The old Bentley Arm

Having spent yesterday doing not a lot, reading and rugging, we had and early start this morning ready for the long haul up to Wolverhampton. I think it takes longer to rip up the fabric strips and cut them to length than it does to make the rug. Rug number 2 is about half complete.

The morning had a definite autumnal feel with quite a lot of mist hanging around the canal. We struck lucky with the first ten locks of the flight being in our favour, actually had to empty the eleventh and thought we would have the remainder of the flight against us. As we were working up through the lock a boat entered the lock above on it's way down so not only was the lock in our favour, I didn't even have to nudge the gates open to get in!

We only met one more boat coming down. The water here is crystal clear, whether that is down to water quality or just that the lack of traffic means the silt on the bottom doesn't get stirred up I don't know.

Anyway we had a good journey,we managed the 22 locks (including the stop lock at the junction) and 2.6 miles to the services at Broad Street basin in three and a half hours. The early part of the journey was in glorious sunshine but towards the top of the flight the sky clouded over and we had a brief shower.

After we dumped the rubbish and emptied the loo we decided to head for the moorings at the, now disused, Bentley Arm. Tomorrow we will head for the Anglesey Arm and Chasewater.

Today's journey 4.2 miles, 22 locks and 1 tunnel

So far this year we have travelled 646.7 miles, 534 locks, 49 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 26 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 1848.4 miles 1620 locks, 105 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 66 tunnels

Up the junction

After spending the day yesterday watching the rain and rag rugging we pulled pins and headed for Autherley Junction. After less than a mile we encountered a tree down, almost blocking the canal. We were able to squeeze past on the towpath side, engine in neutral to avoid fouling the prop as we drifted over the submerged branches. It had fallen from the offside so the trunk was that side.

I spent the remainder of the journey warning any oncoming boats of the hazard, and giving helpful advice to hirers about putting the engine in neutral. I also phoned C&RT to tell them about it but I think they had other things to worry about as the Trent & Mersey has breached near Preston Brook and also suffered erosion at Croxall Flash. As a result the canal is closed from Middlewich to Preston Brook. Glad I wasn't heading that way!

We managed to get to the junction before the rain stated again, in fact we even managed to get to Morrison's before the rain started. Unfortunately we didn't manage to get back to the boat before it started! Tomorrow looks wet again so that will be another going nowhere day!

Today's journey 4.9 miles

So far this year we have travelled 642.5 miles, 512 locks, 49 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 25 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 1844.2 miles 1598 locks, 105 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 65 tunnels

Ready for the weather!

We stayed at Wheaton Aston yesterday and moved the vast distance (not!) to Brewood today.

As I have mentioned before we don't want to tackle the Wolverhampton and Birmingham suburbs at the weekend so our original plan was to go up the Wolverhampton 21 on Monday, however the weather forecast has meant a change of plans.

I walked to the shop before we left to pick up milk, bread and bacon, then back to the boat for bacon sandwiches before we left. There were a few hire boats about, I feel a bit sorry for them when the weather is bad. Our journey was uneventful, not as lucky as last time, we met three boats at bridge holes and one at the Stretton Aqueduct which slowed us down a bit but we weren't going far anyway.  We reached Brewood in time to watch the Singapore Grand Prix, and before the rain started. At the moment the rain is persistent but not too heavy but it is forecast to be a lot worse tomorrow. Tuesday might be better, I'll wait and see! At the moment Wednesday is forecast to be awful too!

Our revised plan is to stay here for a couple of days and watch the rain, possibly move to the junction with the Staffs and Worcester on Tuesday then sit and watch the rain again on Wednesday! It looks as if Thursday will be the first day when I would contemplate tackling 21 locks!

I've managed to finish the rag rug I've been making from old jeans, terrible pun warning, I suppose you could say that it is 'jeans ethically modified'. Well, I did warn you! It looks rather good actually.

Two days of rain watching will probably inspire more creativity!

Today's journey 3 miles and 1 lock

So far this year we have travelled 637.6 miles, 512 locks, 49 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 25 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 1839.3 miles 1598 locks, 105 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 65 tunnels

A dent in the bank balance!

We waited until nearly eleven this morning for the rain to stop before heading for Wheaton Aston. Our timing today was very good, we managed not to meet any oncoming boats in the narrow Cowley Cutting. That luck continued, every time we met a boat it was on a nice wide stretch not at bridge holes or opposite moored boats.

We weren't as lucky with the weather, about an hour into our two hour journey the rain started again, by the time we reached Wheaton Aston we were both cold and drenched. Even wearing waterproofs you still feel wet. After filling up both our diesel tank and jerry cans, a total of 156 litres of diesel and buying a gas bottle we were feeling rather broke as well! As the rain hadn't stopped we reversed back across the canal into a convenient gap between moored boats and decided we had done our bit for the day!

I'm now sat in front of a nice warm fire with a cup of coffee and a chocolate muffin, feeling a lot better! It's our first real fire since spring, we've lit the stove a few times but not a proper blaze until today. It's beginning to feel quite autumnal although the leaves are still all green.

Today's journey 4.9 miles and 1 tunnel

So far this year we have travelled 634.6 miles, 511 locks, 49 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 25 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 1836.3 miles 1597 locks, 105 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 65 tunnels

Pork pie at last!!

Ever since we first came to the Shroppie we have been hearing about the pork pies available from the butchers at Gnosall and we have never managed to time our visits so that we were able to buy one. Today, at last, I managed to buy one and I wasn't disappointed. It was possibly the best pork pie I've ever had, can't quite decide between this one and the one I bought in Skipton.

We had a slow journey today, there are always so many moored boats along the canal here. We stopped at Norbury to top up the watertank then continued our leisurely journey to Gnosall. The weather was kind to us, the rain held off until after we had moored and done our shopping. We stocked up with cheap cakes and biscuits and the aforementioned pork pie.

The weather forecast is for rain, showers and more rain so we will probably just make a bit of progress  each day so that we reach the junction on Sunday ready for our assault on the flight on Monday!


Today's journey 5.1 miles

So far this year we have travelled 629.7 miles, 511 locks, 49 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 24 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 1831.4 miles 1597 locks, 105 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 64 tunnels

High Offley

We've had a prolonged stay at Market Drayton, Ray was still suffering on Monday morning so he made a doctor's appointment for Tuesday. The diagnosis was tendonitis or a slight muscle strain, so he is under orders to take things easy. At least it wasn't anything serious.

We moved on the High Offley today and moored near the Anchor where we spent six weeks frozen in nearly two years ago. There were a few boats on the move so the five locks were relatively easy. That was followed by a slow cruise through Woodeaves cutting, the site of the rockfall in early 2011.

Today I have given advice about being a liveaboard, buying a boat, good places to moor and recommended George's sausages!

We are only two very easy days cruising from the Wolverhampton 21 and I don't want to tackle that at the weekend, travelling around Birmingham is something better done on a weekday so we will head up the flight on Monday. That leaves us with a couple of days to waste so we will see what the weather brings before decide which days to travel.

We will stop for our usual diesel fill up at Turner's at Wheaton Aston on the way through.

Today's journey 9 miles and 5 locks


So far this year we have travelled 624.6 miles, 511 locks, 49 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 24 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 1826.3 miles 1597 locks, 105 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 64 tunnels

Market Drayton

Yesterday was a very windy day so we stayed at our mooring and didn't even consider moving.

Ray wasn't feeling too good this morning so we made a fairly late start, but as we were only planning a short journey it wasn't a problem. I think he's probably pulled a muscle but it he's still suffering on Monday he might have to go to the doctor's. The sun was shining and the wind had dropped so it was a nice day to cruise. I let Ray have a restful time and took the tiller most of the way, just handing over for the locks so I could do the hard work there!

No cakes at the farm shop at the top lock at Adderley, they might have had some at the farm but I couldn't be bothered to walk over, very lazy of me!

We had a very easy cruise to Market Drayton and were moored by early afternoon.

Made a smashing casserole with the Pork and Wholegrain  Mustard Sausages that I bought from George's Pork and Poultry and lock 15 at Audlem, absolutely gorgeous!! Anyone passing through Audlem flight should definitely shop there!

Today's journey 4.5 miles and 7 locks

So far this year we have travelled 615.6 miles, 506 locks, 49 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 24 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 1817.3 miles 1592 locks, 105 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 64 tunnels