Sunken boats and beasts on the towpath

Sometimes the ability to gain access to the internet goes beyond me! Mooring yesterday at the top of Tixall lock we struggled to get TV and had no internet what so ever. So this morning we moved below lock and moored at Tixall Wide. Not only can we get TV but we have excellent broadband! So now I can do the post for Friday night and Saturday. 

 First I must say a big thank you to everyone at Stafford boat club who made us so welcome. Pete the harbour master couldn't have been nicer and, once we were booked in, I went to explore the site. It's pretty impressive and very well maintained.

Club house overlooks the site.

It hosts its own club house and docking facilities and it was later that evening, after Alan and Carol had joined us for a drink on the boat first, that we crossed the bridge to the club. I was very surprised at the amount of folk who turned up for a social gathering and it was lovely of them to gather us into their fold.

Ian and Alan in a meaningful conversation while Carol just looks bemused!

Before we knew it last orders had been called and with the final drink and natter, departed for bed well after midnight.

I had a bit of a hangover on Saturday morning having consumed nearly a bottle of red wine and a sherry or two and would have loved to just chill out and rest my sore head, but we had only booked in for one night and so we pulled pins and headed off toward Tixall. No sooner had we left when the rain started and with it high winds. As usual I was at the helm and really I felt quite anxious as small branches came falling down all around me. Ian did the sensible thing and stayed below and kept asking if I wanted to stop. I would have loved to but didn't find a mooring oppertunity. After 10 mins the rain stopped and with it the sun came out. Then rounding a bend I noticed a beast on the towpath. Turns out it was a young heifer having escaped from it's field.

It was a day of seeing unusual things because a bit further on a sunken boat came into view. Not sure how long it had been there as no 'aware' sign had been placed on it from C&RT. Looks a bit like an old Wilderness boat.

After an hour of cruising we arrived at Tixall and moored above lock only to discover the lack of TV or Internet. Thankfully we have other means of getting TV having a satellite dish and a proper aerial not just the omni. After all it was Strictly night and I couldn't miss that now could I.

View from the window.

Tixall Lock

Moorings above the lock

So this morning I walked to the Wide to see if we could get a space. Very surprisingly only three boats were moored and, having had an internet signal there in the past, we upped stakes to descend Tixall Lock and soon found a good spot without trees to moor up in. Now we sit and await the predicted storm. Everything loose has been removed from the roof ( apart from the logs ) so we are pretty confident we can ride it out without incident.

Beaten by a Canny Fox!

Having spent another night listening to the rain beating down on the roof, it was very pleasant to wake to sunny skies and very warm temperatures. Having left a lot later then usual this morning we were just beaten to the off by Nb Canny Fox. So we gave them a few minutes to get down Penkeridge lock and was again getting ready to leave when another boat came round the corner and delayed our departure. In the end we waited a good 15 minutes before setting off and arrived at the lock only to see Canny Fox still there and no sign of the other boat. Had the other boat stolen their lock? Seems not as Canny Fox had pulled onto the facilities and had to watch as the boat sailed on by. Anyway the rest of the locks saw us trailing Canny Fox and eventually they stopped at Acton Trussel and allowed us to do the last lock of the day alone. So now we have arrived at Stafford Boat club. Pete the harbour master has given us a lovely mooring and we await a visit from Alan and Carol later today.

Free Spirit moored behind the fungi clump.

And finally:-

Meeting a fellow blogger.....but briefly

This weekend the clocks go back! Getting up every morning at 7am to take Woofit out,  we can just about see where she performs. Next week there will be no chance without a torch! How I hate dark mornings! Still this morning there was a definite pink glow to the sky and with the moon reflecting in the water it made for a lovely tranquil moment.

It was a glorious autumnal day for cruising with the reflections on the still water making lovely pictures. Then it all changed in a moment!

Very colourful

I was enjoying sitting in the well deck soaking up the sun when I heard the distinctive sound of a chugging engine. Thinking maybe we had a problem I looked back and noticed this boat come steaming past.

Now we are not slow averaging about 3 to 3.5mph when conditions are right so this boat must have been doing above 4mph. Ian said it sat right on our back fender till we moved over. So I expected him to disappear into the distance but no, we kept up with him even observing his departure from the back deck to go below leaving the boat in gear and heading for the bank! Thankfully he reappeared before the bank was met. The smoke billowing from his exhaust was unreal. Thank goodness we didn't have to follow him through a tunnel!

 

Nb Persia left in gear with no one at the helm.

Arriving at Gailey he was only just in front and we suspect that he wanted to reach the lock before us. We had to stop at the facilities so he would have had the lock anyway!

 

After a 15 minute stop to water up and empty both cassettes, we set off for the run down the locks to Penkeridge. I dropped Ian off just before Brick Kiln lock and as per usual I hovered while Ian set the lock. Then Ian waved to tell me a boat was on it's way up. I did no more then pull onto the landing, or at least try to!!! Unbeknown to me Ian had left the center rope smack bang in the middle of the roof. My stern was at the bank but the bow was swinging out. Normally I just step off with the rope and pull the bow in. Not this time though! Without a rope stepping off the boat was out of the question, and with the other boat almost up, I would have effectively blocked the canal. Luckily Ian heard my shout and came running back to help. Once safely into the side the exiting boat came past and that's when I realised it was Geoff and Mags on Nb Seyella. Unfortunately we could only say a quick hello before they disappeared toward Gailey lock. Maybe next time we will be able to stop for a natter.

Carrying on towards the rest of the flight, as far as we were aware, Nb Persia was the only boat in front and most annoyingly he left bottom gates open at Boggs lock and Otherton lock. Just one of my many pet hates!!! All the other locks were with us but I do so wish lone boaters would be a bit more considerate and close gates!

Ian having to close bottom gates at Otherton lock.

 Now those that read my blog will remember my post in March 2011 Waterfall at Rodbaston Lock . Well it's still leaking. Not quite as bad but I'm wondering just how long it takes for C&RT to get round to sorting the leakage out!

And then at Filance lock I nearly had wet bedding when water poured from the lock wall and I only just managed to run down to the bedroom to close the window!

 

Having stopped at Penkridge to get more bait from the tackle shop and then walk into town for provisions from the Co Op we decided to stay instead of moving on. After all it was about 3pm and we only have 5 miles to do tomorrow to meet with our newly weds, Alan and Carol, at Stafford boat club. So with fresh bait I went fishing and got me a huge bream ( well huge by my standard anyway.)

And finally:-

 

Busy doing nothing

Finally a day of decent weather. Typical when we had decided to stay put for the day. Ian wanted to try and find out where the puddle on our bedroom carpet had come from. I did jokingly ask if he woke up and thought he was in the bathroom! The wet patch was a few inches away from the radiator pipe and we assumed this to be the culprit. On lifting the carpet and then the skirting no sign of any leakage from joints on the pipe was to be seen. So we are still baffled as to where it had come from. Are you sure, Ian, it wasn't you (:

Once Ian had replaced the skirting and carpet he turned his attention to the bedroom window frame. It was badly bleached from the sun and no end of black mould surrounded it. So he removed the frame, put the sander over it, and re varnished the whole lot.

While Ian was being productive, I washed the side of the boat and then cleared off to do a nature walk. Best to leave Ian to do his own thing and then I wont be in the firing line to hear the cussing if it all goes horribly wrong! Anyway this is an amazing place for wildlife and bugs. So many birds including Finches, Woodpeckers, Tits, Tree hoppers, Buzzards and Jays. All of them bar the Buzzards I will post later on my And finally.

So here is todays And finally:- All taken on my walk today

The tiniest bug always seem the weirdest. This was the size of a pin head.

Stuck in the mud and then nearly on a ledge!

Another night of high winds and torrential rain but by the time it was time to take woofit out it had almost stopped. Ian had mentioned a nature reserve near to bridge 4 so I persuaded him to leave while it was dry and cruise the mile and a half to the mooring. First we tried to stop before the visitor mooring because, as we approached, two boats seemed to occupy all the space. Stopping short wasn't such a good idea as, when reversing slowly to the bank, the mud snatched the tiller and got us wedged good and proper. The bow was swinging to the far bank and we effectively ended up blocking the whole canal! With both our combined efforts heaving on the pole as well as a touch of forward on the throttle, we managed to free ourselves. So we almost abandoned the idea of stopping, but on passing the two boats, a space right at the end was available. Now if anyone fancy's mooring on the 48 hour visitor mooring I suggest you don't. There is a concrete ledge that runs the whole length so getting near to the bank is impossible. We did tie up with the both ends of the boat sticking out by a good foot. This in itself wouldn't have been a problem but the idiots speeding past causing us to scrape and rock violently on the concrete side, was. In fact at one point I thought we were going to end up on the ledge itself! When Ian mentioned that the nature reserve was at least a mile away we both agreed that beaching the boat wasn't a good plan and so we moved on. Having endured bouts of sunshine and showers we finally stopped between bridges 74 &75 near Calf Heath on the Staffs and Worc.

Another photo of Autherley Stop lock. I loved the autumn colours.

Pendeford Rockin' cutting between bridges 67 & 68

After the rain...........

Barometer dropping drastically toward Stormy! Oh eck!!!

Lovely rural mooring

And finally:-

Tiny seed caught on a leaf