Another arm ticked off the list.

Tuesday 4th August

Just as we were thinking about setting off, another boat came up through Greensforge lock so we didn’t have to turn it to pass through. As we were opening the bottom gates another Northbound boat arrived – excellent.

As we are in wandering mode, we decided to visit Stourbridge today. The Stourbridge Arm is another canal that Jannock has not visited before and so another was coloured in on the map inside the back doors.

We passed up through Stourton top lock we spotted the memorial garden barbeque area used by Simon’s crew a couple of weeks ago. At the turn into the Stourbridge arm there was a broken down boat tied to the lock landing which made turning a 62 foot craft into the arm very difficult and the bow thruster boat pole had to be used to get the bows round. Just as I’d got the bows sorted another crew opened the paddles of the bottom lock and the water flow started pushing the stern towards the moored boat. Thanks folks!

The arm is pretty weedy and several bursts of reverse were needed to clear the prop but the lily beds are lovely as the flowers have just come out. At the top end of the arm, outside the bonded warehouse, the winding hole was like a wind tunnel with a very strong wind blowing up the canal pushing the boat towards the end. This made the turn interesting. We moored on the visitor moorings and then made a quick re-provisioning visit into the town.

Back down the arm and onto the Stourbridge canal where we stopped for the night out in the countryside. At our chosen spot, nb Florence was aground and having difficulty getting into the bank. We went a little further on and moored against the piling. Brenda then assisted them to get free and moor just in front of us. A lovely quiet spot with the added bonus of me spotting a Terrapin this morning.

Graham

A day at the Black Country Museum

Monday 3rd August

Plan C version 2 achieved today. We went landside and visited the Black Country Museum in Dudley, a very good day out as the Jannock junior crew found out a couple of weeks ago (scarily one of the museum staff remembered them!)

Top tip – use Tesco vouchers to buy your entry, get ‘senior’ concessions, and if your vouchers are too much for the entry value (no refunds given) ask for your £3 car park token to be included. The money we saved bought lunch as well. This went to plan B because although we wanted to have the legendary BCM fish and chips, the queue was so long that we went to the Institute and had faggots, spuds and mushy peas instead. Definitely the tastiest faggots we’ve ever had and no queues. Compare the picture of the street with the F&C shop when we first got to the museum with the later lunchtime picture below.

 

 

 

 

 

Graham managed to get a fantastic picture of the sparks emitted when the chainmaker strikes his first blow on the red hot steel.

G. having failed to take me to the Crooked House yesterday, we went there again on the way back from BCM and it was closed due to a wedding event. Oh well – the visit was obviously not to be.

Once back at Jannock we set off down to Greensforge to get some water. There was a single 48 hour mooring free next to the water point and so we moored up there and filled Jannock’s tank whilst on the mooring.

This evening we popped into the Navigation for a quick pint ( a good selection of four ales) before going for a rural ramble. Graham came face to face with a young badger – not sure who was most surprised.

Brenda

Plan C version 2

Sunday 2nd August

Compton is a lovely quiet overnight mooring. We awoke to the sound of the ducks and coots going about their busy lives.

Last night. with our brain cells fuelled with lasagne, wine, beer and a movie (OK it was Shaun the Sheep – the movie. Don’t knock it until you’ve laughed at it) we find ourselves starting out on Plan C version 2 this morning. We are no longer going up all those locks to Birmingham, instead Graham will fetch the car this afternoon and we’ll do the Black Country Living Museum by car instead. It also means he can take me to the Crooked House Inn this evening – he’s been wanting to take me there for ages.

Some of the locks we did today were not your usual single type. The Bratch is set of three joined locks although technically not a staircase. We just love the architecture of the adjacent pumping station. Botterham, on the other hand, is a staircase of two locks. Many years ago I had an altercation with the householder who lives below the locks there. She seemed to think I had no right to wait there on the lock landing and certainly not with the engine running. It seems she’s still there and still unpleasant to boaters. No sign of her today thank goodness.

We stopped for the night at Swindon, just south of the village, and Graham went back to Cross Green on the Di Blasi to fetch the car.

Brenda

Hooray–we’re on the boat again!

Saturday 1st August

Jannock having been used for a week during July by son Simon and a Swiss crew, Brenda and I returned to reload all of our junk stuff today ready for a one week Boating holiday. The original plan was to ascend the Wolverhampton flight to visit the Black County museum but we are already on plan C. More will be revealed as the trip progresses.

Having loaded all our belongings, parked the car and eaten a much needed lunch, we set off from Cross Green at 2pm and made our way down the Staffs and Worcester towards Oxley. We had to wait a while before following another boat through the narrows – he had sent his wife ahead to stop northbound traffic but then made a very slow passage through after a northbound boat had exited.

Down one lock into Compton where we decided to moor for the night as the 48 hour moorings were empty. We were passed by nb Roach pulling butty Gosport and these were the only photos we took all afternoon.

A quick walk up into Compton in order to get a mobile phone signal revealed a very useful collection of shops at the crossroads. A couple of supermarkets, Spar has a butcher and a post office, eateries include a pub, a chippy and an Italian, there are a couple of pubs and an off-licence (with some splendid deals) and a launderette with a Chinese massage parlour above. Best of all – the off-licence did bottled Bathams. Not quite as good as draught but the first I’ve ever come across.

Graham

Video of Simon’s boat trip on Jannock

https://vimeo.com/137008894

Time to catch up.

Life has been very busy and so the blog has got behind a bit. Time to catch up.

Saturday 20th June

Having arrived at the boat on Friday night, we made a late start from Hartshill due to the drizzly rain which persisted until after 10am. We set off as soon as it eased and made our way towards Atherstone. At the top lock there was one boat waiting to descend and so we pulled in behind them. The volunteer lockie was working boats through the top lock and allowing  crew members to go ahead to set the next. As there were plenty of boats going both ways this created a steady flow through the flight. We decided to pull over after the fifth lock for lunch as we seemed to be playing catch-up with the boat in front. Good move as the heavens opened whilst we were eating so we waited, once again, for the rain to stop before setting off. We continued down to Bradley Green where we winded just past the wharf, returned to do a loo pump-out and water fill, then reversed back through the bridge to wind again and continue our journey North. As we tied up at the wharf the heavens opened again – must be ‘cup-o-tea’ time declared Brenda. We continued on through Polesworth to moor up for the night opposite Pooley Hall – owned by Edwin Starr until his recent demise. We know how to live the pop star lifestyle (we may know how, we just can’t do it) We’ll have to settle for being Grade 2 listed certified then!

Sunday 21st June

Happy fathers day!  An un-eventful day with sunshine and very blustery winds that pushed Jannock about at in-opportune moments. At Glascote locks we followed another boat down through with two boats ascending at the same time, luckily the adjacent buildings kept the wind off the canal so waiting in the pound was trouble free. We were surprised to find lots of empty moorings at Fazeley, usually this place is very busy. Hopwas, on the other hand was full north of the school. We continued on through Whittington to moor on a 14 day mooring at Huddlesford. We really needed to find somewhere to leave Jannock for three weeks due to family commitments but decided on Plan B instead.

Friday 3rd July

We arrived at Jannock just before 10:30 and immediately set off Northbound. We then winded in the entrance of the new marina, just before Streethay and set off back towards Whittington. Having not been able to identify any reasonably priced moorings for our three week break, I took a day off work to move Jannock the day before we travelled to Switzerland to visit Simon. We tied Jannock up on another 14 day mooring at Whittington, locked her up again, and set off back home to load up the car for our pan European experience.

Sunday 19th July

Simon arrived from Switzerland with a novice crew, Alyssa, Dani and Sebastian, for an ‘exotic’ holiday to Birmingham. Arriving on Saturday night, they grimaced at the overnight downpours and morning rain but . .

(Sebastian) The day started rainy. Sir Capt. Dr S Keens tries to keep the crew’s mood up with coffee and tea. The crew is introduced to basic driving of the canal boat. By lunchtime we are hitting (heading? ed) for the first lock, Curdworth bottom lock.

(Daniel) After practising with the lock we are hitting the road – uhh! the canal again. Earlier we had passed a disco boat which was having a rave in the military firing range. After a few more hours of boating and ten locks we found a cosy place to stay in Curdworth. Having a nice dinner in the White Horse pub was the perfect end of this sunny day.Our sunburns were treated with drinking cold English beer.

(Alyssa) Full of our Sunday roast dinner and pudding in the White Horse Curdworth, we headed back to Jannock for a few Shambats – they were lovely but no explosions. It was totally robbed of a prize.

Monday 20th July

(Alyssa) After bacon sandwiches in Curdworth we set out towards Birmingham. There were a few big (sore? ed) heads, as it turns out that Southern Comfort is less comforting the morning after. We had a few more locks (with some more driver training) before passing the M6 and starting the real work of the day.

(Simon) Shortly after Salford junction we started up the Aston flight of 11 locks and put our novice crew through their paces for the first time. Within three locks the crew were rotating drivers and a lock wheeler was working ahead to set the next one. The task became easy as the routine was honed. Cheerfully we passed through number 11 and arrived at Aston junction, but there was no time yet for a celebratory beer. The test of the day was still to come . . . and two members of the crew still had sore heads.

(Sebastian) So we started the run for Birmingham (hill) which means only 13 locks left. No problem for the experienced crew under the command of Sir Lt. Com. Dr. S Keens. Two times it was necessary to pull the boat aside as other boats were coming down. One boat realised at 5pm that it was time for a tea break, while other boats were lined up behind and waiting for the locks. Finally we arrived in Birmingham centre. Time for good Indian food (not too spicy, just right) and we ended the evening in the Figure of Eight (Wetherspoon) on Broad street. After that we wanted to have a last beer at the boats mooring pub (Fiddle and Bone) but they were closed when we got there.

(Simon) Sebastian, over the course of the day, restricted himself to lagers and then ended the day with a Southern Comfort. All in the name of science as he wanted to see if was the English beers that gave him a hangover yesterday. Conclusion – English beer. (Personally I think it was down to sunny day dehydration myself!)

Tuesday 21st July

(Alyssa) After a morning of sight seeing and shopping in Birmingham (and enjoying some more sunny weather) we head back to Jannock for some engine maintenance and a pint at the canal side pub, Fiddle and Bone, whilst we wait for Dani. It was an easy and quick afternoon of cruising – only a few hours and only 3 locks. The crew was getting excited because it was our first staircase lock. We arrived in Tipton and found a mooring at the park honouring “the Tipton Slasher” – who we were happy to realise was not a serial killer but marginally less worrisome, a bare knuckles fighter. We found the nearest pub for some pints and some Soddit – much to our Captain’s delight we were not driven out of town for being a gang of dirty foreigners!

Wednesday 22nd July

(Sebastian) The morning started with a relaxed British breakfast. Then we went to the Black Country museum. As a recommendation of our Captain we had to eat Fish and Chips, very fatty but good. The museum gave us a good impression of life about 100 years ago. Leaving Tipton at about 4pm we went through 3 locks for Netherton tunnel. It is about 3Km, which is quite impressive. By the end of the tunnel we pulled over for water. We then followed the curvy canal for a few miles and finally reached Merry Hill. We then went for dinner to the Wharf pub and then had a last beer at the Wetherspoons next door. There, we figured out a special breakfast offer for £3 so breakfast for tomorrow is already prepared.

Thursday 23rd July

(Daniel) In the early morning we went for the pub again for having breakfast. The ones who are not really used to a British breakfast were really full afterwards. After that we all went shopping in the Merry Hill shopping centre. Basically we were shopping for BBQ food for the evening.

The crew is ready to start the trip for today around midday. We had a lot of locks to work. First a set of eight and then another set of sixteen. We shared the driving of locks pretty fair : Daniel 8, Alyssa 8, Sebastian 8 and Simon nil.

In the evening we had a really nice BBQ right next to a lock. Steaks, sausage and salad and then playing cards until darkness.

(Alyssa) While the guys were making my dinner I went fishing with the Sea Searcher magnet and found myself a windlass (and lots of other scrap metal)

(Simon) Postscript : having retired back into the boat , we dumped the rubbish from the BBQ in the front well, and moved inside as it was getting a bit chilly. Whilst watching Family Guy, there was a strange hissing & crackling sound outside. I opened the door to find the front well in flames. OMG! WE SET THE BOAT ON FIRE!

(Alyssa) Thanks to some quick action from our gallant Captain, the fire was quickly extinguished with only minimal damage – if quite a mess was made with the powder fire extinguisher.

(Simon) Oh dear! Catastrophe averted but I will retain my 100% friend-cruise accident record . . . .   Matt (my brother) is obviously a far better prospect.

Friday 24th July

(Alyssa)  Rain, rain go away . . . We watched Dambusters while it rained, but it didn’t stop. We watched a fight between Mr. Scuba–Diving – Dog-Boat and the dirty, solitary hippy with a dog, but it didn’t stop. Finally we gave up and stopped at a pub for steaks and beer.

Saturday 25th July

(Sebastian) We started after an (last) English breakfast. Some locks today. The most impressive lock – The Bratch – 3 locks in a flight (15m).

We went for a ‘pump-out’ to the Shropshire Union canal since the other boat yards were not offering the service. So we took the stop lock to visit the boat yard.

(Simon) After pumping out – and the acquisition of some brasses for Jannock, by way of absolution for the fire! – we reversed back through the stop lock and continued up the Staffs and Worcester to Coven, for easy pickup and return to the airport tomorrow. In preparation for Mum and Dad’s cruising back into Birmingham via the Black Country museum, Jannock was winded and reversed into her final mooring position . . . right on top of a wasp’s nest in the bank. Simon valiantly got stung in order to discover the nest location and warn the others . . .  He didn’t scream and shout and swear at all. What a hero!

A pleasant evening was spent indulging in a final meal in the Fox and Anchor (highly recommended).  Back home to Switzerland tomorrow. A good time was had by all! Thank you Jannock. Sorry about the burns!

The Home Brewers Festival weekend

Friday 12th June

We arrived at Market Bosworth and went to the wharf to find Jannock. We then cruised all of 100 yards to the water point and then another couple of dozen, under the bridge,  onto the visitor moorings after filling up.

Then it was a couple of miles to the festival site, at Market Bosworth rugby club, to drop off Graham’s competition entries and contributions to the free bar, sign in and sample a few of the beers available. Our tums began to rumble after a couple of hours so it was back to the boat via the chip shop – Batter of Bosworth – for left over venison and pheasant casserole with  .  .  .  .  chips!  As the rain set in Graham returned, walking the 2 miles each way, for more beer and chap chat.

Saturday 13th June

As it chucked it down all night G’s first task (before I even got out of bed ) was to find where the drips were coming in. A grey, wet and not warm morning with a 40 minute trek to the festival ahead. Lectures started at 10:30 and G wanted to be there. Lunch would follow and I was to join him then.

Market Bosworth has a scarecrow festival this weekend. What a pleasure to see all the scarecrows, some are just cardboard cut-out tableaux painted up so the theme has been interpreted loosely. The theme this year is nursery rhymes, and the entry numbers went beyond 50 that we could see. A great community event.

The two mile wet hike to site wasn’t too bad; but my socks got so wet I had to hang them above the hog roast to dry. They can just be seen in the top left of the picture. I hurried to arrive in time for lunch at 12:30. The lunch arrived at 15:00. We met a lot of friendly folk all happy to chat, swap recipes and brewing know how. There was a free ‘help yourself’ bar which seemed to replenish itself as bottles, crates and barrels of beer, cider, mead and wine ran out.

G’s beer won no rosette (there were a lot of entries in each category) but was enjoyed and complemented by many. Best of all, un-solicited praise by the lady who sported the ‘Best in Show’ rosette for her orange mead. She’d tried G’s Citra and then had a second bottle. The best thing was the ability to put a small amount of something into your glass to try before committing yourself. Next best thing was the ability to blend brews. I settled for a cocktail of home-made mixed fruit wine and home made mixed fruit cider. Yum.

Graham did me proud as the evening drew on by producing a half pint of tea. Not the ‘Hogs Back TEA’ but PG tips  sneaked from the rugby club kitchen. As beddy-byes time approached and the ability to focus ones eyes failed us, the rain finally stopped. We called a cab and went back to the boat.

P.S. In the world’s fastest no-nonsense quiz our team, Soup Dragons, did rather well. We felt we needed to investigate “What Oxfordshire village links with David Beckham?” once we’d got home. (Apparently it’s the village of Golden Balls near Abingdon.)

Sunday 14th June

Graham was up and at ‘em, tea in hand, at 8 am. I guess no-one had kept him awake most of the night snoring! The rain had stopped and the sun was peeping through so Jannock set off back down the Ashby to find the Coventry canal again.

We met a few northbound boats but apart from that it was a pleasant cruise in reasonable weather  that improved as the day went on. Down to past ‘Apple Tree bridge’ (where we harvested apples during our last visit to the Ashby) to Marsworth junction where we made the easy turn to the right. On through Nuneaton and out past Springwood Haven to Hartshill where we moored on the 24hr moorings. Graham went off on the Di Blasi to fetch the car from Market Bosworth while I cooked dinner. On his return, we ate and then off-loaded our stuff into the car before we moved the boat onto the 14 day moorings and headed home.

Brenda

Cold blows the Ashby

Friday 5th June

We arrived at Jannock after a very slow journey from home. A motorway closure, Friday evening rush hour, diverted traffic on the A43 and agricultural vehicles on the A5 made for lots of queues and delays. Triffic!

We had just enough time to dump our chattels aboard before walking up the Hinkley Simla restaurant in the ‘Old Port House’  at Hinkley wharf.

A pleasant meal in the company of the crew from nb Grace. They did a good takeaway business while we were there, good for boaters as it’s only 5 mins away from Bridge 16 on the Ashby.

Saturday 6th June

We awoke to a sunny morning but there was a chill breeze which turned into a freezing gale. We travelled up Stoke Golding and Market Bosworth (who built that marina there? It wasn’t there last time we came up here), through Shackerstone to the end of the canal at Snarestone. We were accompanied for some of the journey by the very agricultural smell of muck spreading. When we got to the canal terminus basin we were not able to try out the newly opened section as it does not have a winding point at the end and it was far too windy to try and reverse the length of it. I turned Jannock, with the wind hindering rather than helping, before we moored up just south of the windy hole. During the turn I discovered that having a lift up ‘Black Prince’ rear fender allows you to reduce the length of the boat by almost two feet just by lifting it up with the boathook. Having visited the Ashby Canal Society buildings and then walked up to the very end for a look-see we then made our way back to Shackerstone where we moored for the night.

After dinner we enjoyed a walk around this charming village that has the following facilities. One church, one pub, one children’s play park and a preserved railway station. It also boasts the remains of a motte and bailey fortified establishment. We were amused to note the name of the village where the nearest shop is – Newton Burgoland. Never seen that name anywhere before.

Graham

Where's Wally

Tuesday 26th May
It’s a Tuesday after a British Bank Holiday weekend and so the sun had to come out today. Not for long of course and the chill wind reminded us that winter was not that long ago and that summer was probably that nice fortnight we had in early April. Graham spotted the third water vole of our trip, a few metres shy of bridge 6 on the Ashby canal. A little further on we spotted these beasts all congregated in the corner of a field and so I decided to Photoshop a Where’s Wally picture.

Brenda.

Quite cold today

Monday 25th May

After a quiet night at Brinklow All Oaks Wood, we set off at 10 under a grey overcast sky. At Stretton, Graham prepared to hop off to swing the bridge but noticed a pair of swans with their young sat on the offside bank, so he swapped sides on got off onto the towpath. We let a waiting canoeist pass through after Jannock has passed through.

At bridge 19 Graham spotted not one, but two water voles swimming across the cut. He wasn’t quick enough with the camera to get pictures. Two, so close together, suggest a breeding pair. We continued on to Ansty where we stopped for a water fill and were amused by the actions of the horses in the field opposite. A foal was laid on the ground and another pony then went and nudged it to get up. It then found it’s mum and stayed with her.

Later, as we passed the electricity works near Hawkesbury we did see some information boards about water voles. I love a good homophone, but why are CEGB paying good money for spelling mistakes on signage? “Coir rolls help voles get out of the water. And coir roles have a, erm, role to play in establishing a healthy vole population.” Good grief, how many people should have pointed out that error between inception to installation?

We called in to see our friends Christine and Terry, nb Grace, and were invited to join their scheduled visitors with tea and scones with homemade jams. Christine painted the lovely picture of Jannock at Chirk that Graham gave me for my birthday.

They say “one good turn deserves another” and I made a very good (for me) turn at Hawkesbury Junction. I then let Graham to avoid the chaos at Charity Dock as the steam tug Hasty was being extracted from the dock. In order to get the tug out of the dock, all of the cruisers moored across the entrance were moved into the main canal to make room. Graham managed to squeeze through without hitting anything but the southbound craft that we warned to slow right down, didn’t bother to heed our advice and ended up right in the middle of the shenanigans.

Graham then made a good turn into the Ashby at Marston junction. we continued north for a few bridges and then moored for the night near Bulkington, around which we went for an amble after dinner.

More info on Hasty can be found at http://www.tunneltug.org.uk/

Brenda

What a grey day!

Sunday 24th May

Graham set off at sparrow’s a clock to do a car shuffle. I turned over and went back to sleep just to get the full value out of the new, and very comfy, mattress of course. It being a Bank Holiday weekend I have to get ready for shop-fest. All the TV and press ads tell us that we’ll not get through the weekend without gallons of cheap booze, a BBQ (in the drizzle today) and spending the kids inheritance at a super-warehouse or shopping village ( a pub, but no church or school, do they qualify as villages?) Canal life is different.

As we were considering a bowl of wheat-o-popsies, the diesel boat hove into view. Graham downed spoon and had the convenient ‘we bring your fuel to you’ man fill us up. G also had a need for a holiday special from Halfords. Internet, order and we’ll pick it up as we pass the Rugby store today. A changing world where your diesel, coal and wood gets delivered and you can ensure you have the tools for a successful journey to Switzerland will be waiting for you. No active shopping involved – result!

We set off from Braunston at 10 and were at Hillmorton locks by 12. Another quick and easy transit as they were very busy with boats passing through both ways and no queuing for us. We did have one lady turn our lock against us but Graham went and helped the other boat in the next door lock so we were soon on our way through that one instead. It amused him that she was having so much difficulty to open the top gate – that’ll teach her to turn a lock on him, no assistance offered inconsiderate people.

We stopped at Rugby and found that our hoped for, short walk past B&Q to Halfords was out of the question. Most of the retail park was a building site with all access fenced off. Never mind, down to Tescos and across the crossing. It’s not as if we didn’t need the exercise.

Our evening treat, calorie free, is to listen to a program from the complete series of “Cabin Pressure”, an excellent BBC Radio comedy series. Highly recommended, but a little strange to be told the emergency exits are here, here and here <titter if you recognise the allusion>. If you enjoy air travel, hate CheapyJet or just want a good laugh, then look it up – Brilliant!

An acute shortage of pictures today - Graham has discovered that his camera will let him take pictures all day and not save any when he’s left the memory card in the laptop!

Brenda

Evening out in Braunston

Saturday 23rd May

Late spring bank holiday and late spring weather. The sun finally peeped through the clouds layer at 6.30pm and only hinted at what might have been. It wasn’t warm or bright, but was at least  dry – even in Braunston tunnel which was so polluted it made our eyes smart. We had been strimmed whilst moored up near High House Wharf. First time this year.

We were followed into the bottom lock by nb Meandrine and made the easiest ascent of the Buckby flight ever with them. We changed partners for the Braunston locks, as there was a single boat waiting there. Oncoming boats were an asset for all locks today, although the newly started holiday hirers leaving Braunston threatened to crowd the canal.

A boat was moored in the pound above bottom lock. With two of us needing to pull over, two boats coming out of the lock ahead and another following us down, it was inevitable that she would get bumped. Twice as it happened (but only once by me, honest) She weren’t ‘arf cross, but if you will moor where it’s really a daft idea  . . . . . . .  I suspect worse was on it’s way.

For most of the afternoon runners passed us, doing the Grand Union run, 154 miles, Birmingham to London. Most didn’t look as though they were enjoying their sport. Many were walking and the shop at Braunston bottom lock was doing a roaring trade in Ice creams. Does Ranulf Ffienes run on choc ices? Loved this sign on the wall of the cottage next to the shop.

We moored just past the junction and has slow roast pork for tea, followed by rhubarb from Grandad’s garden. Yum!

Up to the Admirable Nelson for a meet up with John and Liz for a beer or two followed by a long walk back in the dark just before midnight. We noticed this wonderful bracket fungus on the way to the pub.

Spring Soddit Cruise 2015

Saturday 9th May

We arrived at Jannock for 09:00 and started preparing to set off. It seems funny starting a Soddit cruise on a Saturday morning as we have mostly started on Friday night for too many years to remember. We ascended through Cosgrove lock after a wide beam had come down through it. We then pulled over onto the wharf above the lock to move the rest of our ‘stuff’ from the car, thus avoiding a repeat of the long walk carrying. Once loaded we set off Northbound towards Stoke Bruerne. We had no tight schedules to keep to so it was decided that this could be a relaxing cruise with a bit more fishing time (the Captain had a few jobs to do on Jannock ;^)

We decided to have lunch before we ascended the Stoke Bruerne flight and so we moored on the 14 day moorings at the bottom where Ian managed to catch five roach of various sizes. Brian did lunch of a Ploughman’s type meal and we were just thinking of setting off when a Wyvern boat with a crew of six happened along and so we shared the flight with them. It was a birthday celebration seven day cruise of five males and one female, it reminded me of when Brenda and I took our first ever holiday on a canal boat, she was vastly outnumbered on that trip. Just look what it’s done to us! We shared with them all the way up with the two boats moving from lock to lock, side by side, just like professionals. Brian and Ian took turns to set the next lock so it was ready when we left the last. Out of the top lock, in the land of the Gongoozler, and we pulled over on to the water point outside the Boat Inn. Whilst Jannock’s tank filled, we did likewise from the hand-pumps on the bar. Ian was disappointed that they were a free house but only did Marston’s beers. Not good considering the other pub in Stoke Bruerne is a Marston’s tied house.

We then entered the south portal of Blisworth tunnel, only to be struck quite hard by a southbound time share boat who refused to move over to his side of the canal. Even though I had almost stopped he still clouted us a hefty wallop. We managed to pass five more boats whilst transiting through without any further incidents. Brian was once again playing rousing music like ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘the Dam Busters march’ loudly on Jannock’s stereo for the length of the tunnel much to the amusement of boats heading South. It’s not often you get applauded by the crew of a passing boat in a tunnel. Once out of the other end we decided to moor for the night in the cutting as it promised to be a lovely quiet spot and wind free spot with a possibility of some good fishing. Our lock sharing friends passed us an hour later having eaten in the Boat Inn first. Only a single Perch caught by Ian tonight, Brian is not having a good trip fishing wise. After a ‘two pan’ stir fry (bit of a record for Ian, only making two pans dirty) we played four games of Soddit before retiring to bed just after midnight.

 

Sunday 10th May

After a quiet night, apart from the dawn chorus, it was decided to move off as soon as  breakfast was finished to seek better fishing. The weather was overcast and the wind was gusting well making it interesting for the steerer when you passed gaps in the hedge. Just after Blisworth we watched a Heron take a big fish from the water and then carry it onto the towpath. Here he put it down, to flap around a bit, while he composed himself ready to carry it off somewhere safer in order to consume it in peace. We continued on past the Northampton Arm until we stopped in a patch of sheltered calm water to try the fishing there. Nothing was forthcoming and so we were soon moving again. We past our lock sharers from yesterday, moored up with all the curtains closed and no sign of life. We greeted them by repeatedly sounding our horn as we passed because they should be up and about at 11:30, not lounging in their pits.

On through Bugbrooke until the guys decided they had spotted a good fishing place to stop at for lunch. It was just past Heyford Fields marina by the Badger Sett. Ian caught a nice Bream here whilst I was preparing lunch. After we had eaten they continued maggot drowning without success whilst I check the electrolyte level in each of the cells in our four batteries. Once they had got bored we set off again heading towards Weedon. We finally stopped on a 14 day mooring and I went to fetch the car from Cosgrove while they cleaned and tidied the boat before trying more maggot drowning. Over the weekend Ian caught eight fish (three species) and Brian caught nowt. I wouldn’t mind but he says he enjoys fishing.

Graham

May the Fourth be with you!

Monday 4th May

Having moored amongst the members of the Lionhearts Cruising Club and having been told yesterday that they were sharing four to a lock we wondered, as we breakfasted on fried eggs and hash browns, whether we could share the locks with them.  Crews began to assemble on the towpath but seemed in no hurry. Then along came another boat and so we cast off and shared with him instead. We had a happy share with him through all five of today’s locks. Even the sun graced us with its presence for a good part of the day.

National Nice Day seemed to morph into Nice Weekend as we chatted with fisherfolk, walkers and boaters. Milton Keynes was doing it’s bit. There were two charity runs going on.

As we passed the Lionhearts base there were a lot of empty moorings – we know why! Everything was lovely until Wolverton. A group of feral  children were on the footbridge, some waved ever so slightly, some spoke and nodded but we could not hear what they said for the noise of the engine. When we replied that we could not hear them they decide the best fun they could have would be to spit on us from above. Not one of them was proud enough of their entertainment choice to stay and have their photo taken. Gits! I expect they aspired to to join the yoofs, the slightly older group – say 14+ – in the park trying so hard to be hidden that their behaviour stood out. Did they not know that drugs smell quite distinctly and that can’t be hidden? At least they caused us less bother than the spitters.

Once moored up and the car fetched from Soulbury, we had to call into Ikea on the way home. Our second bargain meal of the weekend. We chose slow roasted lamb shanks at under £3 each if you show your Ikea family card. Add our free cup of tea and a shared pud, not unlike a ‘millionaires rice krispies’ and we were well pleased. Delicious tender lamb!

Brenda.

Today we had weather!

Sunday 3rd May

When we awoke this morning it was raining so hard that we did not set off until 11:30. Whilst amusing ourselves before starting, we found that we had four leaking windows. They are all on the port side and two Graham managed to fix from inside without getting wet. He has plans to fix the other two apparently.

When the sun came out it was lovely, warm even, but it didn’t stay out for long. Then it was back to heavy rain again but at least we had cleared most of the locks and were on the long pounds near Linslade by then.

At Slapton lock there was a planning notice for a new marina to be built opposite the lock  cottage. It is planned to hold 180 boats and the period of consultation has been extended by AVDC. Ref number is 15/00164. At church lock we met our first boat going the other way. They were members of Lionhearts Cruising Club who were on a Bank Holiday mass cruise. The others had all turned back but this boat was continuing on to Berko. Once through Church Lock there were lots of black lambs in the field alongside the canal. None of the Ewes  were black so it must have been passed on by the ram.

We continued on through the rain and finally moored up early above the three locks at Soulbury. We didn’t fancy working our way down there in the rain. Moored immediately in front of us were the rest of the Lionhearts Cruising club who had tables booked in the pub at 7pm for an evening meal.

Having had a Spitfire fly over us last Friday, today we had a Catalina do the same.

The rain finally stopped so Graham did a car fetch from Bourne End using the might Di Blasi. He didn’t check the speedo before leaving home and the batteries had gone flat so it was not working. Never mind, there were no 20MPH limits to worry about en-route and it’s luckky to get to 30 flat out.

Brenda

First Kingfisher of the year spotted.

Saturday 2nd May

Today was national ‘Be Nice’ day, everybody that we met was nice and pleasant.

During last night, the two gas bottles in use ran out. Therefore we awoke to a cold boat. I went out and swapped over to the next two and spotted a diesel boat coming down the cut. He stopped to fill the boat moored in front of us with diesel so I took the opportunity to replace the two empty 13kg cylinders without having to lug them along a towpath.

After breakfast we set off and followed a pair of boats up through Berkhamstead lock.  As we were leaving another single boat arrived to ascend so I told them we would wait for them at Gas 2 so we could share the Northchurch flight. They stayed with us all the way up to the summit where they pulled over to visit the chandlery whilst we ate our lunch and travelled on to Bulbourne.

We arrived at Marsworth and waited a bit before setting off down the top lock solo. As I was working Jannock through, Keith the friendly volunteer lock keeper arrived at the second lock down and started setting it ready for us. When we arrived there he introduced himself, enquired what our names were and then used them in every conversation with us to the bottom of the flight – almost wore them out he did! A foreign family (Dutch?) were watching with interest as we passed through the first couple of locks and assisted with some gates so we invited their two children to sit in the foredeck for a trip through the lock. They were then replaced by a Dad and his two year old son for the next lock. All the time Keith was setting ahead whilst I worked Jannock through and managed the gongoozlers. When ever we caught Keith up he warned Brenda about the cross winds on the flight. She assured him that she had coped with worse at this very location and she would be fine. She was and Keith got a bit sheepish. Not that windy at all today. I offered him a beer to take home at the bottom lock but he announced that he was tee-total. With a total lack of wind, a good lock setter and no other boats on the flight that was the best passage down Marsworth that we’ve ever had.

We continued past Marsworth and down another four locks before mooring for the night, out in the sticks, below Seabrook locks. Lovely and quiet here.

Graham

The 2015 cruise starts here.

Friday 1st May

This morning I had to do an airport fetch from Gatwick, Matt and Alice were returning from their honeymoon. Once back to Thame, we loaded the car and set of for Bourne End to finally loose Jannock from here mooring. A very late start this year but we should still make it to our first destination, Husbands Bosworth, in time for the Home Brew Beer Festival in June.

As we were prepping for the off, a solo boat ascended through lock 59 and so we asked if we could share with them. They were going to Berko and so that suited us. It appeared to be a works outing. The boss wanted to move his boat up to Berkhamstead for a wedding at the weekend and so he closed the business for the day and the staff had a day out helping move the boat. The management even provided the beer and food – result! I wish I had a boss like that.

We shared with them up, to Raven’s Lane lock where we pulled over to moor for the night – a perfect mooring exactly half way between the fish and chip shop and the Rising Sun. They continued through the next lock to moor near Waitrose. I had promised Brenda a fish and chip supper as she has never tried those from the Berkhamstead Fish Bar which is located at the railway station. Debbi from nb Tiami popped in on her way to the Riser and so I went to join her  and Simon for a swift pint whilst Brenda remained aboard the boat, she was still getting over her lurgi and not feeling up to being social. I then went and fetched our Rock Salmon and chips before returning to Jannock. As per MY previous visit, the quality of the fish and chips was superb. I do believe this is the best supplier for F&C that I’ve ever found.

I then spent the rest of the evening trying to top up my 3 data SIM without success. Hence the lateness of these posts. The ‘Verified by Visa’ part of the process always fails if you try to top up over the mobile networks. Never had a problem on the home broadband though. I retired to bed weary after my first session of locking and cycling for 2015.

Graham

Hernia repaired and well on the way to recovery

I thought I might copy Sue from  No Problem and post a Wassat!    However then Brenda said that people might not want an un-announced view of my groin as they may be of a sensitive disposition or be eating and so I’ve posted a picture of my operation scar on the website at http://www.jannock.org.uk/GScar.JPG . It’s about 3 inches (75mm) from end to end – view at your own risk ;^)

 

I’ve got to take it easy and not lift anything heavier than about 5Kg for a few weeks but I’m returning to work (light duties) tomorrow and really looking forward to next years (pain free) boating.

 

Our plans so-far for 2015 include the Ashby in June and the Avon and Droitwich later in the summer.

Graham