Bratch to the Park Bridge Moorings (Shroppie).

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Hi Folks.

We were awake at 5am again this morning, the alarm clock on the wall did not go off, but my phone did phew. This is the last early start this week as we do not move at weekends. Having eaten breakfast, Paddy got walked and I stood on the towpath and listened to the silence, which was fantastic. Nothing was moving, not even the bushes, because there was no wind at all. A Cockerel then announced that it was dawn and we should all be out of our beds, I had beaten him to the draw. The start to the morning was dry, but a little cool, so I put my dungarees back on, the shorts would come out later.

 

I know I have said about this before I am sure either Keith or I has stood in something, because yet again all the locks were in our favour, apart from one which had about a foot of water in it, overnight leakage. Our first lock of the day was Awbridge Lock, near John Jacksons coal yard. Having the locks ready for us has made an amazing difference to our journey times, we have achieved 3.96 lockmiles/hour (10.2 miles 7 locks in 4hrs 20mins),  so this has meant we have moved further than anticipated.

 

At Dimmingsdale  Lock these two smiley faces greeted us both. If you ever do the Staffs and Worcs you will notice all the way along smiley faces on fence posts and tree stumps. They really do make you smile. I have no idea who has been putting them up though. We had thought of stopping at Compton, but having arrived there by 8:30am we decided to carry on, which was just as well, because there were no moorings to be had.

 

We passed by Aldersley Junction and headed for Autherley. We have also decided to head north up the Shroppie, and return by the Middlewich branch and T&M. At Autherley Junction, Keith let me off at Oxley Moor Bridge, so I could walk up to the junction to see if any boat was coming out of it. As I approached the bridge an Anglo Welsh boats were just coming out of the lock wanting to tuen on to the Staffs and Worcs to head for Great Haywood. After they had completed the turn, Keith bought the boat into the stop lock.

The Napton hire boats were moored up and were being turned around ready for a new intake of holiday makers, so we got through there just right. We carried on up past the Wolverhampton Boat club and onward to the 48hr moorings between Hunting Bridge No.7 and Park Bridge No.8, a very popular mooring spot especially at the weekends, so we are lucky to have got a mooring here, but we timed it right, just as we were approaching 2 boats set off, leaving us a space to slide into.

We had no sooner moored up, when a couple of ladies walking past with dogs said hello. I turned around to see Eileen and Caroline with their dogs. They were moored just down from us and invited us to go and have a coffee with them and the other halves. So having moored up and closed the boat up, Keith and I joined Caroline and John off NB Vanyar and Eileen and Derek on NB Jolly Lamb for coffee and a chat, I also took along some small cakes, which went down well. it was absolutely wonderful to see them all again. The last time we got together was during the Winter when we delivered their coal. We spent a couple of hours talking about all sorts, before we we left them to enjoy the afternoon sun. Lunch was a couple of hours late, but it did not really bother us, we will just have a smaller dinner tonight. Paddy is sleeping in the saloon and Marmite is lounging outside in the sunshine.

I am hoping the weather is going to be good over the weekend, because it may mean I get some painting done, if not then we will watch the world go by and enjoy a beer or two.

Have a lovely weekend xx

Out on a Limb.

Good Afternoon Friends.

Now you know that I have mentioned a few times that we have problems mooring up due to the depth of water, well as you can see from this photograph taken a few moments ago, I am not telling porkies. This is a designated 48 hour mooring outside of Market Harborough basin and it needs dredging. British Waterway's really need to get on the case of designated moorings and do some dredging. It really annoys me that they do not look after popular mooring places. The moorings here are always busy.

After breakfast and a coffee, we moved the boat into Union Wharf. We winded, used the service block, and moored back out on the first towpath mooring. Of course when I say moored up, we are at least 2' from the bank, the water level has now dropped by at least 6", we just hope it doesn't drop any more!
Even Paddy is wondering if he can jump the gap, when it comes to his evening walk.
Moored up and water tank filled, I donned my rucksack and strolled down to Tesco to do a spot of food shopping. I wanted to replace the things we had eaten over the past few days. In all it took me Three quarters of an hour to walk down the town, shop and walk back. Whilst we are here we have caught up with friends David and Viv who are now back on their mooring on board nb First Fruits. It has been a busy old year for them with funeral's, the wedding of their daughter Charlie who is Lorraine in 'The Jersey Boy's. There has not been a dull moment in their lives this year. We know that feeling only two well. I have had a few customers today for Coal, Kindling and Firelighters, I even sold a couple of pump out cards as well, the weather is certainly on the change according to my customers.

I have found time to sweep the saloon and wash the floor. Oh it is an exciting life I lead, but hey someone has to do it. The back cabin stove has been stoked up ready to cook tonight's dinner on and in it. I think we are having Chicken Kiev, with Potatoes and Veg and for pudding a Raspberry Cheesecake, which was going begging in Tesco and it had my name written all over it mmmmm yummy. It will then be time to sit in front of the Tv and watch tonights offerings. Last night I really enjoyed Phil Collins, For One Night Only which was on ITV. I could not help but sing a long to most of the songs. I should have supplied the other half with ear plugs as I am not that good a singer ha ha ha. I will never make it on to X-Factor or maybe I could, after seeing some of the talentless people who go on to that show. It is the last of the Auditions tonight, we then have the boot camp stages to go through. I know there are many who slag off this show, but it amazes me the amount of really talents youngsters there are out there, and why should they not be given a chance to shine. Ok it is true to say some will only have their 5 minutes of fame, but for a few they will go on to bigger and better things. Good Luck to them all I say. Ok I am going now. Have a lovely Sunday folks.

Residential Moorings.

Good afternoon.

What a fabulous few days we have had. This is what living on a boat is all about. Thankfully I am an all weather person. I am quite happy to put up with whatever the weather chucks at me, but hey it is always nice to get some sunshine.
My shoulder is coming along I think. I have rested it as told by the GP and this morning I began the exercises. This maybe a slow process, as I cannot get my arm into some of the positions without pain, but it is early days. With a lot of time on my hands at the moment as I rest the shoulder, I have been doing some surfing on the net and I came across the British Waterway's Mooring site. To get a British Waterway's mooring these days you have to bid for one in the auction. The problem is that there are way to few Residential Moorings for those who do not wish to be in a marina. I did however spot this Residential Mooring. The main problem with it though is it is on the Aire and Calder, which is not where we would want to be. Infact on closer inspection they have three in the same place wooo hooo. Sadly though not for a 70ft boat. Finding a 70ft residential mooring is almost impossible. When we finally decide we can no longer move the boat, due to either old age or health issues, we would love to see our days out on the boat, but it is true to say that finding a residential mooring is never going to be easy. I remember when we were in Birmingham for the BCN Explorer Cruise a couple of years ago. There was a representative from British Waterways in the news, talking about the canal and that they wanted marina's to allow 10% of their moorings for residential moorers. Not sure what happened to that, it was it just a hollow promise. I know I have said we would not like being in a marina, but who knows by the time we get to the point of not moving the boat anymore we may like the marina idea. Time will tell. I really must go and sit outside and get off the computer.... Have a fun evening.