Good News Day

Monday 16th June 2014

After a pretty good day yesterday I was looking forward to today - a rare weekday off work - so we put it to good use - slept in and a cup of tea in bed - Diane will be marking that one on the calendar.

She was in contact with Jan and Tom early to arrange lunch at the Slug and Lettuce - Happy Monday and 50% off.

Next we walked into New Street - who do we run into?  - Jan and Tom trying to escape the charity collectors, as we were as well.

Our first mission was to find the 3 Store to find out about our MiFi and could we upgrade to a model with the antenna connection - as our contract had not yet run its 2 years we could pay ₤84 but if we wait until December we could do it for free - OK that will be the case (we are away 3 of those months anyway).
But the really good news was that 3 have linked up with 11 other countries, so that we can use our UK MiKi overseas - in Australia and the US - without any additional charge.

Next it was across the mall to the EE store to find out about using Diane's phone overseas - no problem - a small separate charge and that can be done also.

By this stage it was time for lunch and we arrived a few minutes early; Tom and Jan not far behind - food was good, the conversation was much as boaters get involved in but very good all the same; the bill was very good ₤8.50 per head.
We did discuss some more interesting topics as well - Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILTR) and National Insurance Numbers (NINO).

Jan inspired Diane to do a bit more seeking out of what she needed to do to get a NINO and an interview has been arranged for the 30th June - so that will nearly be done.

Next Diane was determined to find out more about the ILTR via the ancestry visa that I currently have - some good news there and coupled with the information from Tom, we are on our way there as well.

Gee and to think I could have wasted a day off by staying in bed all day - you must be dreaming!


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Slow trip into Birmingham - wonderful

Friday 13th June to Sunday 15th June 2014

You gotta love a fine sunny day, without it being too hot and just a gentle cooling breeze - the conditions that we had on Friday morning for a short cruise and a few locks.
The Knowle locks are very pretty and if you take the time when going up to just turn around, you are treated to the most delightful views of the surrounding countryside.

There was a lockie at the locks to give us a bit of a hand through - not too much I had to tell him - "Don't want to go spoiling her"

He mentioned that if we were going into Brum that the services at the top of Camp Hill Locks were good to moor at and very secure - something to think about.

Once we were through the locks, we watered up and then just cruised about a half mile to moor up at bridge 72.

I had wanted to visit Knowle for some time and now was a perfect opportunity - it is just a 10 minute walk on the flat into the town.

Our first stop was for a bit of morning tea and we can highly recommend The Catwalk Cafe - excellent service, excellent food and the hot chocolate is pretty good too!

We spent about an hour wandering around - in and out of the shops, picked up some more books and there is a very good artisan bakery - yummy herb and olive bread and croissants.

The more we looked, the more we found that we wanted to do - it will be down to next time, but it means that we would make this way into Birmingham a selection used more often.

Knowle church

Boaters revenge - standing outside someone's house for a photo

We cruised on for the next 3 miles to Catherine de Barnes and made a final mooring for the day just before bridge 78. The sun on the panels topped up the batteries as we had only short cruising time today. Gee, those panels are really doing the job that we were told they would do.

We thought about what the lockkeeper at Knowle had said; we were due to meet Debbie, James and the girls at Aston Junction and give them a trip up the Farmers Bridge Locks and hopefully a bit of a cruise as well.
After we had spoken to them they selected Sunday as it was the free day for the weekend - mmm, Father's Day free? - someone wouldn't be getting a visit.

Anyway, the thought of being able to break up the journey into the basin was tempting, so we decided that we would cruise to Small Heath and check the mooring situation out - if there were any problems we could continue into the centre of the basin and sort out Sunday cruising after that.

You have to say that travelling into Birmingham, whether it be as we were doing - via the Grand Union, or coming up the Wolverhampton flight, or from Kings Norton, it is a lovely green corridor and there are many reasons to enjoy it.
 

the canal is so wonderful through here...

...and continues to be so

...except for this unfortunate boat

What was not to enjoy upon our arrival at the CaRT services block was that the mooring spaces - mainly 2 or 3 had been taken over by a couple of boats which appeared to be in process of being fitted out; the dog on one of the boats had obviously been left to wander around at will whenever it needed to ablute - not a pleasant environment - the services block was very clean however, so someone is looking after that.
We used the elsan services and decided that we would push on - an email to CaRT early in the week will register our complaint about it.

the Camp Hill resident's association

I had always thought that the Camp Hill locks were very pretty to work through, but a lack of mowing, the abundance of yobs with spray cans, and a large amount of household rubbish has destroyed that recollection - still they were easy going.

Then through Curzon Street tunnel and into the Ashted flight - equally easy; more pleasant environment, and not as much rubbish, but enough to feel a bit of pity for those with not enough character and pride in their own area to dispose of their refuse in the proper manner.

We got as far as Aston University and moored up for lunch; the rain followed and we looked around us and thought that it looked reasonably OK.
I remembered that Paul Balmer (Waterway Routes) had indicated in one of his DVD's that this was a spot where you could moor up - and he is a bit of an advocate for Birmingham.
So we stayed.
 

the Aston University environs ...

...we found it very safe

In our favour was the weather - raining; England were playing Italy in the World Cup that night; it was a bit out of the way for anyone.

In the morning after a very peaceful night's sleep - well for anyone who isn't an England supporter - we awoke without any problem being experienced.

Refreshed and ready to attack a handful of locks at the beginning of our cruising for the day, rather than tired after a 5 hour trip to get there and find more locks to do.

All-in-all this is looking good for future reference to cruise in this way - Knowle, Aston University mooring, an easy 2 days (instead of 1 long hard one).

We met up with the Birmingham Bunch plus 1 (Katherine's boyfriend, Ben, joined us as well) at the junction and set off for the flight of locks that would lead us up to Birmingham proper.

When you see people new to the operation of a lock set about the process you think back to the time when you yourself first started and realise how far you have come - things these days are natural to us and we simply know now what has to be done and instantly recognise when something is not correct - so it took just a couple of locks to get things right, but still keeping a watchful eye on things.
Passing a couple of boats made things a little tricky, but an enjoyable time with a bit of unexpected exercise was had by all of the new crew.
 

James engaging the ground paddles - supervisor, Debbie,
offering encouragement

a team effort

instruction from "she"

Katherine - happy face - "this is not what I signed up for"
"when do the fun bits start?"

A study in concentration - Rachel, making sure that all
is OK 

Well done Debbie - management of the situation is important.

The strain of lockgates - James is getting to grips with it

Reaching the top lock and there was nb Waiouru moored at Cambrian Wharf and after Diane roused them, Tom and Jan appeared at the hatch - we are going to catch up with them both on Monday.
 

Sorry Tom! I wanted the better one of Jan

Exiting the top lock almost turned to a bit of disaster as a canoeist, not realising that we were coming out put his small boat into the water in the direct line of our path.
Catastrophe was averted by a quick stop on our part, a hasty removal of the canoe, and smiles all round.

Rather than simply mooring up we had decided to cruise down to Edgbaston and back so that the Katherine, Rachel and Ben could have a turn at steering the boat.

We made it back in one piece, the senior crew member out the back survived whilst "she who must be obeyed" sent out tea and sustenance.
 

Ben, Katherine and Rachel - very glad that the locks are finished
and cake time has begun

mmm! - did someone say cake.

Eventually we moored outside the NIA - our preferred location - it would have been Cambrian Wharf, but Tom and Jan had indicated that it had been quite noisy there the night before.

After the boat was secured we all headed off for a well-deserved drink and then for a meal.
 

Back on board we managed to see most of the France v Honduras match before one of us couldn't keep his eyes open any longer.


20 Miles, 30 Locks,  4 Tunnels


Totals: 2576 Miles, 1953 Locks, 88 Tunnels, 32 Lift Bridges, 151 Swing Bridges

Locks, Locks and Two Smoking Canals

Monday 9th June to Thursday 12th June 2014

We had had our time in Stratford and thoroughly enjoyed it all - mooring up in virtually the centre of town; early morning walking and then also later in the evening without the usual throng of people around.

Maybe we could do without the people peering in through the windows.

So we headed off at about out usual time and began the trek up through the locks.

We have to say that some of the gates are pretty damn heavy.

We stopped briefly at the Western Road Marina - not to purchase diesel (as I said that we wouldn't at a 60/40 standard split) - instead we filled our water tank and made a deposit into the elsan.

Correct tanks filled and emptied we headed off - a hire boat that had left the basin prior to us and had in fact filled with water just as we moored up to fill ours, had decided to stop just through the next bridge - for breakfast.
Equally, we managed to leave just prior to another hire boat leave the lock that was behind us.

This meant that with ANY boat coming our way, the chances were strong that the locks at Wilmcote would all be empty and so much easier.

And that ladies and gentlemen, was exactly how it transpired - I wouldn't say we breezed through the 11 locks but it was easier than emptying each one.

The Edstone Aqueduct from below..

...going over the aqueduct...

...still going over

Lock Cottage at Lock 30

...apparently everyone takes a picture of the boat reflected
in the windows..

Not meaning to take the derriere picture - this hire boat decided
that the their need to stop for lunch was greater than caring about
anyone needing the lock bollards to get through - just what do they
teach them before they let them loose.

Finally we moored up just north of Bridge 59 with the intention of a visit to Mary Arden's house - but being after 2pm; us being a bit exhausted, and; we could see most of the external attractions from the road - we decided to give it a miss for now.
Returning back to the boat, the chairs came out and we relaxed a bit in the shade.

Tuesday was a much easier day - just over 3 miles and 1 lock to Wootton Wawen - we had a wander around the village; around the oldest Saxon church in Warwickshire; around Wootton Hall and back to the boat - Diane relaxed outside on her recliner; I got on with work.
Ooh, almost forgot we made a little visit to The Navigation Inn for a quick one on the way back.
 

Wootton Hall

Aqueduct at Wootton Waven

Mother Duck chasing her brood home from The Navigation Inn
- "drunk ducks"

The weather turned bad later on but didn't excuse the person in charge of the boat which was reversed at speed and scrapped along the side of Ferndale - worse was the hard bang when they decided to go forward - standing on the stern, the guy didn't even have the good manners (guts) to say sorry as we looked straight at him - the thought that we were snug and dry whilst he was dripping wet and looking thoroughly miserable made up for some of it - well done Black Prince hire boats.

After what was a relaxing day, we knew what lay ahead of us as we made our way towards the junction.

Another 17 locks and not in a close together flight, so we alternated at each lock and walked between locks - got the steps in.
Strange thing was that Diane, who had worked out which ones each of us would do, seemed to have made the rota such that I had the long distances to walk and she had the easier locks - just strange is all I am saying.

At the top it was water-tank filling time again and we took advantage of an elsan point empty the cassette.
Then around the junction and moored up on the Grand Union, just in front of nb Oakapple - Diane reliably informed me that they were fellow bloggers - Richard and Sharon - of course, I also got a reminder course about their history - steel trap mind when it comes to who has done what, where and with whom - but who's favourite question is "What day is it Ray?".

Another heavy day, a bit of relaxing, a tap on the boat - Richard from Oakapple - for a bit of a chat and an invite for later in evening.
We met up again with Richard and with Sharon and had a thoroughly enjoyable chat and cups of tea (for us - it was a fasting day).
I think we got through the evening without any discussion of toilets - gotta be a first - mind you, it did take a little time for a good picture of them both, that wasn't affected by an over zealous flash unit on the phone.
 

Richard and Sharon - nb Oakapple

by the light of the silvery moon

We now have a few days on our hands to move the 8 or so miles up to Catherine de Barnes, before launching the final assault to Birmingham hill.
The plan is to go in on Saturday.

Today was a short slow cruise up to The Black Buoy pub for some lunch and not much else. In the sunshine and a light cool breeze, this was just idyllic, and we didn't have a care whatsoever - mooring just in front of No Problem.
We had a chat with Sue and Vic before we all met up again at the pub for a pre-lunch drink.
They were heading back towards the junction; we stayed for the lunch, which was quite nice; back to the boat as the tennis was on, and more work for me.

16 Miles, 34 Locks

Totals: 2556 Miles,  1923 Locks, 82 Tunnels, 32 Lift Bridges, 151 Swing Bridges

The Goldfish Bowl

Saturday 7th June to Sunday 8th June 2014

Boats had been slowly leaving the basin; part of the reason was that the river had receeded from red and into yellow; other boats had also left to head up the Stratford Canal.
In any event we found a nice spot just near the entry bridge with our starboard side moored against solid ground and not on one of the floating pontoons.

Moored in the basin

We met up with Croc and Emma (nb Shelby) who are traders - Vinyl Cut - selling images cut into/out of old vinyl records - I have to say that the effect is really quite brilliant and worthy of a good look and some patronage.

Sunshine and Pimms - very English

Saturday had been forecast to be a bit of a not-so-nice day with showers throughout, so the appearance of the sun early on was pretty pleasing.
We were up for a reasonably early walk around the town; made even better with it being too early for any of the crowds to have descending on Stratford as yet.
On two previous occasions that we had been here we had wanted to see inside The Trinity Church and have a peek at Shakespeare's Grave - both times being thwarted by the staging of other events at the church.
This time however we were even earlier than the tourist buses.

Wandering back Diane came across Barry the Butcher where she picked up some sausages to try; we saw the Saturday market - more provisions - bread and cheese; the fudge shop - in particular Roly's Fudge Shop - no chance of not stopping there.
Laden with her purchases I managed to just make it to the boat.

Roly's Fudge - delicious and all gone

The sausages made it to the frypan, not immediately, but in combination with some bacon and the aforementioned bread provided lunch for she - the outcome being that a second trip to the butcher was made for more of the same.

actually the HSBC Stratford branch

We had already purchased tickets for the play Arden of Faversham at the Swan Theatre (RSC) for the 1:30 matinee on the basis that
a) we had wanted to see a production there, and
b) the forecast had predicted a miserable Saturday afternoon.
We did enjoy the show which included a great cast - all good of course - only one we knew of any screen renown - Sharon Small.

Our surprise was that the rain had not made any appearance and it had, in fact, been a very nice afternoon - it didn't detract from our enjoyment. We ventured skyward to the RSC Rooftop Cafe for afternoon refreshments and an outdoor table overlooking the parkland and further to the basin and town.

such a lovely view for afternoon tea

Sunday was full of brilliant sunshine and we were out early again to have a look through the market stalls still being setup; then for a Maccas breakfast; a walk up to Aldi and Lakeland before relaxed a bit prior to the French Open Men's Final.

Our mooring position; a lovely day; a huge number of people around; and us being outside meant that there was a constant stream of people stopping and chatting away about the boat; is it heated; does Ferndale refer to the Welsh town (2 people asked about that Boy-Oh); but the best one for the day was the following:

Man wanders up (speaking like he a has a mouth full of plums): "I say old chap can you make a booking for your boat to come in here (referring to the basin)".
Me (minus any fruit references): "No, first come, first in"
Man : "Oh really, so one just brings the boat in and then you tie up?"
Me: "yep, if there is a spot it's yours"
Man: "then a little man comes around to collect the money, does he?"
Me: "nope, it's all free"
Man: "How long can one stay?"
Me: "48 hours and then you have to leave"
Man: "is there a rota system to go down onto the river - do you have to make a booking with a little man somewhere?"
Me: "nope, just head over there and get the lock ready"

by this stage I had had enough of the condescending attitude and when his wife asked the question (which we had only heard a 1000 times) - after seeing that we were from Melbourne: "Did it take you long to get all of the way over here?"
to which I answered: "24 hours - we flew".

An hour or so later when we were hit by a huge storm and it absolutely pelted down I did remark to Diane (with a fruit embellisment) - "I do hope that one didn't get too wet seeking out the Merc in all of this".

We are usually very happy to chat with most people, as we did during the sunny part of the day, but this couple just got on my goat - but that is the nature of places like Stratford and we do choose to want to moor in places like this.

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