Did not expect a queue.

 Sept 13th

Friday 13th, did you know that the New-York Historical Society says the origin can be partially traced back to Jesus' Last Supper. The story goes that 13 guests attended the Last Supper—Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles—and the next day, Good Friday, was the day of Jesus' crucifixion!

Anyway, I thought I would impart this bit of useful (or useless) information to one and all and not being superstitious (yea right!) I felt sure today would go well. And it did, the cruise to Rugeley went without hitch. No one was met at Armitage tunnel; I did notice the signs had been replaced and could find no information board asking for a crew member to go on ahead to make sure it was all clear.

Rugeley was very quiet, and we had no trouble in finding a mooring. First stop was to Home Bargains to see if they had any Flamefast fire logs. It's the transitional period from summer to Autumn that makes us indecisive about whether to get the fire going or not. Today was too hot really to light the stove, but the chill needed taking off when sitting in the evening, and those fire logs burn for a good two to three hours. We were unlucky, though, they don't seem to do them any more. We will just have to continue with the diesel heater instead.

Having done a shop in Morrisons, we would have continued on our way, but truth be told we couldn't be bothered to move again. It wasn't a bad mooring if you could ignore the generator noise two boats further along and the children leaving school shouting and running up and down the towpath, but all in all, from 8pm onwards all went quiet.

 

September 14th

Destination today Great Hayward for a weekend on Tixall wide. Ian wanted to prep and paint the handrail on the starboard side, having already finished the handrail on the port side. It was about 5 miles from Rugeley with only two locks to do. Having left before 8 30am, crept past loads of moored boats, and not seeing a sign of another boat moving, we assumed the first lock, Colwich would have no one waiting. How wrong were we! 

I could see a line of boats through the trees, thought them to be moored until Ian burst my bubble to say there was a queue. Unfortunately the lock landing has room for two boats, no more, so all we could do was get as near to the bank as possible. Ian managed to jump off, I tried to steer the boat forward and got well and truly stuck! With Ian pushing the bow out and then hobbling down to the stern to give that a shove, at one point I really thought he was going in for a swim, the point of no return, but thankfully his knees didn't let him down on this occasion, and managed to jump onto the gunnel. It was a close shave, though! 

Anyway, we waited for the lock for an hour before it was our turn. The ground paddle at the top gate was all tapped up and only the paddle on the lock gate could be used, so no wonder it took an age for 4 boats to get through. The balance beam must have been damaged at some time too because the beam was held together with iron rods.

 

Only Haywood lock to do and one boat waiting. Those other boats were passed at Shugborough Hall moorings.  We pulled onto the facilities, took on water and emptied the cassette and then reversed to Great Haywood Junction to do the turn onto the Staffs and Worc canal.

Tixall Wide was busy, not a space to be had, but just before the wide was a length of mooring that we thought we might get into. So Ian took FS in a wide circle to come back and claim that space.

 

Ian began the prep to paint the handrail, I went fishing!

Well, there was nothing I could help him with and, having opened a tin of sweetcorn yesterday to go with our chicken grill, had enough left to stick a corn kernel on the hook and see what I could catch. First cast a Roach. Second cast a Bream, wow this was a brilliant spot. So glad we will be staying for another day.

And seen on route

A submerged mystery

 September 12th

What a difference a day makes, went to bed with the rain beating down on the cabin top and woke this morning to sun streaming through the porthole window. It was to be a late getaway, most important when stopping in Alrewas was a visit to Coates the butchers. and because of the foulness of the weather yesterday, it was something to look forward to today. 

We always go in knowing exactly what was wanted and always come away purchasing more than we need. Sausages, bacon, and two sausage rolls were on our list but couldn't resist the pork medallions. If the lambs liver hadn't been so expensive, that may have been purchased too.

 After stopping off at the water point, heading off through the moorings, we found it increasingly difficult to get through in places. Overhanging branches by bends, and what was the CRT thinking when he gave this householder permission to have an offside mooring? Right by a bend, a bridge and opposite visitor moorings, it beggars belief! 

 

Just around this bend was the offside boat

The bridge and the same moored boat as above on the right

Room for one boat only!

At Bagnall lock, the usual problems arose with the bottom gates not staying shut.  As long as we can remember the bottom gates swing open, a year or two ago Ian could crack a top paddle and race back to close those gates before too much water was lost, but now, suffering as he does with both knees, it's more of an amble. A good job someone came along and helped, otherwise he would have been going backwards and forwards like a yo-yo. I tried to keep FS back onto the gates, but for some reason today, it didn't work. At one time, metal rods had been positioned on the gates as anchors, but they disappeared ages ago. Ian got chatting to a CRT guy also at the lock, and was told they were fed up with replacing the rods because people would pinch them for the scrap value!

Fradley had the volunteers working, I noticed at Hunts lock the same setup was being used as last year. Great idea, saving the volunteer lots of walking. A rope is tied from the far gate to the near, just pulling the rope brings the far gate closed. It works a treat.

So we sailed up Fradley locks, I would like to say in record time, but ever mindful of water wastage, the volunteer would not drop the water out of Hunt's lock. I sat on the landing for ages with no sign of a descending boat at all. It wasn't until we finally got to use the lock that the volunteer apologised and said a radio message told of a boat making their way down the flight. Little did he know the message was from the volunteer at Junction lock, two locks further up! 

Keepers lock above and Middle lock below

The Fradley services are on the offside between Keepers lock and Junction lock. The pound was down by about 4 inches, and on the approach to the bollards, I was unprepared when FS suddenly rose up, tipped and slid off something submerged. Gave me quite a shock, I can tell you! We moored and Ian went to empty the cassette. Then as I pushed the bow out right by the last bollard, good grief, if the self same thing didn't happen again as I left. What on earth was under the water? To raise me up on arriving at the services and to do it again as I left, I wondered if there was a submerged boat. I told the volunteer, it was the first he heard of the problem. I know the pound was low, and our draught of 2' 4"  means we are deeper in the water than most, but something is there, and it needs exploring.

We made it as far as Handsacre, found a mooring on a bit of a bend. Not ideal, but this is such a popular place it was one of only two spaces left. Tonight we treat ourselves to Michael's fish and chips, well we hope to if the rain stops. One clap of thunder earlier, black skies again and down came that rain!

And this was seen near the water point in Alrewas,

It was only a gentle nudge...honest!

 September 11th

I think we made the wrong decision today, it had been discussed last night whether to stay at the park or leave for Alrewas, the weather forecast was for high winds and rain. But this morning with the sun shinning, no wind and not a sign of any rain, we left. We would rue that decision later in the day!

Tattenhall lock wasn't far, we crept past a few moored boats at the Park and noticed the towpath had been resurfaced with AASHTO-10 crushed stone. It's all very nice, although when newly laid, it sticks to the shoes and doggy paws when the path is wet. So we found out to our cost when Toffee came to visit earlier in the year and went racing through the boat, leaving footprints on the bedroom carpet and wooden floor! Anyway as I said it all looks very nice, is a far cry from muddy towpaths but to some unscrupulous cyclists with no regard for anyone but themselves, it becomes their own personal racetrack!

Offside vegetation becoming a problem.

Only a few boaters about today, never the wonder as it was freezing! I took a selfie of me all wrapped up, fleece, hat and gloves, you would never believe we were still in summer.

Cold but a lovely start to the day

We happened to catch up with a boat at Wychnor Lock. From this lock, we would join the River Trent for just over half a mile. The river advisory board was on yellow with 'Proceed with caution'. I deposited Ian before the landing to help get the boat through the lock. This boat was towing a tiny narrow boat butty, (shed size) with Crêpe Factory Afloat on the back (he was at the Inland Port Festival). A conversation followed up on the lock, where he mentioned to Ian there may be a hold up at Alrewas lock. He had arrived to see two lads on a cruiser trying to ascend without a windlass, all they had with them was a spanner! While I waited for the lock to be free, suddenly realised I was having trouble with FS. The wind had picked up, trying to take FS away from the side. I managed to get to the landing and was very relieved when Ian started dropping water out and could sidle up to the gates.

On the top gate lock beam was a warning to keep right at the main weir because of an underwater obstruction. Very noticeable was the increased flow of the river when I entered, it was running faster than normal. Reeds were beginning to make the channel narrower, difficult with on coming boats.

I had the helm and tried to keep right at the weir. A big problem was to arise, though, as the right-hand side had a build up of silt, and it was inevitable that I would find it! FS tilted, and the bow started to head toward the weir. My reaction was to go into reverse to get FS off that silt and bring the stern back into the main channel. Thankfully it worked and with a bit of power, got back on track.  At the lock, not only was that cruiser on the landing, facing the wrong way to boot, but so was the Crêpe boat, leaving nowhere for me to go. Exiting the lock was another boat, I was stuck in the middle with the wind trying to push me toward the bank. Then a freak storm hit, rain, hail and gusts even stronger than before. Fighting FS, I managed to miss that oncoming boat, but now I was heading straight for the cruiser. The lads on it were frantically trying to bang in pins, even though they did have a centre rope on a bollard. I prayed that the Crêpe boat would move off the landing, and to be fair they did try. The wind was so strong it kept them on the side as they moved forward and even using a pole really struggled.  By them moving up meant I could get onto the landing, but that cruiser made life very difficult. I barely touched the cruiser, but as I swung FS's stern toward the bank, our stern fender got hooked on the rubbing band on their stern and bent it back. The lads were too intent in getting inside out of the torrential rain, to bother by what was happening to their boat. I don't even know if they heard me apologise! 

That list was nothing to do with me!

Eventually the Crêpe boat entered the lock, but the angle of the small butty had more of a problem. Ian managed to push it to line up with the entrance, and in it went. 

By the time it was my turn, the wind had dropped slightly and Ian managed to pole me off the side. Ian had help at the lock side. Another boat had just arrived below and sent their crew up. 

In the middle of the storm, gosh did it rain!

 

 Luckily there was a mooring free just beyond the lock landing and never more grateful was I to get moored up. The only bit of us still dry was the top half, our kagouls protecting that part. We stripped off, dried ourselves, the kettle went on for a cup of soup to warm us up and decided then and there we would go no further today. This decision was wise as the storm was not finished with us yet. For the rest of the afternoon, we had a mix of sunshine, hail followed by torrential rain and high winds.

You are not supposed to go in sideways!

 September 10th

Ian got us underway this morning, I was wrestling with changing the sheets and making the bed! Never easy on a narrow boat because there is no convenient way to get around all sides, in fact only one side is accessible. The top of the bed is next to the bulkhead and the bottom has a small cupboard taking roughly quarter the width. Trying to tuck in the fitted sheet into the corners next to the gunnel well, all I can say one has to put one's body in the most uncomfortable of positions! And once the quilt goes on, that has to be tucked in too. I always feel as if I've gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson by the time I've finished, and relieved not to have to do it again for another couple of weeks.  

Of all days to have high winds, it had to be today. We would be passing Shobnall marina, the diesel is really cheap at 87p a litre and an exchange of gas bottle could be purchased there too. It is not easy to get near the pump at the best of times because a reverse is necessary through a small arched footbridge. It's right by the winding hole and if the bow is positioned correctly on the far side, reversing for the entrance can be a doodle. But the slightest breeze and it becomes challenging. With the wind gusting to 25 mph, my attempt went horribly wrong. Oh, I got the stern in the entrance, but the rest of FS was drifting away at a 30-degree angle! Lots of manoeuvring, Ian getting off at the entrance pushing on the side and eventually in she went.

Stern by the diesel pump

So 80 litres diesel and a gas bottle purchased and ready to head off when a boat was seen hovering and blocking our escape. It never moved, in fact, the lady from the boat came into the marina yard and asked if we were going to leave! "Only if you get out of the way" I replied.

They did by positioning the boat across the winding hole. The bow was pointing toward the entrance and as we came out, I mentioned they would have to reverse in for diesel. "Not us" she said, "We have two tanks and one is in the bow!" 

That was the same angle as I was trying to get FS in!

Not far from Shobnall Marina is a short stretch of moorings convenient for Morrisons. Always very popular, we were lucky to find a spot. The rain started, so shopping put on hold until it stopped, and that wasn't for over an hour! By the time we shopped and left the mooring, it was late afternoon.

We made it to Branston Water Park, a mooring was found before the bridge. Building has progressed since we were last at the park, a new Nursery and Primary School has been built. So far the building work has not reached the canal, I hope it never will, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

And seen on route,

With just the hull left, I'm assuming the rest was destroyed by fire.

A tussle with Pennywort

September 9th

I can't believe how cold it has suddenly got and here we are still in summer! It's the beginning of September, for heaven’s sake but feels more like Autumn! Forget the meteorological calendar saying Autumn starts September 1st, you will never get me to change my mind about that date. For me, I follow the astronomical calendar, (the equinox which roughly means equal amount of sunlight to darkness.) and this year starts on the 22nd September. Autumn arrives then!

We did leave early, 7.15am, a real shock to the system! Sleep these last few nights have been disturbed by an alarm going off at midnight, and coming from my phone! We cannot figure from where. I have searched the phone, checked apps, searched settings and even the clock in case I had a timer set on that. It's baffling and until we find the source, the phone will have to be switched off. With broken sleep, why then do we always wake about 6 am? There was no point in staying in bed and knowing boats would be leaving the festival, we decided to make a break for it before that happened. A carpet of Pennywort had settled right by FS, I had to hope we didn't get any around the prop as we headed out.

The stretch of canal along the T&M we could do with our eyes closed. Apart from more of the Pennywort (which I don't remember being there last year) and a breach in the offside bank, nothing had changed.

 There were 4 more double locks to do in a distance of about 9 miles. Aston lock we had to ourselves, but at Weston, Swarkestone and Stenson we had a locking buddy. It was at Weston that I got into a bit of a bother. A single hander was in with us, he had climbed the ladder to help Ian open paddles. Usually having two boats in the lock, paddles could be raised completely, the boats aiding each other by not heading off in all directions, but unbeknown to the two men, a very large clump of Pennywort had nestled on FS's stern. I like to sit back on the bottom gate, but today was impossible with the Pennywort. Being too far forward the force of water started me on a forward path, I tried to correct it by going into reverse which did the one thing I knew would happen. The Pennywort got sucked into the propeller, causing the prop to almost jam. With no way of stopping FS from going forward, I crashed straight into the top gate! Ian realised there was a problem at that moment and whipped the paddle down quick. The single hander had no idea what was going on, so continued to leave his paddle raised. Eventually Ian got through to him and dropped his paddle too. His boat had been tightly tied, which slackened as the boats ascended, but his boat never hit the top gate. Anyway, after that up we came slowly and as soon as Ian could, got the rake and managed to dislodge the weed from the prop. With him using the rake, and me grabbing handfuls of the weed, we managed to get that Pennywort onto the lock side. 

 Not far from Stenson lock is Mercia Marina. Ian had planned a stop here to purchase a few bits from Midland Chandlers, namely a new slide for one of our cassettes. It stopped working yesterday, stayed open and couldn't be closed. Put it this way, there was to be no lingering in the bathroom! Having been on the go since 7.15am and the arrival time at Mercia 12.05pm, that was enough for today.

Inland Port Festival

 Sept 7th/8th

The day of the Shardlow Inland Port Festival dawned dull and drizzly, not what we wanted at all! The plan was to meet Norman and Shirley at Pentland, set up the stall and hope for lots of interest in our offerings. By 10 am the site opened and what a surprise. In spite of the weather, the public came, first in dribs and drabs and then in hordes. We found out later 3 coaches had turned up and all from Yorkshire. Strange to think an excursion would take those on holiday to a canal festival. Anyway, there was plenty of interest in ECP&DA as a society, and the stall was busy with various bric-a-brac bits selling fast. Shirley had purchased a Husky dog stuffed toy from Ikea and made a list of 70 popular dog names for people to pick from, charging £1 for a go. This proved popular, especially when Eric, (his Tug No 2 was moored next to Pentland) came to add his voice by pulling in the crowds and directing them to the gazebo. All 70 names taken by the end of day 1 and with day 2 still to come, Ian printed another sheet while I looked through the internet for more doggy names.

 

 

Day 2

It rained throughout the night, didn't bode well for the day ahead. We were first to arrive and while I started to set up, Ian decided to pump out the hold of Pentland. There was quite an accumulation of water, proving just how much rain had fallen overnight. He went to start the engine, turned the key, and nothing happened. The battery was completely flat! It suddenly dawned on him that he forgot to switch the battery isolator off on Tuesday and even with help from other boaters by giving all manner of advice, she refused to start. A battery will have to be brought down from the Mill, which isn't the best outcome. The water still needed getting out, so one of our volunteers grabbed a dustpan and used that to bale out the water.  

The day did dry up, in fact the sun shone later in the afternoon. Strange though that not many people were about. In fact, yesterday, with all the drizzle during the day, seemed to attract more of the public. Eric was once more persuaded to do his bit to bring folk to choose a doggy name, gosh he was good. 

Today I managed to get away for a short while and see the shire horses, in days gone by these magnificent beasts pulled the barges. A few still take tourists in horse drown boats today, mainly on the Llangollen canal in Wales, Tiverton in Devon and on the K&A.

Flies were a real nuisance, both horses were getting restless, so the owner decided to take Ebony (black shire) for a walk. Right by our stall, she raised her tail and deposited a decent amount of poo. No 'doggy do' bags would pick that lot up, so Norman rushed to Pentland, grabbed the spade and shovelled the droppings under a convenient tree!

Later in the afternoon, Richard Parry, CEO of CRT, paid us a visit. I think he was very surprised when we  collared him to pick the winning name from a hat, it had been moments before that the last doggy name had been picked from the list, the time had come to chose the winner.

Of all the names he could have picked, Sky was the dog's name and the lucky winner? One of those ladies on the coach yesterday that came from Barnsley! So it looks like she will be receiving the Husky by post!

4 pm, and we started to pack up, it had been another long day and I must say my feet were killing me. Not used to standing solidly for 7 hours, both throbbed continually. Shame we have no bath to soak the feet in, I could use the washing up bowl instead I suppose. Anyway the two days were extremely successful, more cash taken than last year and the 'pick a dog's name' will be something to adopt for next year.

We leave Shardlow tomorrow. I expect there will be a wait at the locks as the traders start their exit too. Hmm, we might try for an early start. We may then beat the mad exodus.