Today has been a hard and bad tempered day. I have been virtually out of commission because I've hurt my back, being in pain does not improve my temper. Ray has been having a 'bad day' as he puts it. This involves constant misjudgments which are never his fault. any suggestion from me that we stop, that I give him a break or anything else is met with 'I'm fine'. When he trashed our chimney by going through a bridge too close to the offside I lost my temper. Oh dear.
Anyway we are safely moored at the Tame Otter, if I wasn't aching, tired and skint I would suggest a pub dinner. Cheese on toast would do me but as I have defrosted some fish I better cook it!
We don't have far to go tomorrow which is good because there is rain forecast
Today we traveled 15.7 miles, 3 locks and 1 swing bridge
This year we have traveled 123.6 miles, 125 locks, 1 swing bridge and 4 tunnels
In 2014 we traveled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we traveled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we traveled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we traveled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we traveled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have traveled 3075.7 miles, 2654 locks, 121 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 129 tunnels
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Monday, 27 April 2015
On our way to Alvecote
We had a reasonably successful weekend at Stone. The weather could have been kinder but we had a good time, made some new friends and met up with some old ones.
We only have a few days to reach Alvecote for the bank holiday weekend market but we have made a good start. We dropped down through the our Stone locks last night before going to the Star for farewell drinks with Kit and Mike who we won't see again until late September. The less said about the Star the better, it was the pub with no beer!!
Today we continued our journey to Rugeley, stopping on the way to get rid of our rubbish, top up our watertank, fill up with diesel and buy a gas cylinder. Add a stock up shop to that and my wallet is rather light! There are five of us following the same route so we keep being passed by and then passing each other.
Last night and today we traveled 15.1 miles and 10 locks
This year we have traveled 107.9 miles, 122 locks and 4 tunnels
In 2014 we traveled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we traveled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we traveled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we traveled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we traveled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have traveled 3060 miles, 2651 locks, 120 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 129 tunnels
We only have a few days to reach Alvecote for the bank holiday weekend market but we have made a good start. We dropped down through the our Stone locks last night before going to the Star for farewell drinks with Kit and Mike who we won't see again until late September. The less said about the Star the better, it was the pub with no beer!!
Today we continued our journey to Rugeley, stopping on the way to get rid of our rubbish, top up our watertank, fill up with diesel and buy a gas cylinder. Add a stock up shop to that and my wallet is rather light! There are five of us following the same route so we keep being passed by and then passing each other.
Last night and today we traveled 15.1 miles and 10 locks
This year we have traveled 107.9 miles, 122 locks and 4 tunnels
In 2014 we traveled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we traveled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we traveled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we traveled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we traveled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have traveled 3060 miles, 2651 locks, 120 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 129 tunnels
Friday, 24 April 2015
Stone Floating Market
Oops, I've been very lazy. Actually it has been partly down to computer problems but I really should have posted sooner.
After a weekend at Rode Heath, we traveled up through the rest of the Cheshire Locks, through the Harecastle tunnel and then down through the Stoke and Meaford locks to Stone. Now I don't like tunnels but Ray was having a bad day so I was on the tiller for most of the tunnel and it's a long one. The journey only took us four easy days so we moored before reaching Stone and enjoyed the unseasonal sunshine. It gave us a chance to get some jobs done. We also walked into Stone to put up posters for the market.
Today was our first day of trading, it was very quiet but we expect that on Friday. We did have a reporter from Radio Stoke Breakfast Show come and do a live piece about the market so that was good publicity and the weather forecast for the weekend looks better than it did earlier in the week.
Since my last post we have traveled 17.1 miles, 22 locks and 1 tunnel
This year we have traveled 92.8 miles, 112 locks and 4 tunnels
In 2014 we traveled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we traveled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we traveled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we traveled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we traveled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have traveled 3044.9 miles, 2641 locks, 120 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 129 tunnels
After a weekend at Rode Heath, we traveled up through the rest of the Cheshire Locks, through the Harecastle tunnel and then down through the Stoke and Meaford locks to Stone. Now I don't like tunnels but Ray was having a bad day so I was on the tiller for most of the tunnel and it's a long one. The journey only took us four easy days so we moored before reaching Stone and enjoyed the unseasonal sunshine. It gave us a chance to get some jobs done. We also walked into Stone to put up posters for the market.
Today was our first day of trading, it was very quiet but we expect that on Friday. We did have a reporter from Radio Stoke Breakfast Show come and do a live piece about the market so that was good publicity and the weather forecast for the weekend looks better than it did earlier in the week.
Since my last post we have traveled 17.1 miles, 22 locks and 1 tunnel
This year we have traveled 92.8 miles, 112 locks and 4 tunnels
In 2014 we traveled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we traveled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we traveled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we traveled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we traveled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have traveled 3044.9 miles, 2641 locks, 120 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 129 tunnels
Friday, 10 April 2015
Rode Heath
Yesterday didn't go entirely to plan. This was partly due to poor maintenance by CRT, partly by the Chaos Fairy and partly by me stepping on solid ground which wasn't.
We intended to move up to Wheelock, empty the loo, have a shower at the shower block, give the water a top up after having done some washing then head for Rode Heath. When we got there the Chaos Fairy (who we didn't know was the Chaos Fairy) was moored on the only working waterpoint having her breakfast! She assured us she would soon be moving, it was nearly midday. Here be Dragons managed to get close enough to the tap to water up but we decided to wait and wait and wait. Eventually when she saw us joining hoses together to reach the tap she apologised and moved. During this time we could all of had a shower except that the shower was closed for refurbishment.
All this meant we were following the Chaos Fairy up through the locks. At the first lock she trapped her rope in the lock gates, leaving it behind as she ascended. She asked a young man to try and rescue it for her using her boat hook but these are deep locks and there was no way her boat hook was long enough to reach it. If I had opened the lock gates it would have freed the rope which would have promptly sunk and probably ended up tangled round our prop. So I climbed on the prow of Morgana with a boat hook, hooked the rope then Ray nudged the gates open with Morgana so I could rescue the rope and return it to her. She had carried on through the next lock but lacking her rope to control the boat in the lock, as a result the inrush of water caused the boat to surge forward, hit the head gates and snap two of the four chains on her front fender.
As most of these are paired locks Kit thought the quickest thing to do was to assist her through the locks and set the locks for our two boats with Ray, Mike and I following behind. This went well until the Chaos Fairy went ahead into a lock Kit had walked up and set for her before walking back to reset for Mike. As Kit then walked to assist her she heard a scream, it was a 'fear for a life scream'! Kit rushed u to find that one of the Chaos Fairy's dogs had fallen in the lock from the boat. Luckily they wear life jackets with grab handles so Kit lying on the lockside reaching down to grab a rope to stop the boat from moving forward in the lock while the Chaos Fairy climbed onto the front of the boat to hoist the dog out with the boat hook.
The Chaos Fairy decided she was having a bad day and decided to stop for a cup of tea.
After that thing went much better but we were far later than we planned so decided to moor below the locks at Rode Heath and move on this morning.
The sun was shining, it was a lovely late afternoon so we sat outside the boats and I decided to open a bottle of last year's elderflower champagne. I poured four glasses, picked up two and stepped on a nice green patch of grass about eighteen inches from the edge of the canal. I dropped straight down a hole as deep as my knee, Kit had visions of me fracturing my ankle which thankfully I didn't. She was very impressed that I didn't drop the glasses and barely spilt any wine. I was a little bruised, had a couple of grazes and was somewhat shaken up. With Kit here I had my personal healer on call so she administered first aid and I'm OK.
Today was just a short hop up through two locks to Rode Heath where we intend to spend the weekend and maybe do a bit of trading.
Yesterday's journey 5.2 miles and 12 locks
Today's journey 0.5 miles and 2 locks
This year we have travelled 75.7 miles, 90 locks and 3 tunnels
In 2014 we travelled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we travelled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 3037.8 miles, 2619 locks, 120 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 128 tunnels
We intended to move up to Wheelock, empty the loo, have a shower at the shower block, give the water a top up after having done some washing then head for Rode Heath. When we got there the Chaos Fairy (who we didn't know was the Chaos Fairy) was moored on the only working waterpoint having her breakfast! She assured us she would soon be moving, it was nearly midday. Here be Dragons managed to get close enough to the tap to water up but we decided to wait and wait and wait. Eventually when she saw us joining hoses together to reach the tap she apologised and moved. During this time we could all of had a shower except that the shower was closed for refurbishment.
All this meant we were following the Chaos Fairy up through the locks. At the first lock she trapped her rope in the lock gates, leaving it behind as she ascended. She asked a young man to try and rescue it for her using her boat hook but these are deep locks and there was no way her boat hook was long enough to reach it. If I had opened the lock gates it would have freed the rope which would have promptly sunk and probably ended up tangled round our prop. So I climbed on the prow of Morgana with a boat hook, hooked the rope then Ray nudged the gates open with Morgana so I could rescue the rope and return it to her. She had carried on through the next lock but lacking her rope to control the boat in the lock, as a result the inrush of water caused the boat to surge forward, hit the head gates and snap two of the four chains on her front fender.
As most of these are paired locks Kit thought the quickest thing to do was to assist her through the locks and set the locks for our two boats with Ray, Mike and I following behind. This went well until the Chaos Fairy went ahead into a lock Kit had walked up and set for her before walking back to reset for Mike. As Kit then walked to assist her she heard a scream, it was a 'fear for a life scream'! Kit rushed u to find that one of the Chaos Fairy's dogs had fallen in the lock from the boat. Luckily they wear life jackets with grab handles so Kit lying on the lockside reaching down to grab a rope to stop the boat from moving forward in the lock while the Chaos Fairy climbed onto the front of the boat to hoist the dog out with the boat hook.
The Chaos Fairy decided she was having a bad day and decided to stop for a cup of tea.
After that thing went much better but we were far later than we planned so decided to moor below the locks at Rode Heath and move on this morning.
The sun was shining, it was a lovely late afternoon so we sat outside the boats and I decided to open a bottle of last year's elderflower champagne. I poured four glasses, picked up two and stepped on a nice green patch of grass about eighteen inches from the edge of the canal. I dropped straight down a hole as deep as my knee, Kit had visions of me fracturing my ankle which thankfully I didn't. She was very impressed that I didn't drop the glasses and barely spilt any wine. I was a little bruised, had a couple of grazes and was somewhat shaken up. With Kit here I had my personal healer on call so she administered first aid and I'm OK.
Today was just a short hop up through two locks to Rode Heath where we intend to spend the weekend and maybe do a bit of trading.
Yesterday's journey 5.2 miles and 12 locks
Today's journey 0.5 miles and 2 locks
This year we have travelled 75.7 miles, 90 locks and 3 tunnels
In 2014 we travelled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we travelled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 3037.8 miles, 2619 locks, 120 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 128 tunnels
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
Moving on
After a fairly successful weekend trading at Middlewich with the added bonus of catching up with friends we haven't seen since last year today it was time to start the next leg of our journey.
We are heading south on the Trent and Mersey, our next market is at Stone on the last weekend of the month. So we have a fairly easy couple of weeks ahead of us. We are going to be travelling with Kit and Mike on Here Be Dragons, at least four other boats are making the same journey but everyone has their own travel plans.
After four days of getting up and setting up ready for business we didn't want to make an early start so after a leisurely leave taking of friends who were heading in other directions we topped up our watertank and made our way southwards.
The locks were fairly busy, not surprising as it is the school Easter holidays but the sun was shining and that made everything so much nicer. After a week in Middlewich we wanted a night in the country so we carried on past the salt works and Elton Moss then moored before we reached Wheelock.
Tomorrow we plan to reach Rode Heath where we may spend the weekend before going further south next week.
Today's journey 4.9 miles and 8 locks
This year we have travelled 70 miles, 76 locks and 3 tunnels
In 2014 we travelled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we travelled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 3032.1 miles, 2605 locks, 120 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 128 tunnels
We are heading south on the Trent and Mersey, our next market is at Stone on the last weekend of the month. So we have a fairly easy couple of weeks ahead of us. We are going to be travelling with Kit and Mike on Here Be Dragons, at least four other boats are making the same journey but everyone has their own travel plans.
After four days of getting up and setting up ready for business we didn't want to make an early start so after a leisurely leave taking of friends who were heading in other directions we topped up our watertank and made our way southwards.
The locks were fairly busy, not surprising as it is the school Easter holidays but the sun was shining and that made everything so much nicer. After a week in Middlewich we wanted a night in the country so we carried on past the salt works and Elton Moss then moored before we reached Wheelock.
Tomorrow we plan to reach Rode Heath where we may spend the weekend before going further south next week.
Today's journey 4.9 miles and 8 locks
This year we have travelled 70 miles, 76 locks and 3 tunnels
In 2014 we travelled 425 miles, 334 locks, 2 swing bridges,17 lift bridges and 23 tunnels
In 2013 we travelled 459.1 miles, 434 locks, 7 swing bridges, 15 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 22 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 3032.1 miles, 2605 locks, 120 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 128 tunnels
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