Hi 

it was hard work but we all arrived in Liverpool safe and sound is not a little hot and bothered we could complain about the heat but then I think when  boating rain Monday, Rain Tuesday, Windy Wednesday, Rain Thursday and Friday  Rain with Gale force wind. Sat Sun  cloudy and Cold So now I just accept what God sends us. 

We arrived in Salthouse Dock Liverpool thats the one opposite the Police station at Liverpool 1 and in front of Albert Dock. Nice pontoon with free  electric although today we have a black out as all the electric went out at 09.30 morning and has only just come back on 14.57 But thats OK Mat Lorraine and Thomas turned up and taken them all off to West Kirby by train, They have Gone Crabbing and we(thats Noreen and I have the whole afternoon to clean up, tidy up, Stow everything away in its rightful place as a boat that is untidy is a dangerous boat. 

When we arrived we were just in time to get to the evening session at the indoor Fair Ground Its really good ,not cheep but good value once in every ride was free for as many goes as you want and it wasn't packed out we didn't queue for any rides we started at 18.00 and ended at 21.00 the kids were knackered and went to bed quietly? Yesterday it was New Brighton the beach was packed I have never seen so many people on New Brighton beach so so hot but what a great time the kids had and today as I said Mat has taken them all to West Kirby so we have the afternoon off I think tonight is all you can eat Chinese Banquette se haw that goes down with a 7,,5,, 3,,year old I think the mop and Buckets  will be Out  But who cares its soon cleaned up. Talking of that I had a pump out booked this morning for 09.15 they arrived at 11.15 the excuse was a man fell in the Marina and was retrieved Dead so everything was shut down for the police to carry out their work. So I let them off for their tardiness 

No Idea about Tomorrow and Sunday though we will go to Mass  but early I think I will be told whats happening after that 

Life in the fast lane 

What a wonderful back drop from New Brighton

                                         She only ran him over twice I told him not to stand there 

First time on a proper train not too bothered 

 Hi 

Most of the Locks in the north west are still closed well closed as fat as we are concerned they open 2 days a week from 10am to 4 pm Now the majority of boats waiting in the queue are from the south and  trying to return home so we have left them to it CRT could not run a raffle I would not let them look after my garden pond. Yesterday I was contacted by the BBC asking if I would like to join a debate on radio 4 about the lack of water in the canal the other guest would be Richard Parry head of CRT now you may not know but since my head injury when I get nervous I stutter I did as a young lad but the bump I had has started it off again so I declined instead they got a hire boat /marina owner from Skipton and he said all the things I wanted to say. That being CRT are useless at looking after waterways. I now regret saying no I should have just gone for it.

Noreen and I have just had a nice weeks R&R as we are still moored in Scarisbrick Marina I have had a good weeks fishing and Noreen has read about 4 books. However tomorrow the grand Children arrive and we embark on another trip into Liverpool (thats the only route open to us ) and that is only a three day cruise. We arrive in Liverpool on Weds and it will be full on from day one But we are so excited about having them on board it should be a load of fun the most demanding aspect is H&S its in the front of your mind 24 /7 However to have them here is well worth the stress 

Today the Marina is very busy with this morning a cycle ride formed up and then a model boat club arrived (Boys with there Toys ) some very nice looking model boats there not just a model boat with and engine these are works of art I have a 3ft Narrow Boat hanging in my shed just needs the interior finishing off  I just don't seem to get the time I will try again in the winter .

We are looking at getting back to our home mooring the weekend of the 20/21 Aug 

Keep smiling Stay Safe 

God Bless 

 

Boys and their Toys

 IT IS EASY TO REPLY ONLY TAKES 30 SECONDS. I KNOW ITS NOT GROUND BREAKING NEWS  BUT IT DOES HAVE PICTURES ?????????????????????????????

Catch up

 Hi Everyone 

Sorry I have been off the air for a week but in my defence its been a busy one,and really Im only doing it now because its to hot to do anything else even the fishing has had to take a back seat.

Last week we all went to Blackpool that is three grandchildren Maryanne Noreen and me I only did Monday and  Wednesday we had Matthew Lorraine and grandson Thomas a real good family DO I only did Mon Tue as I had to get back to the boat there was a few repairs to do the solenoid was sticking and she wasn't starting to good the grand children are coming again at the weekend for a historical (hysterical) cruise into Liverpool with and extra 4 on board  the accommodation had to be sorted and it was a good excuse to escape for a few days. they will arrive on Sunday lets hope the weather stays dry.

the two days in Blackpool were really good those days when bed time couldn't come quick enough But as a wise man once said " Grandchildren are Gods compensation for getting Old"

We are still moored in Scarisbrick because the canal is still blocked to go North and East so we are virtually maroon here in west Lancashire but I can think of worse places to be maroon, our permanent mooring Fettlers Wharf is only a days sail away BUT it entails 7 of the worst locks in the country  and then we would have to do that twice by keeping in easy and staying here our trip into  Liverpool will be much shorter. As I Celebrated  my 75th last week I have been told I should start taking it easy I say Sod Off Im quite happy as I am age is just a number we all know it means nothing as long as you wake up in the morning and can not feel any wood around you get up and enjoy another day God has given you for free.

However when I returned here last Tue another boat was moored along side us I realised it was a friend of mine Ronnie I did some painting for him last year. As I didnt see any one aboard I ask the marina staff was Ronnie ok. the look was enough " sorry Alan  he died last week. he came home one night made a brew it was still in the cup went to be but never got up" he was a chauffeur for Liverpool council they tried to contact him couldn't so  rang his daughter she came over and found him. RIP Ronnie.

Im just glad he paid me for all the work I had done for him some of my clients still owe me from 2020 thas not being disrespectful Ronnie would laugh or kick himself for paying to soon.

Thanks for Listening it means a lot 

God Bless Stay Safe 

Alan

Sun down eight bells and all is quiet

As the England ladies did so well in fact Brilliantly this is Pippa who has been selected to play next season for Howarden Rangers (would you take her on ???) 7 and  ready to take on the world (whens the world cup for Ladies ? 

Evie Southport Beach it took half a mile walk to find the sea but she insisted 

Sports Day in Blackpool with Shaun the sheep

THE THREE MUSCATIERS 

  

 Good morning campers 

Yesterday was quite an exciting day though it could have turned out quite differently ??

One of our friends came for a days fishing and every thing was going fine sun was a little hot but hey you cant complain can you

As the sun was so strong I thought why waste it so I disconnected the electric land line and switched on the solar panels (free electric ) everything was going well until I went down to the engine room and noticed a very strange smell now one thing you do not want on a boat or at least an engine room is a strange smell it always indicates something wrong. So I spent a good frantic 10 min tracking down this smell that was getting steadily worse. I eventually found the fault it was a battery that was over heating steam was coming out of the breather hole. Now this is serious as batteries that over heat can blow up so speed was now the imperative that battery had to be isolated and removed. Access to my engine bay is about 2ft by 4ft with a marine engine sat in the middle to get access to the batteries well I will just say its difficult especially when limbs are not as flexible as they once were. The isolation was easy enough but then it had to come out now dont go imagining that these are normal batteries like your car these are double the size and double the weight my first attempt was a failure as the handles had almost melted and just slipped off so I had to quickly make up a rope sling, this worked and I eventually extracted the now very hot heavy smoking battery all the time expecting it to explode. All this was in the space of about 45 min waking this morning I have to back into the depths of the engine room (it should be know as Engine No Room ) and rearrange the spare battery and check that everything is still working I am sure it is as there is no more smoke ? At least today's tidy up I wont be expecting anything to blow up though Noreen will still be there with her Fire extinguisher the last fire we had was again in the engine room we used two extinguishers dry foam it took tow years to get rid of the dust

If I write again tomorrow you will know all was successful though I have no doubt it will be

Just to say how exciting life afloat can be ???

God Bless Stay Safe

Buggerlugs   

 living the dream

I have to feed these every Morning just to shut the little beggars up at 06.30 you don't want that noise 

However Noreen has named them all but so far we have lost 2 thats life 

😊😊😊😊

 

Ding Dong Good Morning campers

Well it looks like Canal River Trust (they are the people who look after and maintain our waterways in England ) and what a terrible job they are making of it very poor maintenance and lack of investment in what is needed has left the North west cut off from the rest of England. Over the past few years they have spent millions on to links that is the link to get boats into the heart of Liverpool and the link to get boats across the Ribble to join the Lancaster Canal now because of their inapt management both these routes are now out of commission due to lack of water or CRTs poor management of water levels. As we all know water flows down hill now, the Leeds and Liverpool canal is the longest canal in England 127and a half miles of most is down hill so you would think that Wigan being the junction that connects the Northwest to the rest of the country would have plenty of water unfortunately due many factors that is not the case CRT have had to take obscene measures by closing the locks into and out of Wigan. Which in reality has left hundreds of boats with nowhere to go. Except for the route between Wigan and Liverpool which can be done in a matter of 4 days but that does not cover a cruising season of 6 months as normally do. However we are the lucky ones for those Boaters between the to of the Wigan flight and lets say Skipton have a even shorter range locks are closed through Blackburn Colne Burnley and Barrowford. Its very much like booking a holiday then finding out you FLIGHT HAS BEEN CANCELED 

We have our grandchildren joining us next week and we are sneaking back into Liverpool Docks its a three days sail 5 days in Liverpool and 3 days sail out. But that is all dependent on water levels which I am very concerned about as the farms around here are extracting millions of gallons of water out of the canal daily and I wonder if this extraction is sustainable ?????

So you think Boating is the idyllic life style believe me its not what you see on the TV it maybe south of Birmingham but even the waterways see a north south divide

We are taking it easy living the dream though we do get a few nightmares we still wake up in some beautiful places meet some beautiful people and enjoy what we have

God bless and thank you for listening to my rant

I will take some pics today of our location Scarisbrick west Lancs

Buggerlugs

Buggerlugs at rest 

 Hi

Very strange weather today 

It has left us with a rather strange sunset  22.15 

 

The leaving of Li

verpool

Tomorrow we leave Liverpool, we have a 08.00 start actually it a 07,45 start as we have to be at Mann island lock be 08.00. With much disruption along the system with with canal closures and lock closures I am facing the the trip with a little pessimism But as I keep telling people “thats Boating”

Last night we went to mass at the Blessed Sacrament Shrine strange church the facade looks like a government building DRAB no features no inclination of it being a place of worship. I have no idea where the congregation come from as the church is in the centre of town in St Johns and there is no social housing as I have found for Miles. I would say a 1/3 of the congregation at the Saturday vigil mass have shopping trolleys may be as Aldi is just around the corner its a place to pop in after completing your shopping whatever it is packed though the body of the church is very small it has a very friendly atmosphere.

Walking up there at 17.30 you have the day trippers heading off home and the night revellers just arriving the first road crossing is just outside the the dock and standing there with another 100 souls waiting for the little green man it was like standing with the seven seven tribes of Israel, you get the feeling of togetherness obviously you get the local idiot here they do not ride chariots they mow people down with motorised scooters but there again you get the swearing and gesturing in a dozen Languages all meaning the same and even that gives a sense of togetherness, Around 19.00 the city and the waterfront take on a new atmosphere changing from a city of museums, historic building, and culture to a city of Stag parties, drunken revelry, and just everyone standing having a good time as Buggerlugs is moored 15 yards from Albert dock main gates (though 12 ft below on the water ) we escape most of the screaming, shouting and attempted singing. And by 23.00 everyone is tucked up in bad but not always their own if the crowds in the day time are like the seven tribes of Israel the the night time must be Sodom and Gomorrah'

Today we have the Grandchildren arriving today its now 06.45 and I am just about ready to start prepaing for the onslaught apparently Pippa wants to go go for a girly shopping trip with Noreen so I will take Zac on a boys trip on the ferry across the water to see the submarine. Maybe Maryanne can get her head down whilst Evie has her nap, well thats the plan but as we know children are never predictable and we have to stay flexible.

By time our guests depart it will be time to prepare Buggerlugs for an early start. I am working on two days to get to Scarisbrick Marina which is our next port of call the water levels look ok so it should be an uneventful but maybe this time when negotiating the swing bridges through Magul we can get through with taking and cars for a ride

God Bless 

Stay Safe 

From the pen of Buggerlugs

22.00 from Buggerlugs Mooring

 

Hi

After a night of ups and downs the wind became quite blustery around 2.30 am we are moored on floating pontoons they rise and fall on stanchions with the tide the one nearest our boat was squeeking like a gang of Banshees so I had to rise from my slumber get a tin of grease a long stick and grease the stanchion, the water in the dock is a lot deeper than the canal so the flat bottom Narrow boat tends to roll more even though it was now quiet it was still rough

Liverpool is one of the most vibrant interesting cities in the North. That may sound strange coming from a true Mancunian however I tell things as they are when Noreen and I stay in a City, Town, village we normally walk everywhere read all the cenotaphs as you get a lot of information from them. BUT today we took to the bus (we have oap passes ) as we were crossing the water to New Brighton which is a Historically fascinating place, especially areas like magazine place and Magazine Road I could write a journal on riding Ariva buses.

Though today's we had a nice safe ride. I remember in the late 50s my dad taking me on the ferry to New Brighton to go sea fishing we were on holiday in Talacre North Wales so we must have come by train in them days that must have been a big day out

Now New Brighton is a little run down but it still retains is sea side outlook luckily the tide was out and the beaches looked pristine with not a sole in sight absolutely beautiful The 2mile walk along the promenade from New Brighton to Seacombe (where we were to get a bus back to Liverpool) is a stress emptying walk as I said pristine beaches and wonderful interesting buildings all with a great history. On reaching Seacombe we discover that there is no bus to Liverpool only to Birkenhead

where we can get a bust to Liverpool unfortunately this bus was Ariva I think all Ariva drivers are trained on a race track and have lead in their boots especially the breaking foot we sat at the back and 20 mins of hard driving makes me quite aggressive Noreen had to remind of the penalty for GBH so I walk off the bus quietly. The bus ride back to Liverpool was quiet but just as fast we sat at the front on the top which I found accentuates speed you would not believe I use to race motor bikes. However other than crazy, blind, lead footed bus drivers we had another interesting day out

Tomorrow who knows Stay Safe

God Bless

Beautiful clean beaches 

Encountering the tunnel top of the bus 

 Hi Everyone 

     Well we made it into Liverpool. The last leg from Litherland is now part of our tradition its a no rush day so we start with a full English in Tesco move out about ten then its a cautious cruise through Bootle though these days the kids are board with throwing stones at passing boats   The last leg is normally the easiest unless you have hail and a 25mph Blowing and swirling wind then it becomes "uncomfortable BUT thats  boating and we were along for the ride. its only a 2 hour sail from Litherland to Stanley lock This lock connects the canal to Liverpool docks system. Here you meet the volunteers who take you down the first flight and then on you are on your own to Salthouse Dock. As we have done this trip a few times before and know most of the work force and volunteers its like a little reunion. They all warned us of the problems with the wind and the fact that they almost lost a wide beam coming out this morning so I had be extremely careful. another boat was  going down with us called Leo a 54ft Narrow, as they had never done the run before so it suggested that I lead ( not my suggestion ) everything was going well through the first stage though by the time we hit Princess Dock the wind had really kicked up. the big problem is when you cross the open water through Albert Dock and the Salthouse this is only awkward because you have couple of hundred people watching your every move However we gave the Gongoozlers (look that word up)  something to remember as we crabbed our boats across two locks and one bridge GREAT FUN and people ask why do I go boating its boring ? anyway we are here now moored up 5 mins from Liverpool One and settled in for the week

They dont show you days like today  on the TV canal Programmes 

God Bless 

Safely moored in Salthouse Dock

Top Stanley  lock looking towards The Tobaco Warehouse 

Biggest brick build building in the world 

Litherland mooring  

No matter how humble its still home 

 Hi

Very quiet day today, as  It rained very heavy all night so as you can imagine the state of the tow path this morning is very damp  still we were sailing not walking to our next location whitch was Tesco in Litherland its only about 2 and a half hours away however these mooring at Tescos are the last safe moorings before you get into the so from here there is no stopping before you reach Stanley top lock thats takes you onto the Liverpool link through t bandit country of Bootle, These moorings are gated and you are on the opposite bank to the tow path the only problem I could see was the amount of boats you can squeeze in which on average is 7 and you have to get there early as all the boats going into Liverpool and all those coming out use it as a safe mooring We were lucky and got the last proper mooring now we have boats buttied up (along side Each other0 But it makes for a cosy evening. From Aintree to Litherland you would be amazed just how much green space there is Liverpool / Sefton council have done a good job of retaining and keeping clean green  spaces .

So we are booked in to go down into Liverpool on Monday Tomorrow we will fill Buggerlugs with another weeks rations and gin. Priorities you must get your Priorities right 

Caught this Heron having a little sleep 

One of Noreens swing Bridges its only a small one 

she likes the little ones they dont have crazy drivers  

 Good Afternoon 

Strange day today and one of the hardest as we had to go through Magul which entails 8 swing bridges Now Noreen refuses to take the boat through a swing bridge or into a lock everything else she can and will do very well, So this means Noreen opens the swing bridges and locks I must state here so all the feminists don't come hunting for blood.  it is Noreens choice..The day  started well with a late start 08.55 a very leisurely  cruise ahead clear blue sky and a light breeze. The first lock was over and done with in less that 6 min second swing bridge in sight Noreen had started the bridge operation I saw two cars jump the flashing lights and the siren but the third didn't make as the barriers came down in front  and behind Now here comes the dilemma are you a Noreen type Christian or a Alan type who believes the for every action there is a reaction , luckily for this driver she got the Noreen type who stopped the operation reversed it and re-opened the bridge  and let her and her off and not a thankyou to be seen. Now the Alan type would have carried on with the operation and had the car hanging over the water whilst I took the Buggerlugs through only inches from the car Bonnet. that driver will NOW go away knowing that she can try that again The Alan way would have her drive miles to avoid canal swing bridges "For every action there is a reaction "   But the amazing thing is when Noreen re-opened the bridge two other cars did the same by jumping the lights. all I can say is Magul is a satellite of Liverpool  and maybe I'm a not a good Christian ?? just a practical one 

The rest of the journey was quite uneventful I found a old friend from years ago we were sailing in opposite directions so only really had time to swap emails and promise to contact. 

We were moored up by 12.15 after doing the usual checks around the boat I thought I could smell diesel,  After searching I eventually found a possible leak ob the filter anyway I think I have stopped it we will know tomorrow when we stop again 

We are now moored in a nice little spot very quiet we have tv and  internet  I say that because we do not always get both. We are opposite a stud as we are only a couple of miles away from Aintree there are some beautiful horses in the paddocks with a wonderful aroma it is what I describe as a powerful country fragrance thankfully its quite breezy and the aroma is only spasmodic and not offensive I wonder is Posh horse S--- is different to Poor horse sh--  

God Bless 

Stay Safe 

Sorry no pics today I am angry with myself not to get one of the stranded car 

BUGGERLUGS 

 

 

                                    Buggerlugs First day out 

Hi

Have you ever had one of those days you thought you should have stayed in bed?

Everything was planned even a start and finish time had been agreed, as we went though the first 7 locks with another boat off the Marina though he was only going as far as Scarisbrick

First mistake was forgetting two boat hooks we will collect on the way back, The pump out did not go according to plan as the pump was very temperamental and refused to pump but after some a little persuasion with a Manchester screw Driver (Big Hammer) I got it working BUT at 10.10 we pulled out of the Marina only 10mins behind time, and as we were doing it together it was a very easy trip ok it rained a little but hey my skin is water proof

It was great to be moving again the sun came out the boat was running smooth and all was well with the world, For a first day I am very pleased We have covered some ground and deserve a celebration so I have pulled in at the Saracens Head and we will spend the night in there swapping boat stories with other boaters together with a few Gins and dinner Not a bad life ???

even though it rained a little tomorrow I must put some sun cream on I am burnt to a crisp

its now only 16.30 and time to get ready for a night out (we always dress for dinner ) Sorry to say no one fell in and no major incidents in fact quite boring BUT a lovely day

A few pics for your album

God Bless Stay Safe

Buggerlugs

this is our overnight stop the sculpture depicts the Digging of the first sod of the Leeds and liverpool Canal Though there is another plaque 3 miles further up the canal in a village called Halsal  that says it was there? Who cares at least it is celebrated and homage paid to the thousands of Navvies 

Leaving Rufford Behind looking towards Parbold hill

 Everyone comes out to see Buggerlugs pass by 

Off we go clear Water Ahead

 Hi

Well thats Christmas and new year behind us and I can now concentrate on boating I have been painting all the panels for a Boat mans cabin 14 in all thats now finished I am busy collecting jobs for the summer I have a milk churn to paint but other than that I will have to drum up some customers. 

We have been working on where we should go for our cruise this cruise but as we have been on every canal and navigable river on the system its difficult. We have decided that Birmingham sound good we can get to see the Commonwealth Games I had thought of doing the Trent south to north thats always a good run or just go and laze about on the Weaver thats very relaxing OR we could do the lot we have the from April until Sept If we do the Weaver we are near the grand kids as a day out but we would leave that for the school hols. Lets hope that Covid has calmed down though cruising on the boat you see a lot of people but dont come into contact  with them 

Now that the days are getting longer people are busy so I will start writing a weekly Blog 

God Bless Stay Safe

Out with the Old in with the New

 Happy Christmas to all 

We are now in that awful intrim period between Christmas and New Year everyone is a bit lethargic eaten to much Drank to much and generally knackered 

We had a good one it started with a few boaters round to sing Christmas Carols (corvid safe everyone had their booster it was out doors. We sing along with Radio Lancashire they do it every year its on the radio in the evening for an hour the radio provides the commentary  and the music we provide mulled Wine and mince pies very pleasant evening. with all the boats decorated and the lights sparkling on the water very nice. We only has one minor set back our eldest grandson came for Christmas lunch But when his parents got him home he tested Poss so we all had to start the rigmerole of testing Noreen and I have now had three days of Neg so tomorrow we are having all the little grandchildren which will be wonderful occasion. 

These days I am not a fan of New Year Im no hum bug its just not the same anymore, at mid night we all sound our horns and drink a toast with our neighbours but that will be the limit of our excitement. We are hoping that the good  Lord will let 2022  be a easier on the NHS and this wonderful country we call home and not us us share any more of it 

I have a good year on paintings and crafts with the lock downs I have been able to get loads of work done I have done all the painting for a Boatmans cabin 17 in total I think though I still have to do exterior door panels that was a really big project.  I also managed to get some old Scots Pine Cones these had never opened and died on the tree as the tree died amazing items I made them into Hedgehogs for Christmas 

Looking back on 2021 it wasnt that bad we managed a cruise though a short one all our immediate family have survived Covid, Though we have said good -by  to quite a few of our dear friends However  in retrospect I have had years where I had lost more good friends and under more tragic circumstances, So Im sitting back and counting the positives of 2021. Those who WANT to take something positive out of 2021 can look at the way the majority of the population have become more Tolerant, Socially aware, understanding and fame and fortune will not protect you from the Reaper knocking on your door so is the pressure of getting it worth the trouble ?

Enough! now  I an going to start planning next year i know that as soon as I get a plan the whole thing will change but hey at least I will have one to alter Also I will have something to look forward to and if we do have to change the plan we will start to look forward to plan B or C or D what ever it is it will be new horizons for us all 

Be Good Be safe keep smiling take the blessing as they come with good grace and the tragedies as the fall with the same good grace  

Just a few of the boat mans cabin

I managed to make 120 of these sorry all gone 

Multi occupancy bird nester all room are separate 

No on suit  

It now looks very bright 

 Hi Everyone 

Lets face it Winters on its way , everyday here more geese are flying off to their winter roosts the tree's are changing colour and shredding their foliage, nights are closing in  And we are having a jetty /mooring make over. the original mooring was just about done for. Whilst we were away Barry our next door neighbour actually fell through his, it made a right mess of his leg.  Anyway ours is now well underway and looking very smart. We have had to vacate the mooring whilst the makeover was in progress only 20 yards away but it does feel odd, its like living in your neighbours house watching people work on yours, very strange. All being well I will put Buggerlugs back in her rightful place tomorrow and then I have the awful task of sorting out the jetty and tidying up I think it will take a few trips to the tip because not only have we had the jetty revamped we have made the mooring bigger (by magic ) 

On the whole everything is looking good and we are still enjoying the life style, we are lucky we can ignore all the miserable buggers that constantly moan about the cost of boating and the hard work looking after a boat I tell them its simple if you are not happy SOD OFF and go back on land and take your miserable attitude with you. People don't expect that reply and apparently I have upset some people? But I stand by it if your not happy move you cannot go through life being miserable its to short.

As the Covid restrictions are still relaxed Buggerlugs is open for visits afternoon tea is a specialty and the fishing is good 

God Bless Stay safe  

New decking down. Its a reformed material strong and non slip it makes the Jetty look bigger ??

 

Buggerlugs is now HMS BUGGERLUGS

 

Buggerlugs is now HMS BUGGERLUGS

July 22, 2021

 We cracked it, on what was Im sure the hottest day of the year. It started out ok I suppose we had to go down the first two locks which under normal circumstances would have been a simple 10 / 15 mins But as the centre had just opened and was full of Gongooslers the lock keeper shouts "There is a boat going down the locks we will give a talk on what is happening jut follow me ) I said to this leader of men "this is Buggerlugs we dont do everything  the proper way we are a bit unconventional, But he just smiled and asked me politely not to ram the gates or sink the boat   as there are children watching. everything was going well Noreen was doing her bit getting the kids to work the gates until the last lock I was given the all clear to leave the lock I tried twice but she wouldnt budge I shouted but nobody was listening as the lecture was just being concluded So I sounded my Claxton, walked along my roof to the sharp end and Yelled  " will someone shift that Bloody tree trunk out of my way" this caught everyone attention and after 4/5 mins a plan was adopted by the now very attentive crowd ( They could smell excitement, blood the possibility of a boat sinking the plan was for one to stand on my bow on my bloody highly polished bow in BOOTS! using MY Barge pole ??after a short interlude were I told him how it WAS going to work, He would use my pole from within the cratch his two co-workers would manoeuvre the tree trunk from canal side AND I would direct operations from my captains position within mins, much to the disappointment of the now quite large crowd buggerlugs had extradited herself from the lock. I love a bit of fun !!!!!and I don't mind taking command after all its my boat.

OK once that was over we had 45 mins to wait for the swing bridge to be opened the last lock to be worked then it was off we go. However before you are allowed on the MSC (Manchester Ship Canal) you have to report in to Port control who control all shipping on the MSC.. Now when I spoke to them yesterday he was very happy to let us go as there was nothing in his diary ) arrrr yes buggerlugs I forgot about you hang on 10 mins I have two ships  coming past you when the last one passes you get behind her not to close but dont worry they are docking in another mile. So off we go once the two had dock I could see the waterway in front was blocked" by another large vessel and two more tugs just then my phone rings as you are in constant communication with port control I was told to hang off ?? as the two tugs were turning the ship round from where I was it looked like the big ship was eating the two little tugs anyway after 35 min treading water one tug shot passed me with thumbs up so I then shot through the smallest of gaps passed the other tug that was still being eaten by the big ship. OK another message from Port control they were happy for Buggerlugs to continue, Yet after another 40 min I had another phone call all port control it just said  "look to your stern" all I said was "oh SHIT " I had a rather large boat wanting to overtake. i asked where the f--- did they come from ? port control replied quickly find a safe Anchorage to let him pass.  I did just that I pulled to the side, but staying in enough water and pointed my bow into the on coming wake otherwise flat bottomed narrow boats could capsize. when we had recovered from that ordeal I was contacted again from port Control saying I had one ship 1.5 miles to my stern and one ship just ahead of me leaving its birth in Runcorn so he requested I give buggerlugs everything she has as my turn off was not that away so for the next 30 mins with Buggerlugs running her little heart out and keeping a close eye out for bandits ahead and to the rear "WE RAN FOR HOME " Im very glad I had done a aerial survey of the Marsh lock and made my own map. for I now knew once I pass the farm buildings and wind turbines on my starboard  I am ready to start my turn off the MSC and onto he Weaver and Marsh lock with about 10 mis to spare before the two ships passed I informed Port control that I was now off the main shipping lane. Im not sure who was more relieved me or them they did say it was unusual to have that much traffic on late booking but hey we are all here to tell the tale and what a tale 

Just got off the water before this one passed

I thought if I dressed like this I could get passed the immigration at Runcorn 

they are use to seeing people like this  I might even get a house 

The first sight of Marsh lock 

the Tugs have just pushed this accross they have left me a small 

gap so I had to go for it.

Being overtaken by this bugger was FUN

GOD BLESS EVERYONE 

Settled in again

 

Hi Everyone 

Having been back now for three weeks and listening to the tales of the other boaters who took the opportunity and went out cruising. all seem to have had the same experience with the canals and that is the canals are in a deplorable state, We I say we because the boaters I have spoken to all say the same. the canals are slowly being choked with weed and reeds many places you can not get two boats passed each other the navigation is so narrow and the banks are that overgrown with weeds and bushes it is difficult moor without doing a hour of weed and bush clearing. CRT have closed many service stops so water is in short supply and rubbish is difficult to dispose of. 

Also the Boaters have changed in fact so much so that I have now divided the boating fraternity  into to camps and called them Boaters and Floaters.

 Boaters are the old type of boater who live on their boat take great pride in their boat, cruise the waterways and embrace the boating life style of a gentle slow pace of life no pretentiousness willing to share and and give a helping hand 

Floaters buy a boat because they have either seen a tv programme and thought it was trendy thing to do but then find out its not as romantic as these programmes make out also its not easy to do a full time job and cruise so you become a person who just lives on a boat, they also do not understand the restrictions that come with living on a boat. The other type of floater is those who think its going to be cheaper then discover that the initial outlay may be cheaper but the running costs and maintenance are a continuous drain  on available funds. of course you do not have to continually maintain your boat ? However cruising the system you notice so many boats moored along the canal that obviously have no services and the boats have never moved in fact some look as if they have been so poorly maintained that they couldn't move if they wanted to.  Yes that type of life style would be cheaper but so much harder. These floaters also cannot seem to adapt to the basics of life afloat and adapt to the slower less ostentatious life style they had and are continually in a rush. I know I said they never cruise well the odd times they do cruise they are in a rush they come up behind you and complain you are not moving  fast enough or steal your water and never slow down when passing moored boats, my answer is if you are in a hurry get a camper van.  No matter how many TV programmes are shown of this idyllic Life style (which in the main it is ) though its not for everyone, But if you want to buy a boat now is the time to do it as the market is flooded with them, mainly due to the over production and  those who realised that boating was the wrong choice of getting rid of £100.000+  

BUT hey we still love the life we have adapted and settled in to it,  we are now after 14 years accepted experienced boaters. Noreen can do a set of locks faster than anyone I know and I can spin Buggerlugs around on a sixpence. We have both learnt to be economical with space and as Noreen quite rightly says its less to clean.  I believe we are both fitter an healthier due to our life style. What more could you ask of retirement. 

Since arriving back I have been inundated with jobs, I have now a shed full of panels awaiting to be painted with castles  and roses and other objects enough work to keep me occupied through the winter.

Stay safe everyone this Covid isn't over yet its the wolf at the door never trust anything you cant spell? The facts speak for themselves.

Time now to start preparing for Christmas   

GOD BLESS    STAY SAFE .

                                            Just a few of the panel's  I am painting These are all sanded ,varnished,and ready for painting one painting can take two days allowing for the drying between stages BIG JOB 

Home and Away

 Well another Cruising season completed and we are once again back in Rufford on our home Mooring, Even though this year our travels didn't take us any great distance it still provided us with Adventure the adventure of almost every day waking up in a new location Meeting new people experiencing new Idea's, new Places and if you are sensible everyday becomes a learning day.

You know when you go on holiday and you say like most people do “Great Holiday but its nice to be home “ Well what if you take your home with you. The Association I belong to has a motto “Home is where you Boat is” I have discovered that when you cruise in your Home you boat takes on a new persona it becomes a different object no longer is your Home its now your mode of transport that need looking after maintaining, constantly considering in everything you do Water, Fuel, Oil, Power all these elements become part of your life, as they do when on permanent moorings but here they are in the main “on tap” when cruising you literally have to find them.

The Boat becomes part of your journey like any explorer who looks after his equipment without which you would not get very far or have time to enjoy every day of your Journey. My experience with HMF and travelling across the vast expanse of Australia is the same to enjoy the ride you must have faith in your equipment and take care of it be adaptable to change and meet every challenge with a smile and determination Maybe all that adds to the excitement of cruising. That may sound as if its hard work and not a holiday but then you have to consider what is a holiday? That is something only each individual can answer As for me Im not for lying on a beach.

However thats us done for this year back to Buggerlugs now being transformed into our home Inside and outside look the same except the top boxes full of Spares, Ropes, fenders, engine parts and safety equipment have all now been stowed away in the sheds for next season. We are once again plugged into the electricity supply and no longer have to rely on Batteries, solar panels , and alternators for power. No longer do we have to consider how long we have telle on for or when we can use the washer, Toaster, Micro-wave or any other power guzzling device. But that is part of Cruising if it was easy it would loose its excitement and charm.

When we arrived back yesterday we had 4 hours hacking our way through a jungle of a garden we had Lilly stems 5 ft tall they must have given a wonderful display, this year everything seems to have gone mad with growth I think today will be spent just tidying and putting away I hate untidiness I am possibly on the spectrum for that?

All the same its nice to be Home 

Even better now as we can share our home and accept visitors