All in a spin.

The leaf problem at this time of year, well I had a tip from Debby nb Chuffed which I thought I would share as it turned out to be a good 'un.

 Don't know if it is a peculiarity of our prop, but we only have to put the engine into neutral and the leaves just drop off - it's much less hassle than going into reverse. 

 It worked and so much easier so massive Thanks Debby for that tip.
 

Went to grab the milk from the fridge and went all light-headed again. Only when I tilt my head to the left does this happen, so I'm getting a bit worried that I may have a middle ear infection. Note to myself, phone the doctors as soon as we get back to Sandiacre. (And get flu jabs!)

Ian did almost all the helming from Fradley to Branston Water Park. Apart from taking over when at a lock, I sat inside in the warm. By the time we arrived some 4 hours later, that man was like an iceberg! Gave him a bowl of my homemade Leek and Potato soup which thawed him out somewhat, but the sooner we can share the helming again the better it will be for Ian.

Just a few photos of the journey to show and a fisticuff fight between two female ducks.

Leaving Fradley and yet another moored boat on the landing!

New Marina under construction

Alrewas river lock ahead

Normal river conditions even after all that rain.

Leaving the river section at Wychnor lock

Such a pretty setting. Tattenhill Lock

Building in progress at Branston

All this green belt land at Branston is for development.

And those ducks,

All B***dy talk and no action!!

Hasn't it been just the worst day weather-wise? Not to bad when we left Hopwas but rapidly deteriorated throughout the morning. And soooo cold what with the wind chill and all. There was only one other boat on the move, another mad idiot like us braving the elements. He looked as wet cold and miserable as us! With the rain getting heavier and heavier we didn't make our planned destination of Alrewas choosing to stop in Fradley instead. T'was a good job mooring was available (in fact, not a single boat was moored below Junction Lock) because the rapidly deteriorating weather rapidly deteriorated even more.

Fradley Junction ahead

Swing bridge to open before the junction

We now join the T&M

Junction lock

Look no boats!

With the weather so bad I didn't take as many photos as usual but I felt I had to take this one because of the broken promise made by C&RT back in Sept 2017. First, if you want to see why we wrote to C&RT CLICK HERE but a long story short, it was about a lost chimney and the reason was the offside vegetation.

Our letter to C&RT
  
Sir
Today (27/09/2017) at approximately 12.10 while travelling southward from Fradley Junction towards Fazeley, between bridges 87 & 86 adjacent to the A38, I had to stop my boat in the offside vegetation to allow northbound vessels to pass. (they had clear passage forward where mine was obstructed).  This action was necessitated by the fact that the offside vegetation at this point is so excessive that it impedes normal navigation of the water. Ie 2 boats cannot pass unhindered.  During this pause in my journey, my double skin stainless steel chimney, lying flat on the roof, was swept off into the water by the overhanging branches.  The following is a photograph of the section of water concerned which shows how intrusive the offside growth is and how little room there is for a boat to pass on the towpath side.  This photo was taken once all 7 oncoming boats had struggled to pass us.

Taken Sept 2017 when we were tucked as far over as possible

 This was the reply from Ian Lane, Waterways manager for the West Midlands. (I have enclosed the relevant part)

Dear Mr Jameison, Thank you for the below email and please accept my apologies for the issue you have faced. I am aware that the trees in this stretch do require action and the proposed plan to manage them has already been brought forward to be undertaken prior to this year dredging project on the Coventry canal.

Unfortunately, as you are no doubt aware, tree management is something we try hard to manage but as you can appreciate it is a costly and never ending project. Whilst we aspire to keep on top of it, it’s not always possible and this is an unfortunate result. Therefore as a gesture of goodwill I will ask Yvonne to issue cheque in full and final settlement of your claim.

And this the photo was taken today,

Heading South and the view those oncoming boats would have had.

Looking back and almost the same photo as 2017 but now we are mid-channel looking toward the bridge. And this is still as difficult for two boats to pass.

 Okay, we did get the cost of the new chimney back but to say this vegetation would be cut down later in that year and then not do, well you can see why this made me angry! For boats travelling South, scratched paintwork would be their only reward!
 

Forever going in reverse.

Opened the curtains this morning to a canal carpeted with leaves. Knew what our first job of the day would be then! No doubt the roof of FS would be covered but no, apart from the odd few, we got away lightly.

The journey to Hopwas was slow due to forever going into reverse to clear the prop of those darned leaves. I suppose no sympathy should be forthcoming as I can almost hear you all say "If you must travel this time of year then what do you expect!" It's still a pain though!

Arrived at Glascote locks to find them both empty. Determined to do these two I grabbed the windlass before Ian did and manage to operate both the locks. Normally I can jump across the bottom gates but didn't dare try just in case I went all of a spin again. So it did take a bit longer having to walk the length of the lock each time but better to be safe than sorry I always say.

Ian on the helm

By the time we reached Fazeley junction both of us were feeling chilled and when the rain started as we joined the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, got moored up pretty quick. Lunch was had and once the weather improved we continued to Hopwas. Nearly at our destination and we were unlucky as the rain came again. I'm sure sleet was in the mix with it being so cold. As soon as we had secured FS it was kettle on for a hot cup of coffee, park ourselves in front of the fire and begin to thaw.

Fazeley Junction. Here we joined the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

Left towards Birmingham

I must say we are very impressed with the Anthracite smokeless coal bought the other day. A very big bonus is the lack of tar being produced. In fact, since burning it several days ago, not once has Ian had to clean the glass. Even putting coal on first thing in the morning and hardly a puff of smoke from the chimney. Much nicer when travelling now as we no longer cough and splutter waiting for the smoke to die down.

Anthracite Small Nuts.

We should reach Fradley tomorrow. Turning right we will be on the homeward journey. This is the part I hate, knowing in a few days we will be back on the Erewash. Not that I hate the canal mind, far from it. But the fact that, once we reach Langley Mill, we won't be on the move again for a few months.

On the journey,

Dark skies looming and a brief glimpse of a rainbow

And seen on route,

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pied)

Low light, high ISO = lots of noise. Hence the grainy effect.

Fishing with magnets

Blast, a boat came past at 8am. We were almost ready to leave, tiller went on by 7.50am, Ian then went to put coal on the fire and I was getting ready to brave the cold. (Hat, scarf, gloves etc) we wanted to make Atherstone top lock by about 11am. Unfortunately, that boater was on a go slow, we were lucky to do 2.5mph (Ian has an app on his phone to show our speed) so it seemed to take an age. If only he had looked behind he may have allowed us past.

Would you look at this, why use a magnet to fish things out of the canal and then dump it on the side without removing it as it's obvious what will happen. Straight back in by unscrupulous youths!

 
 So this slow boater, instead of following him down the flight, we stopped to shop at Aldi in Atherstone and then pushed across to the facilities for water. Gosh, this tap was slow! In fact, we decided to have lunch while waiting, not something we would normally do. By the time we started down the flight, it was nearly 1pm.

 I wanted to do all the locks on this flight, Ian was having a problem with his knees so his best bet was to steer the boat. Second lock down and winding the ground paddle and then.... whoa....head spinning and I go all dizzy again. Had to pass the windlass back to Ian...sorry.


 

His poor knees. Unfortunately Ian had to kneel trying to clear the prop after the engine nearly stalled. Turned out to be a build up of leaves again.

 Even a hobbling Ian didn't stop us from completing the 11 locks in two hours and very glad to be at the bottom before it got dark. We did pass that slow boater but only after he had moored between lock7 & 8 and had hoped the rest of the flight would be in our favour. But, t'was not to be.

 And seen on route.