Hi Folks
Hi everyone

Friday 11 May 2001

I know it sounds like I am always moaning but I just want to say what an horrific day we have had Its not a moan its just well lets call it news time like the TV and radio news they only tell you bad news at lease I will get around to some interesting news?
Today we set off from our overnight stop just before Wenbury for Elsmere a total of about ???? miles 10 locks 5 swing bridges and it took us almost 10 hrs that did include a pump out and taking on water it has been an horrific day 50/60 mph winds, the canal running at some incredible speed Its was like sailing against an Ebbing tide and rain that would freeze you to the marrow. The Lock by washes that look, sound and feel more like Niagara Falls than a simple canal overflow system. Any boater coming down the Llangollen in the next month take notice the by washes are treacherous. We also had to contend with the wind blowing one of the top box covers off, as the water is flowing so fast it meant I had to reverse after it hooking it out before it sank to a watery grave and fouled up some poor buggers prop. Then we had Some boaters who don’t know their ar-- from their elbow and think its such a spiving idea to moor next to a narrow bridge and have a picnic in the rain, or to pass on the wrong side at 10mph and of course the ever loving hire companies who moor their boats three abreast on one of the narrowest canals in the country and complain when you have to pass so close it pushes them off their mooring ( Come on Viking Boats get your act together )
But the most terrifying thing we had to deal with was a stow away, whilst I was re-enacting Moby Dick and fighting the elements and stay in control of this fair craft. Noreen was below screaming, as I could not leave my post I had to ride out the storm and await orders from below they soon arrived in the words of “SHIFT THAT BLOODY MOUSE!!!) Noreen had found a stowaway in the form of a little field mouse I was sent below to escort the little chap off the boat , a task I completed in double quick time. I managed to escort it as far as the cratch there I closed the doors and left it to either abandon ship or jump to another passing vessel, I have no idea which option it chose only to say its not there now (thankfully)
We are now moored quite save and content in Elsmere, Maryanne and Greg have been we have all had tea they have gone home and now are ready for bed. Tomorrow I have quite a job list to attend to as two things I forgot to mention is the TV aerial was blown down and broke and the stove door fire seal as come loose, just as well we are waiting here whilst Noreen visits her dad on Sunday and John and Kath catch up.

Sunday 13 May
Well yesterday was a much better day it stayed dry and the wind dropped we took this as an omen and made it a day for relaxing and a bit of shopping Noreen had a hair cut and we had a walk around the Mere all in al a very nice relaxing day.
Today Sunday, Maryanne has taken Noreen p to see Dad whilst there Noreen is bringing our car back here that way we will be organised ready to drive up to Northampton and the Crick Boat show at the end of the month. I have at last completed my job list fixed the gauge and filter on the loo, re-sealed the door on the fire, repaired all the ropes, rewired and soldered the TV aerial, replaced two fan belts (one broke yesterday and the other was looking very worn) Oh and I helped John fix his headlight. The wind is really strong again today. here in Ellsmere you have a junction that goes down the arm the arm is on a wide bend so it causes quite a wide turning BUT it a strong wind is also causes chaos why some boaters thing that you have to go as fast as you can to defeat the wind I have no idea whilst working on John boat we were very close to the action it was like watching a very early key stone cops where events were very predictable and one could see who was going to hit who in the end we started to have a sweep stake on it . It would have made much more sense if they had just looked at the weather conditions moored up and sat it out. nobody can be in that much of a rush, it would also have saved gallons on touch up paint according to the weather man the wind should ease tonight, lets hope so we are off to Lion Quays tommorow
Speak Soon
Big Al

　

　

　

)

Anice Perch caught  on the Shropshire link

(what about the hat)

Herby is following us

A view over one of the Meres from the Canal

Herby taking off to meet us later

Arrived on the River Weaver

Hi

Let me first apologise for the lack of communication over the past week, connection to the net has been difficult, Those who have missed my blog (can’t be many) can thank Danny for giving me a reprimand today for not publishing last week.

Everything is still going well and I am still in one piece just, We are now in Northwich on the River Weaver even though its a Bank Holiday weekend its very quiet and plenty of moorings.

We sailed down from Manchester leaving last Monday we moored at Dunham Masey for a day We had a very pleasent day walking around the ground and house we even joined the National Trust, though I still have a problem of joining something that I am already a part owner of. As I am a UK National, then it goes to say I with every other national part own the National Trust I do hope you are following this ?????

Weds we were in Lymm By the way Lymm now has its own fishing tackle shop very useful to know. Noreen managed to get a bus back to Altrincham and then tram to Stretford to see her dad I was left to complete some running repairs. And a bit of fishing

Whilst we were in Lymm Kath decided that she should be allowed to fish along with John and I so we set her up with all the gear the attached pick shows how relaxed we are as kath enjoys fishing in her slippers but as she has us running around putting Maggots on and taking fish off, she has no need for foot wear?????

Thursday we moored in Anderton and booked a trip down the lift to the River Weaver

I really enjoy the lift one of the wonders of the water world I always fascinated with the engineering of the whole thing.

Last night we had Silvia, Marjorie, Geoff and Alan onboard for a few drinks and a great night we had tonight we are aboard Orion with Kat and John its all go this boating????

Today Noreen has gone over to visit her dad again but the bus was running 15 min late due to the carnival I just hope she makes visiting time, I’m sure she will

The weather is staying on the fair side and we are managing to stay dry.

Last night or I should say this morning 04.30 we had seagulls land on the roof I thought someone was trying to break in,as Noreen would not get up and have a look it was left to me again I tell you we had at least six of the buggers tap dancing on Buggerlugs roof

The other problem mooring here is that all this water and I can’t fish because the Weaver is still in closed season until the 16 June very frustrating

Sunday we awoke to a very sunny morning though the weather forecast does not look good, we were over on Orion last night for a few drinkies (bugerall else to do on boats is there???) anyway whilst drinking the port and toasting her Majesty we decided that on Sunday morning as we could not get anywhere for mass we would hold our own service. for this we decided that Weatherspoons would be the best place as they were doing a full English at £2.99 so as the lord said, Matthew 18:20 For where two or more gather in my name there I am among them. So we had a fantastic breakfast and thanked the lord for all his blessings. The rest of the day has been taken up just mucking about and trying to repair this broken zip on the cratch cover, Whilst shopping Kath found some bendy wired frogs which she thought might serve the purpose to cut a very long storey short after countless committee meetings we came up with a plan. But they do say a Camel is a horse invented by a committee. I hope to have attached a photo of the final design / solution.

Monday we set off going through Middlewich then taking the Shropshire branch towards the Llangollen.

Speak to you all soon

Big Al

Kath with her new design in fishing footwear

I was hoping that the space pod would close and take off! But it didnt

Noreen on the till River Weaver

Overtaking  Orion on the weaver

When ever I look round this woman is looking at me

　

　

Speak to you all soon

Big Al



　

　

Just a few more photos to lighten your day

Have a nice day (I will)













This the new invention to repair your broken Cratch cover Zip I have taken out a pattent so don't bother copying my idea

I love to see people working and they seem to love to see me passing Manchester Castlefield

Friday

Wednesday dawned with gale force winds and freezing rain, we decided to leave early as it looked like being a rough few hours to Castlefield. After completing a three point turn in the Marina a manoeuvre I was quite proud of considering the gale that was blowing down the canal, As expected the trip to Manchester was bad we arrived about 12 noon plenty of mooring spaces and Noreen was soon off to see her dad .

Manchester Castlefield never changes still a very odd assortment of people walking by to and from work and of course all the tourists who insist on taking a photo of you and your boat we must be on thousands of family photos throughout the world (that me saying Odd who lives on a boat ) its throwing it down and shows no sign of stopping or even easing off . Still what would Manchester be without it. I fail to see what the country is complaining about having a water shortage though lets all agree its much easier to raise the price of something once you have convinced all the users that there is a shortage, just look at petrol and diesel the only people talking of shortages is the speculators none of the producers consider there to be a shortage. If you think that me starting my summer cruise would relax some of my antagonism’s I have, not a chance I can still have a good moan.

Noreen is busy visiting her Dad, Noreen managed to get there on Weds and yesterday, today we both went picking up Shirley first . As we are so close it seems silly not to. Tonight we have Lal and Chris coming round for supper , tomorrow I believe Matt and Thomas are coming for the day

Kath and John who are moored behind us are testing the sights and shops of a Manchester and waiting for the off on Monday when we are heading for Lymn which is are next stop

Thats your lot folks

Speak soon

Big AL

 

A very Wet Manchester

Canal Street ???

Potato Wharf 

Photos are not very inspiring but I do get a sense of history in this place of the birth of Britsh canals

Pitures are not much but its our first days out things willget Better

The first Brood saying Good Bye

All flags flying for the departure

Blue bell wood first day Out

Approaching the first Lock

Hi

Its been a long time getting here but yes we are now out on the Cut.

We left this morning the weather was kind to us Dry and calm rather cold but really it was nice to be out.

WE are travelling to Manchester with Kath and John travelling together make it a bit easier especially the locks the first seven are the worst not only are we a bit rusty from having had the winter off, the first seven locks up the Rufford are some of the worst you can come across and are shattering if you are rusty or not, Danny was out early and had both boats filled with Diesel, Pumped out, Gas bottles fitted in record time. Having said all our Goodbyes We left the Marina Playing Land of Hope and Glory as loud as we could get it, lots of boaters were out waving us either Bonne Voyage or waving Glad to be shut of you, Who Knows ???? We are now moored up at Dean Lock for the first night the day was incident free Which is how I hope it will stay. Tomorrow we are going through Wigan and having an overnight at Booths Town Marina.

Today has been a reminder of why we chose this Life Style. Gliding along a peaceful unspoilt canal is a great way of putting sanity back into your bone.

Could’t get on the internet last night no signal.

We are now in Boothstown staying in the Marina overnight the trip today was again almost trouble free all except Plank lane this is just for the boaters. Plank lane is now Boater operated you have to use your BW key The operating unit is on the Liegh side and difficult to find it has restricted hours its closed between 8 and 10 am and 4 and 6 pm it would be nice if BW would inform people I had words with a BW inspector about the lack of information and the way he ignored Noreen and Kath who were politely asking for help. yes I did give him a bit of grief but he reach in his pocket and took a photo of my licence number so I took a photo of him and his car number der der der bloody pillock .

So Tomorrow sees us in Castlefield

And we have not yet got wet

Stay awake

Big Al

Hi Everyone

That’s it; I do believe that winter is now behind us and we can now see some nice weather ahead.

The other day I had to walk a few miles back to the marina after taking the car for its MOT, On the walk back and started to consider what a wonderful part of the world we live in. I know things look bad at times. I for one know how I can go off on one with things that irritate me, but when we look at these irritations that’s all they are; irritations, I for one love to have a good old moan But today walking through this special part of Lancashire I thought how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful place as Britain where we can to some extent say what we want, call who we want, moan about who we want and not be afraid of a knock on the door in the early hours when we would be taken away and probably never seen again. Sometimes I hate what I hear people say but I will defend to the death their right to say it. Today the sky was blue the sun was warm and all was well with the world, So we are getting short of water, service stations had run out of petrol, we have a set of complete morons trying to run the country, Pubs are closing, Police and Fire stations are closing, and every week we loose another soldier to a war that has no end and no reason.

But who and what we are has given us the resilience to withstand these little Irritation ( sorry loosing a soldier can not be described as an irritation) and the fortitude to get on with sustaining our special culture, a culture that has lasted and developed over 1000’s of years Lets not worry about Islamic invasions, Americanisation, Constricting European law, it will only happen if we forget or abandon our own heritage.

Today people is the beginning of Holy leading up to Easter a time for a new beginning.

Rejoice and be happy look at what we have not what we want I am more determined this year to enjoy life to its utmost

Because of this great weather I am two weeks ahead of schedule with the boat Old Buggerlugs is now ready for the off. We are away on St Georges Day 23erd April Quite apt. Can’t wait to get back on the cut meeting old friends seeing new places and making new friends

Keep an eye open for us

Go Bless

Big Al