09-28 Aston Marina

Wednesday 23rd September: Weather still iffy today but better.  Managed to complete the black band (had to go over some of what I did yesterday) then we turned the boat  and I washed down the starboard side and then completed prepping and painting it, which was not so bad, having been touched up while we were on the Aylesbury arm.  Bridie mixed and applied the twin pack with some help for the out of reach bits!   All completed by about 3:30pm so after tidying up and a cup of coffee we turned PO again and headed back to the Marina slowly and carefully trying to avoid hitting any bridge holes and a drifting boat on the way.  Weather very calm although it tried to rain as we set off and again as we moored up but no problems manouvering onto our pier.

Ford Ka battery dead (no surprises there). Altercation in the dark with an Alsatian off the lead and with no owner in sight. Mabel yelping and rather upset.  Owner stroppy (was obviously on the phone and not in control of her dog) and made no apology!

Thursday 24th September:  Packing and stowing bags in Ka ready for when I get battery sorted. Phoned Ford none in stock! Trying to get jump start sorted. Took a walk with the dogs to look at Aston Lock (since we have not been through one for a few days and in case we forget what they look like!). Also took a look at the new building going up in the marina being finished ready for the Christmas party season

and enjoyed the view across the marina generally.

Friday 25th September: Lovely sunny day today - nearly decided to go back out! Called Green Flag who responded very promptly got Ka started but ran a test on battery and it failed and needs a replacement as it is not holding a charge. The guy from Mansfields checked availability for me since Ford do not have in stock locally (I already checked). I then followed him to Newcastle-u-Lyme where I bought a battery and he fitted it, job done. Back to Marina and then went home to take a load of washing etc etc back and then came back to the boat with our winter set of curtains (15 of), whilst Bridie did more cleaning up, packing and dog walking.

Saturday 26th September: Another lovely sunny day today. We went over to the Bistro on our dog walk this morning to book a table for tonight.   I then spent the day prepping and painting tunnel flashes and rear deck to cover up rust and damaged paintwork!  Bridie did more packing and cleaning out food cupboards etc as well as swapping over the curtains so that we can take our best set to be cleaned.

Sunday 27th September:  Yet another summers day (although overnight temperatures are now dropping close to zero!)  Today we got off to an early start and drove down the M6 to the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster.  The Dining train was already in the platform

My sister and cousins were booked on it for birthday celebrations (we had tried to join them too late and it was fully booked). We had a round trip to Bridgnorth on the 11:45 hauled by Southern West Country Pacific  'Taw Valley'.

At Bridgnorth I took some photo's to show latest progress on the new build 82045

and the replica  of the fourth and last steam locomotive created by Richard Trevithick -see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_Me_Who_Can

and also http://www.catchmewhocan.org.uk/about_us.html
Once back at Kidderminster station we waited for the return of the Dining train to wish my sister a happy 65th birthday.

A trip to my sister's in Harborne ensued and then back up the motorway to PO at the marina.

Monday 28th  September: With the weather still fine today we made use of the continuing dry spell to load up the car, winterise the boat and finally head north to Cumbria.  Rough calculations suggest we have covered more than 650 miles and been through about 350 locks, visited the most southerly part of the network and traveled stretches we have not seen before.  All in all, despite a rather poor August and early September, the season was pretty kind to us and we enjoyed some excellent cruising.

09-22 Sandon on the Trent & Mersey Canal

Sunday 20th September: We set off up the Great Haywood lock to the services at the junction this morning  without any queuing or delays. On then through Hoo Mill,

Weston and Sandon Locks. Seemed to meet boats at each lock and minimised the workload, again without any delays, which we had partly expected given the number of boat movements we had seen over the weekend.
Arrived at Sandon for late lunchtime and we were able to moor after the final lock of our trip and just before the winding hole.   I managed to wash and polish the port side of the boat and started prepping for painting .

Monday 21st September:  Plan is to make good our battle scars from about 650 miles and 350 locks before we leave the boat in the Marina for the winter. However the weather today was wet and useless so we got on with some internal cleaning of cupboards and packing etc.

Tuesday 22nd September:  Weather still very iffy today and once I made a start on painting the black band we had an absolute downpour which stopped play for the rest of the day and managed to drench Bridie and the dogs. However Bridie had managed to get the twin pack mixed to get a coat on the lower hull while I was still prepping this morning.  It was horrible stuff to mix and use but job done.

09-19 Shugborough on Trent & Mersey Canal

Friday 18th September: Day started very misty, saw boats even using tunnel lights to approach lock landing!  Set off about 10:30am by which time the sun had appeared. Cruised to Rugeley with steady stream of boats going the other way and we managed to meet most of them in groups at bridge holes!  Found a new Tesco store at bridge 66 where we do not have to cross any roads to get to it! Final stock up for last few days until we pack up at the marina.  Moved on towards Shugborough and it rained on us before Colwich although it did not come to much.  Managed to moor facing the hall and took the dogs over the old pack horse bridge for a walk by the park.

Saturday 19th September:  A lovely sunny day once the early morning mist cleared and we went into the estate

and walked through the Arboretum with the dogs, reading all the new notice boards that have been erected about the herd of long horn cattle

that have been resident for about 250 years.
Spent the afternoon chilling out in the boat reading etc a final restful day before we start cleaning and packing chores.Then as evening approached and it cooled down watched a hot air balloon (reg G-GIVE) being inflated

and setting off over Great Haywood.

09-17 Fradley on Trent and Mersey Canal

Wednesday 16th September: Started off rather grey and forecast not good, slow start but got away about 10:30am.  Called at Streethay wharf chandlery for red oxide primer and some tape seal for weed hatch.  Watered up at Fradley Junction busy canal and limited moorings due to boat meeting at Huddlesford this weekend. Turn onto T&M up two locks and moored up about 2:30pm. walked dogs back down locks to old BW workshops where this old waterways van is parked up

and across to the lake before returning via The Swan.

Thursday 17th September: Removed old tape from weed hatch cleaned up and replaced.  Prepped stern deck area and trapdoor access to weed hatch then painted with primer. Bridie tackled front cratch area floor and covers and also cleaned oven, grill and microwave. Purchased bag of coal and couple of bags of kindling from passing coal-gas boat that stopped to deliver to boat in front. 

09-15 Hopwas on Coventry Canal

Tuesday 15th September:  The weather forecast for today was for a dry but cloudy day so we made to set off by 10:30 (last to leave our mooring spot). Had a green bug hitch a ride today.

Brief stop at bridge 64 (should have been 66 but Bridie misread the guide!) for a Tesco shop then onwards to Glascote locks where we watered up at the top lock (despite some idiot who thought the lock landing was a mooring!) Whilst watering up and for the duration of the descent of the two locks we had a cloud burst and got wet.  However it soon cleared up and was fairly pleasant as we cruised through Fazeley to moor at Hopwas for the evening.  Off for a dog walk along the canal through the woods first and then a visit to the Thame Otter for an excellent three course evening meal (possibly the best meal of our entire cruise).

09-14 Grendon on Coventry Canal

Monday 14th September:  Rained overnight and was wet, grey, miserable and mizzling this morning.  We managed to set off about 9am and aimed to get through the 11 locks at Atherstone before it started raining heavily.  In  the event despite a speedy descent with plenty of boats going the other way

and help from volunteers in the first few locks it was raining heavily before we got to the last two locks and while we watered up at the services at the bottom of the flight and while we moored up just after bridge 50 about 2:30pm.  Had to squeeze in as three other boats already on our favoured mooring spot and it is more than often empty.  Quite close to the West Coast main line here but a small hill shields us from the noise.  By the time we had had a late lunch and cup of tea we could here thunder rolling around and that was forecast for tomorrow!

09-13 Boon's Wharf on Coventry Canal

Sunday 13th September: a bright sunny morning although it was quite cloudy and cool later in the day.  Set off about 10 am and headed past the station as 'Cumbria' was doing some early morning shunting.  Arrived Sutton Wharf just after 12 a little later than we thought owing to shallow canal and slow speed.  Watered up etc, and moved on through Stoke Golding. Ashby Boats only open 9-1 on Sunday and we went passed at 1:30 so too late for diesel as planned.  Brief stop at the farm shop bridge 23 for milk etc.  Past a rather fine old ice breaker

and these work boats conveniently moored centre channel!

Then on to Trinity Marina at Hinckley where we topped up diesel with 56 litres. On again we cruised making use of the dry weather and left the Ashby canal at 5:30 and through Nuneaton on the Coventry Canal

eventually mooring about 6:45pm just beyond Boon's wharf on a nice wooded stretch of canal.  Not especially cold but felt the need for the warmth of a fire

after we had covered more than 20 miles today and passed under about 60 bridges!