Narrowboat Just Heaven

It rained quite a bit in the night and the morning started off very cloudy. We were in no real hurry to get back but thought that the weather might get worse so set off around 9:00. Quite a pleasant trip, though a bit cold, until we got  to just short of Kidderminster then it started to rain.

We stopped briefly at Sainsbury’s for supplies, when we set off again the rain got harder. By the time we were through the lock it was tipping down!

When approching our mooring from the north it’s not possible to go in bow first which is the way I prefer to leave it, so we have to turn round. At first we would go down through Caldwall lock and wind in the wide space above Falling Sands lock, but recently we have winded in the space near Tesco and reversed back the 200yds or so. Having done it several times now we are geeting quite good at it. We do it as a team effort, Heddi does the tiller and I do the throttle & bow thruster (I know, I know ….). This morning’s attempt was in the pouring rain and cold wind, but we didnt do to badly.

We had lunch on board, tidied up and secured the boat and then off home down the M5 in so much spray you couldn’t see a thing !

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This morning, whilst we were still in bed, there was a terrific thunderstorm - really loud, and heavy rain. It eventually passed and we got up and had to make a desicion about staying put or moving. A guy on the boat moored next to us said that he had heard a weather forecast predicting a warm and sunny afternoon. We had some work to do on the outside of the boat so decided to move down to Kinver where, hopefully, we could do the jobs in the sunshine.

A fairly uneventful, though cold, journey until we got just short of Hyde lock. As we approached the site of the old wooden boat (now sunk) we could see a collection of four narrowboats at various angles across the cut. There were two moored up and, almost level with them, a hire boat diagonally across the cut and a sailaway in grey primer stuck on the mud on the inside of the bend. Neither the skipper of the hire boat nor of the sailaway seemed to know how to get themselves out of the predicament! A guy from one of the moored boats took charge (someone had to!) and first tried to get a rope from the sailaway to the bank, but the sailaway crew’s rope throwing skills were limited to say the least. The guy in charge then asked if we could approach the sailway, get a rope onboard and then try to tow them off backwards, which we did, but they were stuck firm. During all this the hire boat had managed to manouvre to create a gap wide enough for us to slip through. So we passed the sailaway, reversed back and got a line aboard their bow and eventually pulled them off of the mud.

We then left and went down onto the visitor mooring below Kinver lock. The sailaway moored just ahead of us a little while later and we had a chat with them. They had only bought the boat a few days earlier and were moving it from Blisworth to Stourport. Their only previous boating experience was a few years ago.

The sun did come out as predicted and we spent an hour or so cleaning and polishing.

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Away just before 8am. It started off really sunny but the clouds thickened and we even had a few spots of rain. We needed a pumpout so stopped at Lime Kiln at Compton (after passing Granny Buttons at Autherley - no sign of Andrew). I also wanted to top upthe deisel but they had run out!

Moved across the cut to moor up and go shopping at the Daisy freezer centre for a few provisions.

Lots of herons around today, but no kingfishers.

Now moored at the bottom of Bratch locks, by the picnic site, one of our favourite spots. Went for a walk after supper along various lanes and a footpath to emerge by Bumblehole lock and back up the towpath.

We saw a stoat today - it ran across the bottom lock gates and off into the hedge!

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Lovely day again today, cool going along but wonderfully warm in the sunshine. Before we left Tixall at 11:30 I drilled out and re-tapped the screw holes for the pumpout fitting. It had been leaking (rainwater in, not ‘contents’ out!) and needed resealing but the brass fixing screws sheared off when I tried to remove it. Heddi touched up the paint below the gunnells.

Lots of this stuff around at the waters edge, the flowers are very attractive. Is it some sort of Rheum or Gunnera?

We met up with Andrew & Sheila from Uncle Mort at Acton Trussell. We sat out on the towpath supping wine & beer and nattering for a couple of hours. The conversation ranged over slow cookers, ducklings, amorous horses and much else! It was really warm & comfy there and we didnt want to leave but set off for Penkridge at 3:45. We topped up the water and are now moored by br 85 in lovely evening sunshine.

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Not a bad day again today, none of the rain that was forecast. The sun has been almost shining and although the canal was very busy with some waiting at locks we got to Tixall Wide by 2:00. We passed Granny Buttons at br 98, I twittered Andrew, but no reply.

Lots of boats at the wide, but we found a good spot to moor and enjoyed a late lunch in the sunshine.

We then set off for a long walk around the Shugbrough estate, down the S&W to br 106, across the river and railway then follow around the boundary of the estate through the woods. This leads to the T&M across Essex br then back along the towpath.

Spent the evening with a glass of wine watching the birds & bats - what a life!

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Up and away by 7:20. Passed ‘Uncle Mort’ about 1/4 mile ahead of us - no sign of life.

Does anyone know why the bridge at the tail of Awbridge lock is like this? It’s unique on the canal.

Lovely day today, sun all day. Sat out in the evening sunshine with a glass of wine.

We used the crock-pot for the first time and made a great beef casserole for supper.

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Busy day meeting people. Sister in law Val & brother in law are caravanning in Bewdley and so came up to meet us at Kinver. Into the Vine for a pint where we were joined by Andrew (aka Capt Beeky) & Shiela off of’ Uncle Mort. Uncle Mort is going to Stafford Boat Club for a couple of weeks.

Weather not to good today so we dropped Val & Dave off above Hyde lock rather than take them up to Stourton Jcn as originally planned. The old wooden boat above Hyde lock is sinking. A woman was trying to staple polythene around the waterline but I cant see that saving it!

We went on a lovely walk yesterday evening around Wolverley village and back across some fields - a great walk.

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Almost a month since the last entry. I have had another birthday, but the only present I’ve brought with me is a crock-pot. We’lluse that tomorrow.

No water in the bow when we arrived so I’ve Hammerited all the metal surfaces up under the foredeck and re-assembled the word work.

Lots of moving boats today. After months of not seeing any it really feels like summer.

The weather isnt telling us that though, it’s damp and dreary today. We have moored at Wolverley, lit the fire, had supper and drank a glass of wine. We may go for a walk later if it doesnt rain.

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