From the newsroom to narrowboats

Really delighted to have three contributions in the new issue of Waterways World, which is out now.  The main one, a three page piece about my boating and career background, even gets a cover line.

Then there’s a two page piece about Ellesmere, and a contribution to a bigger article about favourite lock cottages.

The Final Countdown: Day 13

It’s always good to see the Tidys, and The Crown in Alrewas did us fine for food.  The place was rammed, and because it was Halloween, lots of patrons were in fancy dress.  There was more rain overnight, and in the early hours I was woken up by strong winds blowing us about.  This morning, we seemed to be slightly on the wonk, the level in the pound apparently having dropped slightly.  We set off about 8.30, with Adrian setting Bagnall Lock and me bringing the boat.

Common Lock was empty for us, and as we came to leave a boat arrived so we could leave the gate open for him.  Getting out was a challenge because of all the leaves in the water.  The locks up to Fradley Junction were also empty or mostly empty.  The house by the junction is being given a makeover, but we’re really not sure about the big gold letters on the gate.

We came up Junction Lock and then turned left onto the Coventry.  The Swan behind us looked lovely lit up by the sunshine.

The leaves on the Coventry seemed even worse — maybe oak leaves are worse than others for getting stuck on the prop.  Some of the wooded sections did look lovely in the sunshine though.

We came under the A38 and through Streethay, then turned into Kings Orchard Marina, which will be our base for the next few weeks.

We’d been told a pontoon number, but that one already had a boat on it, so we ended up outside the office to sort things out.  We were pointed to another pontoon, but then had to get there.  The wind was very unhelpful, and it took a couple of attempts to reverse in — and even then it was done somewhat inelegantly.  Later on, I was gratified to see one of the hire boat staff moving a boat and also being blown all over the place.  Once tied up (also not easy because the pontoon is a bit short and has very few rings on it) we returned to the office to pay for the month.  This afternoon we’ve been for a wander round the marina to locate everything, and along the towpath for a bit.  As we’re plugged in to electric, we’ve got the washing machine going

5 miles, 5 locks.  (80 miles, 56 locks)

The Final Countdown: Day 12

The rain was hammering on the roof when we went to bed last night, but by this morning it was dry and a bit more mild than of late.  We were under way earlier than normal, at 8am.  Just along from our mooring was an impressive railway bridge, that leads to Rugeley Town station.

By the time we got to the Ash Tree Boat Club we had caught up with a boat in front, but he pulled over onto the water point.  He didn’t actually stop though, as he came out behind us.  I suspect he was single handed and preferred to be behind us at Armitage Tunnel.  Adrian got off there and walked ahead, in case anything was coming the other way, as it’s narrow and you can’t see the other end.  Most of it is no longer a tunnel, just a narrow with a big road over it.

As we approached the Armitage Shanks works there was a huge crash, as substandard pieces were disposed of.

We plodded through Handsacre, and past King’s Bromley.  Then it was through the wooded section to Wood End Lock, where a boat was just coming out and left the gate for us.  A boat was also just coming out of Shade House Lock, the top one at Fradley, and a lock keeper was also waiting, so we were soon on our way down.

Middle Lock also had its top gate open for us, and with a boat waiting below I didn’t have to do any work at all.  The lockie also radioed ahead, so Junction lock was ready.  As I walked down, a woman started speaking to me, and then we realised we knew each other.  It was Cheryl from Firecrest, which we’d seen moored at the top.  Even a brief catch up is a good one, and we were soon on our way.

The fourth lock also had a volunteer so he’d got that ready, but I had to walk down and turn the bottom lock for us as a boat had just gone down.  All five locks had taken only about 35 minutes.  When we got to Common Lock, a boat was about to come up, and it turned out to be Kat on Bargus.  We like to support the fuel boats, so we bought a couple more bags of coal and some logs, which were left on the lock side until we went in.

Bagnall Lock was the last of the day, and then we turned at the winding hole and moored up.  It’s all on a bend here so we picked the straightest bit although the bow is still well out.  We hadn’t been moored up long when it started to rain a bit, including a very sharp shower.  We didn’t actually need to come to Alrewas, but we’re meeting the Tidy’s for a meal out this evening, and they suggested The Crown here.

9 miles, 8 locks.  (75 miles, 51 locks)

The Final Countdown: Day 11

A stunning morning first thing, with clear skies, sunshine, and not a breath of wind.  The Wide looked beautiful.  We set off at about 8.45, and when we got to the aqueduct over the Trent, Adrian jumped off to go up to the junction and take a bag of rubbish to the bin.  It meant he was able to signal to me from the junction bridge that there was a boat coming from the north.

Once they were past, I pulled out of the Staffs and Worcs and turned right to head south on the Trent and Mersey.

The boat in front obviously got to Haywood Lock before us, and as Adrian had walked down he filled the lock for the single-handed lady on board.  Once she was down it was our turn, and while we were dropping down a day boat arrived above the lock and then another boat behind them.  The boat ahead stopped before Colwich Lock, and as we approached a boat arrived to come up.  I still reckon this is one of the prettiest locks anywhere.

Below the lock, we met numerous boats coming the other way.  Our route took us back over the Trent.

On the outskirts of Rugeley, the houses are high on a hill, and some of the owners have done a lot to make their back gardens accessible.

The house with all the mannequins in the garden has had a Halloween makeover.

We moored up in the middle of Rugeley, just past the bridge by Tesco.  We went to Tesco so Adrian could switch mobile provider, in protest at O2 increasing their charges by more than they said they would (and consequently giving customers the option to cancel without penalty).  After lunch, we went back to Tesco for a decent size shop, and we also popped over to Morrison’s for the pharmacy.  This afternoon, it’s rained on and off, and there have been quite a few boats past.

6 miles, 2 locks.  (66 miles, 43 locks)

The Final Countdown: Day 10

There was a lot of rain in the night and it was still pretty overcast first thing this morning.  However the forecast said it would cheer up, so it was after 11am when we headed out for a walk.  We went along the canal to the junction, then down past Haywood Lock to Essex Bridge over the Trent, the gateway to Shugborough Hall.

It’s not that long since we were last here, but of course the seasons have changed so we had plenty of autumn colour.  We walked past the house and over a bridge, then along a path opposite the house to another bridge.

We didn’t really want to see the whole mansion again, but fancied another look at Patrick Lichfield’s apartments — so we went in and were allowed round the rope to bypass most of the house.  There’s no photography in the apartment, which seems somewhat ironic.  Then we walked back up the canal to the farm shop where we had lunch of Staffordshire oatcakes.  It was really busy, probably because it’s half term.  Walking back, we went past the boat partly because I needed a few hundred more steps, and partly to get a view of Tixall Gatehouse.

0 miles, 0 locks.  (60 miles, 41 locks)

The Final Countdown: Day 9

It’s always great to see Catherine, Nigel, and Matthew, and yesterday evening was no exception.  We last saw them in Chester, so we were also interested to hear how Grace was getting on at uni there.  It’s even better when no-one has to travel further than a few boat-lengths down the towpath to get home.

This morning we set off about 8.30, with Adrian walking down to Filance Lock and finding a boat just coming out.  We went onto the service point above Penkridge Lock to fill the tank and get some washing going.  While we were there, a boat went down the lock and we followed shortly afterwards.

As we had a boat ahead, the next few locks all needed turning.  The M6 makes its presence felt, and before it goes over the canal you can both see and hear it.

At Park Gate Lock, Adrian set the lock filling and then went to the chandlery to get some coal.  They had only two bags left so we got them both, along with some more logs.  They delivered them to the lock side so they could be stowed on the well deck before we went down.

At Shutt Hill Lock, a dog walker on the towpath said his dog had found a tiny kitten, which appeared to be living in the hedgerow.  There was no sign of it after it had disappeared down a hole.  We’d been planning to stop above Deptmore Lock, but it was a lovely sunny day and we were making good progress so we decided we’d carry on.  Of course coming round the corner to the lock we found ourselves in a queue!  There was a boat coming up, one ahead of us to go down (a different one from the boat we knew about), and then another arrived behind us.  The views from the lock are great.

We made our way round Baswich and Stafford, having lunch on the move.  The wind got up a bit, but it was still pleasant enough.  Tixall Lock is a toddler at only 4ft-something deep, compared with all the others which are 9 or ten feel deep.  The cottage is pretty too.

We wanted a mooring at Tixall Wide, which always looks rather special.

In the wide itself, the wind was howling across, making waves on the water.  We picked  spot where we have views both sides.  It has calmed down a bit, thankfully.  Tomorrow we might have a day off, having done all of 5 hours today!

9 miles, 7 locks.  (60 miles, 41 locks)

The Final Countdown: Day 8

We were off at 8.30 on a gloomy, blustery morning which even threw in some unforecast showers.  The canal is pretty twisty right after our mooring, and there’s also work going on possibly for a new development, just before Gailey.  Gailey Lock was the first of the day, overlooked by the Roundhouse.

Below the lock, a boat was making to set off from the moorings just as I left the lock — but fortunately they failed to get their act together before I slipped past!  Brick Kiln Lock needed filling, but Bogg’s Lock was already full.  Rodbaston Lock, right by the M6, was also full.  It’s one with a little bridge at the tail.

A boat had just come up Otherton Lock when we got there, so that was handy.  We made a very brief stop at Otherton Boat Haven — brief because we were after coal, and they were waiting for a delivery.  We carried on into Penkridge wanting to moor between Filnce Bridge and Filance Lock.  The options were a little limited thanks to the poor state of the piling here, but a boat was about to leave so we hung around until he was ready.  Even so, I’ve had to swap the mooring hooks for chains, because each time a boat went past the hooks got jammed further into the piling.

This afternoon, my cousin Catherine, Nigel, and Matthew have arrived in their share boat, Rowington.  They let us know when they were at Penkridge Lock and I walked down and got Filance Lock ready for them.  They’ve moored up, and will be coming round later for a chilli that’s been on the go all afternoon.

5 miles, 5 locks.  (51 miles, 34 locks)