Sitting around day - windows cleaned, rust painted, more washing done. Plenty of sitting in the sun. Grey sky now, so we have retreated inside to watch tennis.
20:55 04/06/2009 6.18 miles 2 locks
Lashed the two boats nose to tail and set of at 8.45, three miles and 2 locks to Nantwich basin where and engineer awaited us. At the locks we let a boat overtake as we tied back together and he kindly carried on in front warning those coming the other way that a towed boat was following. This made negotiating bridge holes and blind corners much easier. So apart from a napton hire boat that panicked and ended up broadside on to us all went well. Once at the arm we had to work backwards round a hairpin bend and reverse a few hundred yards - interesting.
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| From 2009 Cruise |
We left Whistler there and carried on to find a mooring. The good news is that not ALL the wiring is burnt out, the bad news was a new alternator is required, possibly tomorrow or saturday. We will wait here a day and see. We can walk up the Llangollen for exercise.
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| From 2009 Cruise |
19:59 03/06/2009 3.11 miles 13 locks
Another interesting day!
The plan was to tackle the locks to Audlem shops, stock up, especially from the best butcher this side of Long Buckby. All of that went fine. We moved off through the rest of the locks and on to find a mooring. On the way found the answer to last years huge cluster of ducks around a bridge, today a woman was there feeding them with bags - and bags - of bread.
Anyway we moored and Chris did his daily check to ensure the alternator was not falling off again - this time it was much more serious, the wiring loom had melted! No signs of fire no smell but clearly a melted loom. This does not bode well for our combined journey. Luckily we are within 3 miles and two locks of Nantwich boatyard, so the plan is either under his own steam (fire?) or being towed Chris willmove his boat there, and await their verdict.
But as some compensation, the sun came out this evening and we all had a great BBQ with meat from the butcher.
14:10 02/06/2009 8.51 miles 12 locks.
'Saved by the Fire Brigade'!
Early start to get through Woodseaves cutting and up to the locks at Tyrley before the rush, the cutting is one of those minimal jobs, cut out as little rock as possible, and hope two boats don't meet. We had a clear run, although the temperature was cold compared to out in the sunshine. No problem with the lock, so on past Market Drayton to Adderley locks. Another 5 done and only two more before stopping for the day. Then came the problem, Chris and Helen on Whistler were ahead of us and sailed through fine. When we came to open the bottom gate of the first lock it stuck, try again same result, ask for help from strong young man in boat behind, same result. He called up more of his crew and eventually four hefty, as it turned out firemen, shifted it. Thanks Dudley fire service!
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| From 2009 Cruise |
An evening visitor!
18:16 01/06/2009 7.41 miles 0 locks
I forgot about the swarm of bees yesterday - there Bella and I were minding our own business when this loud buzzing started, and the sky went dark! Slight exageration, but a very visible swarm flew low over our heads, so load other boats heard the noise.
Chris and Helen joined us again this morning and we cruised on up the Shroppie, through wooded sections, cuttings in the rock, and our first sight of the Welsh hills.
The boat looked so dusty this afternoon that I washed one side, the other will have to wait until the tow path changes sides.
19:15 31/05/2009 4.1 miles 0 locks
6am dog walk, unfortunately before the paper shop opens on a Sunday. Another very hot day, we headed of for services at Norbury Junction to find it extremely busy, all the half term holiday makers must be returning - we had to wait for 1.5 hours. We once again left Chris and Helen waiting for an engineer, as the bolts had fallen out of the alternator! They are now repaired and setting off to join us tomorrow. Watching the tennis from Paris now.
17:25 30/05/2009 10.5 miles 1 lock
Busy day, in glorious sun. A reminder of what it was like for us all those years ago when we first met a lock! In front of us was a family on a 'Napton boat' - where we used to hire, wondering what to do at the lock. Soon sorted, and on they went. We all stopped for water, we needed gallons as the washing machine has been in constant use. Then on to the 'cheap' garage selling 'red' diesel 121 litres for £70.7 According to the spreadsheet that works out at 1.72 litres/hour. This garage is incredibly popular, due to low prices, and hence very busy, boats were queued up all over the place.
We are now moored at Gnosall Heath, washing hung out in the sun.
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