Monday 23rd October – Day 99
I decided to keep this blog to weekly and share my wordcount on socials to keep me on track to write 50,000 words in November! ((Thank goodness for that. We see enough of you each day thank you!)) Also, for anyone who doesn’t have time to read this in one go i’m going to put it on daily starting tomorrow so if you read this and then tomorrows and it looks familiar that’s why!
It’s up early and a wander to the shops as we need some bits and bobs from places like Poundland, Home Bargain, B&Q and Aldi so we can stock up before we head into more remote places. Shopping done we have lunch before setting off to cruise about 12.30pm.
We finally moor up at 4pm and then it’s time to get the spuds and veggies chopped for tea. It’s been a wonderful cruise today. We tackled four locks and I enjoyed doing them all and they are all very easy to work even if some of them were very deep locks. Some of this canal reminds of the tree lined Ashby Canal and maybe a little bit of the Erewash. All the way along this route the fields are flooded after the heavy rain and storm and I’ve been receiving pictures and videos of how bad it is in Newark where we used to live. Lots of people have been evacuated who live near the River Trent and unbelievably the river level is the same either side of the lock! Just shows how much rain we’ve had.
It funny how you can come to a lock and just get a really nice feeling about it as I did with most of the ones on this stretch. Especially when they are in the middle of nowhere. We pass a marina which also had boat hire and a chandlery but we have topped up for most things.
Right, off now to finish making dinner and then relax after a very physically busy day. Great to get back to doing locks though and cruising after a week of being in the same area it’s nice to be on new water and exploring new areas.
Miles/Distance: 5 miles (Meadowlane bridge, Stafford to Just past Longford lock, near Penkridge)
Locks: 4
Tuesday 24th October – Day 100
Day 100! Wow how quick has that gone? Cannot believe we have been cruising the cut so long. Today we wandered into Penkridge and what a lovely place it is. Then it’s back to the boat and I crack on with editing as a few days cruising soon mounts up the vlogs and the days and weeks seem like they are all merging into one. It’s make no wonder i don’t know what day it is when i’m working on my blog in real time then editing it a week behind then the vlogs are being uploaded in real time but edited in the past ((You’re no the only one confused!)) My friend only came to visit on Saturday and it feels like it was weeks ago! Very strange getting used to not having a fixed timescale or routine like you have when working at a fixed place, living in a fixed place and having a routine.
Wednesday 25th October – Day 101
We leave Longford Lock and it’s a short cruise to Penkridge Lock and the services. We queue jump! Eekkk. It’s hard to tell on some of these lock landings as people do sneak in mooring at the end of them and so we thought the people were just moored as we didn’t even spot them being ready to cruise. I wandered up to the lock and someone was already on their way out so left the gates open and we cruised in. Then I got chatting to a woman and they were the other boat! She said she didn’t mind though as they were off to ‘wind’ the boat.
There were quite a few boats on the move and it was busy back and forth as we made use of the services before heading off. I’d started doing the washing when we set off as it’s the most efficient way to do it especially when we are about to fill with water. I pop back in the boat and set the washing machine to spin and drain when Chris shouts we are at the next lock! I missed that one when I checked the map so I made sure it wouldn’t flood the shower room and off I went to collect my windlass and tackle Filance Lock.
Once done it was back in the boat to finish the washing and then soon after we stopped at a place called Cross Keys as there was a co-op nearby so I set to making carrot and coriander soup and chris went for supplies. Lunch over, we move on.
It’s the coldest day yet for cruising. It says its about 10 degrees but it feels colder. We arrive at Otherton Lock quickly followed by Rodbaston Lock, Boggs Lock and finally Bridge Kiln Lock where I get chatting to a boater who lives at Mercia Marina where we visited in September and where we bought The Plot. Anyway, it turns out we have made a rookie mistake and because we decided to cruise the staffs and Worcester and then onto the Shroppie we didn’t check the winter stoppages and sure enough there is some work being done on the locks on the Shroppie so we now have to crank it quicker than we expected to get past before the navigation is closed from 6th nov – 22nd dec! then some further up are closed from jan – feb so it’s going to be a tricky trying to find a canal we can cruise whilst being ready for them to open in spring! Oh well, I’m sure we will figure something out!
For now, it’s on with the plan and try and get past the stoppage before 6th November.
Miles: 3
Locks: 6
Thursday 26th October Day 102
We wake up to a wet and drizzly day and the first day in a long time and everything is soaking wet. The covers, the ropes, everything. Luckily, we only have one lock to do which is Gailey Lock and it’s only a couple of minutes cruise. So, I go ahead and get that set and then use the boat services here. Really impressive tower here which I think used to be café or shop. Once we are through, I escape into the boat and leave the Captain to cruise as there is no point in us both getting wet!
Typically, as we moor up just past lunchtime near Gravelly Way Bridge and the sun comes out so Chris decides to tackle the bow as we are in the middle of nowhere so the grinder comes out and he sets to. It’s a filthy, dirty and noisy job but it has to be done and it’s going to be worth it as it’s becoming a great winter storage area for the coal and logs etc which means everything is nice and dry before we bring it into the boat.
Job done we settle down and there is the most amazing full moon lighting up the boat. What an absolute treat is it. Weirdly we are looking out and some kayakers go past in the dark!
Miles: 0.6 mile
Locks : 1
Friday 27th October Day 103
Today will be our second longest cruise at 9 miles. ((You’re not going to break any records are you Peachy!))
We are off cruising by 10am and with no locks to do today we make our way to the junction to turn around! We run out of milk ((Wait call the emergency coffee addict number! How can you have a cappa without milk??!!)) I know! We find a little mooring spot on the route near a pub and walk over a field and road and into a little village called Coven ((Well, you would fit right in there wouldn’t you? Sorry, couldn’t help myself!)) which is apt as it’s nearly the witching time of the month!
Supplies purchased we carry on the cruise going through a really narrow stretch. Oh, just remembered just as we set off, we were treated to a kingfisher just casually hanging about on a branch a few feet from the boat! Didn’t fly off as we approached. I did get a little blurred video of it but was too busy looking at it! Then moments later a heron flew across the canal. There is certainly plenty of wildlife on the stretch as we meet a ‘gang of ducks’ further along.
We arrive at the shroppie junction and turn the boat around and back in the direction of Great Haywood. I didn’t think we would be coming back up this area for a long time but here we are going around in circles again. I was determined we weren’t going to rush this journey and if we decided to crack on up the Shroppie we would be rushing. Also there seems to be a massive shortage of space available in marina’s ((No, they just don’t want you in there!)) and if we don’t get a marina over winter we will have to change some plans so it’s back to the drawing board so to speak!
Miles: 9 miles
Locks: 1
Saturday 28th October – Day 104
Today we decide to stay put so no cruising. We have a wander back into the village after a morning of cleaning and faffing on the boat and watching some bike racing. We tackle a few little jobs like tacking up the wires for the aerial we installed and add a few bits to the shower room. I’ve said before, I’m looking forward to sorting this room out as one our winter project.
Today we finally sorted out our plan for the winter. I think I mentioned before we have the opportunity to visit Jersey in January for a few weeks as I need to do research for my book ((tell us another one)) which should fall really nicely as hopefully I will be getting the Jersey book back in the next few days so I can work on that through November. Email it back to my publisher for edits and comments and then I can tweak some specific scenes when I get to Jersey. We didn’t want to leave the boat on the cut for that amount of time and we were really struggling to get in Marinas. Luckily we have manged to get in Great Haywood Marina which has worked out really well as it’s in a great location and easy to get to trains etc and friends are not too far away.
In the evening we decide to visit the pub as its about 2 mins away. After a few drinks and a lovely meal, it’s back to the boat. Rookie mistake though as we forgot our head torches so the phone torch has to do the job as we navigate the slippy and muddy footpath. ((Oh I wish you’d fallen in!)) Hey, that’s not very nice. I think I’ve done my job of falling in ((You only went up to your waist. That doesn’t count and anyway no-one filmed it so doesn’t count!))
In the evening I peer out the window as it’s so bright I wonder if a boat is cruising at night but it’s the full moon illumining the sky. How wonderful to watch the reflection in the water. The north star is very clear. Wonderful.
Sunday 29th October Day 105
We decide to cruise today and eventually stop somewhere near Gailey Lock and the services. It’s a gorgeous day and the sun is dazzling as we set off. I decide that since we’ve cruised this area I will set to and do the washing so as not to use our batteries. I stick on a classic bit of Barry Manilow. (( Barry ‘flippin’ Manilow!?!?!? I knew you were old Peachy but come one!)) Hey, don’t diss Barry. This morning memories of being in the living room at home when I was kid, mum ironing, good old Barry on the record player. Happy memories. ((I’m surprised you can remember!))
We often say how we feel this adventure has taken us back in time. I suppose it’s having the time to think about the past and events. That when you’re just naturally happy all those good memories come back. When you’re stressed or not happy in life it’s difficult to recount those times. ((Your happiness must be off the chart to sing along to Barry Manilow!)) I dare you not to sing out loud to Mandy or tap your feet to Copacabana. ((If I had either of those things I still wouldn’t do it!)) You don’t know what you’re missing!
Anyway, we have a lovely cruise and washing done I make a sweet potato and coconut soup before we decide to tackle the bow again ((Royal We)) and get the messy, horrible job of grinding the floor finished. Hopefully this will be the last of this job and we can get on with rust protection and painting so that’s another massive job done for winter.
Right, I better go as once Chris has finished in the bow I’m going to have to clean the outside of the boat as it makes a right royal mess. Another week done and we are going to study the maps and stoppages on the canals so that we can see where we can cruise to before we head into the marina in December. We might possibly go up the Trent and Mersey but who knows with us!
Miles : 4
locks: 0
Until next time. Xx
C.L. Peache 