Wednesday 8 July 2015

Birmingham, first time this year

We made our way to Norbury on Friday afternoon and ended up moored right at the end of the visitor moorings but managed to edge our way back to a better spot to trade as other people moved during the afternoon and early Saturday morning. There weren't many people about but we sold a few things and Ray learnt how to make Turk's Head knots.

On Sunday we travelled to Wheaton Aston ready to fill up with diesel and make our way to the junction on Monday. which is what we did after queueing for over half an hour to get to the diesel pump. It seemed virtually everyone who had spent the night at Wheaton Aston had done it so they could fill up when Turner's opened.

I did a bit of shopping and collected my parcel from the post office on Monday afternoon then we got up really early (for us) on Tuesday and headed up the 21 and onto the BCN. We had originally planned to go back to the moorings but Ryders Green Locks were closed due to a broken lock beam so we went straight into Birmingham.

Our journey up the 21 was a record for us, 2 hours and 50 minutes from bottom to top, then the long haul into Birmingham where we spent today. we will head for Kings Norton tomorrow.


Since my last post we have travelled 34.1 miles, 26 locks and 3 tunnels

This year we have travelled  316 miles, 298 locks, 3 swing bridges and 11 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 3267.1 miles, 2827 locks, 121 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 136 tunnels

Thursday 2 July 2015

A long weekend and heading onwards

As usual I haven't kept up to date with what we have been doing. 

Last Tuesday we made a relatively early start and headed for Audlem. By the time we had watered up and emptied the loo Keri and Dan had almost caught up with us, just one boat between us. However we got a far better road than they did and reached Market Drayton long before they did. It took us four and a half hours from the bottom of Audlem locks to Market Drayton, it took them that long just to do Audlem. we had a bit of help on Adderley locks as my friend Sharron was following us up and her son helped close up the locks behind us. Pausing only to buy a couple of pork pies and some scones at the top lock we headed into Market Drayton.

We spent a full week in Market Drayton, trading at the weekend, chatting to friends and generally relaxing. The only fly in the ointment was the ATM eating Ray's bank card, according to his bank there was no reason for it, but they can only post a replacement card to his home address, so everything has to go through my account for now.

On Tuesday we made our way to Knighton, then onwards to the Anchor on Wednesday where we caught up with Golden Boyz and The Penmaker's Boat. tomorrow we will head for Norbury for the weekend.

Since my last post we have travelled 17 miles and 25 locks

This year we have travelled  281.9 miles, 272 locks, 3 swing bridges and 8 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 3233 miles, 2801 locks, 121 swing bridges, 92 lift bridges and 133 tunnels