A Frustrating Day - 24th August 2020

 Monday 24th August 2020

Great Haywood to just past Roseford Bridge (No 94)

6 miles, 2 locks

Our original intention had been to ease me back in very gently and just go to Tixall Wide - it was really in the hope of being able to enjoy a night there without constant rain.  The forecast, however, for Tuesday was diabolical, so we pushed on with the intention of battening down the hatches on that day.

Before we left we would need water and to dispose of rubbish etc.  I mentioned before how busy Great Haywood was - well there were boats on the water point from before 8am.  When we were ready Monty and I walked over there whilst Chris moved the boat and hovered in mid stream to wait for a space.

We were moored up by 09:22, but still had to wait our turn for a free tap.  

It was past 09:30 before we got the tap connected - the screw threads on the tap at this end of the services are very bad and the only way we could get it to stay on was for me to hold it in place - a wet and tedious job!

Whilst this was going on the rubbish and yellow water were disposed of and when the tank was full and the hose stowed away there was one more urgent job that needed to be done - a trip for Chris down the weed hatch.  The remains of a black polyester Primark garment now reside in the bins at Great Haywood - a much better resting place than our prop!

Now all this takes time and there were boats all over the place. We did do everything as quickly as possible, but before we could leave a women approached me and in a very aggressive manor said to me 'Are you going to leave anytime soon?' We were in the process of untying, so an unnecessary question in my book.  It was only 35 minutes since we had access to the tap, so not an extortionately long time.  She then accused me of being on the water point for the whole weekend! For those of you who know me I am fairly easy going, but if you want to get my gander up - accuse me of something I have not done.  I hate injustice.  What was really annoying was that whilst Chris was sorting out the prop there was plenty of room behind us for a boat to pull in and use the vacant tap!  I hope she just got out of bed on the wrong side today and does not treat everyone like that!

As we moved off there were many admiring 'oohs and aahs' both as two boats completed a reverse 'boat ballet movement' to swap places - good helmsmanship from both skippers. It may look as though the two boats are just passing in a forwards direction, but they weren't - the red boat reversed onto the water point as Chris reversed past him far enough back to turn into the Staffs & Worcs Canal.

It was an exceptionally busy day - I think everyone had the same idea - get as far as possible and 'cancel' tomorrow.

Had we decided to stop at Tixall we would have had plenty of choice of moorings.

We carried on to find a boat in the lock ahead of us, another waiting to come down and another waiting.

I went up to the lock to lend a hand (as you do) and had a great chat with the man from nb Claro.  The boat ahead of him was single hander who was really struggling - he can only move round with the aid of a walking stick, so we worked him through.  By the time it was our turn there were two boats waiting behind us to come up.  One was a single hander and on the other was the woman who had accosted me at the water point.  No help was available from any quarter!  It was not a quick transit as the bottom gates blew open before I could open a paddle at the top necessitating two more trips around the lock to close them again.  As we left a boat was arriving meaning we could leave the gates open and the next boats coming up would have to wait a while longer.

As we proceeded another boat came towards us which would delay our 'friendly lady even longer!

On we went past this house with enormous grounds and a very large swimming pool

Boats kept on coming towards us and frequently at bridge holes!

I spotted this boat on our way north and made a note to take a photo on the way home when I hoped it would not be raining.  I wonder who got painted out?

On past some lucky children's play house

tree house

and 'Royal Train'

and then the Stafford Riverway Link

Work is certainly being undertaken, but I have failed to find out any information about when it is expected to open.

We arrived at Deptmore lock to find nb Claro waiting their turn - more time for a chat.  The single hander that had been in front of him had already pulled over and moored up.

The countryside is glorious round here on a sunny day

nb Claro moored just before the bridge - we went through and found a good spot the other side with not too many trees in view of the expected wind.

Tuesday 25th August 2020

Roseford Bridge

What a wet, wild and windy night it was.  Thankfully the wind is blowing onto our bow along the length of the boat, so we are not being rocked around.  I managed to walk Monty in the morning and Chris took him out in the afternoon - we managed to dodge the showers.  Other than that - this says it all! 

An unexpected stoppage - 20th - 23rd August 2020

 Thursday 20th August 2020

Tixall Wide to Great Haywood

1 mile, 0 locks

After all that rain yesterday we woke to glorious sunshine and could actually see the view from our saloon window

plus our watchful neighbour

Our plan today was to head to Great Haywood, get diesel from the Anglo Welsh Basin, use the water point and services round the corner leaving the Staffs and Worcs behind us and joining the Trent & Mersey.  Our destination was to be Stone, but it proved to be impossible.

I mentioned at the end of my last blog that I had had a bad night.  I had developed a kidney/bladder infection and spent the night up and down to the loo.  I also had stomach and back pain, so knew is was not something I could ignore.  I felt so ill in the night that I started to worry about being a good mile from the nearest road access and what would happen if I became really ill in the night.  I know it was unlikely, but irrational fears are always worse at night.   We knew we had to move to at least Great Haywood where there is good road access, but it was only a mile and no locks, so once we had pulled pins I could sit and relax.  However, even untying defeated me.  For the first time ever as I untied the bow rope; I lost my grip on the 'nappy pin' and it dropped into the cut.  Chris came to my rescue with the trusty magnet and thankfully it appeared on his second go.

Once at Great Haywood we pulled in to get diesel and whilst there got rid of our rubbish and yellow water.  Our main priority was a mooring - there was nothing under the bridge opposite the farm shop and cafe, but I spotted one Chris could reverse to on the right as he emerged onto the T&M. It was too convenient a spot not to take.

I had called our surgery before left Tixall and a doctor called me back as Chris was preparing to leave the diesel point.  She agreed with my diagnosis and prescribed antibiotics.  Thankfully we have very good friends who do not live too far from here and they had agreed to collect the tablets from their local pharmacy and deliver it to us on the boat.  To cut a long story short, I retreated to bed for the rest of the day and had a slightly better night.

Friday morning our friends were expecting a Tesco delivery for us which they had agreed to deliver to us - this should have been at Stone, however they made the longer journey to meet us at the water point at 10:00.  We moved to take on water at 09:30 hoping against hope that 'our mooring' would remain empty until we had finished.  It did, so we made it safely back again and once again I retreated to bed.

Now decisions had to be made. Due to medical issues Chris cannot easily work locks, so I have to be fairly fit before we go anywhere.  In the end we made the decision that we would do something we have never done before - overstay our 2 day limit.  I sent a message to C&RT to ask permission only to get an automated response that said they would get back to me in 4-5 days!  However, we had asked and we had no choice but to stay.  I did receive a lovely email from them on Monday thanking me for letting them know and to get back to them if we needed more time.  It is good to know they are there to support us in a time of need.

Saturday was a better day, but even a gentle walk required a rest on my return.  Two walks and some boat internal cleaning and tidying was managed on Sunday.

We have never moored overnight at Great Haywood and now know just how busy it is with boats coming and going from 7am to 8pm every day. Despite all the coming and going everyone was motoring in a very considerate manner to all concerned.  Well apart from one who continued forward past us tooting and tooting his horn with no signs of slowing down despite a boat heading his way and another emerging from the Staffs and Worcs.  He even had the nerve to say to the emerging boat (who was entirely in the right) 'don't mind me'!  Thankfully most people have more consideration and are happy to wait.

On a more cheerful note we had visitors on Saturday.  Back in 2014 when we crossed the Wash for the first time there were three boats in the convoy - us, nb Cleddau (that we travel with regularly) and nb Chouette.  The six crew members have become friends and stayed in touch.  We knew Chouette was heading our way.  They called us as they approached the junction and then reversed back and breasted up with us for a 15 minute chat.  A brief visit, but it was good to see them both.

Our local walks with Monty took us to the lock behind us and then left into Great Haywood

where we found a letter box with this sign in the house window next to it

The local Spar provided us with our Sunday paper today and appears to be a well stocked shop.

If you turn right at the lock you will cross over Essex Bridge - this is the longest surviving packhorse bridge in Britain.  It is a Grade I listed structure.

It crosses the River Trent:

and to the left is where the River Sow joins the Trent

Continue on over the bridge and you come to 

with an amazing view of the Hall itself.  We have visited here in the past (from land) and will again, but not this trip.

To the left is some woodland - a little bit of Monty heaven!

The weather has been very mixed with sunshine and showers and we even had a very brief rainbow.

We have also, of course, visited the farm shop (at Great Haywood junction)on a few occasions!  So as I said in the title, this has been an unexpected stoppage for us and the decision has been to retrace our steps home down the Staffs & Worcs rather than completing the Four Counties Ring.  All we have to hope now is that the River Severn behaves as we really do not want to have to go through Birmingham.

I am pleased to report that I am definitely on the mend and we moved off on Monday.

Just One of Those Day! 19th August 2020

 Wednesday 19th August 2020

Penkridge to Tixall Wide

9 miles, 5 locks

We pulled pins at 09:00.  The rain started at 09:01 - Chris handed me my waterproof and Monty and I walked to the first lock.  Just five to do today.  We were behind another boat for the first three, 

one was coming up in the fourth and the fifth was empty, so needed to be filled before we could enter.  Despite passing boats we never seemed to meet them at locks where extra hands might be useful and we never had anyone coming up behind to lend a hand.  The rain was relentless.  It was just sheer hard slog.

We dived into the first hole we spotted at Tixall - never mind the view as there really was nothing to see apart from rain! 

I think this picture of a very wet Monty says it all! 

The heating went on, the airer came out and we attempted to get lots of very wet clothes dry.  For the first time this year we had to put the engine on to charge the batteries in the evening - not a drop of sun all day to feed the solar panels. Not our finest day.

No other photos were taken as the camera stayed firmly inside in the dry.  We think there must be a scarecrow competition on in Acton Trussell, so I hope to get some pictures on our way home.

We just hunkered down for what turned out to be a very wet night and a very bad one for me.

'Was It Something We Said?' - 18th August 2020

 Tuesday 18th August 2020

Long Molls Bridge to below Penkridge Lock

5.69 miles, 7 locks

Thankfully when we woke this morning the rain that seemed to go on all night had stopped and we were off before 9am  The tow path in the direction we were heading was somewhat muddy yesterday, so Monty and I opted not to walk first thing. There would be plenty of chances later on.

Several boats had passed us heading the way we were going, so we thought we might be in for a long wait at Gailey where we wanted to fill up with water and dispose of the rubbish and yellow water.  To our surprise and delight there was only one boat at the services and the other water point was vacant.  We were ready to go before they were and were able to take the lock (our first going down since Stourport) as a boat coming up exited the lock.  The famous and much photographed Round House at Gailey that is usually open and sells postcards, plaques and all sorts of other boating bits and bobs is closed for the duration.  It is very small and is probably not suited to social distancing.

With a boat waiting below to come up we could leave the gates open and be on our way.  Jumpers were off by this time - it was getting warmer by the minute.

Soon after you leave Gailey the canal runs parallel to the M6.  At Rodbaston lock the motorway is so close you can see, hear and feel the traffic thundering past.

One always has a look before exiting a lock just in case you are lucky enough to find a boat heading to the lock - there was, but what was behind it?

It was a moored boat with the occupants sitting out enjoying the sun.  Nothing wrong with that you would think, but the motorway is just behind the hedge on the right.  The noise was horrendous - definitely not somewhere I would chose to moor!

There were boats moving both ways which often meant locks were ready for us

At Otherton lock there was a boat waiting to come up and a man from that boat came up to lend a hand and very kindly told me to get back on board before the boat went down and he worked the rest of it for us.  It is very rare to find me on the boat at the bottom of a lock!

I was aware that there were two boats waiting to come up at Otherton and thought I had seen a lot of head shaking and hand gestures to go back whilst we were in the lock.  A third boat had come along heading for the lock, not realising they needed to go to the back of the queue.  The latter was something we avoided all day.

Boat one

Boats two and three (after it had reversed back)

As we arrived at Filance lock, just before Penkridge.  There was a boat in the lock.  It looked to be up, but there was a lot of pushing of the gate and sharing of a windlass to ensure the paddles were fully up, then they were off to the other end to look and ensure those paddles were down.  Back to more pushing, but all to no avail.  I got off our boat and went to see what was up.  There was water gushing out of the lower gates making the top gate almost impossible to open.  In the end the lady and I pushed (I kept as far apart as possible) whilst the helmsman very gently nudged their boat forward.  Without that extra shove, I think we would still all be there.

Once we were in and I had shut the gate, Chris and I had a quick look at the map to decide if we would moor just after this lock or go a bit further.  It cannot have taken more than a couple of minutes, but by the time I got to the bottom gates the water had dropped a good foot before any paddles had been opened.

Looking round the other side of the gates it became apparent that there is a considerable leak!

Penkridge is always busy.  There was a boat coming up and with another boat at the services it was a case of careful steering by all concerned.

Once through the lock we proceeded past all the moored boats to a good space at the end.  As we were still mooring up the boat behind us untied and left - was it something we said?!

Not a far reaching view from the side hatch, but from where I sit there was a great floral display to admire.

The washing went up on the stern - it was well pegged as there was quite a stiff breeze.  A close eye was kept on the weather as rain was forecast.  I am glad to say that the washing was pretty much dry before the downpour.

We are beginning to wonder if Monty is beginning to feel his age a bit (he is 8).  The usual routine when we moor up is for him to stay out and supervise, however today (7 locks) and the day before yesterday (12 locks) he was nowhere to be seen.  On investigating we found him inside, curled up in his bed!