A mostly sunny day

Today has been breezy but mostly sunny, so after dumping the rubbish and topping up the water tank we continued our journey towards Leeds.

We had a bit of help at the bottom lock at Audlem from one of the BW volunteer rangers, I suppose that should be a CART (Canal and River Trust) volunteer ranger now that they have become a charitable trust and changed the name. At least so far they don't seem to be spending a fortune desperately changing the name on everything! The only problem with the assistance was that I got chatting and forgot to buy my red onions from the farm shop, it will have to wait until Middlewich now as I don't feel like stopping just for onions.

It was another uneventful day of travel, the gusting winds gave us a few problems particularly at the Nantwich Viaduct where our attempt to reverse in order to allow an oncoming boat passage first resulted in us being diagonally across the canal. The approaching boat attempted the same manoeuvre with the same result so there we both were at either end of the viaduct on a diagonal. The other boater realised we were towing, which makes life a bit more difficult and managed to straighten up on the offside and waved us through.

We continued to make slow but steady progress due to the inevitable moored boats and made the turn onto the Middlewich Branch about 3.30. We found a quiet spot to moor before we reached Cholmondeston Lock and I prepared dinner while Ray cut some wood. Nimue ventured outside for the first time since having her kittens and managed to fall in but she was very sensible and didn't try to go back to them until she was dry.

Tomorrow is another day when we might or might not travel, the weather forecast isn't promising.

Today's journey 10.7 miles and 5 locks

So far this year we have travelled 262.9 miles, 165 locks, 5 swing bridges and 6 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 1464.6 miles, 1251 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 46 tunnels

It definitely wasn't us this time!!

If you look at my blog of 14th January 2011 you will read my report of a canal closure due to a land slip, which we missed by a matter of minutes, this time we missed it by a few days, in virtually the same place.
Unfortunately for the occupants of a hire boat who were facing the prospect of 22 locks and 18 miles (at least 10 hours cruising and about 12 by my reckoning) between yesterday afternoon and 9am on Monday I didn't pick up the report until after they were gone. If I had known I could have told them the most they would be able to do was the locks and about 6 miles. Hopefully they will have avoided the worst of the weather today. I assume the boatyard will collect them from wherever they have to moor.

There are lots of reports of fallen trees closing various bits of the canal system today but none that affect us in the immediate future. Hopefully the one that has closed part of the Trent and Mersey will be cleared by the time we get there.

We moved a short distance yesterday, just down through some of the Audlem Locks to moor opposite the Shroppie Fly. Our journey down the locks was relatively easy as there was enough boat movement for us to meet boats at most locks but not so much that it delayed us. We indulged in fish and chips from the chippy last night, an extravagance for us. At the moment we have the 5 day moorings to ourselves. Today's weather was horrible so we got some washing done, we might move on tomorrow or we might stay for a couple of days, haven't decided yet.

Yesterday's journey 1.5 miles and 10 locks

So far this year we have travelled 252.2 miles, 160 locks, 5 swing bridges and 6 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 1453.9 miles, 1246 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 46 tunnels

Minus one, plus three!

We probably had a more eventful time on the two days we were moored going nowhere than we usually have when cruising. Our reason for not cruising was the beautiful weather! Which brings me to my minus one.

I am sure most people have had the same high winds and rain that we have been experiencing. On Wednesday we awoke to the sound of our satellite dish rattling on the roof in the wind. We have to detach it from its bracket when cruising but it remains attached by the cable. So Ray said "I'll take that down to stop it annoying us".  After a first cup of coffee, he got dressed and was going to rescue it. Just before he put his shoes on all went quiet. He went out to find the cable with no satellite dish attached. Of course the wind had not been kind enough to blow it onto the bank. So somewhere in the canal at Market Drayton is a satellite dish! That's our minus one!

Some family and friends know that Nimue, our stripey tabby was pregnant. Yesterday she gave birth to three gorgeous kittens, two just like her and the third a black with white markings like her half brother and sister. Mother and babies all doing well, I don't think Nimue has stopped purring since she gave birth to them. So if anyone knows anyone who would like a kitten they should be available towards the end of June, when we will probably be around the Yorkshire/Lancashire borders somewhere. So this is our plus three!

After all the excitement of the past couple of days it was time to make a bit of progress so we ignored the rain and continued our journey. We can stand getting wet for a while so we moved on from Market Drayton towards Audlem. Three hours was enough but that got us through Adderley Locks and the first two of the Audlem Flight. We are moored near the damson tree that provided us with the fruit for last year's jam.

Today's journey 4.7 miles and 7 locks

So far this year we have travelled 250.7 miles, 150 locks, 5 swing bridges and 6 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 1452.4 miles, 1236 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 46 tunnels

Another good day!

After our planned trip to the shops, which was only partly successful due to the fact that the butchers appear to no longer do their own pies, (or maybe I was remembering wrong) we continued our journey northwards. I'm not sure how they manage it but the general store in Gnosall has cakes and biscuits at about half the price of the major supermarkets. Additional treats were Cadburys Cream Eggs at 6 for £1 and a couple of cream doughnuts. Naughty but nice!

Below is the view looking backwards from last night's mooring. The deep cutting beyond it was meant to be part of the tunnel when the canal was built but there were dangerous faults in the rock so it was opened out into a cutting making a planned 690 yard tunnel into an 81 yard one!


Cowley Tunnel, all 81 yards of it.

 

The reasonable weather continued today so we got about 6 hours cruising done, that will help to make up for the fact that tomorrow and Thursday will probably see no progress at all.

This stretch of the Shroppie is always slow going due to the number of moored boats and the narrowness of some of the cuttings. As with all canals you get an occasional reminder of why the canals were built, like this wharf at Knighton.

When we reached Tyrley Locks there was another boat going down ahead of us which meant every lock was against us but they were very kindly starting to refill the locks as they left them which meant they were half full at least by the time we got there. Five locks in 55 minutes, not bad going when following another boat.

We have moored at Market Drayton with high winds and torrential rain forecast, time to light the fire and batten down the hatches.

Today's journey 14 miles and 5 locks

So far this year we have travelled 246 miles, 143 locks, 5 swing bridges and 6 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 1447.7 miles, 1229 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 46 tunnels

Stop here for pies and cakes

Today we had a target of Wheaton Aston and beyond. Wheaton Aston is our (and everybody elses) stopping point for cheap diesel on the Shropshire Union, 8p per litre cheaper than we were paying to the fuel boat on the southern Grand Union and 15p per litre cheaper than we paid to the fuel boat on the Coventry. When you consider that if we run our tank low and have our two jerry cans empty we put about 150 litres in it makes a lot of difference. After making Turners £120 richer and us £120 poorer we were in the happy position of having a full fuel tank, we also have a full water tank, no rubbish, empty loo and two spare gas bottles. The only thing we might need is some wood and coal if it doesn't warm up soon.

We carried on cruising as by some miracle it was actually dry today, tomorrow doesn't look too bad either but then Wednesday and Thursday look horrible. The Shropshire Union is much quieter at this time of year, we would have had no problems mooring anywhere we wanted, not something you can do in the summer. We moored for the night at Gnosall, a place which has at least two things to recommend it, a shop which sells cheap, good cakes and a butchers which sells nice pies so it is a trip to the shops tomorrow before we leave.


Today's journey 12.8 miles, 1 lock and tunnel.

So far this year we have travelled 232 miles, 138 locks, 5 swing bridges and 6 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 1433.7 miles, 1224 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 46 tunnels

On the Shropshire Union

 We waited until about 10.30 hoping the weather would make up it's mind what it was going to do, then decided to make a move. Things didn't go to badly at first, we got through the first two locks and were just working the third when a heavy shower struck. that passed and I was only a bit damp. I was walking between locks as they are only about a quarter of a mile apart. I had nearly reached the fourth lock at Gailey and the heavens dumped a torrent of water on us. By the time we were through we were both drenched even though we were both in waterproof coats and hats.

Once we were through Gailey Lock we stopped on the waterpoint to fill up. I am toying with the idea of a collecting vessel, waterbutt style, on the roof with a pipe to the watertank. The way the rain was coming down it would probably have filled the tank faster. We did linger a bit longer than necessary then as the rain eased off we headed for Autherley Junction and the Shropshire Union.

About half of our journey was in sunshine and half in a downpour, at least we got to the junction and through the stoplock dry and then moored up.

Today's journey 8.9 miles and 5 locks


So far this year we have travelled 219.2 miles, 137 locks, 5 swing bridges and 5 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 1420.9 miles, 1223 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 45 tunnels

A little bit of shopping, a little bit of travel and a lot of rain.

When we got up this morning we headed off to the market. I'm normally very heavy on shoes but I got a pair of trainers from Penkridge eighteen months ago and they are still going strong so we wanted to get Ray a pair. Inflation has reached Penkridge and the same style as I bought then for £10 are now £12.99 but still a good buy. I treated myself to a new purse as the zip on my old one was dodgy and tended to throw my change everywhere. Apart from that it was just the normal groceries plus a treat for lunch from Jaspers, a bakery I recommend to anyone passing this way.

We got back to Morgana in time to listen to the Arsenal v Chelsea match then it was time to continue our journey. Raincoats and hats were the order of the day as the showery weather continued, I had hoped to reach Gailey but after three locks I was soaked and cold so we moored for the night.

Today's journey 2.4 miles and 3 locks

So far this year we have travelled 210.3 miles, 132 locks, 5 swing bridges and 5 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 1412 miles, 1218 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 45 tunnels