Almyne 2009
Wed, 1 Jul 2009
Mooching about on Almyne when I heard a boat going past. Sometimes you just know that you have got to go and take a look, so I did and it was Steve
and Ong
on Soulmates, with Skipper
on board. I jumped up and down with glee and shouted at them, They responded and told me that they were on their way to Llangollen and would be back in a few days, told them that I would still be here then and to stop off for a cuppa.
Painted the back boards for Destiny while Kath
went off to Wrecsam to get the wherewithal to pay for the dry dock.
Scott
decided that part of his new Home Education course should be making a rudder for Almyne Too, so set about ransacking my wood store for bits of timber and screws and hinges and the like and set about a task that was much larger than he had envisaged.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009
Rob, Barry and Kristoph (friends of Kath 's) called in early afternoon and we sat around chatting for ages.
Kristoph is French with very little English and I have very little French, but we got started with a few hand signals and then my schoolboy French started to come back. WE almost had a reasonable conversation. He showed me pictures of his wife and his two year old daughter (Alexis) and I described to him where I had been on Almyne. He was amazed that you can travel so far on a narrow boat.
Put the last coat of paint on the bottom boards for Destiny and set them on one side to harden. You know what it is like with new paint, if you tread on it too soon it just wrinkles and pulls away on your shoes and tramples all over the place.
Dinner this evening was Al Fresco (Still don't know why his name is used for dining in the open air, perhaps someone will email me and tell me).
Fri, 3 Jul 2009
4 miles 2 tunnels 1 aqueduct
Most of it in the dark!
Spent most of the day preparing for Scott 's day out. Kath
and I have been planning it for him for several weeks now, a weekend just Scott
and his best friend Orin
(and me) fishing somewhere along the canal.
We had to almost empty Almyne Too so that Scott and Orin can sleep in her, finding places in Almyne for it all.
Kath and Kaia
are going to have a 'girly' weekend, taking Kaia's best friend out.
Towards the end of the afternoon I cleared off the back of Destiny to put down the deck boards that had been cut many months ago by a friend of Kath's. Kath had already spent some time sanding them down and giving them the first coat of undercoat and I had also sanded them and given then another undercoat and two top coats of paint.
Anyway, I tried to fit them. Didn't know how to break it to Kath, only one of the five boards fitted properly, the others are all too small. I think that we can use some of the timber for other projects, but it still means that it will be several more weeks before there are boards that fit on the stern deck.
Orin arrived at abut eight in the evening and we set off just before nine, hence travelling most of the way in the dark. We did not get anywhere near our final objective but the two lads seemed well pleased to be 'out in the wilds' cooking a meal on a camp stove in the dark. WE had already eaten beans on toast during the journey and I cooked beef stew (from a tin) with potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and peas as soon s we stopped. They still cooked themselves something else before getting into bed.
I think I will try and make it an early start tomorrow, just for the hell of it.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009
7 miles 2 locks
A day to remember. Moored up last night with no trees either side of us, so the sun came up early and I woke at about half four. The lads had told me that they were quite happy to travel early but I was feeling relaxed enough to let them have a lie in. I had breakfast, washed the dishes and did a little fishing (caught a reasonable Perch).
Woke the lads at a quarter past five. We set off at a quarter to six and almost immediately started spotting rabbits along the tow path. Well, lads will be lads, and they did want to experience 'living rough'.
By six there was a rabbit on board, which Orin skinned, gutted and removed the meat for a casserole later on in the day.
By the time we reached New Marston locks at ten to seven, the skin was pinned out on a board drying.
From New Marston locks we continued on to the boatyard at Maestermyn bridge, where we pulled in to get rid of the rubbish and empty the porta pottie(s). We were a little early (just before eight) so we had to wait for the staff to arrive and open up the facilities.
From there it was a short trip to the winding hole at Montgomery junction where we turned around and headed back through Maestermyn bridge and on to a little spot that we had spotted that looked as if it might be a good fishing hole.
When we passed it earlier on there were two boats moored up but on our return they had both gone.
The lads moored Almyne Too up about a boats length behind Almyne, just to try to dissuade anyone else from mooring up there, it worked.
By midday, the rabbit casserole, with the added bonus of duck (comprising diced rabbit, diced duck breast, carrots, lentils, leeks, herbs and spices) was ready to put in the oven. The other rabbit Orin was saving to spit roast over the barbecue later on in the evening.
I had little to do for most of the day, apart from curb their enthusiasm, and after lunch of beans on toast with hot dogs, cooked by Orin, I took a nap, during which the heavens opened and it absolutely chucked it down, causing me to come too enough to register and go back to sleep. My excuse is that I had been kept up till long after midnight last night and was up just after four this morning. Anyway, felt much better for a nap and by the time I woke fully the rain had gone and the sun had returned - all's well with the day.
A little more fishing, rabbit casserole just after six and a wander up and down the tow path and before I knew it the time was barbecue time. Orin got me to light the barbecue so that he can spit roast his rabbit as a smack before going to bed, but I will tell that story tomorrow (if I remember).
Sun, 5 Jul 2009
5 miles 2 locks 2 tunnels 1 aqueduct
Up much later than anyone had wanted, but since it was raining again it was of no importance.
With intermittent rain and shine throughout the day, Scott and Orin enjoyed themselves as best they could, fishing and chasing rabbits.
Set off back to Trevor just after mid day. Orin took the tiller most of the way while Scott sat in the cratch and I tinkered about inside Almyne trying to catch up on my emails again.
Back at Trevor by five and a joyful reunion with Destiny and Kath and a quiet evening on the tow path, under the big umbrella during the brief and light showers.
Wed, 8 Jul 2009
Shopping in Oswestry, bumped into Steve and Ong from Soulmates in the market and chatted for a while. Ong seems to be fully recovered from her 'discomforts' and looks the best I have ever seen her.
Thu, 9 Jul 2009
8 miles 2 locks 2 tunnels 1 aqueduct
The adventure begins. Apart from a brief trip along the Shropshire canal when she first purchased Destiny, Kath has only navigated the Llangollen canal, so setting out to 'travel the system' is quite an adventure for her. She tells me that it will not really begin until we leave the Llangollen at Hurleston, the junction with the Shropshire Union, but I can tell that she is both a little excited and a little tremulous about it.
She loves the Welsh mountains and knows that she will miss them and be a little homesick when they are no longer in sight, but at the same time really does want to see more of the country and the canals all over.
The plan is to turn left at Hurleston and motor up to the Middlewich branch to Barbridge where we will turn right to go to Middlewich. From there we will be going down the Trent and Mersey canal, through Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, Stone and Weston-on-Trent to Great Haywood.
Fri, 10 Jul 2009
5 miles
MeterOnTheCut
Got up this morning and set off before the children woke up! Only a few hours travelling before we got to Ellesmere, where we pulled over and went shopping to get supplies for a barbecue this evening. It is sort of a farewell party for Kath and co as once we set off proper it could be a long time before we see any of them again. Like I said to all the people on the Kennet and Avon when I set off 'See you next year'.
Amongst the guests were Scott and Kaia
of course along with close friends and relations comprising
Nat
Leanne
Rachael
Tigger
Sammy
Danny
Jackie
Hazel and Mike.
Sat, 11 Jul 2009
Up late after the barbecue last night.
Steve
collected the children about ten and Kath
and I moved Almyne into the arm at Ellesmere so that we would not have to walk too far this evening after meeting Hazel
and Mike
at the pub for a drink and a chat.
Shopping in Ellesmere, dog food, evening in the Ellesmere Hotel.
Completed my final exam for Handcrafting.
Sun, 12 Jul 2009
Moved Destiny to the arm. Some of you will be thinking, but they did that yesterday, but you would be wrong, we moved Almyne to the arm yesterday! Spent the rest of the day catching up on the web site while Kath sat and knitted scarves, all the while listening to 'Tarzan of the Apes' by Edgar Rice Burroughs, read by Mark Smith, from Simpson, South Carolina.
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Mon, 13 Jul 2009
1½ miles
A Newt
BlakeMere
Walked into Ellesmere to Vermulens (the best pie makers in the world) to get a pie for the evenings meal and then set off, not too far, to 'the lakes'.
Stopped off at a canal side shop for lunch and spotted a newt in a little sailing dingy at the mooring point. Now I am not sure if you all know about newts, but in the not so very distant past there was no such thing as newts, the were called ewts. One would say to a friend 'I saw an ewt today'. In time, as with other aspects of the English language, this was changed, distorted, modified, to become 'a newt'.
Interestingly enough most of us have nicknames, that were once 'icknames' and in the same way the usage changed from an ickname to a nickname. I am so full of useless information that it amazes me sometimes.
But on to something entirely different. I am sure that most of you have heard of Ellesmere Port. Ellesemere is another place entirely and is surrounded by 'meres' or lakes, and they are just a wonder to behold.
Kath grew up within the sphere of their influence and has many wonderful memories of them, so it was not surprising that she wanted to spend at least one day saying goodbye to them. Not that she will never return but it is part of the process for her of saying 'cheerio' (rather than goodbye) to her family and friends and places, while she sets off on, what could possibly be described as, the biggest adventure of her life.
Although Kath has visited places that I can only dream of like The Gambia and Turkey, she has spent nearly all of her ****ty years living in and around Wrexham, so to set off with the intention of seeing the rest of Britain (on the waterways) and not returning for a long time must be viewed in anybodies book as an adventure, and saying 'cheerio' to the lakes is part of the process.
We moored up beside Blake Mere, one of the smaller of the six Meres marked on my map, and spent an absolutely delightful evening sitting on the tow path under a mixed sky of clear and cloud picking out our favourite constellations (when we could see them) and putting the world to rights.
A thought occurs, we have put the world to rights several times now, why is it not perfect yet? Answers to the email address at the bottom of the page please, and no longer than three thousand words. The best answer to be published on the 'Musings' section of this web site.
Tue, 14 Jul 2009
9 miles
Sleepy Scott Morning
From Ellesmere towards Grindley Brook, but again the rain decided that we would take an early break from the monotony of travelling. Who said monotony. Monotony is the last thing that I experience when travelling, the first, of late, is rain.
Having said that, I don't think that I have found anything monotonous since I first set foot on Almyne. Every day is a new day, every drop of rain is a cleansing grain of moisture that rids the air of dust and dirt that would otherwise obstruct my view of the day and night time sky.
I will admit that while it is clearing all this muck out of my way it can be a bit of a pain, but ho hey, it's worth the wait.
It's a good job that I am not a drinking man, we passed through Whitchurch which has eight public houses within two hundred yards of each other and within three hundred yards of the canal, each of them serving real ales.
Ever since I discovered real ales I have been a fan. I know that I started late in life (I was forty two when I partook of my first pint of beer {a real ale} and I have been catching up ever since) and it was not until I started to frequent the Crawley Inn a few years later that I really gained a taste for fermented hops and barley, so it is good that I did not read the guide to the canals before we passed Whitchurch, otherwise we could still be sampling their wares.
Anyway, we managed to get halfway there without mishap and moored up for the night, partaking of a Vermulens pie (turkey and mushroom) with cauliflower, broccoli, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes and mash before settling down for a well earned rest.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009
5 miles
From Platt Plain Bridge to Grindley Brook, where there is a staircase flight of three locks, followed by three more.
Met up with Anne and John (Kath's Parents) who took us shopping in the car so that we could stock up on silly things like twenty bottles of lemonade. Carrying twenty bottles of lemonade in carrier bags is a major problem so we do not do it, but having to find somewhere to buy a bottle or two every day is an equally major problem.
Anyway, we stocked up on those heavy items that are in constant demand and are not too expensive.
At the same time they took Kath to her garage where she collected her table and four chairs, amongst a whole bunch of other things that she wants to bring along. She has been planning this for a long time and, like me, has decided those items that are really important to have close to yourself and those items that you can do without, but you would rather not.
Now this may sound odd, but on Almyne I have a gate leg table that is ideal for two. Now we are four it is inadequate. The gate leg table that Kath brought along is ideal. We can pull it out from the wall (bulkhead) and set it up in the middle of the salon and enjoy a family meal together, how civilised. Not only that, but the four chairs tuck away inside the table when not in use, so take up no extra room at all.
We have been enjoying family meals together ever since we joined forces, but it has been a bit cramped, now we are eating in luxury, a veritable banqueting table set with place mats, cutlery, condiments in the middle of the table and a drink for each and every one of us so that we can make a toast to the happenings of the day or the aims and aspirations for the future.
Thu, 16 Jul 2009
5 miles 10 locks
A comparatively quiet day after the excitement of the past few days. We motored along enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the Llangollen at it's best.
Set off early in the morning (just after ten) and negotiated the staircase flight without incident (unlike the journey up the flight when I got grounded in the middle of the staircase), probably due to the diligence of the lock keeper, who put a little more water into the middle lock to make sure that I got out OK.
The Llangollen canal was originally built as a feeder to a reservoir and because of this at each and every lock there is a bypass weir that allows a constant flow of water along the canal. A side effect of this is that on leaving each lock there is a strong cross flow of water from the exit point of this overflow, which pushes the boats across the canal.
At the second lock past the staircase, Kath was taking Destiny out of the lock when a boat came rushing up from the lock further down. As she reached the weir exit, she was pushed toward this other boat. The helmsman became verbally abusive complaining about Kath's ability to control a boat and proceeded to ram Destiny quite hard.
It transpired that a) he could not get his boat out of gear without stalling the engine. b) someone had put an 'own brand' whisky on his cornflakes this morning instead of his favourite, Johnny Walker. c) the largest boat he had ever handled was his own at twenty-five foot.
Destiny, being sixty-four foot long, needs much more room than smaller boats when manoeuvring, if only because you have to get all sixty-four foot out of the lock before a turn can be started!
Needless to say, Kath told him exactly what she thought of him and I was pleasantly surprised to hear the language she used, even my mum
would not be offended by the words themselves. She would have been offended by the message being conveyed though.
The rest of the trip went without incident and we moored up close to Quoisley lock for the night.
Fri, 17 Jul 2009
With the rain showing us how persistent it could be we decided that it would not affect our lives and so we hunkered down and enjoyed a day of DVDs and CD's just chilling out and thinking about all the crafts that we could engage ourselves in, and actually doing some of them.
Kath and I re-arranged Almyne Too, making it much more usable and accessible.
With tools and materials at hand, Kath persuaded me to dismantle the cupboard under the wash hand basin on Destiny and fit some shelves to improve storage and later on in the afternoon I used up some of the spare timber to make a box for the litter tray for the cats. I was quite pleased with the result as is is lined with a heavy duty, reinforced plastic sheet (from the dog food bags) so is washable and nonabsorbent.
All in all a surprisingly productive day in the rain.
Sat, 18 Jul 2009
8½ miles 6 locks
Late start, hanging around and pottering while the morning tasks were completed.
We were just about to set off when Digitalis appeared around the bend and pulled over for lunch. I had not seen Chrissie
or Richard
since Market Harborough so it was good to have a chat and catch up on their travels and progress.
Mostly an uneventful journey, but arrived at a point about three bridges before the Hurleston flight where we deemed that is would be appropriate to moor up.
One of the interesting things about navigating the canals is that you can never be sure of a mooring where you want it, so I have learnt to moor up earlier rather than later.
Anyway, we moored up about half eight and Scott and I walked along to the Hurleston facilities to get rid of the rubbish that had been clogging up the after deck of Almyne for the past couple of days, while Kath
and Kaia
got dinner. We had already decided that dinner would be out of a can this evening as it was late but when Scott
and I arrived back at Almyne there was no-one on board. The gas had run out, so Kath
had taken everything aboard Destiny.
The gas had run out. Now this is unusual, but there is an explanation, the last time that a bottle had run out I tried to replace it but there was no where on the Llangollen that had a 19kg bottle of gas, and because we had replenished the 13kg bottles of gas on Destiny I thought that we were OK for gas. Well, we were, it was just in the wrong place.
Not a major problem, we will just cook and eat on Destiny rather than on Almyne for a while.
Sun, 19 Jul 2009
11 miles 9 locks
The last locks on the Llangollen. Arrived at the flight of four just after nine and spoke to the lock keeper about the width of Almyne. Now Linda was fine about me going through, but this guy was all mumbles and moans. What if you get stuck, I will have a whole bunch of boaters complaining, the holiday makers will give me stick if they can't get through and so on.
We were patient and eventually got through, with a little help from the lock keeper, just before twelve.
Then, just to cheer us up, Destiny would not start!!
Got that fixed (turned out to be a dodgy battery connection, even though I had checked all the battery connections and greased them while Destiny was in dry dock) and set off for Middlewich. We had intended to be there for three so that Ian could pick up Scott to take him off motorcycling for a week.
Kath was looking out for the aqueduct that was marked on the map and was surprised to realise that she was actually going over it. No rails, no pillars holding it up, not big vista on either side, just a drop either side down to the river.
Although we had experienced boaters in a hurry on the Llangollen we were both surprised when a boat first overtook me and then a short while later, overtook Destiny and proceeded to rush all the way to Middlewich, with no concern for other users of the waterways, or the erosion of the bank sides.
Mostly a beautiful day with sunshine and blue skies, until the thunderstorm arrived, right out of the blue skies. Within seconds we were all drenched, but it was still warm so we viewed it as the shower that we all needed, even though we did not get the chance to wash our hair in the process.
Refreshed and enervated by this interlude we continued on to Middlewich arriving shortly after half five. A long, but interesting and tiring day.
Mon, 20 Jul 2009 3 miles 4 locks
Uncomfortable Seat
Middlewich to Elton Moss Bridge.
Went into Middlewich and saw all the Barbers, Hairdressers and Charity shops, not a lot else. Isn't it amazing that some towns can specialise in one or two themes. Arundel (in Sussex) is full of antique shops and seems to have nothing else.
Had to get away from the noise of the road (the A533) which runs right along beside the canal, so we set off just after half six in the evening to find somewhere a little quieter. We were in no hurry, so when a boat came up behind us that was being delivered to Rugby by Thursday, we allowed them to go ahead of us. What a wonderful job, pick a boat up somewhere and get paid to take it somewhere else.
We eventually found a spot away from the main road with halfway reasonable moorings by just after ten, so had a quick meal of poached eggs and beans on toast. Sometimes the simplest things are the nicest.
Tue, 21 Jul 2009
Evening21st
Yesterday was such a nice day that we planned to get lots done today in the sunshine, but no, it has rained all day. Sometimes just those little fairy dust droplets that are so pleasant to be under and sometimes with those great big teardrop shaped drops that are nearly the size of an orange and hurt when they hit you.
Not that the day has been entirely unproductive. I have caught up on all my coursework for the Pagan University, corrected all the numerology pages and sent the corrections to the tutor (at her request I might add), downloaded my Certificate(s) of Completion, re-arranged the after deck of Almyne to take a couple of spare leisure batteries (now I just need to get them connected into the rest of the system) oh, and collected Destiny from the other side of the canal.
I was busy on Almyne and Kath and Kaia
were on Destiny doing craft work, thoroughly absorbed by their enterprise, when D'fer
leapt aboard and started making an unusual fuss of Kath. She looked out and realised that Destiny was no longer moored to the tow path side, but drifting across the canal.
Now I must explain here that some narrow boat owners (and those that are just out for a weeks holiday on hire boats) seem to be totally oblivious of the effect that a boat travelling through the water can have. Pushing anything between twenty and fifty tonnes of steel through the water displaces an equal amount of water somewhere, mostly along the side and bottom of the boat. What this means to other water users is that the water is being forced to rush around the travelling boat at some speed.
So, moored boats experience this rush of water as a flow, (anywhere between ten and twenty tones of water) pushing and pulling at the moored boat. In normal circumstances this is not a problem if the boat (water) is moving slowly, it occasionally causes the moored boat to move a little in one direction or the other, but that is all.
Now we come to the 'silly' (or ignorant) boat users who instead of slowing down past moored boats just continue on in their own inimitable way with no thought for anyone but themselves. These people (I could not find an appropriate word to use so had to stick with people) rush past with the result that the ten or twenty tones of water hit the moored boat at some considerable speed causing the moored boat to put excessive strain on the mooring points as it is thrown about, and in some cases actually pulling the mooring pins out of the ground.
The result of this is a boat that is no longer moored up, but drifting aimlessly across or along the canal, usually ending up with one end on one side of the canal and the other end on the other side of the canal, not much fun for anyone.
Well, this is what had happened to Destiny. The stern was still attached to the tow path side, but the prow was resting on the opposite bank.
All hands to the ropes, we managed to pull Destiny back against the water and, more importantly, against the wind. Not many people realise that a narrow boat is just like any other boat on the water and has a sail. The sail is the bit above the water, in the case of Destiny a sail that is six foot high and sixty four foot long (384 sq ft) - quite a sail when the wind is blowing a gale.
Then at about half three the rain settled in as though it was making up for the drought that we have been suffering with for the past month or so (yeah right).
Marley (one of the two cats on board, just in case I have forgotten to mention it) caught a mouse, we think it was the one that Shadow (the other of the two cats on board) dropped in the galley earlier on, and promptly dropped it in the canal. Wonder upon wonder, she then leapt in after it and retrieved it from the water, climbing out onto the fender of Destiny looking about seven sizes smaller than when she went in, but none the worse for her experience. In fact, she seems to have no fear of the water and, although may not like getting wet, realises that she can if the reward is great enough.
Sitting here at six in the evening, looking out of the back doors of Almyne at the calm, clear, rain free vista of water, stretching as far as the eye can see (after this many glasses of wine, that is not very far) and rejoicing in the aftermath of a veritable downpour of rain while the air is clean and clear makes me realise just how lucky I am.
How many people in this world can say to themselves that they are living the life that they have always dreamed of? How many people can say that they are content? How many people can say that they are at peace with themselves?
Six eleven and the heavens have opened again, there must be an awful lot of muck in the air to get rid of today!
Six twenty two, perhaps I over estimated the lack of air quality or underestimated the efficacy of the rain, but it is all clear now, the rain has stopped and the clouds are thinning, we may have a good view of the stars tonight.
Seven thirty in the evening, the skies are clearing and the sun is breaking through, what a wonderful way to end the day, maybe this is a portent of what is to come, rain all day, sunshine in the evenings.
Wed, 22 Jul 2009
Woke this morning at twenty-five to six and, much to the disgust of Kath and Kaia , I did the washing up and made tea and coffee all round. Then I went back to bed till ten, what a life!
Now this is where it might get confusing. Although we did five miles and six locks today it was on Destiny. (Actually it was 2½ miles there and 2 /12 back and three locks there and three locks back.) We took Destiny down to Wheelock, winded and came back to where Almyne was moored up. Kath needed to get to a cash machine and we have to go back to Middlewich tomorrow to collect Scott but it seemed silly to take both boats all the way there and back as we will be proceeding down the Trent and Mersey from Thursday onwards.
Kath encouraged me to helm Destiny for the outward journey and she is totally different to Almyne, much heavier and slower to respond on the bends but just as quick off the mark, if not quicker. I took it slowly all the way there even though a boat was sniffing my exhaust for most of the time. Mind you, this just made me even more determined to go slowly past moored boats.
Got to the third lock and although we had experienced a little rain on the way down what came out of the sky at the lock was more like a tropical downpour (reminiscent of Box Hill for those in the know) and we were all drenched within seconds. Fortunately it was warm rain, if rain can ever be called warm, it still made me cringe as it pounded on my back.
The people on the boat that had been sniffing my exhaust did the sensible thing and moored up to let the rain blow over. We exited the lock, winded and came right back into it.
While we were winding a boat, Kinver, came out of the lock above us. We went back into our lock and continued on our way. The next lock was ready for us, so we went straight in. On exiting there was a boat coming in to the lock below us, so we left the gates of our lock open so that they could come straight in, however, the crew on Kinver 'stole' the lock from them.
In canal parlance, to 'steal' a lock is to fill it (or empty it as the case may be) even though the boat coming in the other direction is in view. This is grossly bad manners and, in some instances, can actually cause more of a problem than it is worth. Not only that, the 'stealing' boat gains absolutely no advantage as it has to wait for the boat in front anyway.
Well, having stolen the lock, causing the boat coming up to wait for it to empty, we were left with three boats in a pound that is only big enough for two boats. The boat coming out of the lower lock passed us and was then confronted with a full lock, Kinver the Lock Stealer was in it. We proceeded into the lock, at which point Kinver the Lock Stealer had room to exit their 'stolen' lock and make room for the boat coming up to enter it.
Now, Kinver the Lock Stealer had to moor up and wait for us to complete the lock anyway. During this process I had the opportunity to ask one of the crew on Kinver the Lock Stealer if they had a copy of The Boaters Handbook and was told 'Yes'. I then asked if they had read it and was again told 'Yes'.
I then suggested that they were aware of the procedure at locks and that they should not be wasting water and was told that it was my opinion, not theirs and I should keep my nose out of it.
Not wanting to cause an argument with another boater (never having come across a situation like this in the past) I let it be and continued on my way.
Exiting the next lock I noticed a boat coming along the canal toward us, so indicated to the crew on Kinver the Lock Stealer of this (unfortunate) situation. As they were already filling the lock (preparing to steal another one) I walked back to point out their error, but before I reached the top of the lock they dropped the paddles and very kindly allowed me to rectify their mistake and empty the lock for the approaching boat.
We pulled over a short distance later and Kath went into Wheelock to attend to her business.
On her return we enjoyed a fish and chip supper and set off back to Almyne, only to see Kinver the Lock Stealer moored up just a few hundred yards along the canal. They were not even in a hurry to go great distances, they were just being ignorant.
We finally arrived at Almyne about eight and settled in for a quiet evening, let the cats out for a run, as they had been in all day.
Cats being cats, they promptly started to investigate e the newcomers to the area. Marley walked past Almyne and along to the next boat in line. Unusually, I decided to follow her and as I approached the next boat in line, Marley was climbing on to the cratch. The woman on board asked me if I could remove my cat. I readily started to oblige at which point Marley moved too far away from me to be able to reach her easily. Now, being a polite boater, there was no way I was going to put any part of myself on another persons boat without being invited. So I asked the woman if I could put my foot on her boat to retrieve Marley. She refused me access. So the only thing I could do was to leave Marley there to make her own way back. I did point out to the woman the paradox she was providing me with in removing the cat but being made unable to get to it, at which point she battened down the hatches and refused to talk any further, with anyone.
The next twenty minutes or so was spent in exercising the dogs along the tow path, throwing sticks and trying very hard to get D'fer to bark quietly when he returned the stick that had been thrown alongside the next boat for him.
Sometimes, just sometimes, you have one of those days when people get to you, and I think that this might just have been one of those days.
Thu, 23 Jul 2009
Evening Sky
Four and a half miles, and eleven locks, four of them twice. We took Destiny back to Middlewich so that Kath could find a bank. Moored up just above Kings Lock just before two for a quick cuppa and a to walk into Middlewich.
While we were mooring up, D'fer in his own inimitable way, was off making himself known to the local dogs. He found one that was rather interesting and decided that he wanted to play with her. She decided otherwise and in the ensuing courtship, she decided that she would go home, across a busy main road with D'fer and the dogs owner in hot pursuit. I dropped everything and went after them, soon being left way behind and totally lost site of all concerned.
After walking for at least a mile I gave up and decided that D'fer would eventually find his way back or someone would find him and ring me (my phone number is on his collar).
I was nearly back at Destiny when I bumped into the other dogs owner, who explained that her dog had just finished her 'season' and this was the first day that she had taken the dog for a walk. D'fer had chased the poor thing all the way back to her own house and the woman had then found them both and returned D'fer to Destiny. She was fine about the whole incident and told me that she thought that D'fer was a lovely dog, even though he had caused all such anguish.
Arriving back at Destiny D'fer was there, chained up and looking very sheepish while Kath and Kaia held on to his lead.
The whole incident had taken up nearly an hour, so we were now running late, but set off into Middlewich, calling in at the boat yard to check on the best time for a pump out and being told 'Now'.
As Kath needed to get to the bank before it closed she sent me back to Destiny to bring her down through Kings Lock and along to the boat yard on my own. With D'fer and Rowan
in tow, I set off back to Destiny to bring her down to the boat yard.
My only experience of helming Destiny previously was yesterday, when I helmed Destiny for an hour or so along the straight and narrow, letting Kath take over everywhere else.
It was with some trepidation that I started up Destiny, cast off and set off to the lock, only a couple of hundred yards I know, but this involved casting off, taking Destiny along the canal, slowing down at the lock and mooring up and then getting her into the lock, all the while trying to keep the dogs under control. I had D'fer firmly chained to the mooring dolly so that he had no chance of running off to find his new amour, but this, of course, meant that as soon as I was not on the back of Destiny he howled and yelled and told the world that I was mistreating him, that he had been chained to the back of the boats for days and days, in all the rain and thunder and that he was hungry and thirsty and that he though the would die if someone didn't rescue him and his new girlfriend was somewhere out there calling for him. I don't think anyone believed him, but you can never be sure.
Fortunately a couple of boats arrived, so I had crew to man the lock for me. Once at the lower level I took Destiny out and on to the boat yard. I had envisaged having to tie Destiny up, operate the lock, climb down the ladder onto Destiny, take her out, moor up, go back to close the gates and then get back on to Destiny and set off again, quite a first time challenge.
Got to the boatyard without incident, moored up there, in quite a tight slot and got the pump-out done. (A 'pump-out' for future reference is pumping out the on board flushing toilet.)
All done, and no sign of Kath so I had to make a decision, the next lock was in my favour and a boat was coming along behind me, so I set off to the next lock. Kath arrived just as I got there, so I gratefully let her take the helm.
We negotiated the next three locks without mishap, checking that each of the locks we needed to get into was available. There was a boat in each one of them, but it was going away from us so would present no problem in the very short pounds between locks.
Just past the third lock was a winding hole, so we turned around and made our way back up the flight, knowing that each lock would be in our favour, as no boats had passed us going in the opposite direction. Had we left it till the following morning it is likely that all of them would have been against us, making for twice the effort at each lock.
The first of the three on the way up was no problem, even though there was a boat waiting to use the lock that we were in. A very nice holiday making family who seemed to be doing everything right. Unfortunately, the hire boat following them had omitted to make sure that their exit from their lock as unimpeded and had filled their lock, causing us to have to wait in the intermediate pound for them to exit. This meant that there were three boats in a pound designed for two boats only.
Kath just moored up on the lock operation bollards and let the hire boat sort themselves out. Once they were clear of their lock Kath went in, leaving the hire boat aground on the far side. Once again, stealing a lock did not get them anywhere as they still had to wait for the boat in front of them to go through the lock and wait for the boat that was now following us to come through and got themselves into trouble to boot.
Anyway, we continued on our way, stopping off at the water point at the junction to top up with drinking water and then went up through Kings lock, moored up alongside the A533 (again) and walked back to the pub at the lock for a well earned drink, keeping D'fer on his lead all the time, he was not impressed.
While we were having a drink at the lock side pub several boats came through and we started playing 'spot the wally', didn't take long to spot them. One boat came into the lock from below and Kath and I agreed that it must be a woman on the helm as the boat had come in so slowly without bumping anything, and that the boat must be privately owned as the crew were doing everything right. We were surprised to find out that it was a young lad on the tiller and that it was an American family on a hire boat. We complemented them on their handling of the boat and half an hour later after they had moored up they came along to the pub and joined us for a chat for a while. A very pleasant end to an interesting day.
Fri, 24 Jul 2009
Lisa, the girl that we chatted to in the pub last night knocked on the door at half seven (as arranged) and collected the bottle of Lavender and Jasmine oils that Kath had prepared for her.
Spent most of the day reading a book and playing patience on the laptop due to the persistent rain outside, while Kath practised her paper quilling and made several cards.
Kept D'fer on a lead all day to stop him running off.
About half ten I let D'fer out for a quick wee, but he had other ideas. He gave the grass a quick sniff, and quick as winking he decided that his 'amour' of a couple of days ago was within reach again. He set off like a bullet out of a gun about one hundred yards along the tow path and then shot across the main road, straight into the path of an oncoming car.
As he started to leg it, I popped back into Almyne to put on a hat and coat as I knew that it was likely to be a long chase.
Walking up the tow path I spotted a couple of cars parked on the opposite side of the road with their hazard lights on. Deep in my heart I knew what had happened so was sort of prepared as I approached them to see D'fer lying in the gutter surrounded by several people. All I could think of saying was "Is he dead?"
He wasn't, but he was not moving, just lying there with a glazed expression on his face. I sat down beside him and stroked him gently, but there was no recognition at all. I gently cradled his head on my lap and felt the blood on his face, warm and sticky.
The woman who had hit him was distraught and I did my best to re-assure her that it was not her fault and there was nothing she could have done to avoid a big black dog, coming out of nowhere at full tilt in the dark.
I sat there for a while not really knowing what to do and preparing myself for a life without D'fer. One of the spectators was the occupant of the house outside which the incident had occurred and another was the woman in the car following the car in collision. Between the two of them they contacted the local emergency veterinary surgery and arranged that D'fer would be transported there for a checkup if nothing else. I had no transport, so the second woman volunteered to drive me there and a blanket and a dogs rug appeared from nowhere. I laid the dogs rug beside D'fer and rolled him gently on to it, and then two of us picked up the rug and put it and D'fer in the back of the car as gently as possible. All all this he made no complaint, just letting things happen around him. I got in the back of the car with him and we all set off to the vets, about half an hours journey away.
Arriving there the vet was waiting for us and carted D'fer off or a check up, returning about ten minutes later saying that D'fer could support his own weight on his legs, so nothing broken, but that he was obviously in shock and that he should stay in overnight for observation, just in case concussion or other complications set in.
I was driven back to the boats and the resident lady offered to drive me back to the vets the following day to collect D'fer.
We had a very subdued evening with not a lot of proper sleep.
Sat, 25 Jul 2009
3 miles 5 locks
Steve came and collected Kaia
just after ten and we spent the rest of the day reading and paper quilling until Amanda and Iain brought Scott
back from his weeks motor crossing and camping in mountains.
Late in the afternoon the woman outside whose house D'fer had his little incident took me to the vets to collect him. He was defiantly not himself and I almost thought that he was not my dog anymore.
After settling him in we motored down to Crows Nest Bridge to check on Almyne and by the time we got there it was time for bed.
The journey went smoothly enough and D'fer sort of tried to look out but spent most of the time laid on the sofa not really looking at anything, or responding to any sort of stimulus, not interested in biscuits, water or even having a fuss made of him. He had been given pain killers at the vets and I had more pain killers for him as well as antibiotics. He was meant to have some of each during the evening, but with him not wanting to eat anything this might prove difficult.
We got to Crows Nest Bridge, moored up and got a bite to eat but there was little enthusiasm in any of us.
After a while Kath opened a tin of ham and offered a thin slice to D'fer, this produced a bit of a response and he eat that, so after few more slices we put his antibiotics in a slice of ham, which he eat and I squirted the painkillers into his mouth from the measuring syringe.
After this he just lay down and slept again. I suppose rest was the best thing for him.
Sun, 26 Jul 2009
9 miles 10 locks
From the mooring close to Crows Nest Bridge we went down to Wheelock, winded between locks 64 and 63 and returned to Middlewich. Scott spent the day on the tiller, while Kath spent the whole journey (and some) on the computer catching up with old friends, while D'fer just lay on the sofa looking sad and forlorn and not doing much of anything. He did have a little breakfast (with antibiotics) but with little enthusiasm.
Steve to brought Kaia
back from their weekend away about half seven, so we all stayed on Almyne in Middlewich again!
D'fer perked up a little in the evening and had his evening meal with antibiotics and pain killers, but seemed unsure of me. He was a little more responsive to Kath, but not a lot.
Mon, 27 Jul 2009
6½ miles 7 locks
Set off full of enthusiasm just after six, hoping to get close to Red Bull Lock at Kidsgrove, knowing that it was a big challenge, but nonetheless possible.
Kath on Destiny and me on Almyne, the children going straight back to bed as soon as they realised it was before midday, (funny really, they were quite excited at first).
D'fer was a little more with it this morning, giving the occasional bark at passing boats, but only just. I think he must still have had a headache and the barking made it worse.
Motored along to Wheelock, where we topped up with water, Kath did a bit of shopping in the village and the children and I went across the road to top up with pet supplies, a subdued but more active D'fer accompanying us.
At Wheelock there is a pet supplies shop right there, spitting distance from the boats, so we got two 15kg bags dog food, one 15kg bag cat food and two 30 lt bags of cat litter, should keep us going for a while.
The next three locks went really easily and then we got to lock 63. Now both of us had been through lock 64 before, winded and been back, but neither of us had been through lock 63. Destiny went through nicely and carried on while I got thoroughly stuck. Fortunately Scott was with me as I was stuck halfway in and halfway out and could not get off Almyne. He went back to lock 64 where some BW guys were working and told them. They said that I must have a fender down, but, being an intelligent lad he explained that this was not so.
The BW guys came along, assessed the situation and 'flushed' me out. This entails opening both the upper paddles as quickly as possible, which produces a very fast rush of water with an almost instant rise in water level. I popped out of the lock backwards like a champagne cork, only just avoiding hitting the lock that I had recently exited. The BW guys explained that if I could not get through lock 63 there was no way I would get through lock 61.
I moored up, while Scott raced ahead and told his mother of the situation, whereupon she pulled over and moored up as well.
With us both moored up I walked up to where Kath was so we could discuss our options. As I was moored up opposite a winding hole, in a short pound, which is not a good thing to do and tends to annoy other boaters, including me, I was explaining to other boaters my reasons for doing this. One of them mentioned that he had seen a notice on the top side of lock 61 saying that if you are over seven foot wide to ring BW and they will get you through, but we were still unsure.
a) Kath to continue down to Great Haywood and me to turn around and go all the way back to Middlewich, along the Middlewich arm and down the Shropshire union to meet her at Great Haywood or
b) for us both to turn around and go back together.
Kath opted for option two, after much cursing and grumbling from the both of us that there were no signs or any indication at Middlewich of the situation with these locks.
So, we turned Destiny around and worked her back through the locks till she was alongside Almyne, but pointing in the other direction.
All this time D'fer was still quite subdued, occasionally barking at a dog on another boat, albeit briefly. I sort of got the impression that to bark made his head ache, so he wasn't doing much of that.
With both boats secured, although making life difficult for other boaters as there was now two boats moored up opposite a winding hole, side by side, we decided that we would walk back and see if this sign existed and if so what the number was. It did and I promptly rang the number. After a brief discussion I was given an alternative number to ring. I rang it and was promptly referred back to the original number.
I rang the original number again, explained what had happened and was put through to a supervisor. After a description of my predicament (and the mis-referenced numbers) he told me he would get some BW guys along to see me in the next twenty to thirty minutes to sort it out for me.
Sure enough some guys arrived. They were the ones who had flushed me out previously and were just as negative about my forward progress as before, going on to explain that if I insisted in going forward it was possible that the only way they would get me through was to attach what they called 'Turf Winches' to me and drag me through with little or no consideration as to the condition of Almyne when I eventually got through.
Hmmmmmmmm, food for thought.
By this time both Kath and I were getting a bit ticked off with the attitude of the local BW guys. I rang BW again and explained the situation, I had a choice of going back the way I had come, wasting four or five days, or going forward and if I got stuck, waiting till the weekend when they would have finished their work on the lock gates.
This time I got put through to another supervisor who agreed wholeheartedly with my sentiments and when I explained to him that I would rather wait and get through by Friday than go all the way around, he arranged for a BW team to arrive by nine the following morning and they would open up the larger of the twin locks and get me through there.
Nothing else to do but wait for the morning, so we enjoyed, what was after all, one of the nicest days weather we had experienced for a week or two.
D'fer much better today, he now barks at Kath to throw his stick, but still just puts it on the ground in front of me and waits.
Tue, 28 Jul 2009
4 miles 15 locks
Up early as BW are due along just after nine to get me through locks 63, 62 and 61. Breakfast and a cup of tea by half seven, and only just in time as the BW guys arrived, bright and chirpy at bang on eight o'clock.
With the sun shining they directed me to the left hand lock (this is the flight where there are twin locks for most of the way), which is closed for repair, and prepared it for me. Went in with no trouble, they let the water in slowly, and out at the top.
The next lock, again was no problem and then we reached the lock that they believed would give problems.
They told me to 'float in', i.e. not under power. To this this I had to get the nose of Almyne into the lock and then give short bursts of throttle to get Almyne going, but not long enough to actually develop any speed.
Anyway, Almyne went in with no problem, rose up the lock with ease and out the other end with grace, to the delight of all involved. The BW guys, Ivor and Lawson, were probably as delighted as I was and sent me on my way with good wishes and beaming smiles.
Destiny soon arrived following me after winding between locks 64 and 63 and then through 63, 62 and 61.
We all stopped off for a cup of tea and an appraisal of the situation.
As the sun was shining we decided that we would motor until Red Bull Lock, or six in the evening, whichever came first.
The rest of the day was a bit like hopscotch as the twin locks alternated with singles, so at a single I had to wait for Destiny to go through and at doubles, as Destiny was using one lock, I could catch up and use the one beside her.
Outside lock 57 there was an advertisement for a 'Fun Pottery Experience' at the following bridge, so, being in the lead at that moment in time, I moored up by bridge 146 to check it out. Rang Kath to see what she thought and moored up properly so that she could moor up behind me.
We wandered along the road to the Pottery Barn, where Kath and Scott had a go on a potters wheel and Kaia
painted a pottery cat, a most enjoyable time for all.
Setting of again, the rain decided that we had had as much fun that day as we were allowed and settled in with a vengeance, so for the next eight locks we tolerated the rain and wind just to see if we could get to Red Bull Lock this evening. We didn't make it.
Just one mile and five locks short of one of our targets we pulled over and moored up, changed into dry clothes and settled in for the evening, bang on six o'clock. So we were on target really.
Root vegetable stew for the evening meal and very welcome it was too after spending all afternoon cold and wet and hungry.
Both Kaia and Scott were 'stars' all day, bearing up and putting up with the weather, whilst running between locks to make sure that both Destiny and Almyne got through OK.
I'm beginning to think that D'fer cannot remember the car hitting him at all, just the fact that he ran off, I shouted at him, he woke up with the biggest headache that anyone could ever imagine and bruises and pain all over. He has no idea what I did to him, but it sure hurt!!! and he 'ain't gonna cross that guy again'.
Wed, 29 Jul 2009
1 mile 5 locks
After all the rain yesterday afternoon and evening we thought that today must be fine, after all, there is no more dirt to wash out of the air.
Set off just after eleven after a lazy wake up period and a warm breakfast, waiting for the rain to ease up.
In normal circumstances we would not have travelled, but we wanted to get to Red Bull Lock as the facilities there are good, Water, Pump-Out, Elsan, Showers and Laundry. It was mostly the laundry that we wanted to make use of to get all the washing done, AND DRY. We had also arranged to meet Richard
there.
So off we went, in the rain, well it was rain to start with, it soon became a downpour, with very little let up. Within half an hour I was drenched to the skin and took my waterproofs off as I was not going to get any wetter anyway. It was actually a little easier helming and manning the locks in a light shirt than it was in the waterproofs, less cumbersome and no colder. Well, when you are that wet you cannot get any wetter and it was not really cold anyway.
Stopped off at Red Bull Lock to dry out from the persistent rain of the morning. Kath started off the washing and left me in charge of it while she went into Kidsgrove to do some shopping.
It has taken me nearly fifty years to get the hang of a twin tub, so these new fangled automatic washers seem just too complicated for me. I would probably have been better of to let one of the children work it out, but they had other activities in mind.
D'fer much better today, nearly back to his old self. I believe that there is an old saying that goes on the lines of 'It's an ill wind that blows no-one good' and perhaps D'fer's altercation with the car has resulted in some good. He no longer spends all his time on and around locks barking his head off.
Thu, 30 Jul 2009
1/4 mile 2 locks
The plan for today was to go through Harecastle tunnel but woke up to persistent and heavy rain, so just mooched around not doing a lot of anything and sorting out the woes of the world.
During the afternoon the sun came out, so we did all the preparation to set off and we were just about to cast off when Shadow escaped from Destiny and shot off into the maize field beside where we were moored up.
I was really annoyed and over reacted berating those around me for this lapse in attention. I soon calmed down and apologised to all concerned, but nonetheless we still had to sit there and wait for Shadow to return, he did, as soon as it started raining again.
By the time this shower eased off and eventually stopped Shadow was firmly incarcerated in the front of Destiny so we were able to set off. We only went the two locks but enjoyed a pint of real ale at the first lock.
After the second we moored up and walked along the tow path to view the entrance portal to Harecastle tunnel, interesting. On the way back we called in to another hostelry where we had a couple more drinks.
D'fer much more himself today, in fact he was chasing the children up and down the tow path on their bikes, chewing at their ankles to such an extent that I had to put him on his lead. From then on he was even more of a pain nearly pulling me over whenever one of the children came in to view, not that I am complaining about his, what would seem to be, full recovery.
Harecastle Tunnel1
Harecastle Tunnel2
Harecastle Tunnel3
Harecastle Tunnel4
Fri, 31 Jul 2009
3 miles 1 lock 1 tunnel
Up early, along to the boat yard where we replaced both gas cylinders on Almyne and one on Destiny, hooray, we now have a full complement of gas, and then along another few hundred yards to the tunnel entrance.
Moored up and waited for the tunnel keeper to book us in. Had our last cup of tea for a while as there is no cooking or naked lights in the tunnel.
Last time I went through this tunnel I did it alone, so had to keep my focus on what I could see in the headlight, only seeing the walls beside me dimly lit and with very little detail. This time, Destiny was in front and another boat behind, while Richard was on the tiller. The difference was dramatic, I could take the time to see the walls and occasionally take a picture with the camera. Unfortunately the camera ran out of battery before I had the chance to take as many pictures as I would have liked.
I should have mentioned that ever since Middlewich the canal has been getting redder and redder. This is due to the iron salts in the water, primarily iron oxide (rust) I believe. Anyway, the limestone that precipitates on the walls of the tunnel has this bright red colouring and looks quit stunning, I wish I could have got more pictures of it, or even broken off a chunk, but perhaps that is not really a good idea.
Once through the tunnel the first thing that we all noticed was that the water was the usual muddy colour, none of the red colouring on the other side of the tunnel. Methinks that there must be a flow of water through the tunnel from south to north.
We moored up at Westport Lake which is a local recreation facility for a brew and as the drizzle set in we decided that we would stay a while.
Richard found his way back to his vehicle and the children got their bikes out and started to create a diversion, well, that's what they called it, I just thought that they were making a lot of noise.
Mooching about on Almyne when I heard a boat going past. Sometimes you just know that you have got to go and take a look, so I did and it was Steve
and Ong on Soulmates, with Skipper on board. I jumped up and down with glee and shouted at them, They responded and told me that they were on their way to Llangollen and would be back in a few days, told them that I would still be here then and to stop off for a cuppa.
Painted the back boards for Destiny while Kath
went off to Wrecsam to get the wherewithal to pay for the dry dock.
Scott
decided that part of his new Home Education course should be making a rudder for Almyne Too, so set about ransacking my wood store for bits of timber and screws and hinges and the like and set about a task that was much larger than he had envisaged.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009
Rob, Barry and Kristoph (friends of Kath
's) called in early afternoon and we sat around chatting for ages.
Kristoph is French with very little English and I have very little French, but we got started with a few hand signals and then my schoolboy French started to come back. WE almost had a reasonable conversation. He showed me pictures of his wife and his two year old daughter (Alexis) and I described to him where I had been on Almyne. He was amazed that you can travel so far on a narrow boat.
Put the last coat of paint on the bottom boards for Destiny and set them on one side to harden. You know what it is like with new paint, if you tread on it too soon it just wrinkles and pulls away on your shoes and tramples all over the place.
Dinner this evening was Al Fresco (Still don't know why his name is used for dining in the open air, perhaps someone will email me and tell me).
Fri, 3 Jul 2009
4 miles 2 tunnels 1 aqueduct
Most of it in the dark!
Spent most of the day preparing for Scott
's day out. Kath
and I have been planning it for him for several weeks now, a weekend just Scott
and his best friend Orin (and me) fishing somewhere along the canal.
We had to almost empty Almyne Too so that Scott and Orin can sleep in her, finding places in Almyne for it all.
Kath and Kaia
are going to have a 'girly' weekend, taking Kaia's best friend out.
Towards the end of the afternoon I cleared off the back of Destiny to put down the deck boards that had been cut many months ago by a friend of Kath's. Kath had already spent some time sanding them down and giving them the first coat of undercoat and I had also sanded them and given then another undercoat and two top coats of paint.
Anyway, I tried to fit them. Didn't know how to break it to Kath, only one of the five boards fitted properly, the others are all too small. I think that we can use some of the timber for other projects, but it still means that it will be several more weeks before there are boards that fit on the stern deck.
Orin arrived at abut eight in the evening and we set off just before nine, hence travelling most of the way in the dark. We did not get anywhere near our final objective but the two lads seemed well pleased to be 'out in the wilds' cooking a meal on a camp stove in the dark. WE had already eaten beans on toast during the journey and I cooked beef stew (from a tin) with potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and peas as soon s we stopped. They still cooked themselves something else before getting into bed.
I think I will try and make it an early start tomorrow, just for the hell of it.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009
7 miles 2 locks
A day to remember. Moored up last night with no trees either side of us, so the sun came up early and I woke at about half four. The lads had told me that they were quite happy to travel early but I was feeling relaxed enough to let them have a lie in. I had breakfast, washed the dishes and did a little fishing (caught a reasonable Perch).
Woke the lads at a quarter past five. We set off at a quarter to six and almost immediately started spotting rabbits along the tow path. Well, lads will be lads, and they did want to experience 'living rough'.
By six there was a rabbit on board, which Orin
skinned, gutted and removed the meat for a casserole later on in the day.
By the time we reached New Marston locks at ten to seven, the skin was pinned out on a board drying.
From New Marston locks we continued on to the boatyard at Maestermyn bridge, where we pulled in to get rid of the rubbish and empty the porta pottie(s). We were a little early (just before eight) so we had to wait for the staff to arrive and open up the facilities.
From there it was a short trip to the winding hole at Montgomery junction where we turned around and headed back through Maestermyn bridge and on to a little spot that we had spotted that looked as if it might be a good fishing hole.
When we passed it earlier on there were two boats moored up but on our return they had both gone.
The lads moored Almyne Too up about a boats length behind Almyne, just to try to dissuade anyone else from mooring up there, it worked.
By midday, the rabbit casserole, with the added bonus of duck (comprising diced rabbit, diced duck breast, carrots, lentils, leeks, herbs and spices) was ready to put in the oven. The other rabbit Orin was saving to spit roast over the barbecue later on in the evening.
I had little to do for most of the day, apart from curb their enthusiasm, and after lunch of beans on toast with hot dogs, cooked by Orin, I took a nap, during which the heavens opened and it absolutely chucked it down, causing me to come too enough to register and go back to sleep. My excuse is that I had been kept up till long after midnight last night and was up just after four this morning. Anyway, felt much better for a nap and by the time I woke fully the rain had gone and the sun had returned - all's well with the day.
A little more fishing, rabbit casserole just after six and a wander up and down the tow path and before I knew it the time was barbecue time. Orin got me to light the barbecue so that he can spit roast his rabbit as a smack before going to bed, but I will tell that story tomorrow (if I remember).
Sun, 5 Jul 2009
5 miles 2 locks 2 tunnels 1 aqueduct
Up much later than anyone had wanted, but since it was raining again it was of no importance.
With intermittent rain and shine throughout the day, Scott
and Orin enjoyed themselves as best they could, fishing and chasing rabbits.
Set off back to Trevor just after mid day. Orin took the tiller most of the way while Scott sat in the cratch and I tinkered about inside Almyne trying to catch up on my emails again.
Back at Trevor by five and a joyful reunion with Destiny and Kath
and a quiet evening on the tow path, under the big umbrella during the brief and light showers.
Wed, 8 Jul 2009
Shopping in Oswestry, bumped into Steve
and Ong from Soulmates in the market and chatted for a while. Ong seems to be fully recovered from her 'discomforts' and looks the best I have ever seen her.Thu, 9 Jul 2009
8 miles 2 locks 2 tunnels 1 aqueduct
The adventure begins. Apart from a brief trip along the Shropshire canal when she first purchased Destiny, Kath
has only navigated the Llangollen canal, so setting out to 'travel the system' is quite an adventure for her. She tells me that it will not really begin until we leave the Llangollen at Hurleston, the junction with the Shropshire Union, but I can tell that she is both a little excited and a little tremulous about it.
She loves the Welsh mountains and knows that she will miss them and be a little homesick when they are no longer in sight, but at the same time really does want to see more of the country and the canals all over.
The plan is to turn left at Hurleston and motor up to the Middlewich branch to Barbridge where we will turn right to go to Middlewich. From there we will be going down the Trent and Mersey canal, through Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, Stone and Weston-on-Trent to Great Haywood.
Fri, 10 Jul 2009
5 miles
MeterOnTheCut
Got up this morning and set off before the children woke up! Only a few hours travelling before we got to Ellesmere, where we pulled over and went shopping to get supplies for a barbecue this evening. It is sort of a farewell party for Kath
and co as once we set off proper it could be a long time before we see any of them again. Like I said to all the people on the Kennet and Avon when I set off 'See you next year'.
Amongst the guests were Scott
and Kaia
of course along with close friends and relations comprising
Nat
Leanne
Rachael
Tigger
Sammy
Danny
Jackie
Hazel and Mike.
Sat, 11 Jul 2009
Up late after the barbecue last night.
Steve
collected the children about ten and Kath
and I moved Almyne into the arm at Ellesmere so that we would not have to walk too far this evening after meeting Hazel
and Mike
at the pub for a drink and a chat.
Shopping in Ellesmere, dog food, evening in the Ellesmere Hotel.
Completed my final exam for Handcrafting.
Sun, 12 Jul 2009
Moved Destiny to the arm. Some of you will be thinking, but they did that yesterday, but you would be wrong, we moved Almyne to the arm yesterday! Spent the rest of the day catching up on the web site while Kath
sat and knitted scarves, all the while listening to 'Tarzan of the Apes' by Edgar Rice Burroughs, read by Mark Smith, from Simpson, South Carolina.
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Mon, 13 Jul 2009
1½ miles
A Newt
BlakeMere
Walked into Ellesmere to Vermulens (the best pie makers in the world) to get a pie for the evenings meal and then set off, not too far, to 'the lakes'.
Stopped off at a canal side shop for lunch and spotted a newt in a little sailing dingy at the mooring point. Now I am not sure if you all know about newts, but in the not so very distant past there was no such thing as newts, the were called ewts. One would say to a friend 'I saw an ewt today'. In time, as with other aspects of the English language, this was changed, distorted, modified, to become 'a newt'.
Interestingly enough most of us have nicknames, that were once 'icknames' and in the same way the usage changed from an ickname to a nickname. I am so full of useless information that it amazes me sometimes.
But on to something entirely different. I am sure that most of you have heard of Ellesmere Port. Ellesemere is another place entirely and is surrounded by 'meres' or lakes, and they are just a wonder to behold.
Kath
grew up within the sphere of their influence and has many wonderful memories of them, so it was not surprising that she wanted to spend at least one day saying goodbye to them. Not that she will never return but it is part of the process for her of saying 'cheerio' (rather than goodbye) to her family and friends and places, while she sets off on, what could possibly be described as, the biggest adventure of her life.
Although Kath has visited places that I can only dream of like The Gambia and Turkey, she has spent nearly all of her ****ty years living in and around Wrexham, so to set off with the intention of seeing the rest of Britain (on the waterways) and not returning for a long time must be viewed in anybodies book as an adventure, and saying 'cheerio' to the lakes is part of the process.
We moored up beside Blake Mere, one of the smaller of the six Meres marked on my map, and spent an absolutely delightful evening sitting on the tow path under a mixed sky of clear and cloud picking out our favourite constellations (when we could see them) and putting the world to rights.
A thought occurs, we have put the world to rights several times now, why is it not perfect yet? Answers to the email address at the bottom of the page please, and no longer than three thousand words. The best answer to be published on the 'Musings' section of this web site.
Tue, 14 Jul 2009
9 miles
Sleepy Scott Morning
From Ellesmere towards Grindley Brook, but again the rain decided that we would take an early break from the monotony of travelling. Who said monotony. Monotony is the last thing that I experience when travelling, the first, of late, is rain.
Having said that, I don't think that I have found anything monotonous since I first set foot on Almyne. Every day is a new day, every drop of rain is a cleansing grain of moisture that rids the air of dust and dirt that would otherwise obstruct my view of the day and night time sky.
I will admit that while it is clearing all this muck out of my way it can be a bit of a pain, but ho hey, it's worth the wait.
It's a good job that I am not a drinking man, we passed through Whitchurch which has eight public houses within two hundred yards of each other and within three hundred yards of the canal, each of them serving real ales.
Ever since I discovered real ales I have been a fan. I know that I started late in life (I was forty two when I partook of my first pint of beer {a real ale} and I have been catching up ever since) and it was not until I started to frequent the Crawley Inn a few years later that I really gained a taste for fermented hops and barley, so it is good that I did not read the guide to the canals before we passed Whitchurch, otherwise we could still be sampling their wares.
Anyway, we managed to get halfway there without mishap and moored up for the night, partaking of a Vermulens pie (turkey and mushroom) with cauliflower, broccoli, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes and mash before settling down for a well earned rest.
Wed, 15 Jul 2009
5 miles
From Platt Plain Bridge to Grindley Brook, where there is a staircase flight of three locks, followed by three more.
Met up with Anne and John (Kath
's Parents) who took us shopping in the car so that we could stock up on silly things like twenty bottles of lemonade. Carrying twenty bottles of lemonade in carrier bags is a major problem so we do not do it, but having to find somewhere to buy a bottle or two every day is an equally major problem.
Anyway, we stocked up on those heavy items that are in constant demand and are not too expensive.
At the same time they took Kath to her garage where she collected her table and four chairs, amongst a whole bunch of other things that she wants to bring along. She has been planning this for a long time and, like me, has decided those items that are really important to have close to yourself and those items that you can do without, but you would rather not.
Now this may sound odd, but on Almyne I have a gate leg table that is ideal for two. Now we are four it is inadequate. The gate leg table that Kath brought along is ideal. We can pull it out from the wall (bulkhead) and set it up in the middle of the salon and enjoy a family meal together, how civilised. Not only that, but the four chairs tuck away inside the table when not in use, so take up no extra room at all.
We have been enjoying family meals together ever since we joined forces, but it has been a bit cramped, now we are eating in luxury, a veritable banqueting table set with place mats, cutlery, condiments in the middle of the table and a drink for each and every one of us so that we can make a toast to the happenings of the day or the aims and aspirations for the future.
Thu, 16 Jul 2009
5 miles 10 locks
A comparatively quiet day after the excitement of the past few days. We motored along enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the Llangollen at it's best.
Set off early in the morning (just after ten) and negotiated the staircase flight without incident (unlike the journey up the flight when I got grounded in the middle of the staircase), probably due to the diligence of the lock keeper, who put a little more water into the middle lock to make sure that I got out OK.
The Llangollen canal was originally built as a feeder to a reservoir and because of this at each and every lock there is a bypass weir that allows a constant flow of water along the canal. A side effect of this is that on leaving each lock there is a strong cross flow of water from the exit point of this overflow, which pushes the boats across the canal.
At the second lock past the staircase, Kath
was taking Destiny out of the lock when a boat came rushing up from the lock further down. As she reached the weir exit, she was pushed toward this other boat. The helmsman became verbally abusive complaining about Kath's ability to control a boat and proceeded to ram Destiny quite hard.
It transpired that a) he could not get his boat out of gear without stalling the engine. b) someone had put an 'own brand' whisky on his cornflakes this morning instead of his favourite, Johnny Walker. c) the largest boat he had ever handled was his own at twenty-five foot.
Destiny, being sixty-four foot long, needs much more room than smaller boats when manoeuvring, if only because you have to get all sixty-four foot out of the lock before a turn can be started!
Needless to say, Kath told him exactly what she thought of him and I was pleasantly surprised to hear the language she used, even my mum
would not be offended by the words themselves. She would have been offended by the message being conveyed though.
The rest of the trip went without incident and we moored up close to Quoisley lock for the night.
Fri, 17 Jul 2009
With the rain showing us how persistent it could be we decided that it would not affect our lives and so we hunkered down and enjoyed a day of DVDs and CD's just chilling out and thinking about all the crafts that we could engage ourselves in, and actually doing some of them.
Kath
and I re-arranged Almyne Too, making it much more usable and accessible.
With tools and materials at hand, Kath persuaded me to dismantle the cupboard under the wash hand basin on Destiny and fit some shelves to improve storage and later on in the afternoon I used up some of the spare timber to make a box for the litter tray for the cats. I was quite pleased with the result as is is lined with a heavy duty, reinforced plastic sheet (from the dog food bags) so is washable and nonabsorbent.
All in all a surprisingly productive day in the rain.
Sat, 18 Jul 2009
8½ miles 6 locks
Late start, hanging around and pottering while the morning tasks were completed.
We were just about to set off when Digitalis appeared around the bend and pulled over for lunch. I had not seen Chrissie
or Richard
since Market Harborough so it was good to have a chat and catch up on their travels and progress.
Mostly an uneventful journey, but arrived at a point about three bridges before the Hurleston flight where we deemed that is would be appropriate to moor up.
One of the interesting things about navigating the canals is that you can never be sure of a mooring where you want it, so I have learnt to moor up earlier rather than later.
Anyway, we moored up about half eight and Scott
and I walked along to the Hurleston facilities to get rid of the rubbish that had been clogging up the after deck of Almyne for the past couple of days, while Kath
and Kaia
got dinner. We had already decided that dinner would be out of a can this evening as it was late but when Scott
and I arrived back at Almyne there was no-one on board. The gas had run out, so Kath
had taken everything aboard Destiny.
The gas had run out. Now this is unusual, but there is an explanation, the last time that a bottle had run out I tried to replace it but there was no where on the Llangollen that had a 19kg bottle of gas, and because we had replenished the 13kg bottles of gas on Destiny I thought that we were OK for gas. Well, we were, it was just in the wrong place.
Not a major problem, we will just cook and eat on Destiny rather than on Almyne for a while.
Sun, 19 Jul 2009
11 miles 9 locks
The last locks on the Llangollen. Arrived at the flight of four just after nine and spoke to the lock keeper about the width of Almyne. Now Linda was fine about me going through, but this guy was all mumbles and moans. What if you get stuck, I will have a whole bunch of boaters complaining, the holiday makers will give me stick if they can't get through and so on.
We were patient and eventually got through, with a little help from the lock keeper, just before twelve.
Then, just to cheer us up, Destiny would not start!!
Got that fixed (turned out to be a dodgy battery connection, even though I had checked all the battery connections and greased them while Destiny was in dry dock) and set off for Middlewich. We had intended to be there for three so that Ian could pick up Scott
to take him off motorcycling for a week.
Kath
was looking out for the aqueduct that was marked on the map and was surprised to realise that she was actually going over it. No rails, no pillars holding it up, not big vista on either side, just a drop either side down to the river.
Although we had experienced boaters in a hurry on the Llangollen we were both surprised when a boat first overtook me and then a short while later, overtook Destiny and proceeded to rush all the way to Middlewich, with no concern for other users of the waterways, or the erosion of the bank sides.
Mostly a beautiful day with sunshine and blue skies, until the thunderstorm arrived, right out of the blue skies. Within seconds we were all drenched, but it was still warm so we viewed it as the shower that we all needed, even though we did not get the chance to wash our hair in the process.
Refreshed and enervated by this interlude we continued on to Middlewich arriving shortly after half five. A long, but interesting and tiring day.
Mon, 20 Jul 2009 3 miles 4 locks
Uncomfortable Seat
Middlewich to Elton Moss Bridge.
Went into Middlewich and saw all the Barbers, Hairdressers and Charity shops, not a lot else. Isn't it amazing that some towns can specialise in one or two themes. Arundel (in Sussex) is full of antique shops and seems to have nothing else.
Had to get away from the noise of the road (the A533) which runs right along beside the canal, so we set off just after half six in the evening to find somewhere a little quieter. We were in no hurry, so when a boat came up behind us that was being delivered to Rugby by Thursday, we allowed them to go ahead of us. What a wonderful job, pick a boat up somewhere and get paid to take it somewhere else.
We eventually found a spot away from the main road with halfway reasonable moorings by just after ten, so had a quick meal of poached eggs and beans on toast. Sometimes the simplest things are the nicest.
Tue, 21 Jul 2009
Evening21st
Yesterday was such a nice day that we planned to get lots done today in the sunshine, but no, it has rained all day. Sometimes just those little fairy dust droplets that are so pleasant to be under and sometimes with those great big teardrop shaped drops that are nearly the size of an orange and hurt when they hit you.
Not that the day has been entirely unproductive. I have caught up on all my coursework for the Pagan University, corrected all the numerology pages and sent the corrections to the tutor (at her request I might add), downloaded my Certificate(s) of Completion, re-arranged the after deck of Almyne to take a couple of spare leisure batteries (now I just need to get them connected into the rest of the system) oh, and collected Destiny from the other side of the canal.
I was busy on Almyne and Kath
and Kaia
were on Destiny doing craft work, thoroughly absorbed by their enterprise, when D'fer leapt aboard and started making an unusual fuss of Kath. She looked out and realised that Destiny was no longer moored to the tow path side, but drifting across the canal.
Now I must explain here that some narrow boat owners (and those that are just out for a weeks holiday on hire boats) seem to be totally oblivious of the effect that a boat travelling through the water can have. Pushing anything between twenty and fifty tonnes of steel through the water displaces an equal amount of water somewhere, mostly along the side and bottom of the boat. What this means to other water users is that the water is being forced to rush around the travelling boat at some speed.
So, moored boats experience this rush of water as a flow, (anywhere between ten and twenty tones of water) pushing and pulling at the moored boat. In normal circumstances this is not a problem if the boat (water) is moving slowly, it occasionally causes the moored boat to move a little in one direction or the other, but that is all.
Now we come to the 'silly' (or ignorant) boat users who instead of slowing down past moored boats just continue on in their own inimitable way with no thought for anyone but themselves. These people (I could not find an appropriate word to use so had to stick with people) rush past with the result that the ten or twenty tones of water hit the moored boat at some considerable speed causing the moored boat to put excessive strain on the mooring points as it is thrown about, and in some cases actually pulling the mooring pins out of the ground.
The result of this is a boat that is no longer moored up, but drifting aimlessly across or along the canal, usually ending up with one end on one side of the canal and the other end on the other side of the canal, not much fun for anyone.
Well, this is what had happened to Destiny. The stern was still attached to the tow path side, but the prow was resting on the opposite bank.
All hands to the ropes, we managed to pull Destiny back against the water and, more importantly, against the wind. Not many people realise that a narrow boat is just like any other boat on the water and has a sail. The sail is the bit above the water, in the case of Destiny a sail that is six foot high and sixty four foot long (384 sq ft) - quite a sail when the wind is blowing a gale.
Then at about half three the rain settled in as though it was making up for the drought that we have been suffering with for the past month or so (yeah right).
Marley (one of the two cats on board, just in case I have forgotten to mention it) caught a mouse, we think it was the one that Shadow (the other of the two cats on board) dropped in the galley earlier on, and promptly dropped it in the canal. Wonder upon wonder, she then leapt in after it and retrieved it from the water, climbing out onto the fender of Destiny looking about seven sizes smaller than when she went in, but none the worse for her experience. In fact, she seems to have no fear of the water and, although may not like getting wet, realises that she can if the reward is great enough.
Sitting here at six in the evening, looking out of the back doors of Almyne at the calm, clear, rain free vista of water, stretching as far as the eye can see (after this many glasses of wine, that is not very far) and rejoicing in the aftermath of a veritable downpour of rain while the air is clean and clear makes me realise just how lucky I am.
How many people in this world can say to themselves that they are living the life that they have always dreamed of? How many people can say that they are content? How many people can say that they are at peace with themselves?
Six eleven and the heavens have opened again, there must be an awful lot of muck in the air to get rid of today!
Six twenty two, perhaps I over estimated the lack of air quality or underestimated the efficacy of the rain, but it is all clear now, the rain has stopped and the clouds are thinning, we may have a good view of the stars tonight.
Seven thirty in the evening, the skies are clearing and the sun is breaking through, what a wonderful way to end the day, maybe this is a portent of what is to come, rain all day, sunshine in the evenings.
Wed, 22 Jul 2009
Woke this morning at twenty-five to six and, much to the disgust of Kath
and Kaia , I did the washing up and made tea and coffee all round. Then I went back to bed till ten, what a life!
Now this is where it might get confusing. Although we did five miles and six locks today it was on Destiny. (Actually it was 2½ miles there and 2 /12 back and three locks there and three locks back.) We took Destiny down to Wheelock, winded and came back to where Almyne was moored up. Kath needed to get to a cash machine and we have to go back to Middlewich tomorrow to collect Scott
but it seemed silly to take both boats all the way there and back as we will be proceeding down the Trent and Mersey from Thursday onwards.
Kath encouraged me to helm Destiny for the outward journey and she is totally different to Almyne, much heavier and slower to respond on the bends but just as quick off the mark, if not quicker. I took it slowly all the way there even though a boat was sniffing my exhaust for most of the time. Mind you, this just made me even more determined to go slowly past moored boats.
Got to the third lock and although we had experienced a little rain on the way down what came out of the sky at the lock was more like a tropical downpour (reminiscent of Box Hill for those in the know) and we were all drenched within seconds. Fortunately it was warm rain, if rain can ever be called warm, it still made me cringe as it pounded on my back.
The people on the boat that had been sniffing my exhaust did the sensible thing and moored up to let the rain blow over. We exited the lock, winded and came right back into it.
While we were winding a boat, Kinver, came out of the lock above us. We went back into our lock and continued on our way. The next lock was ready for us, so we went straight in. On exiting there was a boat coming in to the lock below us, so we left the gates of our lock open so that they could come straight in, however, the crew on Kinver 'stole' the lock from them.
In canal parlance, to 'steal' a lock is to fill it (or empty it as the case may be) even though the boat coming in the other direction is in view. This is grossly bad manners and, in some instances, can actually cause more of a problem than it is worth. Not only that, the 'stealing' boat gains absolutely no advantage as it has to wait for the boat in front anyway.
Well, having stolen the lock, causing the boat coming up to wait for it to empty, we were left with three boats in a pound that is only big enough for two boats. The boat coming out of the lower lock passed us and was then confronted with a full lock, Kinver the Lock Stealer was in it. We proceeded into the lock, at which point Kinver the Lock Stealer had room to exit their 'stolen' lock and make room for the boat coming up to enter it.
Now, Kinver the Lock Stealer had to moor up and wait for us to complete the lock anyway. During this process I had the opportunity to ask one of the crew on Kinver the Lock Stealer if they had a copy of The Boaters Handbook and was told 'Yes'. I then asked if they had read it and was again told 'Yes'.
I then suggested that they were aware of the procedure at locks and that they should not be wasting water and was told that it was my opinion, not theirs and I should keep my nose out of it.
Not wanting to cause an argument with another boater (never having come across a situation like this in the past) I let it be and continued on my way.
Exiting the next lock I noticed a boat coming along the canal toward us, so indicated to the crew on Kinver the Lock Stealer of this (unfortunate) situation. As they were already filling the lock (preparing to steal another one) I walked back to point out their error, but before I reached the top of the lock they dropped the paddles and very kindly allowed me to rectify their mistake and empty the lock for the approaching boat.
We pulled over a short distance later and Kath went into Wheelock to attend to her business.
On her return we enjoyed a fish and chip supper and set off back to Almyne, only to see Kinver the Lock Stealer moored up just a few hundred yards along the canal. They were not even in a hurry to go great distances, they were just being ignorant.
We finally arrived at Almyne about eight and settled in for a quiet evening, let the cats out for a run, as they had been in all day.
Cats being cats, they promptly started to investigate e the newcomers to the area. Marley walked past Almyne and along to the next boat in line. Unusually, I decided to follow her and as I approached the next boat in line, Marley was climbing on to the cratch. The woman on board asked me if I could remove my cat. I readily started to oblige at which point Marley moved too far away from me to be able to reach her easily. Now, being a polite boater, there was no way I was going to put any part of myself on another persons boat without being invited. So I asked the woman if I could put my foot on her boat to retrieve Marley. She refused me access. So the only thing I could do was to leave Marley there to make her own way back. I did point out to the woman the paradox she was providing me with in removing the cat but being made unable to get to it, at which point she battened down the hatches and refused to talk any further, with anyone.
The next twenty minutes or so was spent in exercising the dogs along the tow path, throwing sticks and trying very hard to get D'fer
to bark quietly when he returned the stick that had been thrown alongside the next boat for him.
Sometimes, just sometimes, you have one of those days when people get to you, and I think that this might just have been one of those days.
Thu, 23 Jul 2009
Evening Sky
Four and a half miles, and eleven locks, four of them twice. We took Destiny back to Middlewich so that Kath
could find a bank. Moored up just above Kings Lock just before two for a quick cuppa and a to walk into Middlewich.
While we were mooring up, D'fer
in his own inimitable way, was off making himself known to the local dogs. He found one that was rather interesting and decided that he wanted to play with her. She decided otherwise and in the ensuing courtship, she decided that she would go home, across a busy main road with D'fer and the dogs owner in hot pursuit. I dropped everything and went after them, soon being left way behind and totally lost site of all concerned.
After walking for at least a mile I gave up and decided that D'fer would eventually find his way back or someone would find him and ring me (my phone number is on his collar).
I was nearly back at Destiny when I bumped into the other dogs owner, who explained that her dog had just finished her 'season' and this was the first day that she had taken the dog for a walk. D'fer had chased the poor thing all the way back to her own house and the woman had then found them both and returned D'fer to Destiny. She was fine about the whole incident and told me that she thought that D'fer was a lovely dog, even though he had caused all such anguish.
Arriving back at Destiny D'fer was there, chained up and looking very sheepish while Kath and Kaia
held on to his lead.
The whole incident had taken up nearly an hour, so we were now running late, but set off into Middlewich, calling in at the boat yard to check on the best time for a pump out and being told 'Now'.
As Kath needed to get to the bank before it closed she sent me back to Destiny to bring her down through Kings Lock and along to the boat yard on my own. With D'fer and Rowan
in tow, I set off back to Destiny to bring her down to the boat yard.
My only experience of helming Destiny previously was yesterday, when I helmed Destiny for an hour or so along the straight and narrow, letting Kath take over everywhere else.
It was with some trepidation that I started up Destiny, cast off and set off to the lock, only a couple of hundred yards I know, but this involved casting off, taking Destiny along the canal, slowing down at the lock and mooring up and then getting her into the lock, all the while trying to keep the dogs under control. I had D'fer firmly chained to the mooring dolly so that he had no chance of running off to find his new amour, but this, of course, meant that as soon as I was not on the back of Destiny he howled and yelled and told the world that I was mistreating him, that he had been chained to the back of the boats for days and days, in all the rain and thunder and that he was hungry and thirsty and that he though the would die if someone didn't rescue him and his new girlfriend was somewhere out there calling for him. I don't think anyone believed him, but you can never be sure.
Fortunately a couple of boats arrived, so I had crew to man the lock for me. Once at the lower level I took Destiny out and on to the boat yard. I had envisaged having to tie Destiny up, operate the lock, climb down the ladder onto Destiny, take her out, moor up, go back to close the gates and then get back on to Destiny and set off again, quite a first time challenge.
Got to the boatyard without incident, moored up there, in quite a tight slot and got the pump-out done. (A 'pump-out' for future reference is pumping out the on board flushing toilet.)
All done, and no sign of Kath so I had to make a decision, the next lock was in my favour and a boat was coming along behind me, so I set off to the next lock. Kath arrived just as I got there, so I gratefully let her take the helm.
We negotiated the next three locks without mishap, checking that each of the locks we needed to get into was available. There was a boat in each one of them, but it was going away from us so would present no problem in the very short pounds between locks.
Just past the third lock was a winding hole, so we turned around and made our way back up the flight, knowing that each lock would be in our favour, as no boats had passed us going in the opposite direction. Had we left it till the following morning it is likely that all of them would have been against us, making for twice the effort at each lock.
The first of the three on the way up was no problem, even though there was a boat waiting to use the lock that we were in. A very nice holiday making family who seemed to be doing everything right. Unfortunately, the hire boat following them had omitted to make sure that their exit from their lock as unimpeded and had filled their lock, causing us to have to wait in the intermediate pound for them to exit. This meant that there were three boats in a pound designed for two boats only.
Kath just moored up on the lock operation bollards and let the hire boat sort themselves out. Once they were clear of their lock Kath went in, leaving the hire boat aground on the far side. Once again, stealing a lock did not get them anywhere as they still had to wait for the boat in front of them to go through the lock and wait for the boat that was now following us to come through and got themselves into trouble to boot.
Anyway, we continued on our way, stopping off at the water point at the junction to top up with drinking water and then went up through Kings lock, moored up alongside the A533 (again) and walked back to the pub at the lock for a well earned drink, keeping D'fer on his lead all the time, he was not impressed.
While we were having a drink at the lock side pub several boats came through and we started playing 'spot the wally', didn't take long to spot them. One boat came into the lock from below and Kath and I agreed that it must be a woman on the helm as the boat had come in so slowly without bumping anything, and that the boat must be privately owned as the crew were doing everything right. We were surprised to find out that it was a young lad on the tiller and that it was an American family on a hire boat. We complemented them on their handling of the boat and half an hour later after they had moored up they came along to the pub and joined us for a chat for a while. A very pleasant end to an interesting day.
Fri, 24 Jul 2009
Lisa, the girl that we chatted to in the pub last night knocked on the door at half seven (as arranged) and collected the bottle of Lavender and Jasmine oils that Kath
had prepared for her.
Spent most of the day reading a book and playing patience on the laptop due to the persistent rain outside, while Kath practised her paper quilling and made several cards.
Kept D'fer
on a lead all day to stop him running off.
About half ten I let D'fer out for a quick wee, but he had other ideas. He gave the grass a quick sniff, and quick as winking he decided that his 'amour' of a couple of days ago was within reach again. He set off like a bullet out of a gun about one hundred yards along the tow path and then shot across the main road, straight into the path of an oncoming car.
As he started to leg it, I popped back into Almyne to put on a hat and coat as I knew that it was likely to be a long chase.
Walking up the tow path I spotted a couple of cars parked on the opposite side of the road with their hazard lights on. Deep in my heart I knew what had happened so was sort of prepared as I approached them to see D'fer lying in the gutter surrounded by several people. All I could think of saying was "Is he dead?"
He wasn't, but he was not moving, just lying there with a glazed expression on his face. I sat down beside him and stroked him gently, but there was no recognition at all. I gently cradled his head on my lap and felt the blood on his face, warm and sticky.
The woman who had hit him was distraught and I did my best to re-assure her that it was not her fault and there was nothing she could have done to avoid a big black dog, coming out of nowhere at full tilt in the dark.
I sat there for a while not really knowing what to do and preparing myself for a life without D'fer. One of the spectators was the occupant of the house outside which the incident had occurred and another was the woman in the car following the car in collision. Between the two of them they contacted the local emergency veterinary surgery and arranged that D'fer would be transported there for a checkup if nothing else. I had no transport, so the second woman volunteered to drive me there and a blanket and a dogs rug appeared from nowhere. I laid the dogs rug beside D'fer and rolled him gently on to it, and then two of us picked up the rug and put it and D'fer in the back of the car as gently as possible. All all this he made no complaint, just letting things happen around him. I got in the back of the car with him and we all set off to the vets, about half an hours journey away.
Arriving there the vet was waiting for us and carted D'fer off or a check up, returning about ten minutes later saying that D'fer could support his own weight on his legs, so nothing broken, but that he was obviously in shock and that he should stay in overnight for observation, just in case concussion or other complications set in.
I was driven back to the boats and the resident lady offered to drive me back to the vets the following day to collect D'fer.
We had a very subdued evening with not a lot of proper sleep.
Sat, 25 Jul 2009
3 miles 5 locks
Steve
came and collected Kaia
just after ten and we spent the rest of the day reading and paper quilling until Amanda and Iain brought Scott
back from his weeks motor crossing and camping in mountains.
Late in the afternoon the woman outside whose house D'fer
had his little incident took me to the vets to collect him. He was defiantly not himself and I almost thought that he was not my dog anymore.
After settling him in we motored down to Crows Nest Bridge to check on Almyne and by the time we got there it was time for bed.
The journey went smoothly enough and D'fer sort of tried to look out but spent most of the time laid on the sofa not really looking at anything, or responding to any sort of stimulus, not interested in biscuits, water or even having a fuss made of him. He had been given pain killers at the vets and I had more pain killers for him as well as antibiotics. He was meant to have some of each during the evening, but with him not wanting to eat anything this might prove difficult.
We got to Crows Nest Bridge, moored up and got a bite to eat but there was little enthusiasm in any of us.
After a while Kath
opened a tin of ham and offered a thin slice to D'fer, this produced a bit of a response and he eat that, so after few more slices we put his antibiotics in a slice of ham, which he eat and I squirted the painkillers into his mouth from the measuring syringe.
After this he just lay down and slept again. I suppose rest was the best thing for him.
Sun, 26 Jul 2009
9 miles 10 locks
From the mooring close to Crows Nest Bridge we went down to Wheelock, winded between locks 64 and 63 and returned to Middlewich. Scott
spent the day on the tiller, while Kath spent the whole journey (and some) on the computer catching up with old friends, while D'fer just lay on the sofa looking sad and forlorn and not doing much of anything. He did have a little breakfast (with antibiotics) but with little enthusiasm.
Steve
to brought Kaia
back from their weekend away about half seven, so we all stayed on Almyne in Middlewich again!
D'fer perked up a little in the evening and had his evening meal with antibiotics and pain killers, but seemed unsure of me. He was a little more responsive to Kath, but not a lot.
Mon, 27 Jul 2009
6½ miles 7 locks
Set off full of enthusiasm just after six, hoping to get close to Red Bull Lock at Kidsgrove, knowing that it was a big challenge, but nonetheless possible.
Kath
on Destiny and me on Almyne, the children going straight back to bed as soon as they realised it was before midday, (funny really, they were quite excited at first).
D'fer
was a little more with it this morning, giving the occasional bark at passing boats, but only just. I think he must still have had a headache and the barking made it worse.
Motored along to Wheelock, where we topped up with water, Kath did a bit of shopping in the village and the children and I went across the road to top up with pet supplies, a subdued but more active D'fer accompanying us.
At Wheelock there is a pet supplies shop right there, spitting distance from the boats, so we got two 15kg bags dog food, one 15kg bag cat food and two 30 lt bags of cat litter, should keep us going for a while.
The next three locks went really easily and then we got to lock 63. Now both of us had been through lock 64 before, winded and been back, but neither of us had been through lock 63. Destiny went through nicely and carried on while I got thoroughly stuck. Fortunately Scott
was with me as I was stuck halfway in and halfway out and could not get off Almyne. He went back to lock 64 where some BW guys were working and told them. They said that I must have a fender down, but, being an intelligent lad he explained that this was not so.
The BW guys came along, assessed the situation and 'flushed' me out. This entails opening both the upper paddles as quickly as possible, which produces a very fast rush of water with an almost instant rise in water level. I popped out of the lock backwards like a champagne cork, only just avoiding hitting the lock that I had recently exited. The BW guys explained that if I could not get through lock 63 there was no way I would get through lock 61.
I moored up, while Scott raced ahead and told his mother of the situation, whereupon she pulled over and moored up as well.
With us both moored up I walked up to where Kath was so we could discuss our options. As I was moored up opposite a winding hole, in a short pound, which is not a good thing to do and tends to annoy other boaters, including me, I was explaining to other boaters my reasons for doing this. One of them mentioned that he had seen a notice on the top side of lock 61 saying that if you are over seven foot wide to ring BW and they will get you through, but we were still unsure.
a) Kath to continue down to Great Haywood and me to turn around and go all the way back to Middlewich, along the Middlewich arm and down the Shropshire union to meet her at Great Haywood or
b) for us both to turn around and go back together.
Kath opted for option two, after much cursing and grumbling from the both of us that there were no signs or any indication at Middlewich of the situation with these locks.
So, we turned Destiny around and worked her back through the locks till she was alongside Almyne, but pointing in the other direction.
All this time D'fer was still quite subdued, occasionally barking at a dog on another boat, albeit briefly. I sort of got the impression that to bark made his head ache, so he wasn't doing much of that.
With both boats secured, although making life difficult for other boaters as there was now two boats moored up opposite a winding hole, side by side, we decided that we would walk back and see if this sign existed and if so what the number was. It did and I promptly rang the number. After a brief discussion I was given an alternative number to ring. I rang it and was promptly referred back to the original number.
I rang the original number again, explained what had happened and was put through to a supervisor. After a description of my predicament (and the mis-referenced numbers) he told me he would get some BW guys along to see me in the next twenty to thirty minutes to sort it out for me.
Sure enough some guys arrived. They were the ones who had flushed me out previously and were just as negative about my forward progress as before, going on to explain that if I insisted in going forward it was possible that the only way they would get me through was to attach what they called 'Turf Winches' to me and drag me through with little or no consideration as to the condition of Almyne when I eventually got through.
Hmmmmmmmm, food for thought.
By this time both Kath and I were getting a bit ticked off with the attitude of the local BW guys. I rang BW again and explained the situation, I had a choice of going back the way I had come, wasting four or five days, or going forward and if I got stuck, waiting till the weekend when they would have finished their work on the lock gates.
This time I got put through to another supervisor who agreed wholeheartedly with my sentiments and when I explained to him that I would rather wait and get through by Friday than go all the way around, he arranged for a BW team to arrive by nine the following morning and they would open up the larger of the twin locks and get me through there.
Nothing else to do but wait for the morning, so we enjoyed, what was after all, one of the nicest days weather we had experienced for a week or two.
D'fer much better today, he now barks at Kath to throw his stick, but still just puts it on the ground in front of me and waits.
Tue, 28 Jul 2009
4 miles 15 locks
Up early as BW are due along just after nine to get me through locks 63, 62 and 61. Breakfast and a cup of tea by half seven, and only just in time as the BW guys arrived, bright and chirpy at bang on eight o'clock.
With the sun shining they directed me to the left hand lock (this is the flight where there are twin locks for most of the way), which is closed for repair, and prepared it for me. Went in with no trouble, they let the water in slowly, and out at the top.
The next lock, again was no problem and then we reached the lock that they believed would give problems.
They told me to 'float in', i.e. not under power. To this this I had to get the nose of Almyne into the lock and then give short bursts of throttle to get Almyne going, but not long enough to actually develop any speed.
Anyway, Almyne went in with no problem, rose up the lock with ease and out the other end with grace, to the delight of all involved. The BW guys, Ivor and Lawson, were probably as delighted as I was and sent me on my way with good wishes and beaming smiles.
Destiny soon arrived following me after winding between locks 64 and 63 and then through 63, 62 and 61.
We all stopped off for a cup of tea and an appraisal of the situation.
As the sun was shining we decided that we would motor until Red Bull Lock, or six in the evening, whichever came first.
The rest of the day was a bit like hopscotch as the twin locks alternated with singles, so at a single I had to wait for Destiny to go through and at doubles, as Destiny was using one lock, I could catch up and use the one beside her.
Outside lock 57 there was an advertisement for a 'Fun Pottery Experience' at the following bridge, so, being in the lead at that moment in time, I moored up by bridge 146 to check it out. Rang Kath
to see what she thought and moored up properly so that she could moor up behind me.
We wandered along the road to the Pottery Barn, where Kath and Scott
had a go on a potters wheel and Kaia
painted a pottery cat, a most enjoyable time for all.
Setting of again, the rain decided that we had had as much fun that day as we were allowed and settled in with a vengeance, so for the next eight locks we tolerated the rain and wind just to see if we could get to Red Bull Lock this evening. We didn't make it.
Just one mile and five locks short of one of our targets we pulled over and moored up, changed into dry clothes and settled in for the evening, bang on six o'clock. So we were on target really.
Root vegetable stew for the evening meal and very welcome it was too after spending all afternoon cold and wet and hungry.
Both Kaia and Scott were 'stars' all day, bearing up and putting up with the weather, whilst running between locks to make sure that both Destiny and Almyne got through OK.
I'm beginning to think that D'fer
cannot remember the car hitting him at all, just the fact that he ran off, I shouted at him, he woke up with the biggest headache that anyone could ever imagine and bruises and pain all over. He has no idea what I did to him, but it sure hurt!!! and he 'ain't gonna cross that guy again'.Wed, 29 Jul 2009
1 mile 5 locks
After all the rain yesterday afternoon and evening we thought that today must be fine, after all, there is no more dirt to wash out of the air.
Set off just after eleven after a lazy wake up period and a warm breakfast, waiting for the rain to ease up.
In normal circumstances we would not have travelled, but we wanted to get to Red Bull Lock as the facilities there are good, Water, Pump-Out, Elsan, Showers and Laundry. It was mostly the laundry that we wanted to make use of to get all the washing done, AND DRY. We had also arranged to meet Richard
there.
So off we went, in the rain, well it was rain to start with, it soon became a downpour, with very little let up. Within half an hour I was drenched to the skin and took my waterproofs off as I was not going to get any wetter anyway. It was actually a little easier helming and manning the locks in a light shirt than it was in the waterproofs, less cumbersome and no colder. Well, when you are that wet you cannot get any wetter and it was not really cold anyway.
Stopped off at Red Bull Lock to dry out from the persistent rain of the morning. Kath
started off the washing and left me in charge of it while she went into Kidsgrove to do some shopping.
It has taken me nearly fifty years to get the hang of a twin tub, so these new fangled automatic washers seem just too complicated for me. I would probably have been better of to let one of the children work it out, but they had other activities in mind.
D'fer
much better today, nearly back to his old self. I believe that there is an old saying that goes on the lines of 'It's an ill wind that blows no-one good' and perhaps D'fer's altercation with the car has resulted in some good. He no longer spends all his time on and around locks barking his head off.Thu, 30 Jul 2009
1/4 mile 2 locks
The plan for today was to go through Harecastle tunnel but woke up to persistent and heavy rain, so just mooched around not doing a lot of anything and sorting out the woes of the world.
During the afternoon the sun came out, so we did all the preparation to set off and we were just about to cast off when Shadow escaped from Destiny and shot off into the maize field beside where we were moored up.
I was really annoyed and over reacted berating those around me for this lapse in attention. I soon calmed down and apologised to all concerned, but nonetheless we still had to sit there and wait for Shadow to return, he did, as soon as it started raining again.
By the time this shower eased off and eventually stopped Shadow was firmly incarcerated in the front of Destiny so we were able to set off. We only went the two locks but enjoyed a pint of real ale at the first lock.
After the second we moored up and walked along the tow path to view the entrance portal to Harecastle tunnel, interesting. On the way back we called in to another hostelry where we had a couple more drinks.
D'fer
much more himself today, in fact he was chasing the children up and down the tow path on their bikes, chewing at their ankles to such an extent that I had to put him on his lead. From then on he was even more of a pain nearly pulling me over whenever one of the children came in to view, not that I am complaining about his, what would seem to be, full recovery.Harecastle Tunnel1
Harecastle Tunnel2
Harecastle Tunnel3
Harecastle Tunnel4
Fri, 31 Jul 2009
3 miles 1 lock 1 tunnel
Up early, along to the boat yard where we replaced both gas cylinders on Almyne and one on Destiny, hooray, we now have a full complement of gas, and then along another few hundred yards to the tunnel entrance.
Moored up and waited for the tunnel keeper to book us in. Had our last cup of tea for a while as there is no cooking or naked lights in the tunnel.
Last time I went through this tunnel I did it alone, so had to keep my focus on what I could see in the headlight, only seeing the walls beside me dimly lit and with very little detail. This time, Destiny was in front and another boat behind, while Richard
was on the tiller. The difference was dramatic, I could take the time to see the walls and occasionally take a picture with the camera. Unfortunately the camera ran out of battery before I had the chance to take as many pictures as I would have liked.
I should have mentioned that ever since Middlewich the canal has been getting redder and redder. This is due to the iron salts in the water, primarily iron oxide (rust) I believe. Anyway, the limestone that precipitates on the walls of the tunnel has this bright red colouring and looks quit stunning, I wish I could have got more pictures of it, or even broken off a chunk, but perhaps that is not really a good idea.
Once through the tunnel the first thing that we all noticed was that the water was the usual muddy colour, none of the red colouring on the other side of the tunnel. Methinks that there must be a flow of water through the tunnel from south to north.
We moored up at Westport Lake which is a local recreation facility for a brew and as the drizzle set in we decided that we would stay a while.
Richard found his way back to his vehicle and the children got their bikes out and started to create a diversion, well, that's what they called it, I just thought that they were making a lot of noise.
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