The Tunnel and Stoke Potteries

17:36 24/06/2008 11.4 miles Harecastle Tunnel 7 locks
7am start (!!!) - through one lock and in to the queue for the tunnel - this was plotted the evening before, as the tunnel opens at 8am and you need to be in the line so the tunnel keeper can count you and tell the other end how many he has, the one with the longest queue gets to send his boats through first. As it turned out only 4 boats were there for our journey south and tree waiting for us to emerge 35 minutes later at the other end.
Whistler leaving Harecastle
a 'challenged' Challenger
After that it was on down through Longport, Middleport and Etruria. This is Stoke on Trent country, and the potteries so there is plenty of Industrial Heritage to see. Bottle Kilns and potteries old and derelict, as well as new and in use.
A lot of work is going on in the Canal area and the whole area has improved tremendously over the years.
Finally through the last lock and past the Wedgewood Factory to moor at Barlaston.
Bottlekilns
Waste China

Up to Harecastle

19:24 23/06/2008 3.97 miles 12 locks
Good weather - lots of locks, some working pairs - some being mended and some totally abandoned and filled in.
Arrived in time for a late lunch and a shopping trip to Tesco.
The plan is to make a 7am start tomorrow and up through the next lock to be in the Harecastle Tunnel queue in time for the forst run through in the morning.

Latest Google Earth route

Latest Google Earth route -

Weather delays

22/08/2008 sat out the wind!!
21/06/2008 sat out the rain

14:02 20/06/2008 2.45 miles
Left Wheelock to tackle the first 10 (or so) locks on the way to Harecastle Tunel. Aimed for Hassel Green, a pleasant spot with cheap diesel and a small shop. But it was within loud hearing range of the M6 so we moved on a couple more locks to find a slightly quieter mooring. The weather held and we kept dry although the forecast wasn't too good.

Fish and Chips

19:35 19/06/2008 6.18 miles
Off early(ish) to get out of the Shropshire Union and on to the Trent and Mersey at Kings Lock - mad blind junction with two locks at right angles with a bridge blocking the view and complicated by a water point and Chandlery. That all safely negotiated it was off south through 'industrial' Cheshire including the 'salt mines'.
Moored for the night at Wheelock and had a Fish and Chip supper.

Forced to move on

15:41 18/06/2008 6.2 miles
We had intended to sit the day out due to the bad weather forcast, but the noise of machinery changed our minds and we set of in threatening weather to head towards Middlewich. In fact it stayed dry and we had a pleasant run. Finding a mooring before the last lock within easy walk of Safeway. (Shopping again). This was the only time we got wet, as coming back laden with bags the heavens opened.

And out

17/06/2008 5.94 & 2.2 miles
Reasonable day, set off early to tackle the last run down the Llangollen through a couple of locks and then the final flight of four at Hurleston Junction. Mary had to brave wizzing out of the last lock and joining the main Shropshire Union going north by herself - as the Llangollen locks are not very 'crew friendly' going this way, there is nowhere to get back on the boat! We cruised on up and moored just above a lock to wait to go through and in to the services in the morning. We walked along to have a look and browse the Chandlery, casually asking what time they were open in the morning only to be told that as all the staff were at the Cheshire show, they might not be! Hence the move down through the lock, services and on for a couple of miles to a mooring. Just by a new marina being built, it brought back memories of Crick's extension, with heavy plant working until the light went and off again at 7am in the morning.

Nearly out of llangollen

6:00 16/06/2008 5.59.miles (liftbridge)
No more sitting around - off to Wrenbury shopping (again) via a manual lift bridge, and then a powered version - the operator gets the feeling of great power as they stop the road traffic and lift the bridge.
On for a few more locks to moor at Baddiley, just before the next set of locks. Weather reasonable but getting a bit cloudy.

Latest Google Earth route

Latest Google Route

A rest day!

15/6/2008 day off
Despite it being 'Fathers Day' mother had breakfast brought to her in bed! Then took advantage of the ggod weather to spuce the boat up a bit, a good wash and touched up some paint.
Then sat in the sun with a good book and a glass of wine - this is the life!

Traffic jams

19:58 14/06/2008 8.67 miles
9 locks today - shouldn't have taken long except for 1.5 hours waiting at Grindley Brook, and then a frustrating time throught the next three following an inflatable from a German boating magazine, the crew(one) of which was writing an article about the journey for his mag. and photographed everything, being single handed also slowed him down, despite lots of help.
Eventually moored at a pleasant site (where Charlie jumped into the muddy ditch on the way up).

A long day

20:39 13/06/2008 15.7 miles
Long flog today including the last of the very shallow and windy bits down to Trevor, round the junction and on up to Whixall past the Montgomery.
Shopped at Ellsmere - strangely empty large choice of mooring.
Ended our cruise outside a 'farm shop' for a BBQ till mid evening.

20:17 12/06/2008 14.1 miles including walk at Chirk
early(ish) start at llangollen to turn around and creep back through the narrows.

On to the Pontsysyllte Aquaduct and to attempt to see Chirk Castle. Long walk along towpath, up hill to gate and still 2.4 km to go - gave up !
Nice wrought iron gate though.

Through tunnel and over Chirk aquaduct and on to our mooring above the locks at St Martins's Moor.

Llangollen trains

We walked in to Llangollen and took a short train ride. Brought back memories of Eastbourne station many years ago.

Tomorrow we turn round and start the journey home.

The Aquaducts!

And so to Mary's great adventure - steering the boat across Chirk Aquaduct.

She would like to add that she kept her eyes closed all the time - and the Captain had jumped ship at this point in order to take photos.

The next week (or so!)

Latest Google Route
7/06/08 Saturday 7.4 miles
Early start (9.00)
At Grindley Brook up a flight of three closely followed by a staircase of 3, nothing like Watford or Foxton!
Tried for a pumpout at a Viking Afloat - but they were full and couldn't even do their own boats.

Some people never learnt to steer!
Moored by a place called Fenns Wood. Watched the tennis finals at 2pm.


6/06/08 Friday
Sat around !!!
Housework day
Another BBQ

5/06/08 Thursday 5.64 miles

Moored just past Marbury
4/0/08 Wednesday
Through Nantwich without stopping and on the the hairy hairpin bend on the the LLangollen and up the four Hurleston locks.
Llangollen Bridge 13 9.35 miles
Glorious sunny day. BBQ and a lot less wine!

3/06/08 Tuesday 3.18 Miles
Shopped in the new Co-op in Audlem and bought excellent meat at the village butchers. Noted but did not use the Fish and Chip shop.
Cleared the rest of the flight (15 in total) thirteen today
Moored at a very nice mooring site complete with picnic tables and BBQ spaces - had our first on of the trip. Although retired inside to eat as it was not very sunny. Drank a bottle or so and tried to introduce our cruising companions Chris and Helen to Mahjon.

2/06/08 Monday 8.52 miles
Headed off towards Audlem via Tyrley 5 locks.

Moored two locks in to the Audlem flight.

1/06/2008 Sunday
Left the busy Norbury Junction

Goldstone Warf 7.68 miles

31/05/2008 Saturday 10.3 miles
Shopped in Brewood (pronounced BROOD)
Cowley Tunnel and Gnosall Heath
30/05/2008 Friday 13.1 miles

A long days cruise from Gailey that included Autherley juncion just north of Wolverhampton, this is a 'blind' right turn in to a 'stop' lock as the Staffs and Worcs gives way to the Shropsire Union Canal.

29/05/2008 Thursday 11.8 miles
A big loop from Shugborough/Tixall wide via Penkridge to Gailey

Moored in the Gailey Flight

28/05/2008 Wed 1.4 miles
From the Trent and Mersey overlooking the Shugborough estate to the Staff and Worcs at Tixall wide via a pump out at the hireboat base - very helpful as usual.


27/05/2008 Tues 9.75
Weather much improved, plenty of leaves and 'junk' blown down but nothing major thankfully.
Off to another shopping centre Rugeley - Morrisons for food, and Wilkinsons for odds and ends - did you know it was not possible to spend more than £5.99 there - I've always purchased a handfull of bits and pieces and never seem to pay more than that!
Cruised on towards Great Haywood, seeing a Cormorant stretching himself in the top of a tree - no photo as the official photographer had abscented herself.
Stopped below the lock at Haywood with a view across the fields towards the house.

Windy day

26/05/2008 Mon
Moved up to the junction early in the morning and turned left up the Trent and Mersey, short queue at each lock, but that meant there were plenty of people around to help. Very windy but it stayed dry. We headed for a decent edge to moor, but were persuaded to move up a bit when a man already there pointed out the tree under which we were about to moor was in danger of being blown over.

Rain glorious rain

25/05/2008 Sun
17.6 miles in the worst weather so far - horrid cold wet day. Up to Fradley junction. Very busy, lots of weekend boaters on their way home. Will the person who said we need some rain yesterday please put their hand up now.

11 killer locks

24/05/2008 Sat
Atherstone 11 locks, busy and lack of water - BW were manfully trying to sort it out by stopping traffic and opening all the lock paddles to let more water in to the dry section, pity that left us on the bottom. Much relief to get that lot finished eventually mooring short of Polesworth - saw a monument or Obelisk in a field which a 'local' think was a memorial to local miners killed in the war. I have seen it before and failed to look it up on our return.

Google comes to the rescue - ignore the above!!

The Monument, Polesworth. An obelisk built by Sir George Chetwynd to mark the site of the Chapel of Hoo. 1950s. The ancient village of Hoo has one recognisable feature that is still standing in North Warwickshire today. The Hoo obelisk is believed to be half a mile away from the original settlement. It was moved about 1840 when the railway track needed to be widened.

Coventry Canal

23/05/2008 Fri
Up to Hawkesbury Junction leaving the Oxford for the Coventry Canal - turned north away from Coventry, through all kinds of industrial country Bedworth, Nuneaton and on to moor north of Hartshill to get our strength up for tomorrow.

Ansty

22/05/2008 Thurs
Shopping in Rugby Tescos, and then a 11 mile 'hop' to moor at Ansty - previously a run down canal village. But now with some very expensive housing and renovations being done on other derelict properties. Still no shops.

Nice cruising weather.

19:46 20/05/2008 Tues
Shopped in Braunston (excellent Butchers) in the sunshine and took on water - gentle cruise up the Oxford Canal to Hillmorton locks and stayed just above the locks sitting in the sun.

19:48 21/05/2008 Wed
On through the locks, to a quiet mooring.
Saw cow with VERY peculiar bent horns - hope it wasn't painful!

A day of rest and Braunston

19:45 18/05/2008 Sun
Spent the day here.

19:45 19/05/2008 Mon
Joined the main Grand Union at Norton Junction and moved on through Braunston tunnel - met a man with no headlight - (a boat)!
Had pleasant company down the locks.
Weather much improved.

Summer (Spring) 2008

19:43 17/05/2008 Saturday - Kitchen finished yesterday (nearly) and so we set off from Crick down the Grand Union(leicester arm) - got wet - waited over an hour at Watford locks.

Moored short of Norton Junction.
But at least we have got started!

Birthday Outing

For my Birthday treat we went to Salcey Forest just south of Northampton - excellent Cafe and interesting Forest walks, including a long ramp which eventually winds up above the height of the trees.
If you have access to Google Earth try this link:
Salcey Forest pictures
Salcey Forest route

engraving

engraving
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell

We thought it was about time this saw the light off day having sat around in boxes and cupboards for 50 years! So it is off to Tring to the 'Watch hospital" to see if it can be repared.

Market Place

town hall
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Market street contains many a long covered market ending in this impressive building.

Charleston's Whale

Charleston's Whale
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The 28 million-year-old whale skeleton now on display at The Charleston Museum is a first of its kind to be exhibited anywhere in the world — and that’s no fish story.

Oligocene-era whale remains collected anywhere else in the world have been too incomplete to attempt a full skeletal mount, says Albert Sanders, the museum’s natural science curator since 1968.

one of many bridges

one of many bridges
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Down town Charleston has lots of water around it and spectacular bridges back to the mainland.

away from the main streets

away from the main streets
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The houses can quickly deteriorate if left for any length of time, and apparently the area is too expensive to live in for many people. Note the angle of the bacony to the house, this is quite common, the houses are often affected by earthquakes and are pulled back upright by ties through them.

Building Inspectors nightmare

Building Inspectors nightmare
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Imagine a UK building Inspector passing any of this - or much of the house construction. Gas, Power and Cable all appear to hang from the outside into the street, and many house are built of what looks to be very flimsy wood.

balconies

balconies
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Not all the houses are built sideways on - this is facing out to the street and river with balconies around two sides so it is still possible to sit in the shade.

recycling

recycling
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

A lot of the old roads are made with large cobbles, they have an interesting history, when this was part of the Empire and English ships were tied up here every day they came across 'in ballast' and emptied out here to take back whatever was required back home. This ballast was seen as a useful resource by the locals who rescued it and paved the roads! We tried to tax them on it however!

protection from slaves climbing in

protection from slaves climbing in
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The same house shows a good example of the rotating spikes installed not in deter modern day thieves but to keep out rampaging slaves in the days when they were revolting against their enslavement.

Typical house facing sideways

Typical house facing sideways
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

I've not mentioned this before but many of the house here are built 'side on', with the front of the house facing sideways. This is a good example, not the large balconies to sit and catch the breezes, if its 70 in December how hot can it be in July? What looks like a front door is more like a sie gate opening on the the lower balcony or yard.

Tiffany

Tiffany
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

And of course you could always have Tiffany glazed windows around the door.
Note they are now protected by bullet proof glass - not because of 'drive by shootings' but hurricanes.

Undecided

Undecided
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

And so you are children of rich parents who promise you a house as a wedding present, but you just cannot decide on a style......
So split the house and build one half rounded and the other square !

Charleston man made out of hats

Charleston man made out of hats
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

I just love the Charleston Hat Man. You see him painted on the side of a building on the corner of Broad Street and maybe State or Church Street? At any rate, he's the little fellow made out of hats and he's so cute and clever. (from the web)

our transport

our transport
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The city has so many of these transporting visitors that they pay a 'tax' to the city whole legislate where they can go by handing them a 'route card' before they set out. There is also a municipal 'equine' cleaning van which goes around disinfecting the streets!

Our guide was good, although listening to CSI:New York for a few months helped as that was her home town.

Church

Church
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The main Downtown area has a large number of municipal buildings from the past 200 years, we took a guided tour on a horse drawn carriage which gave us a good look at some of them. Look at the sky and remember this was late december - temperatures in the high 60s.

Charleston - narrow house

Charleston - narrow house
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Our last visit was to Charleston, full of historic houses, museums and sights.
There are two extremes of houses from the 1800's, narrow like this one which has been left surrounded by modern roads and buildings.

USA Christmas

USA Christmas
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The locals make less of Christmas than we do, mind you we met a lady in Wal-Mart stocking up with '24 hundred' lights in the sale ready for next year.

We had a very good traditional English Christmas, entertaining a friend of Alison's for dinner. It was pleasant to have a few less frantic days.

Cape Fear River Walk

Fear Valley River Walk
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Alison thought we ought to walk off our Christmas dinner (English with all the trimmings), so we went off to explore the local walk. Unlike a walk through the woods at home this was on a well made path complete with seats, drinking fountains and loos!
We also visited and were made very welcome by the family of the girl Alison lived with last year.

Local guide pointing out steep hill

Local guide pointing out steep hill
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

And so we left Philadelphia after seeing such a lot of America's history - including the house where the first 'Stars and Stripes' was created.
Back on to the I95 (motorway) for an 8 hour drive back to Alison's home in Fayetteville.
We started early to avoid the Christmas traffic but by our standards of holiday traffic the roads were empty. We had an easy trip, helped by a large car, automatic gearbox and cruise control !
Luckily we bought the Christmas dinner the day before as by the time we got back the shops were shut.

HMV tower NJ2

HMV tower NJ2
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Much of the dockside in NJ and Philadelphia is derelict,including this building with the tower boasting a stained glass window showing the HMV dog and phonogram.

NJ Waterfront looking back at Philadelphia

NJ Waterfront looking back at Philadelphia
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

And then we crossed to New Jersey and the wonderful Aquarium, this is the view looking back to Philadelphia, our hotel is probably by my left shoulder.

Phili_shipbuilders

Phili_shipbuilders
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The maritime museum also has and active ship repair section, used to repair and rebuild historic craft, it is possible to stand on a vistitors gallery and watch real craftsman at work.

liberty bell

liberty bell
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

And of course a lot of American history was formed here, so a great deal is made of the constitution and the 'Libert y Bell'. A shame that is was made in England and then cracked.

not_our_hotel

not_our_hotel
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The waterfront had an excellent maritime museum with the history of shipping around Philadelphia. There are also a couple of historic ships, we thought the narrowboaters amongst you would like this bathroom.

typical transport

typical transport
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

We didn't actually use one of these, but on our last day here (saturday) they had all come out on the streets looking for the xmas shoppers to take a ride.

street of narrow houses

stree of narrow houses
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Many of the original house of this historic place were built around 1800 and as houses were taxed by width, they are built narrow and tall, imagine this street 200 hundred years ago, with coaches down the middle., today it is just wide enough for one car (american) between the posts.

Benjamin Franklin Bridge

Benjamin Franklin Bridge
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

And so on to Philadelphia.
To a hotel right on the waterfront - between the I95 highway and Christopher Columbas Blvd. With the Benjamin Franklin bridge and railroad just feet away! Very interesting, we got used to the noise after the first night, and it was certainly in a very convenient place

xmas police horse

xmas police horse
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

And just to show there is a lighter side to Washington, this was one of the many varieties of policeman we saw.

In cars, on sidecar motorcycles, and on pedal bike (going like the wind).

Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The whole of washington seems to be a memorial to something, great people who shaped the nation, or those who fought defending it.

The words of Thomas Jefferson, some written more than 200 years ago, have shaped American ideals. Today, many of these impressive, stirring words adorn the interior walls of his memorial. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial stands as a symbol of liberty and endures as a site for reflection and inspiration for all citizens of the United States and the world.

creation story

creation story
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Probably the creation story as told by Quilting.

north american native mask

north american native mask
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Exhausted from the science we went to look at the Museum of the American Indian, a startling new building full of thousands of old and new artifacts. Assembled at the turn of the twentieth century by wealthy New Yorker George Gustav Heye (1874–1957).

1903 wright brothers plane

1903 wright brothers plane
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

This day December 17th is a very significant day in the history of aviation.

In 1903 - The Wright Flyer became the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard, and here we were looking at the actual machine!

Not a replica but the 'real thing' - slightly mended of course after all these years.

as landed on the moon

as landed on the moon
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

We did the recommended 'bus' tour on Saturday taking all the sights including more museums than I care to think about, memorial to everything the US have dabbled in over the years and Arlington Cemetery.

Sunday we braved the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Very interesting to get a feel for the actual size of the rockets, space capsules and Lunar Lander, seeing pictures never really gives the real idea of the scale of things. Makes you realise how brave these people are.

white house

white house
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Friday saw us on the road for six hours travelling up the Interstate 95 to Washington DC, excellent if boring road.
Thanks to superb map reding by Mary we only had to drive twice around the one way system in the friday night rush hour, before reaching our hotel.
Very centrally placed only two blocks from the White House.

Fire Department

Fire Department
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

The most exciting happening during our short stay (apart from the train that is) was the local fire engine out to get coffee!

AMTRAK

AMTRAK
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

Strange place, apart from a short rush hour it’s a bit like St Albans on a wet Sunday - no signs of life. I thought I saw a train, but shortly after I took its photo it backed away from the station again, perhaps it was shy?

The street is lit by thousands of bulbs in the trees at night, just all life has moved out to the 'Mall' which as with all such out of town developments has done nothing for the centre of town shops.

Fayetteville Market House

Fayetteville Market House
Originally uploaded by richard.bignell.

And so we landed in the USA on 13th, Alison collected us and left us in a downtown Fayetteville Hotel, right opposite the City Hall and Police Station! The Market House was built in 1832 on the site of the old State House, which was destroyed by fire in 1831.
It was within the walls of the State House that North Carolina had ratified the Constitution of the United States in 1789 and chartered the University of North Carolina. Also here North Carolina ceded her western lands to form the state of Tennessee. Built on traditional 'English' lines.