Ever tried pushing through sludge?

 November 26th

 What to do? Rain had arrived at first light and it was getting a bit blowy. Knowing storm Arwen was about to arrive did we really want to move? We had been told by CRT this was to be just for overnight mooring. With the rain lashing down we decided to ask to stay for the weekend but then, blue sky appeared, the wind dropped, a wonderful rainbow appeared, and a decision made, make a break for Pelsall.

The first part of the journey wasn't too bad, a bit slow-going again especially when we were doing CRT's job for them by dredging the bottom with FS's hull! And the usual debris was rolled over at bridge 'oles but it was past Birchills Junction that our troubles begun.

It was left for us today to continue on the Curly Wyrley. To the right was the Walsall canal.

Gosh that sky looked ominous and sure enough we were in for a drenching. Well Ian was 'cos he was at the helm, no point in both getting soaked.

 It was during the downpour that another section of weed greeted us. This time I could identify it as Azolla weed. I took this excerpt from invasive specious.org

Native to the Americas, Azolla filiculoides was introduced to the UK in the 19th century and became naturalized, going on to become widespread on slow moving and stationary water bodies, frequently infesting valuable or threatened habitats. Azolla can have a variety of impacts: it can reduce light and oxygen reaching submerged flora and fauna; outcompete native aquatic plants; alter pH and other physiochemical variables; block drainage systems; inhibit leisure activities such as angling and boating; and pose a risk to livestock and people when mistaken for solid land.

This was with us for miles! It was like pushing through sludge and FS was constantly put into reverse to try and clear it from the prop. On one such reverse disaster struck. All backward momentum was lost. Forward was just about possible and we coasted toward the bank as seen in the photo above. All along the Curly Wyrley the side has been that shallow getting to the bank was impossible but here we struck lucky. FS got right alongside. Then while I held the rope, Ian went head first toward the weed hatch to get his arm as far down as possible toward the prop. And what he found was not pleasing...be it a rug or carpet the outcome was the same. How to get it off!

Lots of cussing and tugging but mainly cutting with scissors eventually got that rug off but wrapped around even tighter was a large plastic sack!

Even though the debris was off the prop, FS refused to go any faster than tickover, and then the sky turned black again.

Would we be able to outrun it? That Azolla weed disappeared and FS took on a bit of a spurt and had high hopes of arriving at Pelsall in the next 40 minutes. The channel was free, but it was the appearance of reeds lining both sides that slowed us down again and they were that tall, no oncoming boat would have been seen. Not that this worried us because for the last two days we haven't seen hide nor hair of even one.

About a mile further along and wow, we spied a possible mooring. Would there be enough depth? Wonderful, there was and what a fab place to sit out the storm. Only on pins, not ideal but I very much doubt if another boat will pass by and yes we got moored before the next downpour arrived. Pelsall will have to wait until Sunday 'cos we won't be moving until then.

And this seen from the bridge and is what we will have to expect again when we move. And just when we had seen the last of that weed!

 

This from yesterday,