Trip details and some photo's

So it was 120 miles and 76 locks from Hunts lock to Fourlane ends on the Macclesfield and back. We were out for 10 days and it felt like it rained for most of them at some point.


Images are worth a thousand words - and easier to put onto the blog.....


On the way to pick up our crew, just after we have done the Fradley locks









Leia taking an early nap





We were waiting at Sandon lock as the thunderstorm demonstrated the weather to come....





This was the thunderstorm after it had passed us





Colwich lock was not very busy at all - which if you know the route is a good thing





We timed our arrival at Harcastle tunnel perfectly as we were able to water up before we went through. The police helicopter buzzed us most of the way from Festival marina, we found out they were looking for a flasher !






My mum helping us moor up after day three (Leia is standing by waiting to help)






This Rachel taking Waterlily up the Bosley 12 locks, on the tight turn between locks 1 and 2







This shows how stunning the scenery is on the Macc...





There is a Heron in this picture somewhere...




Another nice pic and some blue sky






Some more of the same lovely countryside






This is a moon shot from our moorings above Bosley locks - I still cannot get anywhere close to Andrew Denny's fantastic night shots







My birthday dinner....in the Fools Nook - very apt and nice meal in a friendly pub





Then back off towards the Trent and Mersey but via this electric swing bridge - following a hen party day boat !





Rachel took this much better photo of Mr (or Mrs) Heron, spot its plastic mate in the reeds






This is one of the Maccs 'snake bridges' designed so the horse does not have to be unhitched when the tow path swaps over






Yours truly looking typically miserable




We were the last boat (just made it) through the Harcastle tunnel. Looking back to the entrance






The Tuesday was very wet. You can see the lock leaking top middle right, normally these leaks stop as the lock empties this one was still running as we left the lock
Tom and Lucy braving the crap weather I think this was Aston lock (half way on the Trent and Mersey) For the record there is a new Marina to be built here - surely they have reached saturation point ?

The rain did stop on the last Tuesday, just in time for a little fishing in the late evening.

Final day.....

A bit late but for completeness.

After the breakdown in Stone we were running late so we only made it to above Hoo Mill Lock. A 7.30 start saw us working our way back to our home mooring. It was all very uneventful with a nice cruise back. Rugely was very busy and luckily we met a boat just as we were passing the lat of a very long line of moored boats. We stopped for lunch just after Woodend lock, just as I got the rod out - yes you guessed it the rain came.

We got back onto our mooring just after 4pm and was home for 6pm.

I'll post some pics and a resume of the trip on the next post.

Nev

My new bike.....ish

I posted a while ago about my Ducati. While I was away on my trip up the Macclesfield my P&J was getting a makeover.......

From Blue to proper Ducati Red

When I first saw and brought the Ducati the fact it was blue was a little disappointment, but I wanted another V twin and a Ducati was my preference. When the tail piece fell off recently and got badly scratched up an excuse was given for a respray. I brought the belly pan off ebay to complete the look. Originally I was going to have it with white stripes but at the eleventh hour I went for the plain 2001 Ducati red look with the latest Monster decal (there is the word Monster in black under the white Ducati) I might put some text on the belly pan.

Cordwells did the work- -about 300 quid and I am pleased with it. I am also pleased I managed to put all the bits back on without scratching or damaging anything.

I keep thinking about selling my bike - now it looks so good I have put this off again....I took a 60 mile trip out into Derbyshire today to ensure the tank and fueling was OK - I ached by the time I came back (fibromyalgia) but on the whole it was worth it.

Nev

Penultimate day - and we break down

Not in an emotouonal sense -a water pip gave up and RCR had to be called. It meant a long day cruising and another long day tomrrow. ho hum..... and the weather has been just cr@p - literally rained all day.

We cruised from Barleston to Stone, when I checked the stern gland the bilge was full of rusry water - the return water hose had worn through by rubbing on the engine mount. A good reason to check the engine regularly.

RCR came out and sorted it in 2 hours.

We are just past Weston so a long day ahead tomorrow (or today as ts 12.40.......)

Nev

Continuous Cruisers I salute you.

Continuous Cruisers I salute you as when in my office the weather always seems fine and warm and I envy you. However being on the cut for the extended period I see the weather is foul and nasty and you must suffer - so endure and enjoy as much as you can. Be assured when I stop cruising the sun will shine again and all will be well.......apart from the fact I will be back at work !!

Day 9

We are now at Barleston on the final full day of our trip. We changed crews with precision at Stoke, dropping my mum off at Festival marina for her to catch a taxi and train and taxi back home then down the five stoke locks to pick Tom and Lucy - our eldest and his girlfriend up at the station itself. For the record the bottom lock is walkable to the station.

Biggest issue - the weather - its getting worse, the showers that were predicted are now its just heavy rain - certainly as I type this its driving rain, full waterproofs today. The good news is the leak we had seems to have been cured with some clear sealant.

So off to Great Heywood today......in the rain of course !!!!!

Nev

Day five

I have some 3g tonight at Fourlane ends - which is the terminus of this trip.

The Macc is worth coming back to to get to the rend and onto Bugsworth (the original destination, sacrificed for more leisurely cruising. )

We pootled up from our mooring above Bosley locks through Macclesfield and to just before bridge 18.

Its my birthday tomorrow but the stop in bed will be foregone as we are moored next to a ledge so any moving boats scrape us, not pleasant. We'll wind then head for a meal at the Fools Nook (apt). Metcheck says light rain from 1 and heavy from 4 so I hope to be moored up mid afternoon ready for some beer !!

Anyhow some pics courtesy of Vodafone 3g....

Day four - the Macc is a beautiful canal

Hang the bandwidth - I have to post this image - just shows how beautiful the Macclesfield canal is.

This is Ross taking Waterlily up he Bosley locksWe had a slow start - which I appreciated after the last couple of days of having to be to a timetable - this is how cruising should be - go when you want, stop when you fancy it, travel or don't - enjoy getting there.

We stopped at Congleton for shopping then after lunch moved on and finished the day at the summit of Bosley locks. I really like lock flights in the middle of nowhere. We only met one boat coming down and did the 12 locks in 1 hour 50 minutes, and this included setting the locks as we left for the boat behind.

Only one shower today and that was while we were having lunch. Tomorrow we will get to the terminus of our trip - not sure where but it will include a visit to Macclesfield.

Take care

Nev

Day three...

Still GPRS so no pics, but its worth the trade off in location.

We started off in beautiful weather at 8am as we had a crew pick up at 11.30ish at the Toby carvery next to festival marina in Stoke

All very uneventful, a nice cruise up the Stoke locks. The canal is very much cleaner than anytime I have been through Stoke so well done BW and Stoke residents. Now the roads are completed and the landscaping is done is was a pleasure to come through.

We arrived with about 10 minutes to spare and picked up my mum and Ross at the pub. As we passed longport lake we were buzzed by the police helicopter, speaking to the lockie (or tunnellie) they were looking for a nude jogger/flasher - it was a nice warm day for it I suppose.

The tunnel was a good run then left onto new territory - The Macclesfield. So far so good - shallow but we knew that, but straight away very rural - so it bodes well.

While fishing tonight saw a large white owl - too big to be a barn owl so it must have been a snowy owl?

On past Congleton and to where ever we want to stop - now we have done the first pick up we can go 2 days out at what ever pace now. So long as there is a pub close by on the 16th - my birthday ...

Nev

Day 2....

GPRS today sos till no pics.

Bridge 70 to Barleston - that over 30 Bridges and 14 locks. We set off on pouring rain which lasted 3 hours -even the Heron at Great Heywood looked fed up. The rest of the day was sun shine and showers

Diesel and pump out at Anglo Welsh - very efficient and very friendly and very opemn - take heed Kings Bromley, then cruising steadily to Stone.

Stone visitor moorings were choc a block - no spaces at all - good job we were not stopping. Just as we came out of star lock an Black Prince boat sped off the 12 hour town moorings in front of us.... never mind, the bloke seemed OK, I marked him as a rep type - he was giving his two lads a hard time - called them wusses when they were struggling to open the lock gates, plus he was revving the tits off the hire boat, takes all sorts I suppose.

Got to just short of the westwood factory ready for a crew pick up tomorrow lunch time at festival marina - then onto the Macc - a new canal for us...

Nev

Day one.....

Well as you might have expected we did not get away unto gone 12. Slow through Fradley - we stopped for diesel and a pump out - only to be told the pump out was 'full' so we cruised on to Kings Bromley marina for the same only to find it was CLOSED - Rachel made a fantastic entrance and exit - why can't they put a sign out on the canal -save an unnecessary manoeuvre.

We stopped just short of our planned destination at about 7pm just after bridge 70 on the T&M

No photo's and a slow connection would not allow it anyway....

We're off........

Well we will be tomorrow and just me and Rachel, the lads are holding the fort, (that's if we can finish the packing, tidy the house, buy food, get fishing supplies, get diesel, get a pumpout, get water to the other stuff I have forgotten)

Bugsworth basin is the destination via the Macc - this will be a new canal to us. So I hope to post more regular updates while we play at being live-a-boards.

Take care

Nev

Unexpected visits are sometimes the best

As both the lads were doing their own thing and Rachel and I had had busy weeks we decided late on Friday afternoon to go to the boat. We did not arrive until past 7 but the place was a peaceful as ever (apart from a couple on NB Snowbaby moored opposite having 'words') We had a nice meal and took a walk to Shadehouse. We were going to call in the swan but is was very busty so we opted for wine on the boat. I caught a couple of fine specimen canal fish on Friday and one on Saturday - Bream, Chub and roach

Leia inspecting the Bream

We left on Saturday lunch time after a lazy and relaxing morning - just what the doctor ordered (literally if you know me)

Now some thinking on our summer trip, plus I must finish the story about getting Waterlily back .........

Three dogs in a boat - the detail

So, we met John, Carrie, Prince and Bailey on Thursday 17th July for a long weekend on Waterlily. They had a wedding reception to go to on Friday in Newton Solney (Near Burton on Trent) so we pointed Waterlily Shardlow wise and set off.

The Weather forecast was OK, showers giving way to better weather as the weekend progressed. This was a very good forecast http://www.metcheck.com/ I'd recommend them for your boating trip weather checks.

Branston Water park was our first overnight stop. This really is the first good stop from Fradley - we could have stopped at Wynchnor just past where the Trent crosses over but the A38 starts its intrusive relationship with the canal about here and if the wind is in the wrong direction the tranquility of the cut is lost.

We had a lazy Friday start as our destination was Willington. We arrived early PM and found a nice mooring just off the visitor moorings which allowed the dogs some freedom.

Willington negatives point 1......

I started fishing and within half an hour was approached by a bloke who asked for my permit - I enquired Rod permit and he said no - Pride of Derby permit. I said I did not have one and he then asked me to stop fishing. Totally unnecessary in my book. He told me how much the Pride of Derby permits were..... and I told him I had just paid BW over £1100 quid and would be paying them another £600 in a couple of months. He then proceeded to take a Canaltime fisherman to task also. To my mind the point could have been made and let us fish on (if we had shown our Rod license, which I have) but the fact we were not seriously set up for a session, just a rod off the back of the boat made the challenge very unnecessary. Being from Derby' Pride of Derby' seemed wholly inappropriate.

John and Carrie left for their Wedding reception and we dog sat. John and Carrie's dogs like to be wrapped up in the evening so Leia had to join in....

Prince

Bailey

Leia

We had had a nice romantic evening in with candles. John and Carrie had 'had a few' when they returned and we sat and talked at the dinette over a coffee. John casually announced he thought he was on fire and turned to show us his shirt in flames !! He had lent back over a candle and set himself on fire. Carrie took the opportunity to 'beat' the flames out...how lucky for it not to have been much worse and a lesson to all over candles

Willington part point II....

Just after John and Carrie returned we walked the dogs to find some low life scum had nicked one of our (first time used) solar lights. They were only a Pound each from Morrisons but it was the principal.

Next day we set off for Weston on Trent (the Shardlow one not the Great Heywood one) and arrived in good time for another nice walk with the dogs before we walked the longish walk to the pub in the village in the evening. A friend, Tony, joined us and much beer and chat was enjoyed.

We winded Just before Weston and set off back on the Sunday and arrived back in Branston for a nice boozy meal (we drank all what was on the boat)

Monday saw us return to Fradley in perfect weather

John and Carrie at the tiller

The new marina road bridge at Willington - now full of water

Prince and Bailey were about equal in the falling in stakes, (three or 4 each) but we suspect Bailey enjoyed it more. Leia never went in once, I think that is the whippet side of her....

We got back at 2'ish and saw John and Carrie away. We than lazed about for a couple of hours, cleaned the boat and headed off home.... all in all a great weekend (apart from Willington)

Three dogs in a boat

Plus 4 humans of course.

Our guests have just left for a long trip back to Scotland after a great 5 days aboard Waterlily. Leia is absolutely wacked - she tried hard to keep up but the two collies, Prince and Bailey, were much too energetic for her.

Plenty to report to follow with pics.

Oh and by the way Willington on the T&M has gone down in my estimation.....I'll explain in a follow up post.

Nev

Bathrooms DIY and sanctuary

So today I have ripped out (or very carefully dismantled) the sink and cupboard in Waterlily's bathroom. Why have I done this.....? So it is easier for large people to shower, why now - because I have a large person due on board for a short break (checking if John reads my blog)

Seriously I do not like having a shower on Waterlily. and I'm (ahem) rather slimmer than most !! However I have realised that messing with the innards of my boat is not therapeutic at all - I need a sense of stability, calm and alrightness (I don't care if that is not a proper word - it now lives in my dictionary) I will not be doing too many more of these types of jobs. The only big thing will be a full paint job - any recommendations?

So the present position is no sink, pipes going nowhere with some tiling to do then connect it all back together and shower in more comfort - it sounds better already (that and the wine I'm drinking)

So the boat is a DIY place at the moment and I am not happy about that.

I need to cruise on my boat !!!!!!

Leia update

Leia s settling in nicely and we are enjoying having her in the house - she is always happy to see us, any time fo the day, not like my miserable goldfish who never comes to me !

This is a quick shot of her in her slumbers.....

Mercia marina

I see Granny Buttons has picked up on the approval of the planning for a massive industrial estate close to the new Mercia Marina.

I am not sure how I feel about this. I suppose I feel a little sorry for Mark Jenkins and Robert Neff who are getting this massive project up and running. But then again its just another development in this area, it could be argued they both blight the landscape?

I have just renewed my moorings so I have not been tempted.

I took a walk with Leia and Molly my Brother in laws dog and we walked from Willington to Stenson passing the new marina entrance...

On Tuesday this week we did the same walk with Rachel and Leia and the entrance was much improved - I took this panorama shot from my camera.

Its still way too close to the A38 - when the wind blows in the wrong direction there is a lot of road noise. Each to their own I say.

Nev

Leia on the water at last

Leia has had her first visit and her first 'holiday' on the boat. She will be a great boat dog for sure. Above and below are shots from her first trip from our mooring to wind in Alrewas prior to our weekend away up to Great Heywood - see below for that.

• She does not like the water
• She likes other dogs
• She likes people
  
• She does fart a lot which is a bad thing in enclosed spaces - however I can't imaging five farting greyhounds in a narrowboat is nice !

After winding the boat last Tuesday we set off Friday lunchtime for one of the best weekend cruises we have had on any canal boat. We cruised up to Bridge 69 (Taft Bridge) on the T&M and enjoyed a very remote and quite night on the boat - there was plenty of good space for Leia to enjoy and plenty of things to smell and listen to (she has very big ears !)

On the Saturday we took her into Rugely for a good 4 mile walk - she was a hit in the town. After some lunch we set off for a quick hop to GreatHeywood - below the metal bridge and has this million pound view for the rest of the day.....

We have never spoken to so many people whilst out boating due to Leia, - normally we do a few hi's and hello's but these were long conversations - very sociable.

At the end of the day she was done in.......

I even took the opportunity of a night shot - Granny has whetted my appetite !

Andrew - any comments?

We took a cruise up to Weston on the Sunday to charge the batteries up. I do like this bit of canal. It was a lot busier on Sunday but all very friendly.

Monday saw us come back with a nice early 7am start - the canals are sooooo nice at this time in the morning, especially if it is dry and sunny which it was.

It was so nice we stopped just after the turn at Woodend lock and had food on the towpath and then some more fishing - canal boating is fantastic!

Our next trip out is with our friends from Scotland who will be bringing two collies down - so we might have three farting dogs to compete with Dogsontour

Does Leia get me enrolled into the dog bloggers roll call them??

Waterlily comes home - not quite

So Waterlily was ours - see the Whilton post as this is the next stage in the story.

We dropped a car off at Fradley earlier in the week and set off on Friday 20th July and it was raining and it just kept raining. We stopped for Fuel on route and when we left the petrol station the road was actually flooded - in hindsight we only just made it through that stretch of flood water - the water was actually coming up from the grates !

The country - especially the West Midlands was getting a real downpour - we were lucky, some suffered significant problems

What really peed me off about Whilton was the lack of ceremony when we collected the keys. They just handed the folder of supporting documents got my signature and handed me the keys and told me where Waterlily was . By any ones standards the amount I paid was a lot - certainly garages passing new cars to new owners do it with a bit more flair. A bottle of wine and a card or flowers would have been nice - even to be escorted to the boat and best wishes given would have been better. Hey ho, no problem as we had Waterlily.

We loaded her in the wet, checked the diesel (full) and turned on what systems we could find - water, gas electric etc.

I reversed her out of her temp berth and got her onto the main line perfectly, a fine start to our ownership of her.

The water was flooding over the top gates of the locks and there was water everywhere - quite dangerous in fact. It was so bad we stopped just below the Buckby top lock and retired to the New Inn for food.

Saturday was better with no rain - just rumours of a collapse of Brauton Tunnel - our way home to Fradley I scouted the moorings above the top lock and found one right at the end by the BW base. So we moved up and did some checking of the situation. it turned out that the tunnel was OK but there was a significant mud slide on the Braunston end and it would not be until the start of the next week before engineers could even assess the damage.

we did consider the leicester ring option but the Soar was up as was the Trent - both part of this route home.

We were limited by time so a reluctant decision was taken to leave waterlily and reverse the planning - frustrating, but all0wed us to plan a quick return. We wanted our boat on our mooring !

Nev

Wales

We have been to visit relatives in North Wales and took Leia who certainly enjoyed her first trip to the sea side.

This photo is from my phone - is has a panorama mode - taken on Conway heights with Rachel and her dad looking over the Conway valley to Angelsey

Leia update

Leia is settling in very well, and the really good news is that the cat is accepting her. Yesterday they were sniffing each other and the cat meows at her rather than hisses - its great they look like getting along. Tamsin was in the garden with her yesterday which is great. The other cats bully Tamsin - so we are hoping the dog in the garden will keep the other cats out.

We are still house training Leia - which means breakfast and plenty of cups of tea and coffee in the garden while she does her stuff. Here she is with me (excuse the dressing gown) sitting in the summerhouse (still being built)

The first is her trying to work out where the camera sound is coming from - the second is me laughing at her reaction and her trying to lick my face. The images are from the web cam on the laptop as I'm blogging in the garden today.

It'll be another couple of weeks before she can go out for walks on the local park.

Now some boating stuff......

Carpets grass and fast boats

We took the Saturday sunshine as a cue to get to Waterlily for some carpet cleaning. The carpets were not bad but it was nice to freshen them up after our first years ownership. The first years ownership was reminded to me by the renewal notes for RCR and the insurers.

While Rachel did the carpets I did BW's job of trying to get the grass down. Last year they were very good and cut the moorings a few times. This year nothing. I did ask one f their guys who said he would talk to his boss......... He would have done it there and then but he was getting close to his 3 hours mowing and due to vibration he could mow no more..I really really hate this H&S bulls**t. I accept there should be common sense because we all have that and those with less, well that's natural selection for you !

In the end I only got half done - as the strimmer gave up and the spool just fell apart leaving a birds nest of line to play with.

One thing I do notice mooring near a lock landing is the speed of boats. Now I do not get all irate about this. I have better things to get irate about - but it did get me thinking that those boaters who do chastise people for their speed, this is their frustration breaker - indicative of the level and pace of issues in their lives- I hope that when I get on the cut full time ish I refrain from diluting my frustrations to such a level. Anyhow I notice the boats speed more because so many throttle down for the lock landing - and they have just passed a good 12 moored boats.

Twenty questions

Andrew Denny Grannybuttons.com recently starred in the 20 questions feature at the back of Canal boat magazine. He has suggested other bloggers less famous than himself provide their 20 answers - so here goes,

1. Trent and Mersey
2. Grand Union (I do not like wide locks) but I am sure there will be others worse that I have yet to travel on
3. Rachel, my ever so forgiving wife
4. Fox Evil by Minette Walters (if you do not count the ever present Nicholsons by the bed)
5. Dusk at Fradley when the gongoozlers have gone and the rod and beer are out
6. Anyone who thinks they have more right to be on the canals than another - especially some of the 'experienced' boaters who have no tolerance for the learners
7. 1960's - all the free love etc........
8. Stockton marina 2005 - just getting onto the stern, Rachel popped her head out of the door and I missed my footing and lowered myself into the cut - right at the end of the holiday !
9. Fireman - might still get a blue light for the top of the boat !
10. Have a lot bigger house
11. The informed few
12. Getting the rod out - that'll be the fishing rod
13. No more boats or marinas, selfish or what
14. Your staff in the main do a great job - your job is to allow them to keep doing it
15. Windows - why would anyone want to restrict the view
16. Cassette, appeals to the scrooge in me - but we have both for flexibility
17. Canals - that's why my boat is narrow
18. Ideally upright and moving......
19. Two well capable sons and a loving marriage
20. Ability to bring a smile to people's faces

I think a boat needs a dog .......

Say hello to Leia.....

She is a 12 week old rescue pup. We are not sure about her make up - one of the shelter staff said she was a Collie and the other said a Collie cross. Whatever, she is a lovely little dog.

We have had to take her to the vets today as she has a cough and as we suspected it is kennel cough. It seems it is mild and she has some antibiotics.

She cannot go public until she has had her second set of injections in a couple of weeks time so for now she has the house and the back garden - no boat yet. That may not be a bad thing. It will allow us to settle her in first.

The cat..... you may remember we tried with Tess an older rescue dog but she was a terrier and straight away went for Tamsin. So far so good with Leia, she is just interested in the cat and the cat has done her hissing and growling bit which put Leia off. They should get on, we expect never the best of friends, but who knows?

Leia - is from Princess Leia, Star Wars , so........

Breed chosen by Rachel, Theme for the name by Callum, Name By Thomas and I chose the dog - so a family effort as it should be.

Lets hope she enjoys boating as much as we do.

Nev

New crew member on the way......

Those who have read the blog will be aware we want another dog..........

See tomorrow for some pics - maybe,

Nev

Sunny Sunday

Well it was just too nice not to be at the boat.

We got to Fradley around 2ish and it was very busy. I wanted to fit a hour counter as the one on the tacho was not working. I have brought a digital one off ebay. Only problem was I needed to cut a 2" hole to fit it. I had brought a B&Q set but as suspected it was not up to the job. I need something a little more heavy duty - so it will go back to B&Q for a refund.

I swapped over the two toggle switches on that controlled the front light and bilge. Where they are located they were getting switched on by peoples bums as they lent against the side of the boat. I had brought a couple of "pull to make" switches heavy duty stuff - they went in well and the bilge now works as I swapped it with another that was on the boat. The bilge is nice and dry - there is a bucket that catches the drips from the overflow on the water cylinder - the bilge pump lives in there so it will make emptying it a lot easier. I expect the last bilge burnt out by being accidentally turned on - should not happen now.

Did a little canoeing before we left - I think the one I have at the boat is a little too sporty, it does not feel too stable - I have another I'll take over next time.

Nev

My other Carp (the Penkridge one)

This was my best and most enjoyable fish (before the Fradley carp....... )

Note the scene, landing net in the water, whip and rake !!.........

We had moored just below lock 38 in Penkridge opposite static caravan park. Rachel and the other crew had gone into Penkridge and left me fishing. we were on the 4 counties and the maggots had run out so I was fishing sweetcorn and bread pellets. Not much happening so I trotting /9as much as you can on the canal) about 18 inches from the bow of the boat, when rather slowly the float went under and bang I was playing a large carp, I was on a 4 meter whip (see picture) with a lightweight bottom 16 hook to 3.2 or 4LB line - only problem was did not have a a landing net - no excuse just poor planning.

I played the fish for about 20 minutes , just managing t0 turn it every time it went on a run, it tired and my only plan was to hold it to the armco and then get into the canal to lift it out....... I was desperate not to loose the fish, as soon as I lent down to it it gave one last kick and snapped me.....Aaaaarrgghhh, I nearly burst into tears.

I opened a beer and calmed down (those who do not fish will think how daft this sounds....) I tackled up - same hook etc and started again - within 5 minutes same again, different fish, the one above, which I think was slightly smaller.

I played this for some time, this time getting off the boat and walking up the canal with the fish. About 20 yards up the canal were a couple of guys fishing from their ma's caravan and they noted the action. The watched for a few minutes and then I told them I did not have a landing net - they were true fishermen, recognising a fantastic canal fish. One of the guys said he would throw their (his mates) landing net - his mate was not too enthusiastic about this. The first guy was confident and launched it like a javelin and plop it went into the cut by the armco. His mate was less than impressed . Not to be put off he said he would send over his ma's hoe to fish out the landing net. The hoe being heavier made it (just missing me - remember I was still playing my dream fish and praying for a boat NOT to come along)

I then used the hoe to fish out the landing net and then used the net to land the fish - pleased, you bet. Rachel came along just in time to take the pic. When we moved off I returned the gear to my new fishermen friends (who were now fishing with sweetcorn !) with some cans of beer in there for their help.

I actually told this story to the local paper and they published it with the picture above in - a real claim to fame.

I think fish like these are quite frequent in the cut - I have certainly been broke a few times and now tend to use rod and line rather than a whip or pole.

Tight lines,

Nev

Seems the boat has been found

The full story is not yet known - I'll post an update if anymore info comes

Nev

Perfect day.....Carp

Well after 4pm that is......

It was just too nice not to be on the boat so I finished work a little early and took the bike to the boat. I intended fitting two new switches for the bilge and headlight - they are the paddle type and keep getting knocked on by crews bums, so I have brought some pull to make types. Anyhow when I got to Waterlilly I remembered I had taken the switches home last time -for what reason I do not know.

So fishing was the only option.

When I had boarded the boat there was an large splash between the armco and the bow fender of Mable, initially I thought it was a duck but nothing surfaced so it must have been a large fish - Carp or Pike

I had taken a couple of slices of bread so I started with bread plugs fished under a float. No action for the first hour. I thought I saw a swirl as a fish came to the surface so I threw in a couple of 1" square bread flakes - to my amazement a few minutes later a large carp came up and sucked the bread down. My float was on a couple of rubbers so I took it off and removed the weights and put a flake of bread on a free line and dropped it where the carp had just taken the bread. It came again and took my bait and it was game on.....

I only had a 16 hook on a 3.2LB line so it took it very steady, also I had not got my landing net made up........aaargh Luckily the owner from "Such as Life" saw the rod bending and came over. He made my landing net up and after about another 10 minutes she came to the net. A fantastic fish of 14-15LB caught on really light tackle. I have seen John Wilson and others catch carp like this so it was very exciting and satisfying to catch such a fine fish.



The was a small audience watching me land the fish so a little pressure.

I have fished my mooring a few times now and caught next to nothing - this beauty certainly made up for that...... the evening drew in and Fradley was , as ever, a perfect place to be. Shame I had to leave the boat as I have to be in Cardiff in the morning.......

Perfect day

Stolen boat from Sawley

On the off chance and to spread the word..... have you seen this boat?

Details about its theft below.



It's a Louis & Joshua 60' trad with an upstand in front but no cover.

It has all portholes, is navy blue on the gunnels and has a green centre panel.

The hull is I think a Jonathon Wilson, the boat's name is Truculent and it had Louis & Joshua No 48 on it.

It was stolen from Sawley Marina they think early hours of Monday, and though it's thought to have headed for the T & M no-one really knows where it was going.

One more visit

As the weather was so nice yesterday afternoon, and Rachel was our with her mum, I took the opportunity to combine a couple of passions and took the scenic Ashbourne route to Waterlily on my Ducati.

It was a fine run out, with lots of other bikes out and about. Fradley was heaving with gongoozlers as expected, so I got to the boat and set to to try the starter battery. Went first time with seemingly lots of charge in the battery.

Now on Sunday morning I reconnected the Adverc battery management system. When we had the boat serviced at the end of last year the engineer suggested disconnecting the system as he advised it was more suited to continuous cruisers who ran the engines every day to charge the batteries and the system maxed the charge to the batteries to minimise the time the engine needed running. On reflection - I think this is only one aspect of the system as when connected it seemed to recover the started battery very well?

Anyhow I have topped up all the four batteries (3 x 11o ah leisure and one starter) I'll monitor them and see how we go. I also checked the weedhatch - a bugger of a job as its well under the counter and difficult to get at. Having not checked it since last years 4 counties it was good to find just a few bits of fishing line and some week on it.

On Sylph we used to check the weedhatch every day and it always has something on it!

So a few jobs done I returned home to mow the lawns - the fact I had the worlds largest garden at my disposal and one I did not have to tend, was not lost on me while I was mowing my lawns at home !

Now a fantastic week and no excuse to get on the boat, I don't think that will stop me......

Nev

Sun and rain - and a flat starter battery

So we decided to go to the boat -even for a 24 hour period as we had to be in Chesterfield today for a family birthday.

A quick pack and an even quicker shop (which included a pint of mixed maggotts) and we were at Waterlily for 1pm ish yeaterday. As the owners of Elizabeth next mooring were planning some grinding work we decided that we would bite the bullet and go up through Fradley locks for an overnight in the sticks.

Apart from the fact the boat would not start - click,click, click suggested a poorly battery. we jumped it from the leasure batteries and got going..........

We had a good run up the locks for a bank holiday Saturday. We cruised on to a remote mooring between Kings Bromley and Armatige. It was a lovely evening and a few hours fishing and some nice food were a perfect end to the day.

We hit the sack very early for us - 10.30 pm as we wanted an early start. A duck sounding the alarm (no doubt a fox about) kept us awake early in the morning.

We got going about 8.30 (another jump start, so the battery is FUBARR'd) and took breakfast on the go. Both times on the trip as we approached Kings Bromley marina boats nipped out just on front of us. Not a issue to us but could be seen as bad manners to others.

Fradley was busier on our return. Junction lock is always a place for confusion and testing the boaters friendliness, as boaters from the T&M and Coventry come together at Junction or Middle lock.

Just as we were getting close to home we had to wait for a boat to come up Hunts lock. The boat was 'stuck' on the lower cill, I opened one of the top paddles to put some water under the boat and this worked - however the 'captain' gave franatic signals to drop the paddles (not needed as I was doing it anyway.) He then gave more frantic signals for me not to open the paddles when the boat was in the lock. I obliged and returned to my coffee on Waterlily.

As the top gate was opened he approached and offered his apologies, he had subsequesntly realised what I was doing lifting him off the cill - he had thought I was an enthusiatic 'canaltimer' - they do get some bad press, trying to rush him through the lock. No problem and it was nice to recieve both an apology and acknowleldgement I knew what I was doing.

We moored and did what we needed for a early pm departure.

I would have liked to have stayed out a little longer- say six years............

Nev

Teeth and resprays

Nothing canal related. Having checked my extensive list of RSS feeds for canal updates and there not being many I thought I'd at least post something (even if its drivel)

So the aching tooth is no more. I had it taken out today. Dentist got a right sweat on getting it out as its roots were twice as big as he expected so I have a large hole in my gums now :-(

I am hoping for a bigger than normal payout from the tooth fairy based on its size (yes i did bring it home) Remember the Brompton - still very much enjoying riding it. Here is the link to the 'converters'. I used it to get across Derby to the dentist today in just 11 minutes, I'm sure I could not have done it quicker in the car.

I am thinking of getting my Ducati resprayed. The tail cowling fell of it the other day and is now nicely scratched to bits so rather than just get that resprayed back to blue I fancy a proper red Ducati - like this ......

Anyway, no more drivel - I'll get onto the collection of Waterlily next.....

Mercia Marina update

True to his word Robert Neff the new marina manager sent the information pack for the new marina. I think the costs are too high for us and the thought of being in such a large community, albeit of boaters, does not appeal. So for now we will stay put on our very rural home moorings.

There is an open day over the May bank holiday weekend. Also Robert has invited me down at any time to meet him, which I intend to do.

I still have reservations about the number of marina being built on the T&M see my post about it earlier Not so much about marina as I think they are better than long lines of moored boats. I do enjoy boats moored on the cut as I am very nosey and I also think they maintain the character of the canal, but they should be less long lines - anyone doing the Shroppie north of Market Drayton will know what I mean.

I just hope the proliferation of marinas on the T&M and BW's one in ten rule don't impact on my mooring - I hate the sight of blood, no so bad when its not my own !

Nev

Unexpected blast.....

As I arrived home last night my next door neighbour was doing the same and suggested it was a fine evening for a ride out on the bikes (Motorbikes that is) So as he had not seen my boat we decided a run to Fradley was in order.

We went via Ashbourne and the A515. He had new tyres on his bike so we took it relatively slowly (Ha) It was a fine run. When we got to Fradley Junction the pound above Hunts lock was about half full and emptying. Some prat had left the bottom gates open and not fully shut the top paddles. In fact they had left the lock in as bigger mess as you might imagine, gates open and paddles up, just thoughtless and dangerous for the fish in the pound above the lock. We sorted it with the help of another boater on the moorings.

A faster blast back down the A38 saw a new record of boat to house set........

These unexpected visits are great - we had a coffee on the boat and a walk up to the Swan - no beer as we were on the bikes. Fradley was superb, just as I like it, all the excitement of the day lost and a few gongoozlers left, people drinking at the pub tables and a few boats on the moorings cooking their tea. (I still have breakfast, dinner and tea) All in all a very tranquil and relaxed scene, only problem was I had to leave the boat. No Problem as I intend to commute from the boat a few times over the summer to enable me to drink in the atmosphere of a Fradley Junction evening........

So, just need a summer now?

Nev

Posting from the canal

Yep, we are out on Waterlily this weekend. As she was facing south and we arrived a little later than expected on Friday, we ambled down to Branston waterpark on Friday afternoon. we were mainly headlong into a very brisk and cold easterly wind. It made boat handling tricky but we managed ok until mooring when I got the boat across the cut after changing my mind about mooring locations at the last minute. Two guys came off their boats and helped pull her in against the wind - much appreciated.


Last time we tried the bridge pub at Branston it was empty and not serving food. This time it was the opposite - full, very full. We then realised the menu was pizza or pasta. we stuck it out only to be given a table (6 seater) with four guys out for a loud Friday night drink. we advised our hosts that it was just too noisy and left. The landlady was very nice about it. The pub is very small and needs to segregate its eating and drinking......

we retired back to the boat and ate..............pasta and drank our own wine, much better atmosphere and much cheaper. We tried to watch a DVD but we were both worn out - some late nights earlier in the week.

Today (Saturday) we were planning a trip to Willington, but further cold wind changed our mind. We winded at Jannell boat yard and took on some diesel 68p per litre and coal £7.85 per 25kg bag ( have put these in to remind me what I paid in time to come....)

There is very little moving on the cut - passing Barton turns I counted 9 Shakespeare boats moored up, another boater told me there would be 4 more near the new pub. To contradict myself we then met three boats at Wychnor. Rachel took the tiller for the river section back to Alrewas and skippered excellently in the wind.

We are now moored up just after bridge 46 in Alrewas, the boat is toasty warm and we are about to enjoy a veg curry with beer/wine. No TV tonight as I couldn't be bothered with setting the satellite dish up so its Classic FM on the DAB and a book or maybe a DVD later...... I'll read this at work next week and wonder why I haven't retired (very early) yet.

nev

Mercia Marina

I recently left a post on Andrew Denny's Grannybuttons blog criticising Mercia Marina for not following up on my requests for an information pack about their new marina in Willington.

Well top marks for the new marina manager Robert Neff (the same Robert Neff who left Priory marina) who picked up on the comment and made contact - a pack is in the post.

This bodes well for Mercia as Robert comes with a pedigree - not least someone who uses the internet to communicate. I am sure Andrew will be impressed.

Good luck Robert, now lets just see if the pack arrives and how competitive the berth prices are......

The Whilton experience

Whilton is the subject of a discussion on Canal World discussion forum at the moment. We purchased Waterlily from them. I would say that at all times they were friendly and professional.

Anyhow, we had sold Comet and sold our share in Sylph and were very keen on Waterlily. I had sorted out the funding for the purchase - it was just down to the survey. At this time we had done some haggling on the price and got a couple of thousand off the boat subject to survey - that is what I had thought.

We got in touch with Balliol Fowden who did the survey on Comet and between us we arranged for a date to get the survey done.

I was a little annoyed when I turned up at Whilton to be told the boat had already been out of the water. This frustration was tempered a little by the news the base plate was actually 10mm not the 8mm Whilton were quoting. Balliol spent some time taking me through the issues with the boat and spent some time discussing the issues around the engine.

A few days later we received the survey. Main problem was the gas installation was poor - would not pass the BSC and the stove has a superficial crack in the back edge. There was also some surface rusting on some of the cabin welds. Not a bad survey, basically a sound boat.

This is when I had some disagreement with the salesman at Whilton. I went back and offered a lower amount based on the works being needed. Whilton man said he had told me that the offer they had accepted was final and they would not take a lesser offer post survey - he suggested this had been explained to me, something I certainly did not recall.

The boat was for sale due to the death of her owner and his widow was selling it. Whilton told me they has taken a hit on their commission in order to accept the lower offer I had made. I would like to think this was the case as I did not wish to take advantage of the position. I eventually took a pragmatic view and went through with the purchase of the boat and arranged for Whilton to fix the gas installation prior to collection.

Waterlily was ours

Owning a narrowboat was a long term plan, we had achieved it much earlier than expected. I picked up a chronic condition a few years ago that changed my outlook on life. Nothing life threatening but life changing. I made my mind up to live as much for today without impacting on other family lives too much. I have never regretted buying Waterlily early. She is expensive to own and a large depreciating asset, but the enjoyment we get owning her is bigger than any monetary value.

So we started to plan the collection, little did we know we were going to collect her in the middle of one of the worst storms in recent memory.........

It was an Abbott self propelled gun actually

It was still a buzz to drive.


We spent a few days at our friends (John and Carrie) farm house in Scotland. On the Monday we drove over to Galloway tanks and took the Abbott self propelled gun for a spin.

We all had a go. For our sins Carrie and me were passengers when Tom, our eldest son, had his go. He was encouraged to give it some and we got roundly bounced around as a result.

Tom in action below.....

We went for a lovely walk on the Tuesday - about 6 miles from Portpatrick. This part of southwest Scotland is very remote and does not get many visitors - so its very attractive for people like me, who like nothing more than empty roads and friendly but limited people contact.

A few pics from the walk on the Tuesday....

It was so sunny we all got a little burnt - roll on the summer.

Now Waterlily and the Whilton experience........

No boats but tanks today......

Seriously.............

I'll give a much fuller account later, but today I was mostly driving this bad boy......

Anyone care to guess what it actually is?

Nev