from Jack Mytton to Blake Mere

A dash had to be made to Jack Myttens, last night, as the rain that had started as we moored in the early afternoon never let up. We were the only ones dining at 6pm and the first in the pub. There was a chill about the place but the fire had been lit in the snug area and once the waitress knew we were dining, lit the fire in the dinning room just for us. We were made very welcome and it wasn't long before our order was taken and the delicious food put in front of us. After the meal, it was another dash back to the boat and after a glass of wine ( or two or three ) departed for bed.

This morning we woke to more rain but we had packed our waterproofs and after getting kitted up. set of around 9 am. On route I spied the first of the lambs this year. One was bleating frantically and running up and down by the gate at the bridge. I must assume that mum was on the other side somewhere.

The lamb suddenly saw the boat approach

I think he was intrigued by our boat

 We had a wet but uneventful journey to Ellesmere, watered up at the facilities, and then set off for our final destination for the day. Ellesmere tunnel loomed in front of us and as our passage ahead was clear, made our way toward the exit. Then suddenly, and just as we were yards from the end,  another boat appeared and proceeded to enter the tunnel. As he saw us panic set in judging by the amount of smoke billowing from his engine as he put it into hard reverse.  By now we were also in reverse and with more luck then judgement just about avoided a collision. The chap at the helm of Orchid was ever so apologetic but we just laughed it off as one of those canal moments that always happen at bridges, blind bends and tunnels.

You can see the smoke of his engine as he went into reverse

Not quite touched but it was close.

There was loads of moorings available at Blake Mere and so we decided to wind first, moor and then settle down for the day. By now both of us felt like drowned rats so instead of returning to Blake Mere we stopped at Colemere with the hope of walking round the lake if the rain stopped. After lunch we noticed that the rain had turned into more of a light drizzle so armed with walking boots,  waterproofs, Jade and camera we set off for the hike round the lake.

Trees uprooted

Colemere Lake

Grebes

Is this an eagle owl I see???

Yes,  but only a statue of one!

Ducks rest

I have no idea what duck these are. 

 

Tonight's lovely peaceful mooring.

And were off.

It was a real shock to the system this morning, when the alarm went off at 6.30am, but even so I lept out of bed to take Jade while Ian made tea and toast. By 7.45am we were on our way. The initial plan was to be at Anglo Welsh by 10am. Unfortunately due to loads of traffic it was stop start for several miles before we even reached the M1Consequently it was nearer 11.00 when we arrived and after loading the boat set off 12. 30ish. The forecasted drizzle arrived as we set off but with no wind to speak of it wasn't a bad start to our cruise.

Looking down the arm

Merlin is the boat furthest away, 3rd out from the bank You might be able to see the open rear doors.

Ian at the helm over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

The top end of the Llangollen is full of felled trees and stacked logs. As Sue on No Problem puts it- boaters gold! Talk about heart breaking not being able to stack it on the roof. The tree gang were still cutting the trees down and a bloke with a chain saw was cutting the branches into lovely manageable logs. Just right for us boaters. All along the route to Lion Quays piles of stacked wood was lying by the side. If only we had Free Spirit with us we could have had enough wood to last a year.

 Mick at the Anglo Welsh yard supplied us with 2 bags of coal. The weather, aparrently, is set to get much colder so we appreciated the gesture ( Merlin is central heated ). Unfortunately he didn't leave us any kindling, only firelighters, so at Newmarton Locks Ian went a foraging

.

The journey to Jack Myttons took around 2 1/2 hours. Thankfully we arrived before the rain started and I even managed to get a spot of fishing in ( not that I caught anything. Story of my life!!)  We have booked a table for 6pm so no cooking the dinner for me tonight. With time on my hands I thought I would post a few more pictures of the start of our cruise.

Some sort of buzzard but without my bird book not sure which one

Daffodils lined the banks

This must have caused a stoppage!

Someones sense of humour

And finally me trying my hand at fishing again. And yes it was that cold!

The high price of boxed wine ( just the box, not the wine!!!)

 Oh joy of joys, our 5 day trip on Merlin is only 1 day away.  There was a definite chill in the air as we got up this morning and the fog made it feel quite damp, but the sun soon appeared making us even more excited about going. We watched the forecast on Breakfast TV only to be told that the weather was set to turn windier, colder and wet for the next 7 days. Maybe the winter woolies  wont be packed away just yet. Anyway nothing is going to stop us from enjoying the change of scenery. The packing was done last night so it was just a grocery shop to do. Before Ian's chemo this afternoon we headed off to Tesco with the intention of buying only food stuff for 3 days ( 2 days have been put aside for meals out) and we would have stuck to our plan religiously if it hadn't been for the shelves of reduced goods. Loads of meat and fish had been marked down so, as my freezer was getting a bit low, I packed the hand basket with as much as I could. Then on the next shelve more marked down prices but this time of  damaged tins, cartons, drinks etc, and although none of these items were of any use to me, right at the back was a boxed red wine with a reduced label plastered over it. Well, thought I, lets be having a look at that! The only thing wrong as far as I could see, was the tape holding the bottom together. Then Ian spotted the innards of another boxed wine. This was my all time favourite tipple, JP Cheney. Well, both of these were placed in our baskets quick as a flash before anyone else spotted them. It just goes to show exactly how much we pay for our packaging!!! We made a grand saving of £9.30 nearly the price of another carton of wine

  As we returned to the boat the Community support team arrived. This time armed with tins of paint and brushes. Looks like the lock gates will be getting a makeover. Good to see some work being done even though it is only sprucing up the locks

Tomorrows posting will be from Trevor in Wales. In the meantime here is some more of my pictures.

Rising mist

Birds in flight part 3

Chaffinch

Wood pigeon

 

Rook

Comorents

Spring is definitely on it's way

Slight amendment to yesterdays post. I got the times of the broadcast wrong. I should have said between 7 - 9 am, not 9 - 12 am

Great tit checking out the nest box

Blossom of the Blackthorn

Derby radio reporter pays us a visit

Friday is always work party day for the ECP&DA. With us mooring on the society moorings we feel it's only right that we do our bit and help, me cleaning the loo's and Ian with any restoration work that needs doing. Imagine our surprise, then, when a man from Derby Radio turned up on our doorstep parking his car next to our boat and armed with notepad and microphone. He had read an article in ECP&DA's quarterly magazine 'The Outlook' about a piece that Ian had written, I supplied the photos, regarding a burst water pipe that lay over the Erewash canal. Here is an extract,

The Severn Trent water pipe that carries water across the Erewash canal below Derby road bridge has been leaking for approximately 20 years. On 28th October Severn Trent arrived mob handed to repair the leak. The valve was repaired by replacing the valve stem seal and after 4 hours of work, it was job well done and home for tea. Well done lads.    Then..............

You can just make out water droplets on the water below the leak

Is this a variation of three men in a boat?

Leak repaired! No water droplets on the water

 This is how it looked 5 weeks later

It became apparent after the first really cold spell in mid December that the seal had failed.


 Oh well , I guess its the thought that counts! 

 All the work party were having lunch break when the reporter arrived so the interview took place in the society's headquarters. After chatting to our chairman, Howard, and work party organiser, Mick, he then turned his attention on me wanting to know all about our boat and way of life. Not sure if what I said will be broadcasted but we are pretty sure the rest of the interview will be put out to air. He wanted some authentic work party sounds so Ian started the dumper truck and someone else started hammering and shouting instructions. All of which was totally put on so if you do happen to listen to the interview, the noise in the background was all for show!

Chatting first to Mick

Then Howard

John Bayliss BEM (IWA) making authentic hammering sounds

Ian and Howard at the 'very' noisy dumper truck

Man with a mic

16. 50pm Just heard the interview will be broadcast Monday 4th March between 9 and 12 am.