try again now.

Yesterday was pitiful weather-wise, rain all day. So much so that the towpath was under an inch of water, there was mud everywhere and it just wasn’t worth walking to the nearest pub only about 100 yards away.

This morning is looking better, with an almost clear sky and a light breeze, which is just as well because we have about four miles round trip to turn the boat around.

The blog

Once again I have entered the blog and once again, after previewing same, I found the additional pictures have moved to the bottom of the page. I really don’t know what to do here.

All the best

Dave, Sheila and Rusty

Shiralee Cruise 2011 #33

Friday 14th October.

This, as you all know, will be the last entry for 2011, unless of course something astonishing occurs before next April, when I’ll write an entry or two.

Meanwhile, some facts and figures about this trip.

We have just 23 miles to go to Willington, which will bring our total this year to 530. During the 28 weeks and 3 days that we’ve been out we would have passed through 456 locks and actually cruised for about 210 hours. We would also have stopped overnight at 137 different locations.

Goodness knows how much water we have used, or how much diesel we have bought, all that info will be in Wifey’s diary. Where water is concerned we are nowhere near the consumption of the average British household. As for diesel, well, that could take some calculation, but it’s quite a lot. However, up until the end of August we had used 674 litres (147 gallons) at a total cost of £687.04p.

Compared to road travelling vehicles, this is cheap but, despite all efforts by the EU, farm vehicles and the domestic use of red diesel in boats is still subsidised. We now have to pay full price for propulsion, and this has been the case since soon after we bought the boat, but for heating and charging of batteries we still benefit from the reduction.

These facts, along with any more that come to mind, I’ll enter when I know.

Sunday 16th October.

Yesterday we made our way down from Handsacre to Fradley Junction and will stay here until tomorrow morning. If yesterday is anything to go by we’ll be sitting outside The Swan at lunchtime, enjoying even more sunshine. Boating traffic is now thinning out but, as it is the weekend and the sun is out, the weekenders are still with us. October is very much like April where boating is concerned. During the week there’s not much going on but, come the weekend and you can’t move for them, much less find a mooring spot. And finding a mooring spot is all in the timing, which we are getting rather good at.

Just beside this stretch of moorings, which lies between two locks, there’s a BW wildlife reserve, with a lake and pathways running around it. To my mind, and even though it is designated as an area for various species of birds and insects, the lake is far too quiet. Now, I’m not a kiddie person, in fact I find most of them to be quite obnoxious, but I really do believe that this lake would benefit from a few youngsters in canoes and kayaks. I’m not talking masses of the little monsters, perhaps a small club or two with special permission from BW and overseen by responsible adults. Of course, it will never happen. Just a thought.

Monday 17th October.

Yesterday my hopes of sitting outside The Swan at Fradley Junction and enjoying a pint or three of Murphy’s, were dashed by the cool breeze and heavy clouds. Of course, after those pints the clouds dissipated and the sun came out!!

We made it through four locks and two miles to Alrewas this morning before the high winds developed, but this is another of those places that, despite having visited before on several occasions, I still didn’t recall the layout of until we had arrived. We moored up just as soon as we were able after passing through the last lock and then, because this spot was somewhat narrowed down by overhanging trees, moved on a little further and then, having walked into the village for a few bits and pieces, we returned via the towpath further up and, seeing that it was completely empty of boats, moved along for the second and final time.

By this time of course, my nearest and dearest had had enough but, since I had no just cause to move again, here we will stay until the morrow, at which time, weather permitting, we’ll move on to Branston, where I’m hoping we’ll partake of a pub lunch, the last one on this cruise and signifying the 50th pub this year. Yep, we’ve visited 49 pubs in the past seven months. Now, that is some pub crawl.

Tuesday 18th October.

Yesterday we really felt the change in the weather, very high winds and some really heavy rain, and we’re approaching a short stretch of the River Trent at the first lock we come to. Still, I doubt it was enough to put the river into spate. Going down the lock, if I remember correctly, we have about 100 yards of canal, after which the river crosses at a ‘T’ from left to right. We then ride the river for a short while and it leaves us again to continue down the canal.

Thankfully the wind has died down and it has stopped raining, so we should be able to complete the five miles and four locks to Branston this morning. Wednesday Branston to Willington then, after paying a visit to the doctor, into the marina on Thursday morning. Job done!

Of course, should the weather turn foul again, we’ll have to stay here another day.

15.30 the same day…

Phew! That wind! Strong doesn’t even begin to describe it. But, lucky old us, we left Alrewas early, about 7.45, and completed the five miles and four locks to Branston Water Park moorings in 2½ hours, long before the wind really got up.

As usual after arriving at a new spot, we sat around for awhile drinking tea and nattering, after which we strolled into town for the paper and the promised pub lunch. We dined at The Blacksmiths Arms on our way through here in April, so we knew we were in for a decent meal. I plumped for the Italian Spicy Meat Ball with Pasta, whilst Wifey went for the Liver and Onion with Mash and Gravy. I’m pleased to say that there was enough there to satisfy and that neither of us required a pudding. However, behind the bar under a domed cover were slices of Carrot Cake, which I simply could not resist, so the guvnor had a couple of slices wrapped in foil for us to take away.

This pub, along with the Newbold Arms, is one of the cleanest pubs we have come across during this years cruise and, with meals at around a fiver is highly recommended by both of us. In fact we were so pleased with the service that we have decided to make a point of coming again whilst moored at Mercia Marina this winter. Last winter we weren’t too sure about the wisdom of taking the boat out, what with me recuperating from my op. But this year will be a different story as we are determined to take every opportunity to spend time on the canal.

Hopefully the wind will have died down again by morning, at which time we’ll cruise the seven miles and two locks to Willington, where we will call in to the surgery for renewed prescriptions and to make appointments. After that and assuming the weather is still OK, we’ll go on to the marina.

Thursday morning, all being well, I will endeavour to post this, the last blog for this year. One of our first jobs once we are securely tied up and all shopping is done, will be to go through our photos and put names to them. We will then sort them out and copy the best ones – in our amateur opinions – into a separate folder for onward copying to CD or DVD. Any member of our delightful families should place their order by email as soon as possible, after which we will be happy to hand out copies when we all meet in March or, if you are agog with excitement and can’t wait, we’ll be pleased to post them on. Your choice.

Thursday 20th October.

That’s all Folks, the last blog of 2011.

But first, our final cruise yesterday, from Branston to Willington and on to Mercia Marina. Oh boy, what a morning!

There were quite a few boats moored at Branston, several of which were heading our way and so, not wishing to have to compete with them at the only two locks along the seven mile home stretch, we left at 7.45 am.

Up until we had almost reached the outskirts of Willingon the day was fin, with just a light, following breeze, just the job for cruising, especially on our final day out. But – there’s always a but isn’t there? – with about half a mile to go the clouds started really building up and we passed through a couple of light showers.

We stopped at Willington at about 10.45 and paid a visit to the surgery to put in a prescription and make an appointment, then we popped into the Co-op for a few bits and pieces.

We arrived back at the boat at about 11.15 and prepared to move on to Mercia and, just as we cast off our mooring ropes and pushed off, the rain started. Within five minutes or so the heavens opened up and, by the time we arrived at the diesel pump in the marina, the wind was gusting and we were soaked. And we still had to fill the tank up.

But first we had to telephone the office and ask someone to come and unlock the pump. It’s still raining quite heavily at this point.

So, along comes Rob, the boss man. He must have Irish blood because the rain stopped just for him and, amazingly, the wind dropped too.

Naturally enough, in order for us to have further difficulties, if not with the rain then at least with the wind, another delay occurred, this time in the shape of the local hire boat company whose engineer needed to top one of their boats up with fuel.

With the diesel filler line being too short to reach our filler cap and in order to delay us even further, we then had to move the boat forward a few feet. That done we finally filled up with diesel at a final cost of £108.

At this point the wind decided to throw a tantrum, just to make life interesting over the final couple of hundred yards to our moorings. This involved winkling the sharp end between a boat and the pontoon which, in gusting wind, inevitably results in a ‘slight’ bump against the other boat. Thankfully the owner of said boat doesn’t live on his so, what the eyes don’t see, the heart can; grieve over.

Finally we tied up and attached our mains cable, by which time the wind had dropped, the sky had cleared and the sun had come out.

And that dear reader was our last cruising day of 2011.

During our winter break, which should last until the middle of March, I’m hoping to rearrange to pages of the blog to appear a little brighter and more interesting. With a little luck I’ll be in a position to post a few photos on our extended cruise in 2012.

Until then we three on Shiralee wish you all the best of health and whatever else you wish for yourself and yours.

Cheers me dears!

Dave, Sheila and Rusty.