Still afloat

I rewarded myself with a ride over to check Waterlily this afternoon. We have not been aboard since the 24th October which is too long. Lots of stuff on at the moment which is keeping us away from Waterlily.

Still she sat waiting patiently for us. A little dirty inside - the effect of four people and three dogs cruising in autumn with muddy towpaths.

Only one boat on the move while I was there and he was single handing late on into the twilight. I didn't walk up to the centre, but if it was anything like last year it would have been quite empty.

Fradley 19th November 2008

Wised up to these people ?

Marketing types - these are the buggers who convince us we want 'stuff'. They are the modern age snake oil sales people.

I have fell for their tricks and clever positioning of stuff for many many years. Not now - no now I try and adopt a marketing phobic stance when it comes to things I want. Rather than convincing myself (with the help of the snake oil people) that I need something to enable my life to be that little bit better.... I now look for the reasons why I should not have it.

It is working, maybe its just my impulsive nature but everytime I get the urge to spend and acquire I check myself and them reward myself - spirituly for not falling for the marketing trick.

One of the biggest rewards is looking forward to the time I have to get rid of the thing I am thinking of buying... it does work, try it !!

We can live without stuff and our lives and the environment will be so much the better for it.

Nev

Plus my boat and house will be that bit more organised and less cluttered ;-)

Marina's

I thought it might be a nice option to look at the various layouts of marina's on the system.

As my boat is moored on the Trent & Mersey I started there. However I was disappointed to only get as far as the new Mercia Marina before google maps and local.live ran out of recent images. Mercia is still the trout lake and there is no sign of Great Heywood marina at all !

So these few will do for now - still interesting to see the different layouts. - can you ID them - pretty easy really.

I regularly consider going into a marina. Its interesting that when we first looked there were waiting lists for most - now all seem to have vacancies - even Kings Bromley which is still one of my favourites.

The cost puts me (us) off as does having a potential view of someone else's boat from 6 inches away. At least we have a view 24/7 on our linear mooring.

So we don't have water and electricity to our boat, but as I've blogged about before that would be too much like living at home. I like being on my boat to feel like a balance of resource use v's comfort and cost. After all when we eventually do go extended cruising we will not have the connections and have to protect and be aware of our resources.

Biggest Midland Chandlers on my doorstep

What good news - the biggest Midland Chandlers is being built at Mercia Marina - 10 minutes from my front door !!

Read the Derby Evening telegraph story here

The grass roof is a nice touch. See my upcoming post about marinas - by the time the new build is up Google may have at last got the latest images loaded so I can actually see the marina.

My shopping list for when it opens is ......

• Bath (after I remove the pump out loo)
• Decent cassette toilet to replace the pump out one
• Fresh water gauge
• Larger inverter
• Espacher or some form of water boiler / heater

But the boat needs painting first

Nev

Engine hours

For my records really - We filled up at Streethay with 262.7 on the engine hours clock.

I had a big bill as we filled up plus 2 x 20 litre Jerry cans gas and a pump out. A Nicklesons brought the bill to about £140 !

I'll top up the diesel tank next time aboard to keep the condensation at bay.

Nev

What a difference a day makes

Friday late afternoon - warm sunshine



Saturday late morning - rain and wind



We can't complain, Friday was fantastic and the cruise back to our mooring on Saturday was really peaceful in the warm(ish) autumn rain. It was pretty uneventful until we got to junction lock.... we arrived just before an ownerships boat reversed back into the junction and winded to go Burton way and then a boat came onto the junction from the Coventry. Kept the many gongoozlers happy.

Nev

Out in fantastic autumn weather

A last minute change of plan meant instead of North Wales we got onto Waterlily with the added bonus of friends John and Carrie from Scotland plus their two collies joining us for an overnighter.

We got to the boat just after lunch time Thursday, previously John and Carrie had been with us going south through Burton and onto the other Weston on Trent. We thought we would show them the other side of Fradley for this trip.

As it was a last minute plan to meet up we needed more food so we took Waterlily down to Alrewas to shop and wind.

The weather was very changeable and we started off in sunshine but ended up getting back almost in the dark and having sat out heavy rain in Alrewas.

There was a perfect rainbow behind us as we came back up the cut.... shame I did not have a wide angle lens.


A beery night ensued, with poor John and Carrie not getting too much sleep thanks to the smoke alarm and Co2 detector giving out low battery warnings.

Today (Friday) was perfect autumnal cruising weather and we made the most of it by cruising up to Kings Bromley marina and winding.

This is where we are now..... very rural and quite - just heard an Owl and while I was fishing in the last light a Kingfisher did a fly past. Perfect

Rachel and Leia at Woodend Lock

John very expertly skippering Waterlily. He did perfect wind - skills not forgotten from our trip a few years back to Stratford.

We walked John and Carrie back to Fradley and now having fished showered and eaten we are relaxing in a lovely warm boat. Leia is absolutely knackered - she has just slept all evening - see the little video for the reason why !!

What a load of cr@p

I have ..........

It is 'I' rather than 'we' I'm ashamed to say.

In March I set a rather late New Years resolution to declutter I had an initial spurt but living got in the way, the way it does. Anyhow this week we have been off and been working through the house. We spent a good couple of days in the garden and then the shed(s) and garage got sorted. We now have a skip full on the drive waiting to go.

It even extended to the office and computer when the rain came. I not have quite a few items running on eBay if anyone is interested, including a nice little 12v Pace satellite box - just like Sue's from No Problem

It is very therapeutic, and I still have not replaced my wind up alarm clock - this is my reminder to use what I already have rather than buying more 'stuff'.

I'm starting to not like 'stuff'

It is the reason I like the boat. No space for excess, everything has a place (within reason) My garage/shed on the boat is a little smaller but gets me by - I do have a tool box in the wardrobe !



Hopefully get on the boat at some point this week - I might try and return to a hot fishing spot I found when we came back from Leek earlier in the year.

Nev

Two wheel credentials plus spot the boaty birthday present

After reading Halfies blog about his bike and blogging myself about my preferred transport here I'd like to present my garage of two wheel exotica....

Two things to note....

Spot the alarm so no trying to nick my P&J's

Spot the birthday present from Rachel to me - boaty for sure.....see who's quickest to spot it !

Nev

Here it is.....

Jointed tiller arm for the semi trad back end - no more limboing under the tiller to get off the boat.

It's the journey not the destination

How true of narrowboating. When I tell people at work I am going to Leek or Macclesfield for a holiday they look at me as if feeling sorry for me.

Owning a canal boat is about the journey -that's what makes so many blogs interesting. There is so much to see and at a pace to enjoy it. It also says something about me I think - my other modes of transport are motorcycle and bicycle, both in my mind more about the getting there than the there itself.

It gets bigger - get the beer out or light the spliff, this is meaning of life stuff. People should live their lives as if it is a journey, experience all that they meet and embrace it. All too often we are sold the destination which is in many cases unobtainable crap when we get there and detracts from enjoying the journey of life.

I have the ultimate respect for those who have taken the decision to follow their instincts and take to the cut full time, I'm sure at times there is doubt the decision was the right one - especially in the middle of dark wet winter, but then again those doubts would still be there if the decision had not been taken.

On a related note I spoke with some liveaboards while watering up after out last trip out. They were slowly heading back to Milton Keynes for the winter, the reason - it never got really dark - around there there is so much light pollution and it helped apparently over the winter. I never really thought of it like that - I'd like to think I'd embrace the dark, but only if I felt safe wherever I was moored?

Have a good weekend

Nev

Bloggers KPI....

Key performance indicator - 10,000 hits in 20 months. I do like to think some people read my ramblings and the fact I have hit this milestone is pleasing and most agreeable to me.

Andrew on Granny Buttons recently blogged about blogging and cited 100 active boat blogs, at the same time I was musing over the fact my blog roll is getting more and more stagnant. There have been some good bloggers just stopped but more importantly many seem to be getting less frequent. I'm sorry but that is just not acceptable. I need to read about people on the cut, I don't mind if it is of the got up, cruised, saw some stuff, went to bed type blog I like reading and thinking of you lot out there enjoying the canals, vicarious canal cruising is what I need. Its great that Bruce in Sanity has taken to posting pictures, I like to see as well as read (something about a picture being worth a thousand words... ) please make them clickable so I can see all the detail.... I think I'm getting very demanding.

I have to agree with Andrew on the range of topics and general good read, plus photo's on Halfie's blog Always a regular read and a regular blogger to, imagine what we'll get when Halfie get his own boat...Plus now I find out he is a keen cyclist. That's right up my street having got rid of one of our two cars which means I either have my motorbike or my cycles. I really must get my Brompton onto the boat.

Nev

Canalworld.net take a bow

I have in the past taken a small swipe at the arguing that goes on over on the canalworld.net forums.

To add balance there are some genuine people on there who do want to help. Follow this link and be amazed how the internet plus willing people can make a difference.

When Holly the hire boat was stolen they also geared up an went looking and I think it was one of the members who spotted the boat being painted and she was recovered.

Just think what a word we would live in if everyone did a bit more to help each other out.

If one thing comes from the period of austerity that we are headed for/in now I hope it is a different focus - one that is more neighbourly and less "I'm all right Jack" less political correctness and a less litigious society. If these things come out of the recession at least I won't feel so bad having left my children this mess by my excesses.

Off for a rest now.....

Nev

Seasons on the cut

I am restless - not being on my boat but reading some of the excellent blogs of the continuous cruisers enjoying autumn on the cut.

It got me thinking about the seasons of the cut and which is my favorite. It has to be autumn, as the canals take on a serenity that matches how I like to feel. No hustle and bustle, no loud talking as people sit out late into the evening, peace and quite. I also like deep winter, not the wet and cold type but the deep frost and clear crisp days with wood smoke rising straight up from boat chimneys, but then there are frozen canals, great until some intrepid boater comes bursting through

I like summer the least mainly because the canals get so busy - I suppose this links to my last post about why I like boating - I like the solitude. I think this could be a reaction to my day job.... I may need the services of a clinical psychologist ...Mmmm well there is the cheese boat, the fudge boat, how about the clinical psychologist's boat Bruce?

No photos recently so I have indulged myself with a few from our recent trip down the Birmingham and Fazely canal. In reverse order....

This is on the last leg from Streethay to Fradley Junction. The leaves were filling the canal and coming down like confetti - just does not show up so well on the photo.


We were just past Whittington on the Coventry, these cows were enjoying the canal, but not one was displaying a license !

Drayton bridge - the theme park was opposite. Next spring I'd like to use this as a reason to get my lads aboard for a trip to the theme park.


Now to sort out my remaining Caldon canal cruise photo's

Nev

Sneeky hour blogging

Slow slow quick quick slow.... on the blogging front.

60 plus hours working this week so I finished a little earlier and took the bike out to progress the boat painting investigation.

Stenson boat builders had gone home at 3.40 pm so they missed out on over £4,000 worth of business. I called in to Aqua narrowboats and had a great chat with Justin (who responded to my questions about boat painting just after we brought Waterlily - and that was when he did not paint boats)

I liked his friendly approach and he recognised Waterlily and my blog - first one ever to do that so another tick in the box. Biggest thing was I did not get the feel this was a business working on canal time, more a business that understands what a customer looks like - I hope I am not disappointed if we go to Aqua for the boat painting.

Watch this space...

I carried on enjoying riding my bike and called at Waterlily for a check and drink and to blog as I had the time.....

Nev

Why boat ?

Not sure the grammar of the title is correct but hey ho.... Why do we go boating might be more correct.

Can't recall who's blog it was that got me thinking why I have a boat, but I reflected on what aspect of boating ticked my box.

I am not an engineer so the oily bit it is not

I am not a historian or particularly interested in history so the history of the cut is not it

I am not an evangelist for restoring canals either (but I appreciate the work that goes into this)

My boat is not an old working boat restored or even a new boat built to look like an old boat

I do not dress up like a boatman of the 18th Century

I do it because it enables me to meet people and visit my country see my country see the industry go fishing drink beer and wine but above all I relax on my boat. I don't even have to move it to feel good about it. The fact I am able to spend close quality time with Rachel, working as a team depending on each other for living is fantastic

Unrelated but an significant factor is I like the feeling of being independent of the expectations of society..... sounds daft but the fact we could cut and run no debt some money in the bank no job to give me anxiety is a real factor in why I enjoy my boat.

what about you ?

Nev

Old boats v's new boats

I'm not sure if I had the money I'd buy one of the apartment boats that seem to fill the boat mags and the shows.

Reading one of my many canal mags just released from the plastic I picked on an article about the Crick boat show (yep a bit behind on the reading) and was struck by the samey look of a lot of the boats.

Our boat is tidy but dated - I suppose it was the apartment boat of its day on reflection, but I like to feel I am not in an apartment or house but on the cut when aboard my boat. I like to have to put coal on the fire wash the pots by hand and do my number 2's in a bucket (ok not quite a bucket) It all adds up to feeling like I am away from the other life (not that that is so bad)

I have seen some boats that are built to look old which I suppose should my lottery tickets come up this weekend would be on my shopping list - ..... mmmm no I think I'd still go second hand.

Nev

Just nice people on the cut

You hear so many tales of anger, selfishness rudeness from people blogging or in forums I thought it needs balance

I have been out for a long weekend (details to follow) and I have met only nice, friendly, happy boaters plus cyclist and walkers and fishermen (no fisherwomen). People tend to only report the bad... so I am reporting the good.

Nev

PS - Closest we got to bad behaviour was three lads12 years old I guess near Drayton bridge on the Birmingham and Fazely canal - one was leaning over the bridge holding something as we went under the bridge - I thought he was going to drop something on us - turned out it was his phone camera - cheeky bugger was taking a photo looking down Rachel's top !! Can't fault his endeavour, most probably his mum and dad have the Internet blocked at home !!

Birmingham and fazley canals welcomes Waterlily

One son now at Uni and the other one in London for the weekend gave us free reign to head off to pastures new. We have passed Fazely junction many times when on the Coventry canal knowing it is the link to all things industrial heritage in Birmingham. We do not have the time or planning to venture into Birmingham on this trip so we winded at the bottom of the Curdworth flight.

We took the decision to cruise to the winding hole (well hidden until you are on it) to note down possible mooring for the night and today as we were not intending moving. We spotted a perfect mooring by the aqueduct next to Fishers mill bridge. We noted just one boat following us and there were no other boats moored at all...... yep they also spotted the best mooring and when we arrived back they were smack in the middle of the armco. We could have dropped in but with no other boats at all about we dropped just the other side of the bridge onto pins....



Rachel working hard..... I did set the fire, yes first this season, plus made us a nice curry.

Its very quite - both towpath and canal - nice. Only problem is the fishing is pants , two hours last night and not a nibble.

Water moving under our base plate....

So three weeks and no posts, just been so busy.

We did go over to Waterlily last weekend but one and actually moved Waterlily.... well down to Bagnall and back just to put some charge into the batteries. It was good to move the boat even if it was only a jog to the shops and back !

There were still plenty of boats on the move which based on the nice weather was hardly surprising. We will be off again this weekend for a trip for R&R that will include gas diesel and a pumpout - shame for swan line at Fradley who won't get my business after charging 20 quid for a pump out last time we used them!

Nev

Busy Bank holiday at Fradley

We are starting to get stir crazy.........we decided to stay put during the school holidays and have had some relaxing weekends on board. We came back on board yesterday just for an overnighter and boy is it busy ..... it never gets manic here as the locks pulse boats both ways but there is a steady stream of boats and three moored opposite us last night indicating that all the Fradley centre moorings had been taken.

This has made our decision to stay moored more sensible but we really want to get some water under the boat now. Before that we have to get our youngest Callum off to Leeds Uni - then we will most probably head for a new canal to us - Birmingham and Fazely (I think) for a break to the water park near Drayton Manor.

After that I'm not sure - I'd like a autumn cruise but we may end up bringing Waterlily back to Stenson for her paint job.

Nev

Cruising time soon and a paint job

We took a decision after our trip up the Caldon to sit the summer holidays tight. We have had a complete reversal in recent years from only being able to cruise during the kids holidays to not now having to. We like autumn and winter cruising so it suits us even more.

Its been quite busy at Fradley over the last few days. I wonder how many are heading for a four counties disappointment with the Shebdon embankment stoppage.

All the jobs I had ID'd to get done did get done while aboard. I really enjoyed my couple of days pretending to be a livaboard. We are a bit hemmed in at the moment as BW saw fit to tender a 62 foot mooring at 71 feet so whilst we have not had to move the new boat is right up fender to fender with us. Hopefully in a few weeks when a 45 footer moves on we may get a little more space..... unless BW decide to tender that one ?

We have made a decision on getting Waterlily painted in the New Year. Just got to save up for it ! I think we will be going local for the paint job but that will have to be negotiated - watch this space.

We have a colour scheme from a photo of another boat that hopefully will make the job easier to describe.

Nev

Stranded

Well not in the literal sense.....but it occurred to me after Rachel left for work today that I do not have any form of transport available to me. I have a Brompton but that is at home in the garage. I have a job logged with one of the joiners at work to make me a nice wooden box for my bike so I can keep it on the boat. I think this is a job that needs doing sooner rather than later.

I have a list of jobs to do today...

Walk Leia
A geocache task to do
Poo cassette to empty
Some DIY on the boat
Get the gennie out and give the boat a good vac out - that might be a job too far for my ribs....

Lets see how I do

Nev

Mobile internet geocaching and towpath conversations

So we are on the boat again. I'm taking some leave so Rachel came to me tonight after work and will do the same tomorrow.

Plenty to say but seemingly little time to say it.

1. I now have fast internet on the boat thanks the Chris from NB Belle He advised Orange were the best for this area so I have experimented with their freedom contract (I can cancel giving 30 days notice) and am typing this with 3g+ connection and streaming music from spotify This has been a bit of a holy grail for me so I am well pleased - I can stream my sky subscription to my computer plus use BBC's iPlayer

My youngest son and his girlfriend drove me over today - that makes me feel old already. While we were fishing I mentioned a geocache across the cut that I was going to find in the morning so he and his girlfriend nipped over with my phone using Geoscout and promptly found it. It did not take him long to download a slick iphone app for geocaching.

Finally an observation - people do not realise now much you can hear across the cut. Last time I was aboard a young couple came by having a very big argument about their relationship. Today the same, another couple having a heart to heart - at least this time the lady wasn't crying. So be aware its not an ocean !

Finaly finally I saw three shooting stars tonight - part of the comet passing through. You can't beat the countryside for viewing the sky at night.

Nev

Rib's 'n' bees

Waterlily has bitten back - again.

When I was aboard with a few mates towards the end of last year I managed to crack a rib or thought I had - it was dislocated cartilage. Painful and took months to get right. Last night whilst on the boat for a simple overnighter I caught a fine roach and instead of using my landing net I tried to hand the fish out and out all my weight onto my ribs and heard the same crack and now I am in pain again. Problem is last time I managed to overdose on anti-inflammatory's and ended up on tablets to repair my stomach lining Pillock or what !!

Bees..... when we got to Waterlily last night we could not work out why only part of our mooring had been strimmed by BW. Then I noticed the bees nest entrance in the ground was covered in white powder. I suspect they disturbed the bees and they came out to protest. Instead of moving on the BW workers must have dusted the entrance and killed them !!

Bees have been in the news recently due to their decline so I am amazed BW have such an anti nature approach. I feel an email to BW is necessary.

Nev

Favourite weather

Topical as we are having a poor summer so far. It got me thinking about what is my favourite weather. This has to be thunderstorms. I walked to the local shops from my place of work recently in a thunderstorm. There was a clap of thunder right overhead - it was so powerful and just above my head - great.

Its the expecation - dark clouds, distant rumbles then a few blobs of rain then a full show of wind lights sound and water.

Best I had on the cut was during our hire boat days when we were chased by a storm that eventually caught us on the narrows just before the Plum Pudding at Armatage. I got so wet just mooring up.

It goes without saying wind on the cut is my least favourite weather !

The Photo was taken walking back just after the storm to my workplace.

Nev

Time and Inspiration

Well no posts for over three weeks - that's bad.

Why, just very very busy at work, and at home plus needing some inspiration for Waterlily. That sounds bad doesn't it I think my affair with Coopers Pride has dented my appreciation for Waterlily - that is even worse !

We were aboard for an overnight on Saturday and then off to see relatives Sunday PM so we did not get much time aboard. I was tired when we arrived (I'd ridden to Peterborough and back to buy a new crash helmet) so that did not help my enjoyment and it rained most of the time we were aboard Sunday.

My fibromyalgia gives me what is called cognitive dysfunction or more commonly called brain fogs. Bloody horrible feeling of distance from reality and lack of ability to concentrate or in this case my interpretation is an inability to fully appreciate my lovely boat. Anyone out there willing to exchange bodies for a few weeks !

I will do a bit of a catch up - if for no other reason than to give me a record of what we have been doing. We did have a lovely weekend on the motorbike visiting down south where Rachel was born and spent the early years of her life. I'll blog about that before the end of the month

Anyhow - that's me back in the blogging swing and it feels a little better already. Now to catch up with Sue, Bruce and Andy and all my other favourite bloggers listed right of the post.

Take care

Nev

One other thing - we were woken at about 3am on Sunday morning as a cruiser came past and up the Fradley locks. I envy people who dare cruise in the dead of night, it is one of my newly added things to do before I die- cruise over a Summer nights full moon.......

Leek reflections

I have taken a fair amount of stick for my weeks holiday destination - Leek via Stoke on Trent. The joke is on them really as we had a great time. I love this country and the people and places.

The weather was good and the fishing better, some beer and no work - do I really need much else plus the carbon footprint of my holiday must be one of the lowest around ?

We made Burston at about 4.15 pm - so that was about 10 hours - I think the most we have ever done is 14 when we brought Waterlily back from Whilton. The engine never missed a beat just a couple of turns on the greaser half way through and all was fine.

The mooring here is really one of my favourites - made so by the Greyhound pub about 10 minutes walk away. We met Charles there and had a really nice meal. I then took Leia a walk and found a really nice trail - I must consult memory map more and do more walking like Sue of No Problem - the fishing gets in the way....



The above was taken on my phone at just after 9pm - most nights I could fish to 10pm.... This is a lake just off the T&M I did not quite get the time to investigate more but a reason to revisit.

The final couple of days to follow.

Nev

The longest day.....

Well for this trip and for a while. We set off from the bottom of Stockton Heath locks this morning at 6.15 am and a boat had already passed us.

The plan is to get to Burston on the Trent & Mersey - the Greyhound pub to meet up with our next crew mate, Rachele's dad. He likes to get aboard so a short two day cruise back to Fradley will be his part of the trip.

We left Leek 'basin' yesterday and took a beautiful cruise down the Leek branch of the Caldon - it is to be recommended and we will certainly cruise this route again. I'd like two weeks to allow shorter cruising days and also get to froghall - we have been there before but the Churnett valley is beautiful.

Leek end of navigation was a little of an anti climax - Leek certainly does not embrace the canal . There was moorings for about 5 boats and I expertly reversed Waterlily into the only spare space - when we left there was space for three boats. It was very quite and peaceful on the moorings and Leek town centre can be walked in about 15 - 20 minutes.

I'll post some photo's when I get back but for now I'd better take my turn on the tiller. I was going to say we are approaching the less nice parts of the Caldon as it goes into Stoke - but as posted before this part of the canal is much improved and I think the locals are doing their bit to keep it clean.

Nev

O a persona PS - both my sons passed their driving tests this week - one day apart - I am really proud

Cruisng times

Maily for my own reference when we do such trips again....

From Fradley to Kings bromley 3 hours

From Fradley to Great Haywood 6 hours

From Great Haywood to Stone 5 hours

Stone to Barleston 3 hours

Barleston to top of Stoke locks 4 hours

Etruia to Stockton brook - 2 and a half hours

Caldon is so much improved

Not need on the Caldon for a few years - it was the first trip we did on Sylph our shared boat.

The few miles out from Etruia id so much improved. Very little rubbish in the canal and the tow path must have had millions spend on it. Only thing it needs is some cutting back, not a big problem as we did not meet many boats.

We are moored just below the Stockton Brook locks - beautiful and peaceful. Leek today and hopefully some pics later.....

Nev

RIP Rod

Been a friend for the last twenty years. We have shared so any joyous moments together. Ever reliable, very capable. We have been on many of the boat trips plus some other weekend rambles. I'll miss Rod.

So I have got to find a tackle shop to buy another one. Snapped in half as I was trying to clear a tangle. O well $hit happens as they say. On the same day the tip came of one of the small whips I use for fishing so I am down to a 4 meter pole - still caught some nice fish including a good 5 pound bream from Great Heywood on Saturday evening.

The car broke down on Friday night as I was on my way to the tackle shop - £350 cher ching !!

My wind up radio id fubar'd as well ........

I'll post on where we are later....

Nev

How I'd wished I'd not said that

This time last week I took a ride out on my bike to Stone As I type this we are at Stone on Waterlily. It is a wee bit busier than last week.

Yesterday it was like the M1 boataway from Kings Bromly to Great Heywood. THREE boats overtook us yesterday - I must be the slowest boater on the cut - yes I do slow down for moored craft - am I the only one ?

Today has been a bit easier - apart from the plum who darted out within a boats length of Rachel so he could get to Hoo Mill lock first. It just meant he had the lock to do on his own as I sat and watched him - I think he got the message.

Anyhow I'm about to be a single hander as Rachel and her mum do Stone while I take Waterlily up the locks.

Hopefully onto the Caldon towards Leek tomorrow after dropping the mother in law off at Stoke ,

Nev