Winterising

We have just popped up for one night to complete the winterisation. The weather forecast is for extreme cold next week so I wanted to top up the antifreeze in the engine and partially drain the calorifier. The EberspƤcher powered central heating is on a frost stat so should keep the ice out, but in

Kinver

Back to the home mooring this morning. Weather a bit cold but not too bad. The autumn colours are lovely but had to clear leaves round the prop several times šŸ™

Not moved

We havent moved today. The morning was spent doing some of the paint touch up and cleaning out the engine bay and bilge sump. In the afternoon we walked along the west bank of the Severn up to the modern road bridge just before Bewdley and then back down the Severn Way along the east

Stourport Basin

The weather looked bright, but cold so we set off at about 8:00. The autumn leaves looked really good in the sunlight, but we had to frequently clear the prop with a blast of reverse. In Kidderminster we stopped outside Sainsbury’s to do the shopping for the week’s food. Also a trip to The Range

Debdale Lock

Just here for a few days to prepare the boat for the winter. We have arranged to see Andrew & Sheila in Stourport tomorrow, so we set off partway today. C&RT are supposed to be resurfacing the track from The Vine to our mooring car park this week, so we had to leave the car

Back in Kinver

After 30 days, 200 locks, 231 miles of canals and 216 miles of rivers we are back where we started. We were slightly delayed as only 2 miles and two locks from home we encountered a queue of about 10 boats. A tree had fallen across the canal yesterday, but the C&RT workmen only turned

Compton

Back on home waters of the Staffs & Worcs. After two days of early starts we had a lie in this morning and a leisurely breakfast at about 9:00. Then at 10:00 we went to the Black Country Living Museum. This is a large site of reconstructed buildings depicting life in the Black Country from

Handsacre

A really great day today. Only four locks, but got our exercise by going for a 5+ mile walk through Cannock Chase and then back via the Shugborough Hall estate. The footpath goes right through the estate, so we didn’t have to pay (though we couldn’t go round the house itself !). Then back across

Acton Trussel

A misty start, and rather chilly at first, but it soon warmed up and we had a great day. Busy with boats, meeting somebody at most locks. Whilst queueing at Gailey lock we bought a new tiller pin from the boat following us.

Compton

We are on our way up to York! This a big adventure for us, we have mostly stuck to the Midlands narrow canals in the past. We need to arrive in York before 15th Sept. as we are attending a friend’s wedding. We think the journey will take about 12 days, so we set off