Playing chicken

 Aug 3rd

I was up early...even before Toffee, she wisely decided that 5.30am was too early even for her! But the birds were twittering, a pigeon cooed incessantly and looking through the bedroom porthole, noticed something weird on the water. This I had to investigate so side hatch opened to see if I could work it out. 

 

I couldn't, it was baffling. At first a boat going past was my initial thought but then the bubbles veered off to the left and straight into the undergrowth. What aquatic bird would make this sort of pattern? Was it an otter perhaps? Even Ian had no explanation, I have put it down as one of those unexplained weird phenomena, unless someone knows otherwise.

Jim and Jen were gone by 8.45 am, we left about 15 minutes later. 

Ian walked to Tixall lock noticing what a poor job the contractors have done resurfacing part of the towpath. On the side furthest away from the water there was nothing to hold the new material in place and consequently it had started to break up. I suppose they may be coming back to fix it, it is costing a lot of money to fall apart so soon after laying,

 

Still waiting for the new surface material. Apparently Toffee refused to go past the roller. It was far too scary! A lot of coaxing by Ian, she still refused so he just walked away. That did the trick!

Bottom of Tixall Lock

Top of Tixall lock and the Rothen work boats were there. The offside paddle was taped, my thinking was they had done it to stop the lock filling too quickly and dragging the pans toward the lock.

No need for ropes!

 

  Further along the canal we came across several men laying the new material. I believe this to be Ultitrec which once laid is then compacted to form the new path.

ULTITREC is a recycled footpath material produced from selected arisings from highway and maintenance works.

The blue Canal Time boat had a panic moment when we appeared. It very nearly ended up bow first in the opposite bank.

We still have problems with our horn.  At Walton bridge and a definite deep throated sound came from beyond the bridge ole. Ian beeped back and then decided to wait. It's a good job he did because 30 seconds later the shape of a boat appeared through the foliage. I asked if our horn had been heard and we were dismayed at their reply...no! Ian now thinks we may have a problem with the pipework.

 

The journey took us past the Staffordshire Riverway Link which showed work was still in progress. Click on the link to read more, but this is a short excerpt.

It is a new name for the old Stafford Branch Canal or River Sow Navigation which formerly linked the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Baswich with the town centre of Stafford.  The restoration project aims to rebuild this link for community benefit.

At Radford road bridge Jim and Jenn had stopped. Aldi was but a short walk away, good to know as we would have cruised straight past. 

Shop done, early lunch, and hopefully an other hour cruise before we stopped. Not long after leaving and the same problems reared its ugly face as on the Caldon Canal. This time it was the reeds which had invaded the channel.

 

 The reed encroachment was awful, we knew Stafford Boat Club was just beyond but what we hadn't known was a boat had entered the Staffs and Worc canal from the marina and turned right. We saw it, he must have seen us, a bloody great tree branch was overhanging on his side but did he stop? Playing chicken came to mind! He kept to the centre, I was beginning to think evasive manoeuvres were needed when suddenly the boat shot off across the canal straight across our path.

 

FS was stopped, I waited to see what would happen next. A while later the bow was brought back toward the offside and I crept past. He apologised, said he hadn't realised how narrow the canal was at this point. "I have never done this before. My first time out and this happens" said he. "Are you telling us you have never steered a boat before?" I questioned. "Yes, said he, "I have only just bought it!" Wow, "You've done bloody well to get it back on track if this is your first time." I told him.  "That was very impressive."

 

 We didn't quite make the planned mooring above Deptmore lock in the dry. Rain came down in torrents, thankfully short lived although Ian did have to leap off FS. I failed to bring the stern near enough to the bank so he could just step off. I blamed the fact that I still had my sunglasses on and they didn't have wipers!

Moored above lock was Dire Straits. Jenn had done a Marilyn, got her shears out to trim the vegetation from the bank so we could moor behind them. Unfortunately it was a wasted effort because I refused to moor under a tree. Nothing worse than listening to the drip drip of water droplets as I lay in bed! I think she took it well!

And seen on route

Every young child's dream

 And wildlife

Reed Warbler

Meeting of mooring buddies.

It had been discussed, today would be a day to batten down the hatches and staying put.

 

The yellow warning for thunderstorm and heavy rain was enough to make us decide not to venture forth. But after the rain early this morning, which coincided with me taking Toffee for a walk (typical) blue skies were seen in the distance and the sun appeared. So we made a break for it, and not a single drop of rain fell during the whole journey.  

Hoo Mill lock

  At Great Haywood junction we turned onto the Staffs and Worc canal. Through Haywood bridge was the hire fleet from Anglo Welsh on the right. Here we decided to take on diesel. This meant a reverse to the pump, easily done with most of the hire fleet out.

Coming up to the junction

Staffs and Worc canal

 54 litres was all it took to fill the tank, price was reasonable at 95p L

Jim and Jenn were in the vicinity, our mooring buddies from Langley Mill so we were keen to meet up. The plan was to find a mooring at Tixall Wide and await their arrival. Sure enough by 2 pm we spied them coming from the direction of the junction. Luckily a mooring was still available, the Wide is a very popular place to moor and I was starting to get concerned as boat after boat went past. It didn't take long for the chairs to come out I have been told I am a bad influence on Jenn, because not a drop of alcohol had touched her lips for over a month, I go and spoil it all by suggesting drinks outside!

To be fair she did 'um and ah' about having a glass but even Jim said one drink wouldn't hurt. The afternoon was wiled away, a few short showers but we sat them out although at one point I was ready to make the dash back to FS. I expect we will be together for a while as they are making their way to Stour port and we to Aldersley Junction to head up the Wolverhampton 21.

Tixall Wide

Ooo that was unexpected

 Aug 1st

Groan....this weather pattern.... it's really getting us down. The heating went on last night, a couple of hours was enough to make the boat feel cosy but we should be wanting air conditioning at this time of the year not the heater! 

Toffee got us up well before 6 am this morning, the TV went on for a weather check.  I wondered if today would be another day of dodging the showers but for once it looked okay, good to make a dash toward Great Haywood anyway, so by 7.30ish Ian walked to Lime Kiln lock to get it ready.

Early morning rail commuters crossing the canal

Peek a Boo.

Star lock was behind us, Ian had gone below to make a brew, moored boats on either side and what should be coming at me in reverse? Another boat! Had he seen me? Look at the photo below and I feel sure his line of sight must have been obscured by that tree.

No effort was made to stop, in fact I ended up going into reverse and waiting to see what his next move would be. When he eventually realised a boat was in his way a bit of forward throttle on his part and the bow was pointed toward the offside. Turns out he wanted the water point which was close to the lock. Trying to reverse a boat is a tricky manoeuvre at the best of times.  Boats are notorious for not doing as they are told! His saving grace was the winding hole. He got himself far enough over for me to creep by.

We never made it to Great Haywood. A lovely mooring at the bottom of Weston lock beckoned to us. Plenty of room for Toffee and wonderfully peaceful. It is also the furthest point away from the railway so no disturbance from thundering trains.

  I walked Toffee while Ian tried to sort out the horn. No longer the deep throaty sound which could be heard from afar, no, now it sounded more like a castrated cat! Looking down the horn barrel he evicted three spiders nests and the huge spider. No wonder the sound was terrible.  

  Top of Weston lock was busy. Boats coming and going, this continued for the rest of the day.

If our daughter in law Iwona saw this photo I'm sure she would freak out! Toffee is like a mountain goat, extremely sure footed. It does look as if she is right on the edge though, rest assured she is in fact, nearer to the grass.

Wildlife today.

Canada Goose with Angel wings

Meadow Brown

Red Admiral

Jobs worth!

 31st July

 Monday morning we were up early. I was determined to be at the Cumberland Doctor's surgery when it opened at 8.30. Ian had walked it yesterday, it only took him 10 minutes but I added another 5 minutes to the time, my pace isn't quite as fast these days! 8.10am we were on our way. Toffee with us, she doesn't like being left on her own  We found that to our cost when we popped into Morrisons several days ago and the bed had to be completely remade as she must have decided to use it as a trampoline! And she barks incessantly, we heard that from quite a way away. Anyway before we joined the road she met another dog, a lovely Scottish Terrier and all she wanted to do was play! Time was marching on and now speed was of the essence. 8.29am and I was outside the surgery door. Phew!!!

There are those who are happy to bend the rules slightly and there are those that won't be swayed no matter what you say. The receptionist was of the latter! Registration was no problem, what was, was my lack of any ID. I said I was happy to go back to the boat and return with said ID but in the meantime could she make an appointment. The answer was a resounding no. Without something to prove who I was she was powerless to do anything. For goodness sake, would it have hurt for her to pencil me in at a given time this morning? So I asked, "Will I still be able to get an appointment today." "Only if we have any appointments left" came her reply. "We could see you tomorrow though". Well, I came away fuming. I know it was my fault for not bringing any ID, I had with me my Nat Ins number and NHS number but no bloody ID! So a 15-min walk back to FS, grab my driving licence and bus pass, both just to make doubly sure one would be excepted, and leaving Ian back on board with Toffee, walked the 15 mins back to the surgery. By the time I returned I had done my 8000 steps!

So I did get an appointment but not until 12 15 pm. Another walk back but this time with Ian and Toffee in tow. It was raining, coming down heavy and I had the brolly. Ian could have shared but he is not a brolly man! I left him outside the surgery hoping it wouldn't be too long before I was seen and I must say, within 5 minutes of my appointment time I was called in.

Verdict is I definitely have an infection and my toe nail is about to come off. I also have a fungal infection which may have started when the nail started to lift several weeks ago. This means a trip to a Podiatrist at some point once the nail has gone.I just hope I can find one when the time comes!

I'm standing outside the doctors. Ian took this photo at Marilyn's insistence. I don't think she believed I would go.