A rather frustrating day today with much queueing, but with lots of opportunity to chat with other boaters. The day started off OK with good weather so we made an earlyish start at seven thirty. All was going well until just after the Bratch. The queues were begining to build up at each lock. We
We are on our way to the Cutweb GIG at Stafford Boat Club. We need to be there by Lunchtime on Friday. That gives us three days, which should be OK. Arrived in Kidderminster about one o’clock, but by the time we had loaded everything up, chugged round to Sainsbury’s and done the week’s shopping
Back to Kidderminster, then Paul, Nikki & Izzy left at about 9:30 as Nikki had a ‘Hen Party Day’ at “Go Ape” in the Forest of Dean. We decided to stay for the rest of the day and go back tomorrow. We spent the time doing jobs around the boat, popping down to the caravan
The best day weatherwise so far this trip. As we didnt need to be back in Kidderminster until Sunday morning today was going to be a relaxing day. We went down as far as Kinver and stopped on the visitor’s mooring below the lock. We were lucky, there was only room left for one boat.
Up and away early, the sky was lovely and clear so we thought that we’d get going. Through the stop lock at Autherley and round the junction to see a heron perched on the signpost. We stopped at Compton to go to the Daisy freezer centre for some barbecue food, and to Limekiln Chandlers for
A little bit of drizzle on and off today, but otherwise not a bad day, though very windy. The deep cuttings along this part of the Shroppie are quite interesting, but otherwise it’s fairly boring, particularly for the steerer as it’s just long straight sections with only the one lock at Wheaton Aston to break
We have moved today, but we’re back where we started. A pumpout and shopping needed today so an early start down Tyrley locks and into Market Drayton. We had intended to use one of the boatyards for the pumpout, but found a BW DIY machine so used that instead. Anyway the boatyard wasnt open when
Weather fairly cool and cloudy today, with periods of rain getting heavier as the day went on. We were going to have a pumpout at Wheaton Aston but the BW DIY machine was out of action (as was the toilet block) because of a sewerage system problem. We topped up with fuel at Turner’s garage
Another rather wet, cold & grey day, where’s the summer gone? The weather did clear a little in the evening and we decided to have a barbecue as this may be the only chance this week. During yesterday and today we have had several re-occurrances of the fuel starvation problem. I decided to take out
Daughter Nikki, son-in-law Paul and grandaughter Izzy (10 months) arrived last night, did the shopping and stayed overnight on the moorings. We joined them about 10 o’clock and set off north. The weather was rather overcast with occasional rain. We stoped for the night at about 5:00 just past Greensforge lock. We had planned a