UK Canals - Journey reports

Stewponey

Saturday: We returned to the boat last evening and immediately set out to find a Chinese takeaway.  The one on the main drag from bridge 5 turned out to be excellent indeed.   Overnight the promised rain arrived, some of it heavy judging by the noise on the roof.   While we were away, our friends had re-arranged the boats and we were on the towpath with VIRGO breasted up to us.  We needed a pump-out and water, so extricated ourselves by holding VIRGO's bow and stern ropes from the bank and reversing out around the boat moored behind us.  I did have to nip up onto the roof to free the stern rope which had lodged under the boat pole, but essentially it all went according to plan.  We then negotiated York Road Lock and reversed onto the sanitary station point.  This is a BW self service pump-out machine operated with one of the new £10 cards.   It gives six minutes worth which is not quite enough for my tank, so as expected, just as I was getting down to the nasty black stuff at the bottom of the tank it gave up.  If the poor boater who follows me is daft enough to open the valve before connecting up to the boat he or she will get their shoes dirty, as the residue which remains in the pipe falls out.   So after all it was about 9:00 am before we set off back up the canal.  The rain was light and not troublesome, but after Kidderminster Town Lock it became heavy for the next hour and a half and by lunch time my feet were bathing in little shoe sized paddling pools.  So a stop for lunch and a stove lighting procedure to start to dry off.   After lunch it seemed wise to put on the ultimate wet weather gear which I normally reserve for winter cruising.  From past experience deployment of this kit always stops the rain falling - and so it turned out.   Well, to be honest it changed it to very light rain.  At Kinver, our first choice for overnight mooring, there were no moorings left.   So we carried on to Stewponey and found the 24 hour moorings clear.   Once moored, two boats we passed moored at Kinver have gone by.  We were too early this time!

Stourport

Since the last report, much has happened.   Our Roving Rally started and ended on Monday at the Severn Valley Tandoori in Stourport.   Between the time of our arrival and the evening, the river had risen a foot and had covered the top of the gates at the bottom of the lower twin of the staircase pair.   We had received messages that the Saul Canal and Folk Music Festival was cancelled.   Later information revealed that the site was under 4 feet of water.   Some members set off back up the canal yesterday, whilst other have left today.  We have elected to wait a couple of days, but the forecast is promising more rain and the river has not gone down any more this morning.   So our plan is to leave shortly for home via the Staffs & Worcs, Trent & Mersey, Coventry and Oxford Canals.   Our booking for Saul is to carried over until next year.   I will put up some photos of the river at the next opportunity.

Stourport

Listening to the rain on the roof in the early hours, the omens are not good for the cruise down to Gloucester.  We left Kinver in the rain and shortly after Whittington Lock came across a fallen tree leaving only a boat width of water to creep by on the towpath side.   The rain became heavier as time went on and the wind made us all feel so cold that I was driven to light the fire.  Then the chimney caught on a bridge and resulted in the corroded inner liner becoming detatched.  Does anybody know of a good supply of new chimneys?   However, by Kidderminster and the inevitable shopping expedition to Sainsbury, the sky was looking brighter and the rain had stopped.  We received a telephone message to say that the River was closed again, and that those boats hoping to have left today had not been able to. We were at the same time invited to moor up alongside other members of the group on arrival at Stourport. Arriving at the end of the line of moored boats a stressed looking boater emerged telling us that the basin was full, the River closed and there was nowhere to moor, so we had better back up immediately.  Fortunately we knew better.  After lunch we went down to have a look at the water.   It is brown and fast moving with logs and other debris going with it.   The level is up to the full line on the lowest lock of the staircase - about 11 feet I suppose.   So now we can relax for a few days.   It doesn't look as if we will get to Saul after all.  Tonight a group curry evening!

Kinver

An excellent evening spent at the Vine last night with Terry & Chris introducing us to Bathams Bitter.  Great atmosphere.  Very impressing also on the walk back to the boat after dark to find the towpath lit and security cameras every 100 yards.  Good to know that someone is watching the boat, so this might even be a good spot to leave a boat for a few days.  This morning we left at 07:00 in the rain.  With a crew of four the boat never stopped moving except for one lock before Kinver whilst we waited for opposite direction traffic.   "Delph 9" (actually 8 locks) was seen off in 40 minutes and we reached the Stockton 16 before we realised, we were having such a good time.   Our progress down was uninterrupted as were the last four locks down to the Staffs & Worcs at Stewponey.   The almost complete lack of boats on the Stourbridge Canal contrasted with the many moored boats on this canal and the comparitive increase in traffic.   The water point at Kinver was vacant, so we availed ourselves of that with a good flow to boot.   Such a change from most of the water points we have sampled thus far where the flow has been poor.   There was also a mooring above the lock.  What luck.    A meal is booked for this evening in the Vine (at Kinver).

Merry Hill

Gemma and Sam arrived last evening and it promised to be quite a noisy night. The local Rep company was putting on some kind of a show with loud music, staged out of a large box and the Flapper pub behind us had "rock night". As it turned out all was quiet by midnight. We had a bit of a lie-in and got moving at 8:00, first winding the boat, then off up the "new main line" to Netherton Tunnel making for Merry Hill. It was quite cold, so much so that an abortive attempt was made to light the fire. This did the trick. The fire went out, but the sun came out too. We moored in the marina at Merry Hall but after lunch moved the boat to join ARUN on the bank above the shopping centre. This had the potential to be a bit quieter away from pub and clubs. A mini GIG is planned this evening with Terry and Chris. ----------------------------------------- Email sent from www.virginmedia.com/email Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software and scanned for spam

Birmingham

Our intention today was to make Lapworth and then moor up for the day before continuing on to Birmingham tomorrow. We left Hatton Station at 07:15 under an overcast sky.  Shrewley tunnel was as wet as ever and the towpath on the northern side a mess.  Having painted the front few feet of the roof during the layover it was necessary to move all he roof furniture forward from where it had been temorarily stored so that the roof rope was available should it be needed.  This I did on the move keeping a sharp watch out for bridges and low flying trees.  Lapworth arrived soon enough and we started the climb.   There was loads of water coming down the bywashes which suggested traffic above, however, apart from one opposite direction hire boat about two locks up, we had the flight to ourselves.   At lock 6 we met the lock-keeper preparing to fit locks to the paddle gear at this lock so that when the bottom lock gates are replaced under an emergency stoppage next week there won't be individuals letting lots of water down and flooding them out.   Having reached the top by 11:30 we did some rough calculations and reckoned, even with the slow rate of progress typical on this canal (3mph is the max speed achievable) and many lines of moored boats to negotiate, we could reach Birmingham in 6 hours, so we decided to do that.  Apart from occasional short sharp showers and a feeling of chill from the strong wind at times our progress was uneventful.   Arriving in Birmingham we aimed for Cambrian Wharf where we have spent most of our stays hitherto.   The new pontoon moorings there were a bit of a surprise, then I remembered that we were expecting them last time but found that they wern't installed then.  Fortunately, there was a space but right next to the pub.   We might have to move tomorrow!   Good digital TV on the short aerial and weak 3G.

Pat saves sheep

Pat is alone on the boat until I return this evening.  She phoned me to say that while she was peeling the potatoes she heard a strange noise and saw a large object in the cut, too big for a duck, then realised it was a sheep that had fallen in.   The poor thing was clearly panic-stricken and struggling making gurgly sounds.   Pat says that she managed to entice it to her side of the canal and grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and front legs and dragged it out.   She says that as soon as she had hold of it it became very calm and apart from the weight which took her all her strength, appeared pleased to be rescued.   It coughed, shook itself and then strolled off dripping in the direction of Shrewley Tunnel.  A local woman from the nearby boat club went off to tell the farmer.  "We're always pulling them out"; she said.      Now I have a text to say that President and Kildare have just gone by heading for the Hatton Flight.

Hatton

We like to start Hatton first thing in the morning.  With 21 large locks to do it is generally cooler and also less busy.  So we set off at 06:00.  We have a routine based on a principle that the boat should not stop moving.   This means that the next lock must always be ready in time with an open gate and with only two of us this means Pat going ahead leaving me to work the lock.  She waits for me at each lock and retrieves the bow rope with a boat hook and secures it to the front bollard while I have left the boat as it enters the lock stopping it on the centre rope which is then secured to the back bollard.  I close the bottom gate and she opens the nearside paddle and goes on to the next lock.  Then I cross the lock and open the offside paddle, closing it again just before the lock is full .  By the time I have crossed back over the gate is ready to open.  Removing the ropes I motor to the lock exit, stop, close the gate and set off for the next lock.   My impression today was that the bow rope was unnecessary, but the centre rope is essential to stop the boat running forwards.   We made the entire flight in 3 hours 5 minutes.  At the top we continued to Hatton Station where we intend to remain for 4 nights while the Captain returns home for post retrieval, dog sitting and garden maintenance.   In the meantime the boat gets some much needed maintenance.

The Cape of Good Hope

After the torrential rain over the last two days TV reports spoke of disastrous flooding in the midlands and elsewhere, yet we had seen little sign of anything unusual.  Water levels might have been up a few inches.  Leaving Blue Lias and descending the two locks at Itchington we motored on to the Bascote staircase where we met the local lengths-man who said that things had been quite different the day before with the towpath under a foot of water.   A glimpse of the surrounding countryside gave us the appearance of a seaside bay in the distance.   Further on we joined forces with "Apperley" to continue the descent to Leamington Spa.  We were aiming for a big shopping experience at Tesco, they a swift visit to Warwick.   By the time we had done the shopping, they had finished their walking tour of Warwick.    We stopped below Cape Locks to take on water and then went up the two locks with a hire boat to find a convenient mooring near to the Cape of Good Hope pub.    Hopeless TV opportunities here though, so we went and had a few beers instead then watched a DVD.

Blue Lias

Last night we moored up at the right time.  It started raining, heavy rain, and it carried on all night. It was still raining when we awoke.  Thinking that we might use the nearby water point, I made the necessary arrangements and moved the boat back.   I had forgotten that this waterpoint has a very low pressure and after taking the TV aerial down and thinking about the low flow, decided to abort and carry on to Braunston given that there are maintenance works going on between the top lock and tunnel which have led to big hold-ups.  Other boaters have told us of boats queuing up in the tunnel.   So we set off.  We passed a historic boat on its way to Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum gathering and then a boat took off in front of us.   Two BW flats were blocking the last bridge hole before the tunnel and had obviously been torn from their mooring by passing boats.  The boat ahead of us and one blocked coming the other way joined forces to move then aside with poles and we carried on.  Another historic motor and butty going at full chat passed us in the tunnel and we emerged just as BW maintenance staff were coming on duty, so no problem with hold-ups there.   The top lock has some paddles raised with notices saying "Leave the paddles, letting water down".  So, joining the boat that had been ahead, we entered the lock and went down, carefully replacing the paddles in the same position as they were originally.   In the next pound we met a young blue shirt who was affronted that we should have come down when there were notices on the locks and told us to wait until he told us to continue.  We waited for 5 minutes and then saw boats coming up and boats behind us coming down, so we carried on anyway.  Our partners peeled off at the junction for Hawkesbury.  We turned left and found ourselves behind another boat with which we joined forces for Calcutt Locks and Stockton.  The massive new marinas around Calcutt foretell of massive queues as peak times in the future. The newest is still not open, but looks nearly ready and in water.  The weather thus far had been scattered cumulus, hot sunny intervals and little wind.   We arrived at Blue Lias just in time for some heavy showers turning into more persistent rain.   Eating out tonight!  No digital TV here and only GPRS.

Yardley Gobion

We set off this morning as usual at about 7:00 am.  There was a lovely blue sky to welcome us, but the forecast is not good.  After last evening's fun & games, the pounds in the flight were fully recovered, so 30 minutes later we were exiting the bottom lock and on the way to the last but one descending lock, Stoke Hammond.   On from there we passed the Willoughbridge boat yard and were soon approaching Fenny Stratford Lock.  To our relief the swing bridge was already open and a kind opposite direction boater, seeing us, opened the top gate for us, so in the blinking of an eye we were on our way through to the long drag that is Milton Keynes.   There was not a lot of traffic about and certainly nothing to hold us up.   Pat wanted a stop at Wolverton to get a few last supplies before the supermarket desert - nothing now until Warwick (well alright, Leamington Spa, but that's small beer).   We are getting ahead of our schedule now, so we discussed the plan.   I have to be home on Tuesday, but we have to be in Birmingham on Friday evening, so Hatton looks like a convenient shuffle stop giving us ample time on Thursday and Friday to get to our crew pickup point.   That being so our targets are now Yardley today, bottom of Whilton Locks tomorrow, Blue Lias Friday, bottom of Hatton on Saturday leaving Sunday morning for the climb.  Monday is for boat cleaning.    So we have the chairs out on the bank at Yardley Wharf supping a beer in the sunshine.  Where are the thunderstorms?  Excellent DTV here from Sandy transmitter, but internet is GPRS only.

Soulbury

Very poor signal for the internet card yesterday and the same today.    Poor TV also here but its hardly surprising.  We're at the top of the Soulbury Three Locks in a shallow cutting just round the bend.   Quite a straightforward day's cruising.   We met up with "Pippin" at Horton Lock and continued with them to Leighton Buzzard.   We found the last mooring for TESCO and did our shopping before continuing on.   I did some mental arithmetic and deduced that we could be reaching our first target point ahead of time if we carry on at this rate, so we stopped here at about 14:30.   Something to eat and then a quick beer at the pub before settling down for the evening.

Postscript:

We walked down to the "Three Locks".   A sad looking place really, drab and uncared for.  The hanging baskets lack regular watering, some of the benches need painting and the bar looks a bit like it's made from old pallets.  Anyway, we got our pint and sat outside.   It was a nice evening.  The pounds were all full and the locks empty, then, some action.   A boat was obviously coming down because the middle lock was filling, but time went by and no boat appeqared.  Then a boat entered the bottom lock and as it was rising the single hander obviously saw the full lock ahead and went and opened the bottom paddles.   "Look how much the water rises in this pound when the lock is emptied", I said.  But of course it was emptying the pound above.   In the top lock a Wyvern Shipping boat had been waiting, quite what for we didn't ask, but they told us that they had been told to fill the next lock first - correct practice in water conservation terms.   So they had lifted the paddles and the upcoming helmsman had not noticed and they showed no signs of coming down.    We now had an empty pound.  The couple on the boat didn't really have clue what was going on or what to do.   What a start to their week's holiday.   We gave them a hand sorting it all out.

Marsworth

Monday's Report!   We were waiting outside the supermarket at 07:00 and were back on the boat by 7:30 for a quick departure - after we had shifted some serious detritus from the head of the next lock.  After that things proceeded well although it became obvious after a while that we were catching up with a boat ahead.   At Bottom Side Lock he had become aware and was waiting for us with the gate open ready.  A charming guy, single handed but obviously very happy so.  He baled out at Berkhamsted Fields and we carried on to follow a pair, Trinity and Gospel Bell all the way to TRING summit and beyond, although they had disappeared ahead by the time we reached Marsworth Top Lock.   A chap in blue had the gate open for us as he finished pulling reeds out of the lock and we set off down the flight using our well practiced routine.   This works well and fulfills the concept of the constantly moving boat ... until that is you meet opposite direction traffic.   The best place to wait in this situation is in the lock, and as the Marsworth Flight is so bendy, until the upcoming boat actaully appears round the corner.  We attempted to moor above the bottom lock, but three rather abusive fishermen were very unhappy with our presence so after a quick recce, we found a spot right outside the White Lion.   Very good digital TV here from Oxford transmitter.  Excellent beer.   No food here Mondays.

Nuggler mobile again

We set off from Harefield at 07:05.    The weather was overcast, cool, but with the promise of a warm day.   The boat had been prepared beforehand so there was minimal luggage to load.  The flowers were already on the roof and the latest upgrade, soundproofing for the deck board over the engine, in place.  Our plan was to stop at TESCO Rickmansworth for restocking the larder but we had not reckoned with the fact that it was Sunday.   The store does not open until 11:00 and as luck would have it we had made very  good progress arriving there at 09:45.  There was nothing for it but to carry on.   We had nothing for lunch even - which we usually have on the trot, preferring to moor up early for the evening.   There is a service station just by Hunton Bridge (the bridge not the village) so Pat managed to get us a sandwich and a pork pie there.  At Hunton Bridge top lock, on the offside, there is a house with an attractive garden and just by the lock there is a wild rose bush, part of the garden I suppose.   It is a lovely bush, but if you are the unlucky one of a pair of boats entering the lock, and you are last in and on the offside, you will find yourself in the middle of this bush.   Not very nice if it is a warm day and you are topless.  There was just enough opposite direction traffic by now to secure empty locks, so by the time we reached Apsley, our target for the day, it was 3:45pm and Sainsbury was still open.    It did turn out to be a lovely day and we are still sitting in the sunshine as I write this.   Plan tomorrow:   Get to the bottom of Marsworth, oh .. and do the shopping.