Cruising

Wednesday 4 May




Yesterday we left Barbridge with the sun shining and the wind still blowing, our intention was to make it just a short cruise of about three hours and moor just before the Audlem flight of locks a flight consisting of 21 locks. All was going well; the canal, after the bank holiday weekend was very quiet with just the odd boat passing who like us were in no hurry to do anything. We found a lovely mooring just 20 mins away from Audlem As it was only lunch time and we could get a good signal on the telly we decided to have a early end to the days travelling. So we set out our stall we even got the washing out to dry in the fresh air. However we were only moor 20mins when half way though another wash cycle we ran out of water, this was the first time ever we have actually ran out. This then required a new strategy in our half day the nearest water point was up the first three locks of the Audlem flight. Having filled up, and found a enough room to moor we decided now to spend the night there and continue the rest of the locks the following day.

Wednesday morning we started early to avoid the “rush” we only got as far as the first lock when all the alarms on the engine started to sound I discovered that yet again we were short on water, this time in the engine as no other boats were about I decided to do the maintenance in the lock 20 mins later we were on our way again this thim only for Noreen to fall A over T and bruising her knee. Now leading a a flotilla of boats we ascended the locks after 2 hours of opening, closing filling and emptying locks we passed the last through the last one about 11.00am another hour later saw us arriving in Market Drayton were we topped up the water (we both had a shower last night and Noreen did some more washing) I also did a pump out Mooring in Market Drayton can be difficult as the banking can be very shallow but we were very lucky and found one just near the bridge. We had a quick walk into the town and found Netto did a little shopping but we will have to visit Morrison’s tomorrow to complete the rationing of the boat.

But the most spectacular part of the day would be the past two hours fishing which had me catching a good number of Roach one of at least 1½lb

Thursday

Two and a half mile round trip to Morrisons and Lidl (enough provisions now to survive a siege) Noreen is quite right in her provisioning, there are very few places to shop between here and Wolverhampton and Noreen likes to be prepared for any visitors. Back to the boat 12 miles and four locks. we had to negotiate the narrowest part of the canal were the BW lads were dredging, to get the boat past I had about 2” each side, even the BW crew said I did well to get past?? we have moored up, washed the whole boat, had lunch and had half an hours fishing and it is still only 14.15.

We now await the arrival of Carol and Keith. Due to having pushed on Tuesday and get water we have arrived here a day early but at this pace of travel a day either way is nothing.

I am having trouble with internet signal again so this may be a bit late



Big Al

May Bank Holiday

Hi everyone
Well that’s the May Bank holiday over and what a weekend its been, We first had Sylvia, Marjorie, Alan and Geoff over for the curry night we were all on edge waiting for a phone call from Marjorie’s daughter who had gone into labour, I suggested to take her some of the Curry as that would shift anything. We now know that her daughter had a little girl weighing in at 9lb So welcome Constance. Mat Lorraine Thomas joined us on Friday they had decided to sail with us so Mat had to take his car to Barbridge which is about two days sail from Anderton his intention was that he would leave it in Barbridge the return to Anderton on the bus However like all good plans they fall down in the working As it was a public holiday they had changed the bus times to a Sunday service and even then that would mean him going all the way into Chester to back out again so £30.00 later and 20mins in a taxi he arrived back at the boat rather annoyed. However We managed to watch the wedding which I thought was very nice We are definitely the best in the world at Ceremonial occasions I had the boat all decked out in red white and blue To befit such an occasion.
I had all the crew up early on sat morning as we had to pump out and fill up with water, the wind soon got up and made travelling just a little difficult the canal was very busy and the going was very slow but we were in no hurry and just enjoyed the day.The new Dinette is working a treat Mat and Lorraine say its very comfortable as a bed it is making live so much easier with numbers on board.

Sunday we got up rather late as we only had a few miles to go and again even with a strong wind we just ambled along that was until my hat blew off my best hat in the panic of trying to retrieve it I managed to block the canal and get Buggerlugs grounded However Mat did manage to hook the hat out of the cut. Thomas was a little star at one stage he was relaying messages from Bridge to Galley I could imagine him in his tricorn hat white breaches and the Boatswain shouting “Master Thomas! up in the rigging with you if you please “ he would have made an excellent midshipman as he knows every inch of this boat. I have some good pics of him assisting with the locks which are priceless

Today Monday Julie John Rach and Bethany joined us so we had 9 for lunch after lunch we held a fishing competition after much deliberation I have decided that it was a draw between Rach and John at 9 each I believe that would be fair. Today has also been a rather clumsy day my chair blew in the canal, Matthew broke a rod in half, Noreen lost a packet of cigarettes to the wind and canal, Having said all that it has been a fantastic weekend and having Mat Lorraine and Thomas with us really made it a weekend to remember.

Everyone has now gone home now and all is far too quiet, the canal traffic has slowed down, even the wind has slackend off but the sun is still very hot far too hot for the end of April. Noreen and I are just relaxing here feeling very contented having conducted a very very nice weekend.
I have a new smell, aroma or fragrance for you, that is the combination of Blue bells and Wild Garlic; as we came through the woods the other side of Anderton on Sat morning the wood floor was carpeted with them the Blue Bells deep in the wood and the Wild Garlic clinging to the dampness of the canal side the smell was wonderful that has to be the smell of spring.

Under instruction from Nunu

Thomas Going Solo

After a hard day as a Midshipman

Fishing Competition



Passing through Lymn





Its funny how you wake up some mornings and you know its going to be one of those days?

We left our mooring at sparrow fart this morning pushing on through Sale, Altringham, and Dunham and pushing on to Lymn now by some strange impulse I managed to arrive in Lymn just as one of the best chippies on the system was opening (what Luck) we found a mooring and had a lovely pie chips and peas for lunch. leaving Lymn I was hailed by another boater wanting to borrow a adjustable spanner I naturally pulled in more out of curiosity than anything else have spoken to the guy and looked at the job it was soon decided that it would require far more than a adjustable his shear pin had snapped and left him with no drive anyhow I shall not bore you with the details but nearly two hours later we managed to get him on his way having stripped the final drive made a shear pin fitted it reassembled everything and got him on his way.

Now unfortunately as you all know my recollection of names is useless (Ask Carrol) so it will come as no surprise that I have no idea what he or his young pal were called I have even forgot the name of the boat But! he does have my blog address so we may hear from him.

Tomorrow we are having Silvia, Marjorie, Alan and Geof over for a  curry night I think we may call it a Will and Catherine stag/ hen do well some one has to celebrate it.

Be Good God Bless

Big Al

That says "Do you know what you are doing"

In my element in the engine bay

Easter Weekend

What a lovely weekend we have had, Friday I had a good day with the shop, the shelving I made to fit on the side of the boat work a treat giving the customers enough space to view without falling in, it also means that I do not have to anything on the footpath. I have had to go back to pound land to buy more hurricane lamps as I have sold all but one of the original ones the problem is you never know what is going to be a good seller and what you are going to be left with. Saturday we had Tom, Shirley, her granddaughter Grace and graces mum and dad which obviously made the boat a little full But in the afternoon our old friends Val and Mike came sailing past on Perfect day they pulled in and we had a great afternoon doing catch up. Mike and Val are a great couple and always have amusing stories of canal folk. We had to abandon them about 6pm as we were off to the Easter vigil we assumed that we would be back about 9pm however on our return we gave them a knock about 10.10pm we continued were we left off until the early hours. It was great to see them again but they pulled out at 08.30 this morning with an ample supply of Noreen’s Oat Cakes.


Today we were invited up to Mats he was providing the family Easter lunch and may I say what a fantastic meal it was, he must get it from me a better meal you could not have had if you had gone out and paid a lot of money very professional from the cooking to the presentation I am not saying that because he is one of mine as most of you will know praise of any kind from me is hard to get. Though I believe both Matthew and Maryanne are good cooks and it all come from the enjoyment they get from cooking. As we are like many families these days and geographically spread out it is really nice to all get together for a meal So here I must make a great thank you to Mat and Lorraine for providing such a fantastic day

Happy Easter to everyone

Stretford

Hi Everyone

We have arrived here in Stretford and settled in with the Watch Tower Cruiser Club they are a great bunch of boaters of every kind there are big ones, little ones, Old ones, New ones, some have had cosmetic work some need cosmetic work, highly decorated ones and the downright knackered ones, and the boats are quite varied as well???

One thing they all have in common is their passion for Boats and Boating. The club as I might have said before is a little gem of boating history and a must to visit if you are passing.
It has been a long day today this morning I had to change the fan belts all thee of them unfortunately nobody warned me of the razor sharp ridges on the belt pulley I now have both thumbs with deep slashes in them + two fingers I just hope that they will be ok for playing the guitar tomorrow. Noreen took Dad to the good Friday vigil at church this afternoon it is a very solemn service and to be honest over my head so I elected to look after the boat, It also gave me time to set up shop, with it being a lovely day it encouraged lots of walkers onto the canal footpath which is great for the shop so I did some painting and sold quite a few items. But other that the selling which is very nice people love to hear about the tradition of canal art and canal history it is also nice to put many myths bed about the canal I also like to inspire kids to learn about their local canal and what a part it played in the history of their town.
I am sat here at the moment with a good glass of port the light is just starting to dim. A very slight drizzle has started fall settling the dust and making all those spring smells come alive, on the far side of the canal foot path there are some quite large hawthorn which are in full bloom, the smell is fantastic, the houses around here must be at least 2000 yards away but with the good weather lots of keen people have been mowing the grass, the two combined smells are wonderful, if one could only bottle it for cold winter nights.
That slight drizzle I spoke about has now started to become a storm so I will have to dash and batten down

Big Al

New Furniture

We have today finnished the fit out of the new Dinette our kid came over and drove me to pick up the cushions and it lookks great Kieth and I even tried out the bed and if it takes us two it will take anyone???
I think that Mat and I have made a good job of the dinette/bed and for quite a reasonable price.
As I said today Carol and Kieth came we had a very sedate grown up day with a bit of fishing thrown in
I even managed to get his car parked all day for £2.90 hows for Manchester.
check out the pics of the new dinette/double bed

Snug as a bug in a rug

Dinning Area

Big Al

Another week gone by and we are still here in Castlefield Basin, We are still awaiting our new cushions to be made for the Dinette/ Double bed the company making them said that they would be ready by the weekend however it now seems they May be ready tomorrow. On the precept that they would be ready by the weekend Mat and Lorraine said they would stay over on Sat night but having now no bed on board they had to bring two inflatable beds to substitute for the now missing cushions, Mat did not get much sleep as one of them kept going down. I think he must have spent all night with the air dryer (and before you get the health and safety involved it was on cold) blowing up the mattress and when you have batteries for the electric system it takes no time at all to flatten them with household appliance's anyway alls well now. We have a busy week the only bad day for weather was Thursday when we took the boat up to Worsley for a pump out and Diesel It was freezing and damp and its a five hour round trip those this gave Noreen plenty of time to do the washing as we can only do it when the engine is running it also gives her something to do as there are no locks. We also had lots of visitors Maryanne came and helped us entertain Thomas on Sat whilst Mat and Lorraine got some uninterrupted shopping in. We also sat Thomas on sat night whilst they dined out though mat says how can you spend that much money and still be hungry he will never know. Maryanne is fine and still her usual self and still acting more her shoe size than age, taking her and Thomas out can be quite trying.(check out the pic taken in the museum

Friday we had two old school friends over (Margaret nee Taylor and her husband John Shaw) that I hadn't seen for nearly fifty years and the strange thing is that it felt as though we had never been apart isn't it strange how time can dull the memory and stimulate it all at the same time, we chatted for hours and now reunited intend not to let time separate such good memories. I think when we were in your early teens you must soak up every emotion known to medical science, all your hormones are running wild, every feeling becomes an experiment, and every experiment becomes an emotion (I am not talking drugs here, we never touched them, our life’s were confused enough without them) these make up the memories that last the longest and remain the strongest. After almost fifty years Margaret still has the Innocent charm of a fifteen year old in the early sixties, and John looks as though he could still run out for the first eleven, Me I fell into the abyss and saw the dark side, which has sort of dulled some of my opinions in life, even at fifteen I think my innocence had been sullied. We are having a reunion in May although I cannot attend as I will be in Worcester just my luck the only time I could get my own back on some of the scrotes I went to school with and I’m away which in the great scheme of things is about my luck. I wish them all a great night.

Our kid and Carol comes tomorrow for the day that’s always good for a laugh if he breaks anything I will take a photo

Time to go batteries are nearly flat

Big Al

                                                                   Barton swing bridge with the M60 in the background

The lighthouse at Patricroft

Maryanne and Thomas in the museum