Complete U Turn ……

Four Counties Ring in 6 days?  With a large enough crew – what a great idea!  We were fortunate enough to have such a crew (eight of them) behind us going down the Audlem Flight and they had to get a move on ……………………. God Bless!  What luck! With lots of crew wielding windlasses and setting locks progress was rapid.  The three single-handers (two going up and one going down) couldn’t believe their luck either!

The following map is for my dear friend, Mick, who wanted to know details of the route:-

109 miles and 94 locks.

We are now moored at Audlem and there is a Music Festival kicking off tonight so that should be interesting.  It’s all been rather ’last minute’ but Mick and Lynn have managed to book a room in a hotel in Nantwich and are coming to find us for part of the weekend.

Exams

At this time of year I inevitably find myself thinking sympathetically of all those youngsters who are busily sitting exams. For the records, John used to be really good at maths.  Many years ago, it was only with his extra tutelage in my parents’ front room (!!!!), that I managed to scrape through O Level maths.  However, I don’t think he himself would pass today if he had to re-sit on account of his now very poor understanding of fractions.  I have an excuse because I was never any good at them in the first place but John USED to be exceptional.     The following picture demonstrates his current idea of half !!!!!!!!!!

“I rest my case”, as Mr Elliot would say!  I suppose it all helps the economy.

I wonder how good at fractions Mick and Lynn are? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  As good as us I suspect!

xxoo

It’s All a Matter of Choice …

Oh, the lure of the ring!  The Cruising Ring that is.  We are currently on a section of The Four Counties Ring.

I do ‘get it’ – I really do.  To cruise a circular route has most definitely got an enormous appeal.  Hey, I’m one of those who likes circular walks – I can’t stand having to come back the same way that I’ve gone!  So, yes, circular routes are great.

BUT ….. The Four Counties Ring in a week?  Actually, hirers don’t have a full week – it’s more like 6 days by the time hand-over and hand-back have been accomplished.  The Four Counties Ring in 6 days?  Clearly it can be done because we’ve met hirers who are doing just that but they tell me that they are having to be on the move for 10 hours a day in order to ensure they are back on time.  Ah!  So that’s why boats are passing us at 7am and 7.30pm!

I’m sure there’s an enormous sense of achievement at the end of it and I do appreciate that when you’ve spent a lot of money on hiring a boat you want to be making full use of it – not mooching around little villages or sitting sunning yourself on the tow path but ……………….. 10 hours cruising a day?  It’s just not for me.  Just as well we’re all different.  Each to their own.

What about the hawthorn blossom this Spring?  It’s spectacular!  Is it always as lovely as this?  Have I just failed to appreciate it in past years?

 

                       

We’ve been on The Shroppie several times before but I have most certainly failed to appreciate just how magnificent the balustraded Avenue Bridge actually is.  Bridges over the canal are not usually as ornate as this one!  It carries a driveway to Chillington Hall and was constructed for the rich landowners of the time who would only allow permission for the waterway to cross their land if such a structure was built for them.  Today, it’s in a bit of a sorry state of repair – such a shame because it’s definitely rather special.  I don’t know anything about the present state of Chillington Hall itself – is it still there?  Is it still owned by wealthy people?  If so  you’d think …………………….?

We’ve had a couple of disastrous walks of late.  One near Wheaton Aston where, in places, the bridle path was more akin to an Amazonian swamp and another where the farmer, much to our annoyance, won!  We couldn’t get through the thick hedge and barbed wire where there should, according to our map, have been access.

Lola doesn’t care! She’s a happy boater, walker and splish-splosher ………  The sun’s out, John’s in his shorts (!) embarking on the task of making a new boarding plank.  All is well. xxoo

Spring Migrants ………………..

 

                                                                                       have arrived from Cypress. 

They called in to see us for a couple of days on their way further North.  It was really good to see our friends, Chris and Ray, and spend some time with them.

We had a lovely walk together up on The Chase ………………..

                   

learned how to play Canasta employing ‘Cypress Rules’,

had a good mooch around Wolsey Bridge Antiques Centre and inevitably, parted with some money ……………………

AND ………………… made good use of their services whilst they were with us!

               

Sadly, unlike the birds, they will not be staying for the Summer.  Safe journey home you two and we’ll see you again whenever your next migration may be  xxoo

The Lovely Month of May

So far our first couple of days out of the marina have turned out to be the most eventful!  From Norton Junction to Braunston it’s only a few miles:-

• The tunnel was completely clear of fumes!  Also, the water was crystal clear – something I’ve not seen before.  The tunnel roof and sides were clearly reflected in the water and you could see right down to the bottom.  Amazing!
• At the top of the flight we found ourselves behind a single-handed lady taking professional instruction about how to work a flight of locks on her own.  So ……………… no one was allowed to give her any help.  She did really well but, inevitably, it was rather slow going for those of us following.  We ‘overtook’ after the third lock.
• A boat had to be pulled out of the bottom lock manually as, whilst in the lock, the tiller just snapped off at the bottom!
• When we were in the bottom lock the skipper of the boat accompanying us got himself caught up on the cill.  Fortunately, those of us locking saw what was happening and rapidly averted the potential disaster.

Since then nothing particularly eventful has happened – we’ve just been trundling along!  With the weather being so lovely over the Bank Holiday weekend we thought here on the Coventry canal it would be really busy but it’s been totally the opposite – so, so quiet.

It’s all too easy to take simple, but nevertheless, special things for granted though is it not?

 

The bluebells in the woods at Hartshill Hayes are absolutely stunning at the moment.

 

 

 

We’ve only seen one brood of cygnets – nine in all – but I didn’t have the camera with me.  Ducklings, however, abound.

This little family of seven ducklings were out getting breakfast in the rain and then mum decided enough was enough, got herself and them onto the bank and tucked them all under her wings. 

                                   What a mum!!  There are 7 under there, I promise!

                                         

We stopped by ‘The Little Chimney Boat Co’ to order Ben a special chimney for his barge.  Actually, that was just an excuse – what we REALLY wanted was a Cavalier –Fix!

                         I’m sure Lola would love a little sister!

                                 

Something else that caught my attention whilst walking Lola this morning was a collection of old motor cars.  There were big, posh old Rolls and Bentleys but, personally, I would choose this one:-

We are now at Fradley Junction and we’ve never seen the visitor moorings so empty.  We’re staying here now for a couple of days as our friends Chris and Ray, who now live in Cypress, are over here visiting friends and family- us included.  It will be lovely to catch up with them as a lot has happened to us all since we last saw them.  Then, onward to Great Haywood.

Back on Board

“Time flies when you’re having fun” or so the old saying goes.  Well, the last five months have certainly flown by!  We’ve succeeded in pretty much filling up a small house and have had lots of visitors.  The cows are back in the field so ……………… time to get back afloat.

It only took a couple of days to get organised and reacclimatise.  It now feels like we’ve never been away and we are looking forward to cruising again. 

It was sad leaving Crick yesterday because it has been the closest thing we have had to ‘home’ for the last seven years but we think it is definitely a case of ‘Au Revoir’ not ‘Goodbye’ – Crick Marina and the lovely Noel and Caroline haven’t seen the last of us!  After all, someone’s got to do periodic checks to ensure they are maintaining their resolve for a lesser biscuit consumption!  We will also want to check up on our favourite Scotsman, Bob, and Hookna to see how they are settling in to life in the village.

                         

Like the rest of us “Ellen” is not getting any younger and last year we seemed to have lots of boat maintenance issues so we are really hoping that won’t be the case this year.  I am struggling with a bit of a maintenance issue myself at present – dodgy knee – and just hope it won’t make lock wheeling too much of a problem.

Life is full of 1st’s.  In all the times we’ve gone up and down the Watford Flight we’ve never seen a workboat doing so ………… until yesterday.  Help was on hand to descend the flight.  It was a joy to see some healthy Horse Chestnut trees in flower along the tow path.

           

This is where it all began over ten years ago:-

Welton Hythe Marina. 

We bought “Ellen” from their brokerage.  Well, strictly speaking, John did.  I had only seen pictures.

SO much has happened since that day.

And now?  Heading North …………………. first!

Braunston Tunnel and locks in the rain – definitely NOT a first!

xxoo

A New Year…………… A New Chapter ………

Firstly ……………… HAPPY NEW YEAR   to anyone who may be reading this.  May 2014 bring you joy, peace and prosperity!

Secondly,  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOLA  who is one today. 

A beautiful little puppy ………………

has grown into a beautiful young dog ………………..

Thirdly ………….. we have a Change of Status.  We are about to join the ranks of Extended Cruisers as opposed to full-blown Liveaboards because …………… we have bought a house in Dorset in which to while away the winter months.  And, since we’ve moved in , it hasn’t stopped raining!  There’s now enough water at the bottom of the garden to “float a boat”!!  Wish we could!!

                              

We are looking forward to cruising the system in “Ellen” during the Spring and Summer months like other extended cruisers do.  Having removed lots of ‘stuff’ from her she has already risen in the water!  Maybe this will prevent us getting constantly stuck -

and even enable us to moor close to the bank like other boaters do -

We now have space in most of the cupboards!!

With house prices rising and interest rates worse than ever, it seemed the sensible thing to do.  We once again have our own letterbox,(!) can register to vote(!) and I can have a bath instead of a shower(!!)  We can even rent films!!  We love the Inland Waterways and just hope we can manage to do what others do – that is – sustain the best of both worlds!!  Our plan is to set off cruising again at the beginning of April.

xxoo

Belated update …..

In terms of blogging – I’ve been very lax!  Well, to be fair,  …………………. nothing of any particular interest has happened here in the marina.  Things are just jogging along as normal.  So, here followeth  an eclectic mix of ‘stuff’ :-

I’m so pleased with my new washing machine!  WHY did I not have this 7 years ago?!!  It has a selection of ‘quick’ washes on it and they might have saved an awful lot of stress out there on the cut!!  Faster wash cycles = less battery power and all that!!  Bring it on!!

My best pal from college days, Rosa, has caught up with me!  She too has had to face the big 6-0.  One of the nice things about maintaining friendships with those met at school/college is that, by and large, you’re the same age and that means you tend to go through major events pretty much at the same time as each other – weddings, babies being born, uni fees to find (!), aging parents, grandchildren (?) etc – lots of shared history.

To celebrate her 60th Rosa did a really cool thing.  She hired a somewhat remote hostel up on the South Downs and invited all her friends and family to join her for a weekend of fun and frolics!!  Unfortunately, as dogs are strictly forbidden in hostels, we could only join her for a walk along part of the Downs on the Saturday.  The weather was somewhat inclement!  On the way to the pub for lunch it poured with rain but it was still easy to see how spectacular the views must be on a warm, dry day!  The English Channel one way and a magnificent escarpment the other.

On the way back it was so misty that we were lucky to see the people in front let alone anything else!!

DESPITE the weather, however, it was really good to be able to participate in some small way and I know just how much my friend enjoyed the whole weekend.  42 years worth of friendship – a lot of special times have been shared and we both look forward to more.

We broke the journey by staying with Ben the night before.  He’s had a large canopy fitted over the back deck of the barge.  It’s created a sort-of conservatory area and has made a huge difference.  You can now take off wet clothes and muddy boots under cover AND clean up dirty dogs!!

 Talking of dogs …………………… here I am!

The saga of my broken leg continues BUT progress is definitely being made.  Throughout it all I’ve attracted a great deal of attention and sympathy from lots of marina folk and I’ve certainly been getting away with things that I didn’t in the past and undoubtedly won’t in the future!!

After more anaesthetics and x-rays, that pin in my leg has been removed!  Good job too because it was rubbing me and causing some nasty swelling.  Just as my fur was growing back …………….. they’ve shaved off another patch!  The vet’s a bit keen with that razor!  Another tempting area to lick and nibble though!  BUT it feels SO much more comfortable – I now feel a distinct lack of caution and just want to run and jump again.  That, however, is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN for at least another 2 weeks so it’s still on the lead for me!  FRUSTRATION for us all!   The vets, nurses and receptionists at ‘The Animal House’ in Rugby have all been so lovely to me – I’ve made some friends there too.

I can’t wait to be fully recovered and get back to normal.  Patience!  It WILL be rewarded!

Lola xxoo

  Apparently really cold weather is on the way next week.  SO – it seems that we will be exchanging our jumpers for thicker fleeces Monday or Tuesday. 

All for now. K-e-e-p smiling. xxoo