Crickey that was some gust!

Oh I ached this morning. Couldn't put any weight on my left arm and my right knee was very tender. A bruise has started to appear on the knee but I am so grateful nothing was broken. Did worry about my right wrist though, as I broke this on the Thames back in 2010 but no harm done to that. After tea and toast in bed and then struggling to get dressed, it was an unanimous decision to move on to a mooring out in the country. First we did a quick Tesco shop, dodging the rain showers, then made our way to the staircase locks. As we arrived a boat was on it's way out, good for us on the first of the staircase locks but not so good on the second and third. Top one was with us but the middle and bottom had to be emptied before the top lock could be emptied. Took the best part of an hour before FS was at the bottom. Only one paddle on each of the first two bottom gates, meant it took forever to empty out. And then half way down the heavens opened and we got soaked!

leaving the middle chamber

A stop at the facilities for water and loo emptying and a quick bite to eat whilst waiting for the tank to fill before setting off again for the rural mooring. The wind picked up big time and after mooring Ian raised the solar panels to catch the suns rays (what little we had of it) and angled the front solar panel running my bait fridge with a piece of wood. Suddenly an almighty crash was heard while we were inside the boat. A sudden gust had lifted the panel and swept it over the side. It was only the lead and small chain that kept it from going in. Damaged the handrail but luckily not the cabin side or the solar panel.

Filler and paint needed ASAP

Tried my hand at fishing but that wind was just too strong. Before I packed in I managed to net this nice Perch.

May go to the zoo tomorrow. Had a comment from Alan Baker (thank you Alan) saying the zoo was within half a mile of the canal and very easy to reach. 

So quiet with nothing to hear except the wind whistling through the trees.

Oh...how embarrasing and a Baby Boom hits Chester

Sunday 24th


So early evening yesterday, as we were watching TV,  the unmistakable sound of cheeping was heard. Rushing to the window I spied a duck with 7 ducklings. A lot of ahhh aren't they cute but then...another duck with 15 ducklings. All more or less the same age so must have hatched that day. Admiring this brood suddenly Ian said "your not going to believe this but another duck has appeared with 8 this time. Blimey the Drakes around here must have been at it all on the same day but unfortunately for the mum of eight, one was trying it on again. This time she gave him a right telling off...as it should be. Loads of photos I'm afraid.

Duck 1 with 7 (2 out of the picture)

Duck 2 with 15 ducklings

Duck 2's mate keeping a sharp eye on the little ones.

such a long way up

15 ducklings to fit under mum.....mmm... somehow I doubt it.

Duck 1 with her 7 tucked neatly under her. That's her mate asleep.

Duck 1 takes to the water as duck 3 arrives

Duck number 3 with 8. Notice her head. Badly mauled by the Drakes This one was still attractive to the Drakes

Duck 2 not happy seeing duck 3's youngsters

Duck 3 not happy

'cos that Drake arrived

you tell him girl

She makes a hasty retreat (that head looks bad)

She took refuge on FS

But the cries to her ducklings were to much to ignore

Back with them once more

So there you have it. Loads more on the wildlife blog

We did go back to do more of Chester today. The Hop on Hop off bus around the city, The Cathedral and the Roman Deva museum. Walking down some of the streets we came across vintage cars. It was the clubs 'Take a Drive's' annual day out. All shiny and gleaming and all to be admired. It was on our way back after a good days sightseeing that the embarrassing moment happened.

There was I admiring those cars again and not really paying attention to what was around me when next thing I knew I was on the pavement, lying face down and sprawled out. People rushed to my aid but boy did I feel foolish. I managed to get myself up with the help of Ian. Not only did I hurt both knees and elbows but the camera round my neck took the full force of the fall. Needless to say the glass lens had two lovely cracks running through it. Luckily, in fact ,VERY luckily I had the filter lens on over the main lens and this was the only thing damaged. Could have been an expensive fall and as for me..well I felt really stupid and embarrassed. Found out afterwards that I fell over a raised step around a small monument, no ones fault but my own!

Scenes around Chester,

Mayor and Mayoress admiring the cars

Roman Dewa museum

Always useful to know the Roman numerals. And an animal skull found during the excuvations

Chester Cathedral

Golgotha

Chester Cathedral falconry. The flight that went slightly wrong and a first look at Chester

Saturday 23rd

Couldn't have chosen a better day to walk the city wall around Chester. A chill in the air but brilliant sunshine and going early we avoided most of the crowds. Plenty to see and do and hardly any time to do it all so tomorrow we plan to go to the Cathedral and take the Hop on Hop off bus round the city. We noticed as we walked past the Cathedral a falcon flying display was to take place mid afternoon so after lunch (Wetherspoons of course) it was back to FS to grab my Canon camera and zoom lens and walk the 1/4 mile along the towpath to the Cathedral. Plenty of photos taken of the city but must show the Falcon ones first.
 .
Three birds were flown, A black Vulture, Eurasian Kestrel and a Gyr Falcon. The only bird behaving itself was the Vulture. The Kestrel went missing, having disappeared over the roof tops. It eventually returned after the handler whistled for at least 5 minutes waving a dead mouse about. But the one that caused most worry to the Falconer was the Gyr Falcon. Only a young bird, it decided that the local pigeons and crows were much more to it's liking. Many a heart stopping moment by the Falconer because if one of the crows or pigeons had been caught, hopes of the Falcon returning was slim. So first is the photos of some of the birds of prey. (more on the wildlife blog)

Black Vulture

Golden Eagle

I mentioned to the falconer if the Golden Eagle was ever flown. He raised his eyes in horror and made us all laugh when he mentioned that small dogs would be easy prey and taken high in the trees to devour. "Can you imagine the media hype"!!! he said. "How would we explain that"!!!

Eurasian Kestrel

Then the Gyr Falcon was flown

And the chase of a crow was on

 Eventually hollering loudly and then throwing a lure, the bird returned and was given his reward. A juicy Rat. More photos of this gruesome reward and the birds of prey on my wildlife blog

And Ian and I got the chance to hold it. At 3ibs in weight it was quite heavy!

And now for the city photos,

Main shopping street as seen from the wall

The Chester city wall

Top photo of the Cathedral.

Canal and staircase locks

River Dee

Roman Garden and Amphitheatre.

 Roodee Chester Race course. The site was once a harbour during the Roman settlement of the city during the Dark Ages but was closed as the river silted up making navigation impossible