GOOD FRIENDS AND PRETTY PANNIERS

SATURDAY 3RD MAY 2008

This morning we cycled back in for supplies and returned with our panniers adorned with Busy Lizzies, much to the amusement of passing residents.

Angela a school friend of Jacquie’s and her husband John, who live close by, joined us in the afternoon. As the weather was so good we were able to enjoy a glass or two on the towpath before setting of for a very nice supper at the Red Lion in Alvechurch.

FIRE BUT NO SMOKE

FRIDAY 2ND MAY 2008

We eased our way through the last lock with the intention of tying at the BW workshops just after the lock for water, but the Fire Brigade got there first and a huge jet of water was arching across the canal, we slowed down and asked if it was OK to pull in there, so they pulled out their suction pipe and helped us to tie up. They were doing a bi-annual check of their pumps and a training session for the newest recruit.

I told one of the crew that our smoke alarm kept going off for no apparent reason and he went and got a new one, complete with battery for us. Nice Guys and Gal. I nearly lost Jacquie to one them. What is it about firemen?

Alvechurch was our destination, 3 miles and no locks. We found a lovely mooring right opposite the Crown Inn, just before the railway bridge, The trains travelled this stretch quite slowly and didn’t disturb us.

We walked all the way around the town before we eventually found the centre, which was a very pleasant surprise. On returning to our mooring we popped into the Crown Inn and although it had a good atmosphere the eating area was very crowded.

I just thought that I should mention that we had a problem getting the computer to recognise the T -Mobile Web & Walk modem, Keith from Quidditch said that he has burnt out two connecting cables, and we had previously smelt hot plastic, but couldn't identify where the smell could be coming from. Ashley had been watching TV via the internet and it seems possible that with high transfer rates the cable could overheat. I tried the same cable with the camera and sure enough the computer didn't recognise it. A new cable resolved the problem.

THE FLIGHT OF OUR LIFE

THURSDAY 1ST MAY 2008

Ha !! 35 locks!! Nothing, a doddle!! Wednesday, as forecasted, was very wet, so it was a good decision to stay put. However we got off to an early start for us, on Thursday, at 8am and by the time we stopped for lunch we had done about twenty of them.

We got into a good rhythm eventually, as soon as the top paddles were raised to fill the lock that Skyy was in, one of us walked up to the next lock and began to empty that, and as soon as the bottom gates could be opened, whoever was on Skyy opened the top gate and cruised out of the lock, straight into the awaiting next lock, in the meantime, the lock person walked back to the vacated lock and closed the gate, before walking back to close the gates behind Skyy and start the process all over again, does that sound complicated? Not really in reality, but the person operating the locks does walk the same piece of towpath 3 times, but good for the muscles.

The sceanery all the way up was delightful, with little cottages siding on to the canal at locks and bridges and a tranquil reservoir just before the summit.

We stopped at about 5 pm just before the top lock, thought that we should leave something for tomorrow and celebrated with beer and wine and sun shone all the while.

DINNER AND SAUSAGES

TUESDAY 29TH APRIL 2008

On Monday we just pottered, catching up on boat work, when Tug from Golden Eagle invited us to dinner that evening, he did eventually clear this invite with his wife Kirsty. Again, another example of impromptu canal hospitality.

Tuesday morning, we got away slightly the worse for the amount of wine drank with Tug & Kirsty, thanks guys for the splendid curry. The six locks of the Astwood flight were nothing, but just following those is the 30 lock flight of Tardebigge, this is the final lift to the level approach to Birmingham. The weather turned very wet and the forecast for Wednesday was also wet, so we pushed in the pins at Stoke Works and decided to stay put until the weather improved before tackling this major climb.

Tug had suggested that we did not go through narrow locks with our sausage fenders down and as we had got hung up in a lock when one of these fenders got caught in the lock ladder and coming through the Stratford locks, the fit was so tight that we ripped off one fender and cut another in half, we thought this was good advice and bought 3 karabiners ( spring clippy things as used by mountaniers) so that we can simple clip on the sausages when we moor up.

13 LOCKS

SUNDAY 27TH APRIL 2008

Today we rose up out of Worcester, through 13 locks. Quite an achievement, they were narrow locks, so they don’t take so long to fill, but this was the first time that just the two of us had worked through so many locks. Jacquie proved herself more than capable of bringing the boat into and out of the locks and sharing the lock work meant that it didn’t feel at all like hard work.

This lovely foal appeared as we rose up through Offerton Top Lock.



The last lock is just before the M5 and half a mile passed that is the village of Tibberton were we stayed for two nights.

THE TOWER

SATURDAY 26TH APRIL 2008

Jacquie returned late Friday evening having visited her Dad, who is a Chelsea Pensioner, and we spent Saturday morning discovering Worcester Cathedral and the city. We climbed the Cathedral tower and were fascinated by the bell ringers practicing on soundless dummy bells, but they were all wired up to computers and able to monitor their all important timing. The view from the top of the tower made the claustrophobic final climb well worth it.. One chap actually proposed to his lady on top of the tower, happily she accepted.

Imagine our surprise whilst wandering through the lovely old streets, to find that Mac & Jac have already opened a Deli. One might think that Jac has already had enough of being a water gypsy and has started an alternative career, but, no, jiust coincidence.

After lunch we moved up to Lowesmoor Basin, just on the northern edge of Worcester City centre, where Viking Boats gave up a helpful and friendly welcome, we fueled and watered and stayed overnight. The local Aldi supermarket was an interesting experience, their grapes were surprisingly tasty.

I just thought that I should mention that we had a problem getting the computer to recognise the T -Mobile Web & Walk modem, Keith from Quidditch said that he has burnt out two connecting cables, and we had previously smelt hot plastic, but couldn't identify where the smell could be coming from. Ashley had been watching TV via the internet and it seems possible that with high transfer rates the cable could overheat. I tried the same cable with the camera and sure enough the computer didn't recognise it. A new cable resolved the problem.

WORCESTER SAUCE

THURSDAY 24TH APRIL 2008

We stopped shortly after passing through Diglis Basin, which Nicholson’s guide described as having bags of charm, full of ramshackle buildings and eccentric boats. Well the ramshackle building, in the main, have either all ready been replaced or are in the process of being replaced with new apartment blocks, which certainly have very little charm. Some of the original warehouses have been converted with a degree of success. A shame but inevitable I guess.

Ashley very expertly brought the boat into the Diglis Basin lock and also had time to capture this image of me letting his Mum do all the work, Nothing new there then.

Jacquie and Ashley deserted me, to travel to London, courtesy of Great Western Trains. So I spent the rest of Thursday and Friday doing the usual maintenance, including changing the engine oil and filters.