As much as I admire our women's football team, neither Ian or I are the least bit interested in the game. So we left Jim and Jenn to watch England v Nigeria this morning and set off to ascend Gailey Top lock.
Wow, what a pong greeted us as we got to the top. Not nice at all, ah, found the culprit. The Septic tank was being emptied next to the house!
As this was the last lock until we ascend the 21, Ian walked Toffee to the next bridge. I suggested it, he reluctantly agreed, I did offer, but no, he said was quite happy to do the walk. What I hadn't realised was how far the next bridge was! A good 3/4 mile! Toffee loved it...Ian did not. It was the knees!!!!
At Calf Heath a memory came flooding back. Not one I should have forgotten really because it was not far past the Hatherton junction that white smoke from the exhaust filled the air. It happened back in August 2017 we had to stop rather rapidly because the head gasket had blown! To read all about it click HERE
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| The Staffs and Worc carries on to the right |
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| Hatherton canal with the lock |
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| Looking back with the Staffs and Worc to the left and Hatherton disused canal to the right. |
Ian wanted to stop at Coven Heath, I thought the motorway and main road was too near and preferred to stop well before. We could have continued to Autherley Junction but there was no rush to get to Birmingham for the Campaign cruise. We expressed an interest quite a while ago, completed our form and was asked to be near the mailbox on Sunday 13th to be part of the flotilla. Click HERE to read all about it. So we stopped after bridge 24. A lovely rural spot good for Toffee and for getting my washing hung out. It was the latter activity that Ian made an unwelcomed discovery.
The boarding plank has been a good anchor for my clothes rack and it was on removal of that from the roof antlers where the discovery was made. One of the fixing bolts had sheered and rust was very evident around the base bracket. He had also noticed two water marks on the wooden ceiling in our bedroom. This coincided with where the antlers were fixed.
An urgent repair was needed. What my 'man that can' doesn't carry on this boat is not worth talking about, so out came the tools including a grinder and proceeded to rectify the problem. I did wonder what the grinder was for. Turns out he wanted to remove part of the antler cup as this had always stopped the solar panel from spinning. Within an hour the job was done!
There came a discussion on how the bolt had sheered and why the antler had been damaged. Ah...my fault and yes I do hold my hands up to that. Remember my bridge incident at Shipley lock? Yep the contact with the bridge wall was all it took!
We were joined later when Jim and Jenn turned up. Both were over the moon that England girls had won their football match. No celebratory drink but we did all sit outside for a couple of hours, that is until the temperature dropped and had me scuttling inside.The rest followed shortly afterwards.
And seen on route,
Long line of towpath, not a single boat moored yet a full bird feeder was on the side.
And wildlife
2 comments:
Please don't let Ian use his angle grinder on something that he is holding in his hand! That is an accident just waiting to happen.
We are touched by your concern Pip and yes in normal circumstances he would have used a bench. This grinder has many safety features, and he felt secure enough to use it the way he did. I very much doubt that he will need it again. He only bought it as a 'just in case' jobbie.
Xx
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