After attending the brilliant wedding of Andy & Lorraine, we set off on Sunday on the second leg of our summer cruise.
The wedding was brilliant. Everything went to plan. The venue was great and despite the dire forecast, the sun shone. The work and planning that went into making it a perfect day for the newlyweds, was well worth it. Thank you for the invite and enjoy your life together. It cannot fail to be a bundle of laughs.
So, back on topic. Sunday saw us packing, cleaning and loading up the boat. It was a somewhat hot, humid and sticky day, but by late afternoon,we had done. So what better way to shake off the cobwebs than an evening cruise. Don't get us wrong, we love our new marina base, especially when we bid it farewell, but spending any time on the boat in there, is just too reminiscent of a floating caravan park!
By 6pm, the umbilical was severed, and we were off!
The weather was fantastic. The sun shone, the birds sang with ner a breath of wind as we exited the marina confines. To top it off, Ali allowed me a cold beer!
It's lovely to cruise during a tranquil summer evening. The boats were few, the wildlife aplenty, bursting with new life. Pity about the pollen count, but you can't have it all.
By 8pm having descended Hillmorton locks, we decided to call it a day on the outskirts of Rugby, near the Golf course.
Monday dawned chilly and cloudy. After a quick shop fest in Rugby, we meandered our way along very familiar territory, having come this way on the first leg. The may blossom and horse chestnut blossom has now gone, replaced by flag Iris, Dog roses and Elderflower. England at its very best.
By Hawkesbury junction, we called it a day. Turning onto the Coventry canal, we moored in tranquillity some way out from the junction. Boat wise, it remains rather quiet. Well it would be if people slowed down and enjoyed the journey! The hectic pace of modern life has permeated the canals, with some folk disregarding established etiquette, and charging past moored boats. And no, this be not hirers...
Day 3 ( leg 2) saw us heading vaguely up't North. Well towards Tamworth actually. We chugged through Nuneaton, pleasant place, out through the wooded post industrial landscape towards Atherstone. But it was chilly. Even had my Benny hat on!
Lunch was taken on the hoof, before we hit the locks. A slight delay at the top allowed us to make use of the services and chat to fellow boaters. The volockys were helpful and we eased down the locks, stopping halfway for a quick shop. Only negative, they obviously don't use Basil infused olive oil hereabouts!
We completed the flight in, would you believe, sunshine! The moored up below the locks and relaxed..
Next day we charged towards Tamworth! Well prodded slowly really. We had arranged to visit Geoff, late of N.B Willow Too and now the proud owner of N.B Greenlaw. A slight hiccup saw him temporarily in Glascote basin, whilst the engine received some remedial work. Great to see you again Geoff, hope all goes to plan. And thank you for helping us down the locks.
Then, trouble...
Whilst visiting Geoff, we met up with Sue & Quentin, cycling the tow path and looking lean, mean and naughty! We had arranged to meet in Hopwas, where Twizzel was safely moored. This was going to hurt!
We have a certain history. For reasons unknown, whilst all of us are largely teetotal(!), when we meet up, we get inebriated. And thus it was!
Moored up in Hopwas , pub, pissed . In a very civilised way of course!
What a lovely evening we had catching up. Great to see you both again. Not so long next time.
Surprisingly , the next morning we were in fine fettle . We chatted to Sue and Quent for a while, then continued onwards. The mornings still have a chilly, but the afternoons have been glorious.
Anyway. Onwards and vaguely North. By the time we reached Fradley junction, we fully expected an increase in boat traffic. Twas not to be! We made the turn onto the Trent & Mersey and straight to the lock. No queue, no boats! So we were quickly up the three locks without any delay.
In reality, the only problems we had in the whole trip from Fradley , up to Hurleston junction, was obtaining fuel, but even that was but a slight inconvenience. The plan was to fill her up at the fuel boat with a farm mooring just out of Rugeley. We stopped, secured against her, all watched by the owner. Ali went to ask for fuel...
"Got none, expecting a delivery, but it won't come today now"
So off we trotted! We do carry an emergency supply, so as we were a tad low, having last filled at Sileby, we topped up with this. It was 72 ppl at the fuel boat. It was therefore a pleasant surprise to find Anglo Welsh at Great Heywood charging 75 ppl.
So they got our business.
The Staffs and Worcester was again quiet and we bimbled along it with no dramas then turned at Autherley junction onto the Shroppie . With the closure of the Middlewich arm, we expected this to be busy, but again no. We waited at not one lock and made the journey down the Audlem flight with one boat a few locks ahead of us, but not a one coming up! The honey spots were busy with moored boats, but these must have come from local marinas, because we saw none travelling to speak of.
In Nantwich we stopped for a shop and tried to top up the fuel before hitting the Llangollen. No joy. Sold out at Nantwich Canal Centre. What sort of businesses are these?
Hurleston junction was busy, if you can call four boats waiting to ascend busy. But we were soon up and onto the Llangollen. All went well until we reached Swanley lock 2. We arrived to find two boats waiting. There was a problem. Someone had lifted the wooden cill buffer out of place, tipped it end on, greatly reducing any depth and a hazard. Enquiring if anyone had contacted CRT, the answer was no! Although attempts had been made to shift the obstruction by the first boater in the queue, I wonder why? The object itself is basically a robust oak gate...
Anyway, we phoned CRT and within an hour or so, a local lad came down and assessed it. Now this was a Sunday afternoon and fathers day to boot. Later on, he returned with two colleagues and a chain saw. By cutting and lifting maneagble chunks out, they were able to reopen the passage of boats.
The weather was warming up. We stopped at Ellesmere for more supplies then stopped on Chirk bank. We had a fantastic walk to the castle, which was well worth the hike. Stunning location. Then over the Ponty, spectacular as ever.
There are a few hire boats out, but nothing like the numbers we were expecting. At Grindley brook for example, we had a free passage up the entire flight with no waiting. That's a first for us.
A stop at the Sun Trevor visitor mooring allowed us the time to ascend to Castell Dinas Bran, with spectacular views, then down into Llangollen and a walk back to the boat. Then the dreaded narrows! Ali walked ahead and we had no problems barring one impatient chap. Ali advised him shall we say. Entering Llangollen itself, there was one boat on the visitor moorings near the services! The basin was a little busier, but still with plenty of room. We tucked ourselves in a corner against the bank, as the pontoons here are short, and during what has become the hottest week thus far, enjoyed a little shade.
That's where we have been!
Total distance 170 miles 84 locks, 12 movable bridges, 5 tunnels and 2 major Aqueducts.
