24th September 2016. Reunited with the Grand Union.

After another look at his bent prop (yes it is still bent), the captain got us underway. It was 3 miles or so to the top of the locks. We amused ourselves by counting the runners in the Stratford-on-Avon to Bournville towpath marathon. Number 63 had passed us by the time we reached the locks and lost count.  The increased affluence was noticeable this south eastern side of Birmingham; very posh houses in a well kept rural landscape. We had no problems with the two swing bridges, although there was banter (?!) about managing not to smash up peoples cars....

The afternoon was spent descending the Lapworth lock flight. They are single locks but with stiff paddles and heavy gates so that the 20 locks felt like more. We stopped for a cup of tea and slice of cake at the little shop/cafe by number 14 and wondered at how such a brilliant location and potential little gold mine could be so run down and under-utilised. Eventually we reached lock numbers 20 and 21 and the junction which would take us onto the Grand Union and our way to Warwick.   

Locks 20 and 21. We took number 20 on the left towards the GU. Number 21 continues south to Stratford.  

After the lock Harold heads East towards the GU.

And takes the right hand turn South towards Warwick.

We cruised a mile or so before mooring at Turners Green in good time for Strictly :)

23rd September 2016. Not a bad days work.

The night was eventful. There was general night-time noise which we are used to and expect in a city centre. But then a group of youths threw stones and bricks at the boat from the other bank. Robin eventually got to sleep about 4am. Scooby, who hates banging, was terrified and shivered and shook on the bed all night (guard dog? what guard dog!). In the morning we inspected the damage and found a number of chips in the paint. They were clearly trying to break the windows. The boat behind us had also been targeted and they had called the police about 3am, although no officers had attended. Robin reported the damage, maybe we can get it repaired though our insurance.

Gas Street Basin; the scene of the crime.

With all this we were a bit late setting off. However, we wanted to get clear of the city and on the approach to the Lapwood lock flight by the end of the day. We went through Edgebaston, passing high over the A38 on the way.

At Kings Norton Junction we turned East onto the Stratford-on-Avon canal. There was something in the water (couldn't see what, the water was pitch black) which we hit as we were making the turn. The boat was a bit sluggish during the rest of the afternoon and when Robin checked the prop, he found one blade has been badly bent.

The toil house and junction signpost.

 After a further couple of hours cruising through the suburbs, we reached the Shirley Draw Bridge, which is a road lift bridge. It was about 4pm so the road was busy. The bridge is automated and key operated, so that the flashing lights go red when the key is turned and the barriers go down and the bridge opens automatically in a sequence. However, on this occasion a small blue hatchback ran the lights and got stuck between the canal and the far barrier which closed before he could get through. The bridge started to open, with the counterweight threatening the roof of his car. Fortunately there was a sensor and an emergency stop button which Jo pressed and she could reverse the sequence to get the barrier up and let him out. As soon as he had gone out and just as the barrier was starting to go down again, another car coming the other way nipped under the barrier, only to find the bridge lifting up in front of him. He immediately reversed, not realising the barrier had come down, and slammed into it, breaking his rear window. We were incredulous by now, but went though the emergency stop/reverse procedure again to let him out. This driver was really abusive and pulled over demanding our details and that we pay for the damage to his car. However, we stood our ground and were supported by the people in the pub garden who had watched it all! When we asked for his details (CRT might want him to pay for the repairs to their gate!) he drove off and we managed to get the bridge open and Harold through.  

Apart from meeting other boats in narrow spots, the rest of our journey passed without incident and we moored at Warings Green for a glass of something. 13 miles, a bent prop and a broken bridge. Not a bad days work..... 

22nd September 2016. Back to Gas Street Basin.

After the rain, Thursday morning was blue and glorious, showing the rather grim  Birmingham canals in the best possible light. After turning round we went up the three  locks at Tipton Green and onto the Birmingham Level Main Line. After that it was a straight run to Gas Street with just a short lunch stop below Smethick pumping station. We saw just a handful of other boats and lots of herons, which obviously do well in the canals green corridor despite the grotty water.

A glorious start to the day.

What you can't see us the railway or the abandoned industrial sites just the other side of the trees!

The main line ploughs a straight furrow

Scooby tests out his new blanket (after 20 turn arounds and a bit of digging).

Apart from herons, bridges presented the most interest.

This is the M5, imposing if not beautiful.

This has a station on the top so that disembodied announcements floated down to us as we went underneath.

The Galton tunnel; short but sweet.

And this fancy thing is an aqueduct, taking another bit of canal off somewhere else.

After 8 miles or so we reached Gas Street basin which, as we were told, had restricted mooring in parts for an upcoming floating market (the same old tat we come across at regular intervals), but we found a spot with no difficulty. The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to exploring and shopping in the new station complex just a stones throw from the canal. Good oh! 

16th - 21st September. Slow road to Dudley.

On Friday we moved on to Brewood (pronounced Brood don't you know) which has an excellent butchers and a nice tea shop - so all the crew were happy. We sailed over Watling Street (the A5) on the way. The canal and road make a perfect cross on the map.

On Saturday Jo headed home with some of our stuff and Robin revisited the butchers and dined on the best faggots he's ever had. On Sunday he discovered that the Brewood moorings have the disadvantage of a large community of pigeons living in the trees above. He spent the morning washing pigeon poo off the boat before taking the boat a mile or so southwards. He spent Monday doing repairs and generally pottering and on Tuesday moved down to Autherley Junction. This marks the start of the Wolverhampton conurbation and is 10 minutes from the bottom of the Wolverhampton lock flight. Jo returned on Tuesday evening with clean laundry and a food parcel. On Wednesday morning, after a sustaining breakfast we successfully scaled the 21 locks of the flight and arrived in Wolverhampton town centre. We didn't stop except for Elsan and dog chores, deciding to plough on the Dudley. After a short distance serious rain began, soaking the captain for the last few miles.  We made a short detour off the main line towards Dudley and took the last spot in the decent moorings there.  We'll head back to the main line tomorrow and will stop in Gas Street basin if we can. Apparently it's pretty busy with canally things going on in Birmingham this weekend.  We have until next Tuesday to get back to Warwick. After that, winter work commitments call us home.  

Going into the first of the Wolverhampton locks. Its not as rural as it looks; there's a housing

estate on one side and a science park on the other!

12th - 15th of September 2016. Storms, Mist and Sunshine.

After an happy and eventful few days at home we settled back onto the boat on Sunday evening with the Archers and Poldark.  On Monday Jo still wasn't feeling well (the sad result of a dodgy fish pie on Saturday night) but the five Tyrley locks had to be faced before progress could be made. The first three are a bit spooky, being in a cutting and literally hewn out of its rocky sides. After that it was plain sailing for 12 miles of mostly straight canal, through cuttings and over embankments. In places it was very narrow, requiring pulling over to the side to allow other boats to pass.

These very high bridges are also a feature of this stretch. This one has a telegraph pole in the centre.

We moored just before Norbury Junction and stayed there on Tuesday, when there were the most violent thunder storms and torrential rain, turning Scooby into a quivering wreck.

By Wednesday everything had calmed down, with both Jo and the weather somewhat recovered.  We set off in sunshine, stopping on the way for water etc. at the junction. Norbury was where the canal to Shrewsbury used to join the Shropshire. It's currently abandoned but plans are being made to re-open it if the funds can be raised.

Harold filling up with water at Norbury Junction.

It was a glorious cruise in the sunshine, with glimpses of splendid views through the trees and just enough boats coming the other way to make it interesting. Our captain got us safely along while Jo read her book on the front and Scooby snoozed on the bed. We stopped after 7 miles in a secluded spot and Robin went for a paddleboard, causing much amusement among the boats passing by. It was a warm night (infested by daddy-long-legs') and in the morning it was damp and misty.

We moved on just a mile or so to Wheaton Aston where Robin was tickled by the very old fashioned village garage which is right next to the canal and serves boats as well as cars. It made his day, and the diesel was cheap too.  We moored before the lock to enjoy a sticky day doing odd jobs and nosing about.

Harold in Wheaton Aston.

31st August - 3rd September 2016. Nantwich to Market Drayton via Audlem.

After a fender raid on the chandlery at Nantwich Canal Centre we set off in the beginnings of sunshine. A warm and pretty cruise took us to a mooring with a nice view at the start of the Audlem flight. We weren't the only ones enjoying a sunny day on the water.

There are lots of boats about still, requiring short waits at both of the Hack Green locks, however the Shroppie is wide and straight so the traffic wasn't much of a challenge.

Jo walked into Audlem for a mosey round the Mill shop and Robin played with his new fenders. He is trying to stop the baseplate banging and scraping on the concrete banks on this canal when boats go past. Scooby really hates it and he's getting quite anxious when he hears another boat coming. We are hoping that our new sunken fenders will do the trick! This lone moorhen was lurking around the boat and came to the side hatch for some bread.

After a quiet night (fender-tastic) we slogged our way up the 15 locks in the Audlem flight. The weather was lovely and all the locks were in our favour so it was a happy day. We stopped just a mile further on at the bottom of the Adderley flight, a nice spot and the site of the pigeon rescue on the way up. Carole joined us for breakfast on Friday and then she and Jo walked back into Audlem for sight seeing and cake. This old police station is a bit more classy than the one in Stevenage!

   

Saturday started badly with pouring rain and a disastrous dog walk. First Scooby was attacked by another dog and then he stuck his nose in a wasps nest and was stung. He's not the most placid dog in the world and it completely freaked him out. He remained either hiding sadly in the bathroom or under the sofa or hysterically trying to be with us for the rest of the day. However, whatever the daft dog was doing, we needed to press on to Market Drayton as we had a lift home arranged for Sunday. The 5 Adderley locks were negotiated rather wetly and with only one dog escape and then it was smooth sailing to our pre-booked mooring. 

Wet skippering up Adderley locks.

We are home for a week now. Scooby may have calmed down by the time we get back!

25th - 30th August. A bank holiday diversion.

On Thursday we stopped after Willeymoor lock and went to the pub there for dinner. A mediocre meal. On Friday we got to the nice mooring by the swingbridge in Whitchurch, where we were joined by Iris and her crew. A pleasant evening was spent sitting on the bank chatting (some drinking was also involved).  Later there was a red sunset, boding well for the bank holiday weekend.

Harold and Iris under a red sky.

We met friend Carole in Ellesmere on Saturday and she helped us stock up with heavy shopping in the very convenient Tescos there. There was a bit of a do going on in the town and there were boats everywhere. We were moored just by the turning for the arm, with Iris behind us, and were entertained (and once rammed) by boaters manouvering the turning. In the evening we had a lovely dinner with Carole and Sean and on Sunday they joined us for the journey back to Whitchurch. Having visitors, we stopped for a towpath picnic lunch, in only light rain. The canal was  busy, providing some challenges for the helmsmen (especially learner Sean!), with hire boats everywhere, although it seemed mostly at the many bridges and tight corners.

 
Bank holiday Monday was warm and sunny. We stopped at the top of the Grindley Brook flight for breakfast at their nice café. We were glad of the sustenance because once Harold was in the 3 rise, the lock-keepers weren't paying attention and got the levels in the middle all wrong. Harold got stuck on the bottom while they were topping up the middle lock. Fortunately Robin noticed in time and shouted for them to stop. He got free but then stuck again on the sill going into the bottom lock. Quite apart from getting stuck, the boat was tossed about all over the place while they were trying to sort out the levels, but the lock-keepers didn't make sure Robin or the boat were ok and just ignored him.  We were very relieved when Harold finally made it out of the bottom lock.  Fortunately the day got better and we stopped at Wrenbury where Robin fished and paddle-boarded in the evening sunshine.
On Tuesday we made a fairly early start under a rather grey sky. The canal continued to be busy, with other boats at every lock. The sun came out and we stopped at the top of the Hurleston locks for water and a Scooby walk, then waited our turn to go down the flight. 

Waiting at the top.

The Hurleston Flight; boats everywhere!

At the bottom we turned right and on to moor at Nantwhich. We are back on the Shroppie now, heading South towards Birmingham and home.

Our diversion to Ellesmere was 52 miles in all, with 40 locks and sunshine :)

23rd and 24th of August. Sunshine!

And indeed there was sunshine on the Shroppie. On Tuesday we shopped and were just unpacking when Iris caught up with us and moored next door. After lots of chat we set off and made five miles and one lock. We tried but failed to moor in a spot with a lovely view - defeated by the edge shelf which was too wide for our fenders to stop the boat banging.

The mooring we missed.

We went on and found another mooring place with a tree for shade and a picnic table. The lovely weather tempted out the BBQ again and we sat out with our food and Scooby and watched many happy boats going by.
We were expecting a cool cloudy day on Wednesday but instead it was bright and warm. We stopped at Aqueduct marina for diesel, gas and more gromits, plus a nice brunch in their café. We got in just before the party of 20 cyclists! A few more miles and one lock got us to the end of the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire and we turned briefly onto the main line before turning off again onto the Llangollen. There was no lock-keeper at the lock flight and the pounds were quite low. Robin got into an altercation with a very rude skipper who couldn't control his boat. However, it was too hot and the view too nice to argue for long. We had a mooring in mind and pottered on. The countryside is properly rural now with lots of cows. Such restful animals, standing around in bunches.  

It clouded over, with just one patch of blue remaining, but the rain didn't come and the light was lovely in the evening. The mooring was quiet; Robin caught 2 roach and a bream, Jo finished her book and Scooby slept.

Our quiet mooring.

And then later on, the omens were good for the day tomorrow, perhaps the forecasters will be wrong again.

This photo was taken about 8.30pm from the side hatch.

22nd August 2016. Middlewich Narrows.

After a night of hammering rain on the roof, it was a wet, warmish morning. The canal was narrower and busier than we have been used to of late and the landscape a mixture of rural and industrial, including the TATA chemical works. After seven miles we arrived at the outskirts of Middlewich and a single wide lock, called appropriately the Big Lock. After that Robin had to negotiate Harold into his first narrow lock in about 300 miles.

Its a bit squeezy in here!

After this and two others in the Middlewich flight, we needed to turn right off the Trent and Mersey onto the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union. After a wait behind four other boats also going up Wardle lock at the turning (the disadvantage of narrow locks, of course), we finally got through and moored just about where we did on the way down. We are a bit short of supplies so we'll shop tomorrow morning before heading off again. Perhaps we'll even get some sunshine now we are back on the Shroppie...

Waiting at the junction

20th and 21st Of August 2016. Harold and the Rainbow.

On Friday evening we tried to take a walk with Scooby, but were curtailed by returning showers. We saw this rainbow, and then found Harold at the end of it.

We decided to try again on Saturday morning and went on a circular walk which took us down to the River Weaver and the Dutton lock. This river lock is 125 feet long and 41 feet wide - making the narrow boat we watched going up it look like a toy. The lock-keeper was friendly though and said all the locks are staffed and the river all canalised. Maybe 2018 when we are back up with way again.

Looking down towards the river from our mooring. The arched structure in the centre is over the weir by the lock. 

In the afternoon Jo went to the garden centre in Dutton village which had a lovely open garden and a self service tea room (you make your own and pay at the till on your way out!). Heavy showers and high winds kept us where we were, although we moved a few feet forward to get out from under the trees. In the early evening a kingfisher fished from our boat. We saw him swoop down past the windows and back again with a fish. We even heard him bash it on the roof to kill it.

On Sunday we set off after the other three boats at the mooring had already gone - we are always the last to leave. It was cloudy and showery but the wind had dropped. We pottered down to Anderton via the Saltersford and Barnton tunnels, stopping at the boat lift for a good lunch and some books from their nice shop. After another stop, this time at the services, we went on to the Lion Salt Works which has a new museum. We moored up at about quarter to five to find that it closes at five and doesn't open on Mondays. Oh well! Off to Middlewich tomorrow then, where there are proper locks, the first since Wigan.

17th-19th August 2016. Out of Manchester.

On Wednesday we travelled 11 miles around Manchester, with short shop stops at the Trafford Centre and in Sale. We passed the turn into Manchester and crossed the Manchester Ship canal.

The Manchester Ship Canal looking towards the centre of Manchester

and towards Liverpool.

This young Heron stayed stock still as we went past, and also as a cyclist sped along right next to him on the towpath. Obviously a city bird.

It was slow going past many moored boats but we didn't mind on such a beautiful day. The straight and made-up towpath of the Bridgewater canal were awash with people enjoying the weather and the water.

 
We moored once we were outside the city in a rural spot where there were several other boats. It was warm by now and we settled down to sit in the sun. Gradually all the other boats left bar one and we wondered.... However, another joined us and we had a safe and peaceful night.
In the morning we set off for Lymm, a pretty village just 3 miles away. We took the last mooring spot in glorious sunshine and spent 24 hours enjoying the shops and cafes. We used our barbeque for only the second time this year - its not been that sort of summer. In the afternoon Iris turned up and we went for a drink with Roger, her captain.

On Friday it poured with rain. We set off anyway, Robin in his Musto gear and Jo hoovering and faffing about inside. We stopped at Midland Chandlers for grommits and then went through the Preston Brook tunnel. After the tunnel, a floodlock marks where the Bridgewater canal becomes the Trent and Mersey. After 12 soggy miles, we moored at a spot Robin spotted with a lovely view across to a viaduct over the river Weaver. Then the rain stopped and the sun came out :)

The view.

16th of August. Leaving the Leeds and Liverpool.

We left Crooke fairly early (for us) in glorious weather and were caught up at the first lock by narrow boat Ivy May, who had also been a neighbour in Salthouse Dock. We made our way through Wigan together and turned down the Leigh branch which will take us to the Bridgewater canal. This means we finally left the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (the longest in the country) after travelling it's whole 127 and 1/4 miles both ways. Its taken just over two months to travel the just over 250 miles.

Following Ivy May down the Leigh Branch and out of Wigan.

After six locks and seven and half miles we reached Plank Lane Road Bridge just in time for CRT to open it and let us through.

Looking back at Plank Lane Bridge.

After another nine miles we reached a nice mooring recommended to us by various of our Liverpool comrades. It was a warm sunny evening so Robin went for a paddleboard and then settled down to try and catch the enormous carp and pike he had spotted on the journey down.

Lovely weather for a paddle!

Tomorrow we dash round Manchester, stopping briefly at the Trafford Centre on the way (something about needing new pillowcases, Jo said..)

13th - 15th of August. A beautiful clean boat.

We spent the weekend tidying up Harold. Robin re-blacked the bottom down to the waterline, covering up the rust and knock marks. Then in a joint effort we washed him all over and gave him his first polish since being painted. We even moved across to the other side of the canal to do the other side!

He was much admired and the captain had a beer to celebrate.

On Saturday evening, as promised, we had a nice meal at The Windmill. We are making the most of the good food up here before we get back to the Shroppie which, while very lovely with nice narrow  locks, had dodgy food and limited Gs.
After a late night watching the Olympics Jo woke up on Monday morning with a nasty eye infection.  After a visit to the local GP, we eventually set off about 1pm.
Before leaving, we lent our anchor to Lynne and Jenny on Noga Louise who were moored next to us. They had also been our neighbours in Salthouse dock and now had passage booked across the Ribble Link, where an anchor is required equipment. They are also overwintering further south and will return it to us at Warwick later in the year. This means there will be no more rivers for us this season, we'll have to stick to canals, preferably narrow friendly ones!
The day was mostly sunny and warm and we covered just a few miles, including two locks, and moored at Crooke. We'll get through Wigan tomorrow and aim for Plank Bridge which is currently broken and only open at 2pm.

11th and 12th of July. To Parbold via the Ship.

On Thursday we made 13 miles, with short waits at the two swing bridges that CRT operate. It was very quiet (perhaps because it was freezing), although Jo met a very stressed lady crew member from a boat at swing bridge 11. The waterside was flooded and the prospect of getting wet feet while she operated the bridge was the last straw. She and Jo worked together and got it done. A heavy canal in nasty weather isn't always much of a holiday. Swing bridge 15 was broken so we had a tea and dog walk delay while CRT came to override it. After that we were out of the conurbation and looking for a mooring. After one failed attempt when the the wind swept Harold's nose across the canal before we could get tied up, we found a sheltered spot by The Ship pub at bridge 22. They did a very nice dinner too.

Harold at The Ship.

On Friday it looked a bit brighter and Robin dared the sun to come out properly by wearing his long trousers (usually he wears shorts May to October). We travelled 9 miles to Parbold, interspersed with swing bridges and a services stop at Burscough. Robin saw a red squirrel and two kingfishers. The countryside is changing in nature again, less green and more yellow as crops begin to be harvested.

Ripe wheat and and a brief period of blue sky

 We will stay in Parbold with its low bank for a couple of days to paint the side of the boat which didn't get done on the way up. The rust showing through has been made significantly worse by the salt water in the dock.