Monday 16th – Day 92
Today we decided to explore a bit more of the Shugborough estate whilst we are staying in the area as there is so much to see. It’s a beautiful, crisp autumnal walk and we are all wrapped up but the shades are on as it’s so bright. The house isn’t open at this time of the morning so we cross the ancient bridge and skirt the grounds and find ourselves at Shugborough tunnel, which is very impressive. Spotting a sign for Hadrien’s Arch which has been built on top of the hill. We cross the field and spot a herd of deer in a field which are gathered at the edge of the woods; which is part of Cannock Chase and area of Outstanding natural beauty. The views from the top of the hill are stunning.
We then started our return to the boat where we did some boat faffing, had the rest of the carrot and coriander soup from yesterday, more faffing and then ate leek and potato pie for tea. It was a well-deserved chilled afternoon on the boat.
Tuesday 17th October Day 93
We decide it’s time to cruise today as we may have overstayed slightly. In our defence there has been other spare moorings for people so it’s not as if we are stopping anyone but we are ready to cruise ((I’m grassing you up to CRT!)) . We still need to be in this area so first we make our way to the services at Great Haywood.
The wind has picked up today, another reason for moving as well so we can get moored up somewhere new in case the storm hits. We also fill up with diesel whilst we are here as the boatyard can reach the boat whilst we are filling with water on the services so very useful. Our diesel is used for heating and cruising. The last time we filled up was at Langley Mill so we reckon we have used approx. 80 litres which today cost us £88 so approx. £12 per week on diesel for the journey so far. Not sure if that is good or bad, we will see how we go over the year.
Chris does another perfect wind of the boat ((Not the only one to have wind when you mention all this veg you’ve been eating!!)) OI! Rude. And then we are on a virgin waters ((I’m saying nothing. Nothing!)) on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. We are lucky enough to get the perfect mooring at the Tixall Wide area and once moored set to sorting the aerial out as we still haven’t gotten around to tracing the wires through the roof box and into the boat. All done I then set to with the silicone around the chimney on the roof. Still a few little finishing touches but more jobs nearly ticked off the list.
We enjoy a Sunday dinner before having a walk along the canal as the sun sets over the water. Sitting at the dinette ((Standard)) I’m typing this up and once again feeling very grateful for the life we have.
Wednesday 18th October Day 94
Well today has been a pretty perfect day. I decided to indulge myself and stayed in bed all morning reading! What an absolute treat especially as Chris brought me coffee and teacakes in bed when I needed them. ((You don’t deserve him. Lazy)) I loved Sally Page’s first book; Keeper of Secrets and knew I had to binge read her new one; Book of Beginnings. Brilliant. Also, an author must read a lot. It’s the law! ((So, you’re trying to say reading a book is work? Unbelievable!))
Then it was a wander to the shops to get some supplies, back home to make a lasagne for tea and cracking on with some editing and writing prep and would you believe it… I’m actually, for the first time up to date with all my editing and blog! ((No, surely not. This cannot be!)) I know right! Day 94 and finally I’ve caught up. I’ve even got a few vlogs in the bag so might just make a few extra live. ((I’m still in shock!)) I wanted to get at least a month in advance as we all know my internet connection can be a bit dodgy but I seem to have managed to get enough vlogs edited until December! Although I did want to get up to date as I’ve mentioned I want to do NaNoWriMo in November. ((I cannot believe you’ve caught up))
As I’m still waiting for my novel back from my publisher I’m going to crack on with getting the canal book in shape as I’ve outlined the ideas for each chapter etc but then I really want to get on with a new project. ((Just get on with it then!)) I know, I should be then once I get my story back I will have to stop whatever I’m working on and crack on with that but it might be I cannot help myself as the characters are nagging me to crack on!
Thursday 19th October – Day 95
I’ve having a ‘meh’ not feeling great day so have a bit of a lay in before cracking on with my canal book. As the book will be created from this very blog like I did with my New Zealand book I need to copy over all the blogs and then edit. At the moment I’m planning that it will be broken up into seasons and then into months so I’ve copied over all the blog posts from July which amounted to approx. 8,500 words which I then had to reduce down to roughly 6,500 which will be about a chapter length for each month. I really enjoy editing it and it takes me right back to the beginning of the journey. In a few days’ time it will be our 100th day of cruising which blows my mind really. I feel like we have only just started this adventure! ((Feels like a thousand days to me!))
Friday 20th October – Day 96
Rain, rain and more rain sums up today. Lots of checking on the leaks and lots of bowls placed to catch the drips. It’s very difficult as this driving, heavy rain sometimes gives a false sense that the boat is like a sieve but it’s often due to the wood contracting/expanding with the weather but we are deffo going to have to take out one of the shower room window and one in the main area and re seal them. We have already done this to some other so at least know how to do them now. The duck hatch is another issue. This has been leaking for years most likely a long time before we bought the boat as the wood is so rotten under the gunnel but we are waiting to tackle this job. I notice some boaters put a tarpaulin or something on the outside but we are going to have to tackle this before the relentless weeks of rain arrives. We are going to try resealing it and some good old silicone for now.
As it’s an inside day I decide to crack on getting the canal book in order before playing a game of labyrinth which I lose… again. Later on in the evening we are treated to a wonderful murmuration of starlings swooping over the boat. Simply magical! This is on my YouTube channel if you want to see it.
Before bed it was position all the bowls and hope for the best come morning and just before I head to bed, I hear the owl outside signalling that the watcher of the night hours is on duty.
Saturday 21st October – Day 97
Thankfully all is well as the rain slowed down around 4am. It’s cruising day today as both cassettes need emptying, the boat needs water and rubbish needs emptying. The ropes are soggy and the grass is damp which isn’t surprising and we are pleased we are on the canals as so many rivers have burst their banks and some people are really suffering from the serious flooding. We really need to be more organised with our winter outfits and my gloves are soaking wet as I push the boat out so we can turn it in the Tixall Wide and head back to Great Haywood junction and cannot believe how much the area has changed due to the flooding. It’s unrecognisable from a few days ago.
A friend is popping to see us to drop off our parcels and we also enjoy a wander around the farmshop and a cheeky visit to the café for lunch. Then we decide to go for a walk around Shugborough Estate, only to be stopped in our tracks when we see the level of the river and after a risk assessment we decide it’s deeper than our wellies so have no option but to turn around and go to the pub in Great Haywood ((OH you poor things!)) then it’s a visit to the shop and back to the boat for a game of Labyrinth which I lose again ((I’m not laughing)) It’s been lovely having a friend over as I’m a sociable person ((who knew)) and most days other than possibly chatting to boaters at locks etc it’s just us to and we get on well most of the time but it’s nice having a friend around so they can enjoy this adventure as well.
Once I’ve said goodbye it’s back to the boat to watch Motogp where we get rudely interrupted by some swans. Tomorrow we are leaving this area and heading…
Sunday 22nd October – Day 98
Finally, we leave Great Haywood. It’s been a fabulous area to hang about in over the last how ever many days but we are more than ready to move on and explore new places. There have been quite a few boats leave ahead of us and sure enough when we arrive at Tixall Lock and there is a traffic jam. On the canals! There is one in the lock and we are number 3 waiting so I wander ahead to see if I can help but as there are some families on hols they are enjoying doing the locks so I just stand around and natter. Apparently, this wonderful stretch of new towpath was paid for by HS2 so that’s one thing I know of which has made the 45.6 billion pounds or whatever they have spent worth it. It is a great towpath! It takes a while to get through but luckily there are boats coming and going in both directions so it’s one in and one out until it’s our turn and then off we cruise. There will be no more locks to do as we don’t cruise for too long as we stop just past meadow bridge so we can get some shopping done at Aldi.
And that’s it for another week! Don’t they go quickly? I’ve been thinking about going back to daily blogs in November as I will be doing National Novel writing Month so it will hopefully keep me on track with my word count and I can use my blog towards my wordcount if I’m struggling! ((That’s cheating! You’re supposed to write 50,000 words on a new project!)) No, that’s not true I can count whatever I like! Anyway, just pre-warning you to be prepared for daily spam!
Until next week or maybe tomorrow. Who knows… x
Miles/Distance: 4miles (Great Haywood Junction to Meadowlane bridge)
Locks: 1
C.L. Peache 