When Jannock crossed the aqueduct on Wednesday 24th May we had Paul from Worker Drones UK visit and take stills and video footage for us.
The pictures are below:-
The two videos are at :-
Pontcysyllte video1 https://youtu.be/H0Cc9oHnRd8
Pontcysyllte video2 https://youtu.be/461SPRXP9Kk
Enjoy
Wednesday 7th June 2023
A short hop back to Barby Moorings today. Still grey today but the warmth of the sun could be felt through the clouds.
We turned into the marina and the wind helped us across onto the service area where we pumped out the loo tank – not bad, 26 days and only 66% full. Because we had the Di Blasi on board as well as the old starter battery on the rear deck, we hadn’t even noticed the list to starboard that normally accompanies and tank of more than 50%.
Getting off the service area to get to our mooring was another story as the wind was quite strong and broadside to us. Finally made it by backing up most of the marina before making the turn through the swing bridge – still had an issue trying to get the bows to turn into wind after the bridge.
We finally slid into our berth with a group of Alpacas waiting to greet us. The sun decided to appear and the wind dropped as we had finished our trip. We cleared up and packed our stuff into the car before sitting on the foredeck to eat our special lunch – a chicken salad sandwich made using a garlic nan purchased last night! Brenda’s enthusiasm heating them up in the oven didn’t affect the taste.
That trip was 306 miles at an average of 2 miles per hour.
After lunch we locked the boat up and headed home.
That’s all folks!
Tuesday 6th June 2023
Having moored a short way from Hawkesbury junction last night, we had to pass through Sutton’s first thing this morning. This is the one lock on the system that Brenda will work – as she doesn’t like the idea of having to steer around the turn, usually with an audience outside the Greyhound.
Today, she had a senior moment and proceeded to fill the lock whilst all she really needed to do was open the bottom gate to let Jannock in – oooops. She had watched Jannock pass through the narrows heading South so decided that was the way the boat would enter the lock. There wasn’t even any-one waiting to come down.
It stayed cold all day, not a glimmer of sun or a hint of blue sky. We left Hawkesbury and on through Ansty where CaRT are working on the towpath and canal bank. Their digger flat had a dumb barge tied alongside leaving only about 8 foot to pass. This was not helped by an large-ish offside bush just where it wasn’t needed. We got past OK but immediately met three oncoming Northbound boats. Good luck lads.
On through the Stretton swing bridge and past our old mooring at Brinklow. Going through the very busy Rugby visitor moorings after bridge 58, it was the very first time we’ve ever had to get through past all the moored boats without meeting an on-coming one.
We arrived at the bottom of Hillmorton locks and the vo-lockie had the lock ready with gates open. Onto the second lock where it was in our favour and we could see the top gate leakage through the gap in the bottom gates – perfect. A boat was coming down the right hand top lock so we both left gates open for each other – what a perfect run up!
We moored immediately after the locks as we wanted to walk to the Spice Lounge Indian restaurant for our ‘last evening aboard’ meal. After all, it is our favourite Indian.
After another excellent meal there we ordered two Nan breads to take away as we left. A pleasant walk back through the church got us back to Jannock before 9pm.
G&B
Monday 5th June 2023
This morning we started the day with a walk down to Atherstone high street for a loaf of bread. In the Coop Local a short dated wholemeal loaf was £1.29p – so off to Aldi we went where the same was 75p. On the way down we spotted a group of pre-school children all dressed in hi-viz jackets and gloves. The reason for the gloves was soon obvious because they were litter picking. What with nursery school children and the Brownies we spotted earlier in our trip it seem a shame that thoughtless and careless people need them to clear up after them.
On our return to the boat we set off towards Nuneaton meeting lots of boats heading North. The wind was cold and the sky was cloudy with the promise of sun earlier. All in all it was a pleasant run and when we got to Bedworth we moored alongside nb Grace and went to visit our friends Christine and Terry. They are setting off on a cruise tomorrow so we sere lucky to catch them.
Whilst enjoying a chat and a cup of tea in their conservatory, we heard a voice calling outside. Graham went out and spotted that Jannock’s rear mooring rope had come adrift and she was blocking the canal. A southbound boat, thinking that Jannock was moored to the bank, had tried to push her out of the way by going between the boats, however their bows were firmly attached so they ground to a halt. Jannock was recovered and they went on their way.
After saying farewell, we carried on and moored before Hawkesbury junction. After dinner we walked down to the Greyhound for a drink and passed nb Stray Away moored nearer the junction. Chris and his wife are fellow Cutweb members and so we had a quick chat before continuing to the pub. We said Hello again on our way back as well.
The only pictures taken today were of the new warehouse building between Bedworth and Nuneaton (especially for Brian). The office block seems to being constructed entirely of wood and the building now displays a company name. It is a German Logistics firm.
G&B
Sunday 4th June 2023
The day started cloudy and cold but only one of us experienced it. Brenda stayed in bed until it was time to serve croissants for breakfast to the steerer. As the day wore on the cloud disappeared and it became warm and sunny – we have been very lucky with our weather over the last 3+ weeks now.
From Fradley we travelled down through Streethay and Whittington to Hopwas where we met a day boat being steered by a pirate at the main road bridge. The Red flags were flying on the ranges and the sound of gun-fire could be heard.
Through Fazely, past the junction with the Brum & Fazely canal and then past Monarch and Grimsby who were moored near the aqueduct, and onto Glascote locks where we found two boats coming down so that was easy. The queue for the two locks persuaded three chaps in a rib to carry it down the towpath even though it had an outboard still fitted.
On through Alvechurch where, for the first time ever, we spotted Harnser on it’s moorings. Normally Brian and Diana are out cruising when we pass. Through Polesworth to arrive at the bottom of Atherstone flight at 3:30. Dinner was in the slow cooker and needed to stay there until 4:30 so we decided to go up some of the locks.
As we ascended lock 11 another boat was leaving lock 10, Their crew didn’t bother looking and just closed the bottom gates on us. The adult in the horde of kids working the lock apologised for closing the gates because he hadn’t seen us there because he was busy looking after 6 children. They were all between about 4 and 10, swinging windlasses about and none of them wearing life jackets – looking after?
We continued up the flight and cleared lock 6 by 4:25 as every one had been in our favour and so we continued to the top and cleared all eleven locks by 5:40 – a total of 2 hours and 10 minutes which we were pleased with. More pleasing was that there were spaces to moor at the top – result, especially as dinner was ready as soon as we moored up.
G&B
Saturday 3rd June 2023
Planes of the day – a Spitfire and a P51 Mustang.
We left our overnight mooring in Tixall Wide in gorgeous sunshine, making the reeds, water lilies and pastures look superb. Sadly we were not able to eat either last night’s dinner or this morning’s breakfast outside to appreciate the views – it been a very cold wind that is no-doubt responsible for keeping us dry. That’s been a blessing.
We turned right at Gt Heywood junction and found ourselves third in the queue for the first lock, first in line was a day boat that was being tutored by an Anglo-Welsh staff member. We spotted this ram with grass all over his splendid horns – obviously Ram-bo.
At the next lock we found ourselves immediately behind the day boaters and so Graham added to their lock working education when they asked.
Into Rugeley after being buzzed by a passing Spitfire and P51 Mustang flying in formation – obviously performing at the West Midlands Air Show today at Coventry Airport. Then a shopping stop so that Brenda could go to Morrisons to top up the stock cupboard. They had choc-cake platters at half price but she resisted and got half price croissants and pan-au-chocolate instead – shame!
Approaching Woodend lock, the rhododendrons are in glorious full flower. Brenda was un-happy that they were still in bud when we passed this way over two weeks ago.
We turned onto the Coventry canal at Fradley junction and immediately stopped at the water point to fill Jannock’s tank. Brenda took the rubbish round to the skip. Then we moved two boats down and moored up for the night. Dinner on the front deck as the wind here is a lot less than last night. Brenda chose an Elderflower beer bottled in 2018 to accompany dinner, unfortunately it was a bit lively but luckily she didn’t ask for a flake with it.
During dinner Cap’n finished the pickled onions and so afterwards he cut up some red onions and placed them into the vinegar in the old jar. More pickles!
G&B
Friday 2nd June 2023
Last night we had a lovely meet up with Ian and Steph at ‘the Star’. It was good to have a long overdue catch-up over a nice meal and hear their plans for Ian’s pending retirement and their move to Litchfield. We hope it all goes well!
We left our mooring below Star Lock and made our way out of Stone to Aston lock where we found ourselves third in a queue with only room for one boat on the lock landing. Trying to hover between moored boats and the traffic coming out of the lock was fun. All the time, a swan sat on her nest alongside us was busy making the nest build better for her soon to be family.
We passed a moored boat that had faded, peeling and rusty paintwork. A sign in the window declared “I identify as painted!” I suppose it’s cheaper than painting the boat. Ho Ho!
All in all, we had another pleasant sunny day, albeit with a cold wind, meandering down the Trent valley passing through Sandon, Weston and Hoo Mill locks with queues at the first two and meeting Northbound boats at every one – some heading to this weekends Etruria festival. What more could we ask for? (apart from no queues – Ed)
Down to Great Haywood junction where we decided to turn right and see if there were any moorings at Tixall wide rather than continuing on for hours to get away from the railway – hooray, we found a spot which fitted us nicely once we had winded.
G&B
Thursday 1st June 2023
Firstly, I missed an important bit from yesterday’s blog – after Brenda had crossed the canal and walked up the road to visit the Wedgewood seconds centre, she found that it had closed and the car park was full of travellers. Not a lot of money spent there then.
Last night was a rare ‘two pub’ evening, not happened since last May when we stopped in Etruria. We like to eat at the Toby Carvery as we enjoy a roast dinner and we always try to visit the Holy Inadequate pub & brewery just down the road. The beer selection in the former was poor and in the latter was superb.
Graham set us off just before 9am and took us under bridge 117 to stop at Capital Gas services to get two 13kg refills, unfortunately they only had one in stock so we had that and will have to source the second from an alternative source.
Then into Stoke top lock where one ground paddle was out of action and the bottom gates leaked so much that it took ages to fill. Graham had time to set the second whilst the first (referred to as ‘The Beast’ by Rob, the local un-official lockie) was still filling.
We met Rob at the 3rd lock working a boat up the flight. He gave us a business card that showed that he now has a partner working with him and they now do things like shopping, washing, fetching water as well as working locks between Wheelock and Stone by arrangement.
There was a graffiti artist working on the wall here creating what looked like an excellent canal scene. Might have to visit again to see the finished painting. Out of the bottom lock and on, past the waste incinerator and football stadium, towards Trentham.
At Trentham lock a traditional working boat, obviously heading for the Etruria boat festival this weekend, had just left the lock and another boat crew had started turning it before we could get there. Once through we continued on through Barlaston, not stopping at the Plume of Feathers, to Meaford locks.
Brenda spotted a large Terrapin basking on the reeds between the top lock and Meaford road lock. No delays at all here and onto Stone. As we approached the top lock we were warned that the level in the next pound was very low. Newcastle road lock had CaRT signs explaining that the bottom gates leak badly and they should be closed in a specific order. Shame the last boat up before we arrived, who had given us the low level warning, had left the top gate open. After Wigan last summer this was no contest.
We gave a little girl and her mum a lift down through Yard lock as they were happily watching what was going on in the locks. They got off at Star lock, where we were advised by a pedestrian that mooring places below the lock were scarce, and we continued down to find a suitable mooring spot immediately after the winding hole. Got an important date in the Star pub tonight.
G&B
