Thursday 30 August 2012

Stratford upon Avon

Hi Everyone


As you can see we are back up and running Gregg has once again breathed new life into the lap top and I am on the blog again one thing I will say here is if you get email from someone you don’t know delete it, I paid the price of curiosity
My last blog was I believe was just after we set off for Stratford upon Avon I will start as we left Anderton travelling down the Trent and Mersey to Middelwich then through aunty Maureen’s lock onto the Shroppy link on through Barbridge, Nantwich, Market Drayton, Audlem, down to Auderley junction up the Wolverhampton flight, then to Birmingham through Farmers locks cracking on to King wood Junction joining the Stratford canal from here it’s a straight run into Stratford upon Avon we managed all that in a matter of 8 days now considering the
Weather and other problems we had on the way. 118 miles 126 locks and 2 lift bridges in 8 days is pretty good going for two pensioners
The weather was bearable, I do not know why people get so worked up over it our skin is waterproof and though it was wet it was still very warm. The cruise as far as Auderley junction was great even the Audlem flight only took a couple of hours as we got all the locks for us with a boats coming down, filling up with fuel, water, gas and a pump out at Norbury was over and done with in 45 mins we were on fire then we hit Auderley junction as we all know the stop lock there is a bind especially with boats hitting it from three directions but here you have the added problem of Napton boats who in their infinite wisdom have moored all their hire fleet right up to the lock gates, reducing all alighting points for your crew to get off and work the lock, and all access to the lock, I had to go direct bow onto the lock wall with bow button touching the lock wall Noreen did her impression of a acrobat and swinging from a overhanging branch landed on the lock wall. Having explained the problem to Napton Boats in my normal composed voice and charming manner, their reply was Tough S--- we have the right to be here. I left leaving them in no doubt at my displeasure over their attitude to boaters, and others matters referring to their hospitality that I shall not bore you with only to say they are not on my Christmas card list
Other that that episode (which did not really detract from a great day) We did Norbury to the to of the Wolverhampton flight in one day the next day we were in Birmingham; moorings again were very scarce yet we again struck lucky by a very nice young man waving us into a mooring under the bridge outside Waterworld he said it belong to one of the water taxi’s but it was in dry dock so we had a good mooring for a couple of days were we ate in restaurants did some washing, shopping and running repairs. Now leaving Birmingham is always a problem especially when you use the Farmers Lock route they are awful almost as bad as Manchester However we are use to them and know enough to take things very slow
Soon sailing through Solihul one has to realise that it is still waiting to join the rest of the world in the twenty first century though its nice to see that they are clinging on to traditions especially the festival of throwing old Christmas trees into the canal How sweet is that????????
The rest of the run into Stratford was pleasant enough and Stratford itself is very nice well worth a visit we had intended to go onto the Avon up through Tewksbury then on to Stourport BUT I was too tight to pay the £50 they wanted to go onto the Avon which I consider to be a complete rip off what makes the Avon so special that you have to pay twice.
The return trip we decided to change the route by going through Kings Norton then up into Birmingham via the University and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (just to pay our respects) So from Stratford upon Avon to Anderton in seven days I know we are Go
As this was our third attempt to get to Stratford we should call this trip a success as we have got there and back with both of us unscathed and the boat intact unlike the first two attempts. We met lots of old friends and made lots of new ones on the way All in All a very good trip
I will post this now and catch up later now I have the PC back

God Bless

Buggerlugs

Saturday 4 August 2012


Vacancies


We are now taking bookings for late summer bookings


Me and My NuNu

Catch of the day

I have to do Everything

Keep out of my way Im still learning

You need a password to get in Here


Round them up and move them Out


Thomas our last guest of the summer has just left, We now have no guests and none on the books. Thomas is returning at the end of the month for another week of complete mayhem, its great having him on board he is a typical little lad his favourite words are Why, How, When, What if, he loves dirty hands, mucky wellies, and silly songs about falling on your Bum. I must be every mothers nightmare, teaching how to Hunt, Fish, shoot, make a fire, cook outdoors use a penknife and every other dangerous activity boys (and girls)just love. He can now check the battery level and start the engine to recharge them and, knows why and how it works. (something it took me years to grasp) He has tried to steer the boat but unfortunately is not yet quite tall enough to see over the top. Though he does know how. A foot note here must be that everything is done with the greatest of care and utmost safety, He is my grandson and I take as much care of him as I did with my own, They are still here to tell the tale (Maryanne would say only just) I see nothing wrong with teaching them about the world around them, Noreen teaches the cooking especially making biscuits they just love that, my two could swim, ride a bike, shoot , climb, abseil, cook out doors, knew how to care for and respect themselves and others before they were seven They could also think through a problem and come up with an answer maybe not the right one but never the less the answer would be theirs Many people tell me Both now are what is classed as nice honest people and if I can help bring Thomas up the same then I will consider life worth while. I hope Thomas enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed having him, things on Buggerlugs next week will be a lot quieter

Although the weather has been changeable we have had some really good days hot and sunny and some wet and windy but that’s what makes boating so exciting you never know the minute.

Where next? Not a clue we have a few phone calls to make to see if we can get a cancellation passage into Liverpool once we have that date then we can decide were next

Enjoy life

Be Good

Big Al