Off to a very good start.

We didn't have far to move this morning. I had phoned Streethay Wharf to see if somebody could check my battery wiring out and we arrived at 1000. There was a 100t crane ready to crane seven boats in and out. We were therefore directed to a free mooring. It turned out there was somebody having their batteries changed out, and after that they would get round to us. Tom had a quick look and a check to see what state the batteries and to see what was required. Later Ray came across and did the actual work. Whilst we were waiting I got a few little jobs done, such as fit a new hose to the bilge pump in the engine hole. I ran it a different way too as it was too easily stepped on and broken where it was. Ray ran a new cable from the isolation switch to the last battery and shortened up a couple of cables and checked the other connections etc. We decided that we would see what difference the new wiring would make to the charging and discharge rather than needlessly change the batteries. We got away by about 1500. It has been no hardship waiting as the weather has been lovely. helen was reading at the front of the bow.

We soon passed the entrance to our winter moorings and came up to Huddlesford Junction. The junction house is now the HQ of the Lichfield Cruising Club. The restoration of the Wyrley and Essington Canal to Ogley is steadily been achieved under the auspices of the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Trust. Once open it will make a nice extra route to avoid Birmingham and give better access to the BCN backwaters.

 Bridge 80 with bridge 79 just round the bend at Whittington. We have never stopped here, but we will make sure that we do on the way back.

The poly tunnels have been erected ready for the asparagus season at Fisherwick. It seems that every year there seems to be more, or we just notice more.

Almost not a cloud in the sky and very little wind to ruffle the water. I was in shirtsleeves. 

Once moored up we had a cup of tea and started getting a few more jobs done. The East Yorkshire flag was replaced. The old one has got a bit tatty and has definitely faded a lot.

I then fitted an inner clear perspex panel inside the side hatch to cut out the slight draft the comes through when the doors are closed. I used 2mm perspex and the A adhesive strip magnets all the way round the hatch. I then cut the B adhesive magnetic strip and attached it to the other magnet. I then took off the backing of the adhesive and stuck the perspex on to get it all matched up. It works really well cutting out the draft and more noise.

There was no wind so the reflections of the boat astern was good.

My next task was to lay another piece of carpet brought from home to fit round the stove to take all the accidental spills of embers or ashes and save the main carpet. It seemed to fit well. I am still acclimatising as I feel tired out. Tomorrow is set to be another great day so we will have a walk round Hopwas Woods before setting off around lunch time. It is good to be off and running, and I am hopeful that my battery worries may well be over. Touch wood!!!

At last.

Well we are back on the boat for our prolonged cruise and I must say it is nice to be here. It has been a very busy week at home. It was the Hull and East Yorkshire branch of CAMRA's Beer Festival and so last week was spent setting it up in our great venue of Holy Trinity Church in Hull and then Thursday onward's serving the great and good of the city with the real ale. We had 130 different beers between the gravity and hand pull bars, plus many ciders and bottled beers. I think folk are getting more educated in trying the beers. many less pint glasses and drinking pints all the time, and more drinking third's so that you can try more out. It also seemed to me that there were many more there that hadn't been beer drinkers but were willing to try it. It was perfect for the branch too as he beer ran out about 1500 on Saturday afternoon so no wastage.

Mean time I was trying to get all those little jobs done that need doing before leaving home. The partly finished DIY projects, gardening etc etc. Sunday was the third Sunday of the month and I run my history walks round Hedon and had a few takers. As the weather was good it was a pleasure to show folks about. However with the standing up and walking at the beer festival and then the two walks on Sunday my feet are a little sore!

We got everything out yesterday and then I packed the car this morning and went to pick up Bash, our son, who was going to bring the car back for us. We arrived in two hours and unloaded and after a bite to eat he was off again to be the traffic at the other end.

This time we have Macy cat and Sky the budgie with us, so with Helen and me we are getting to be a little zoo. I filled with water and got he ropes out etc etc a,d then went to pay for the electricity and the extra period of moorings we have had. I then decided that we would top up the fuel as it was only 54p domestic and I would be able to work out the consumption etc more easily for the coming months. It was quite breezy from the st'bd side so it was easy to just leave the pontoon and be blown down on to the fuel quay. When we left it was a mater of getting the stern out on a for's spring and reversing out before turning and making for the entrance.

On the boat moored next to us, 'Blue Moon' a mallard had made a nest and laid her eggs. I wondered what I would do if I had come to take the boat out for of 6/7 month cruise and this was on my bow! What a dilemma!! The eggs take 28 days to hatch so if you got there just as they were laid you could have a very long wait. What would you do?

Once clear of the entrance we turned right and moored up straight away. I had brought so plastic to fit in our shower and I wanted to fit it before our first shower in the morning as it had had several weeks to dry out. So after lighting the fire and one or two other jobs I got on with that. It was finished at about 2000 and so after unpacking and realising that Helen had packed clothes for me and I had also, so I have ended up with double what I need. It will all go back in June when we are back home.

Everything seems to be working fine and we will soon be turning in soon and I expect to sleep well.

Boats, beers and boozers. 9.

We left Stourport and headed down the Severn in good weather. Just as we got to the top of the narrow  locks the C&RT work men were setting up some temporary bridge to give access to the paddle gear that needed a quick repair. Luckily they allowed us through first. It is a little tricky to leave the top lock and get in the second in a wind as it is not straight ahead but all accomplished and we were soon at on the river.

On the way passing the barge locks up into the basin at Stourport and the Tontine Hotel. The hotel was built by the Staffs. and Worcester canal company as their headquarters. It was originally the Stourport In and the whole building was the Tontine Buildings. It had a 100 bedrooms and a ballroom. The barge locks gave access  to the Severn Trows that plied the river.

Lincombe Lock is the first after Stourport and is in a very picturesque setting. We shared with another boat and were soon on our way again down to Holt Lock. The gauge carved on the stone work went up to 21 feet. Today the water level was a little less extreme thankfully.

We were soon at the entrance to the Droitwich Barge Canal and after a little difficulty getting to the lock caused by somebody on the landing we were soon on our way. The barge Canal was not as wide as you may think and I would not expect that two wide beam boats would be able to pass. Indeed in places it wouldn't be too easy for two narrow boats to pass as the reeds are left largely to their own devices in this nature reserve.

It wasn't long before we were moored up, stern to, in the basin and we were off to explore the town. The first pub you come once through the underpass is the Holy Bush which was a nice place and I had a couple of beers from the Black Country Brewery before moving on and checking out the rest of the town.

There is much to see as you walk around the town but I would recommend a visit to the church of the Sacred Heart and St. Catherine of Alexandria as the mosaic murals are something to behold and very unexpected.

Droitwich grew rich on salt hence the 'wich' and it also explains why some of the buildings on the main street look very crooked as they have subsided with the salt extraction. Above is a remade first brine well at Vines Park.

It is just the other side of the park where my next pub is situated. The Gardener's is a very easy walk from the Basin and had a very friendly crowd in. We went a couple of times and one evening joined in the quiz. Again we didn't eat but the menu looked good and the prices okay. I had a couple of beers from Jennings Brewery in Cockermouth, Cumbria, Cocky Blonde and a Sneck Lifter were okay the Cocky Blonde is usually a summer seasonal beer with a light colour but tasting full and with a bit of fruit flavour. At 4% it slid down fine on a warm afternoon. The Sneck Lifter is a 5% beer and with a complicated mix of tastes in their. I gave them both a 3*. Later in aout stay in Droitwich I had a White Wytch that is a seasonal beer from the Wytchwood Brewery of Witney. It is part of Marston's and you see their Hobgoblin bitter in many many outlets. It has a very clean taste for a light 3.8% beer with plenty of hops giving it that tang that stays in your mouth for ages. I scored it a 4*. The pub was nicely decorated and the atmosphere was great, and folk chatty. It seems that they have more selection of beers these days and they have a very busy programme of entertainments too. Well worth a visit when you have made it to one of the 'newest' canals in the country.

The Gardeners Arms, Vines Park, Droitwich

9www.visitdroitwichspa.com)

Away Day 3.

If the previous day had dawned with a smile on it's face today started with a big grin. The sun was out in a blue sky and it was much warmer than the previous day. With no wind it felt warmer too. We had a fair trip today so we set off before 1000 and were soon down Haywood Lock

The sun was passing rays of light so the very last of the morning mist that gave a magical appearance, and as this area has connections with J.R. R. Tolkien you could see why he may have been inspired at this time of the year.

The River Trent swoops and loops next to the canal past Colwich and once through the lock to Wolseley. The level of the river had dropped since yesterday. We saw at Fradley that the river section at Alrewas was closed saw hopefully this is a good sign for those held up there.

Once clear of the lock I set to lifting the large rug we had down in the saloon. We had bought an off cut to replace it. I think it was a good deal as we bought a piece that was way too big for our needs but would make two. So for £80 we have two carpets for the boat. The bloke swore that you could clean stains from it with a bit of neat bleach! I'll have to have a go on a sample bit first me thinks. I was just going to lift the rug so that we could take it home for cleaning whilst we had the car, but I had a rush of blood to the head so set too cutting and laying. What possessed me on the best day of the year to saty in the boat with the stove still warm and everything still in the boat I don't know.

I moved as much as I could of the area and then went for the longest side and started laying the carpet along there. I then had to move all the stuff over to the other side to have a go at that, more fiddly bit. The carpet cut nice and easily and as it had a lined pattern it was fairly easy to cut straight lines. Mind you I was still surprised that there were no straight lines on the interior fit out, (or the carpet wasn't square!). Mind you I did a fair job of it if I do say so myself. The effect is to make the place look larger and brighter. The large pattern on the rug must have brought the interior in as did the dark colour. (See Away Day 1 to see the old rug).

By the time I had done my inside work we had passed through Rugeley without stopping and had a lunch on the move. It was glorious as we traveled through Ravenshaw Wood. There have been boats moving but it certainly wasn't as bad as I thought it may have been in the Easter Holidays.

Amy enjoying being on the helm on a lovely day that helped to take her mind of her sore throat and bunged upness!

We got back to the marina at around five and as there was no wind slotted into our berth with no drama. We were soon packing up and sorting out. We had a cup of tea and a Hot Cross Bun to tide us over until we got home. I was talked through the shut down checklist by Helen and we were on our way by 1830. Plenty of time to get us home in good time for 'Line of Duty'. All in all a very pleasant couple of days. The weather was great and we have proved that everything is working and even got a few jobs done too. I can't wait to get away full time now. Less than three weeks now.

Away Day 2.

After a great nights sleep the day dawned with sun shining through the trees, and a decidedly warmer feel in the air. When I poked my head out the hatch to enable me to report back to Helen as to just how many layers of clothing she would require today it felt almost like shorts weather!

The boat moored behind us was glistening in the sun coming through the trees.

We were soon through the footbridge and making the turn to head north up the Trent and Mersey. All was quiet other than a couple of suspicious characters shambling past the pub.

We were soon through Middle and Shade House Locks. The voluntary lock keeper was just coming on as we passed. The nice, large house by Shade House is still up for sale. It seems that it is somebody wanting to downsize, and it comes with a mooring! In the distance the boat approaching appeared with a bow wave round the corner. The next time we looked it had disappeared! He may well have gone straight into the bushes on the outside of the bend, or at least very nearly. 

Woodend Lock in the sunshine.

Armitage or 'Plum Pudding' Tunnel had to have the 'lid' taken off due to subsidence caused by mining. I wonder if it was two way working in the day. Lea Hall Colliery was just to the north of the canal. When I was at school I had a trip down the mine for an economics trip. If I hadn't gone to sea I reckon I would have enjoyed going into mining. Similar sort of ethos without the travel.

No.1 daughter was feeling decidedly under the weather so we stopped at Rugeley to plunder the Chemists. We came back stocked up and with one or two other bits to. I do hope that somebody buys this old warehouse soon to preserve it for the future. It would be a loss to the canal, and they don't make them like that anymore.

At the top of the shopping streets are these four miners protecting the roundabout. I remember that when I visited Lea Hall we had to ride on man rider conveyors and it was a dusty place. All the miners were offering us snuff. I'm not sure whether it was to keep the nasal passages clear or a way of getting their nicotine fix with not being able to take cigarettes and matches etc down the pit.

We continued on through Colwich Lock and past Shugborough and up Haywod Lock to Hayward Junction. We winded there and headed back to a mooring that was waiting for us before the lock. As it was such a lovely afternoon we went for a walk. On the path up to the Tower Of the Winds and the Lodge this tree stood out beautifully against the blue sky. You can just make out a cluster of rabbits that seemed to occupy the foot of each large tree we passed.

As the light faded we headed back to the boat and stopped for the photo call on Essex pack horse bridge just after the confluence of the River Sow and the Trent. There was still quite a gurgle as the water surged past the piers.

We donned our finery and headed up to the Clifford Arms for a meal. It was curry night on Wednesday so I had a lovely beef Madras and a pint of Wainwright for £8-50. It wasn't long before the beds were made up and we were laying in them. What is that thing about being out in the fresh air!?

Away day 1.

We loaded the car up and set off to the Midlands via an appointment for our daughter at the Dentists at 1200. Once on our way it was an easy couple of hours to the marina near Lichfield. The car was full up with stuff, but fortunately we will be leaving most of it as we only now have a couple of weeks or so until we are off for our six or seven month cruise. As No.1 daughter Amy was home we had decided to take the boat out for a run and a check over.

After several trips backwards and forwards to the boat, and Macy cat getting settled in, I filled up with water and we were soon off and clear of the marina. The weather was cool but sunny and still

Once clear of Streethay Wharf Amy was soon on the tiller with Helen giving expert tuition as we headed to Fradley.

The afternoon clouded over and it became  cooler but as the wind held off it was still okay. The girls retreated inside to get warm though so I was left to contemplate nature on my own as we cruised along.

When we were moored up still on the Coventry, before the water points and the little swing bridge (that still hasn't got a lock fitted). I soon had the stove going and the girls assumed their normal positions.

We had our tea and listened to the latest carrying on's with Rob Tichner in 'The Archers'. (Oh I hope that he get's his comeuppance good and proper, and soon). We then decided to wander over to the pub at the Junction. It is amazing what the hour on the clock does for getting out and about. The stove was filled so that it would be nice and cosy when we got back.

It was very still as we came to the Trent and Mersey and so got a double image of the Swan. It looks deserted but had a fair gathering, most of them eating it seemed. The portions seemed large.

Boats, beers and boozers. 8

Following my beloveds return to the boat from a home visit we left Kidderminster and set of continuing our journey down the Staffs and Worcester Canal.

 Weavers Wharf shooping area. Slingfield Mill and Brinton's factory chimney. The old mill building is now home to a Debenhams. When the Staffs. and Worcester Canal was cut through joining the Trent and the Severn the weaving and carpet industry could really take off. There were 25 steam engine chimneys like this, but only this remains.

This bridge marks the entrance to Pratt's Wharf that was built in 1835 to carry timber to a saw mill via a lock down into the River Stour to Wilden. It also carried coal and and iron to the Wilden Iron works. It finally closed in 1950.

A little closer to Stourport is this transhipment wharf that had three railway lines to it from Stourport Station. The loads railway wagons would roll down from the station to the canal by gravity. There were substantial sets of buffers at the end. They largely carried 10ft lengths of iron and steel bars from South Wales. They would be loaded in canal boats that would then head to Pratt's Wharf and lower down on to the Stour to take them to the Wilden Iron Works.

There was no room for us on the visitor moorings above York Street Lock so we went down with our fingers crossed. Luckily there was a spot just passed the services so we filled up and settled for the day. It is surprising that there are so few moorings with so many basins. Just past the facilities is the Lichfield Basin. This used to be filled with canal boats bringing coal from Cannock Chsea to power the Stourport Power Station. The Power Station was opened in 1927 by Stanley Baldwin who was enjoying the second of three terms as the Conservative Prime Minister. He was born in Bewdley and served as the town's MP. He died in Stourport in 1947. The Baldwin family also owned the Wilden Iron Works. The power station was enlarged during WWII but was finally closed in 1984 and the basin filled in. Later is was excavated to form the centre piece of a housing scheme but now visiting boats are allowed in. In fact the place was completely empty which just seems a criminal waste.

These are the wide beam locks that were built to bring up Severn Trows up to the Upper Basin from the river. They were built in 1771 and ten years later the narrow beam to sets of two locks were built close by. The whole complex of basins and locks make for a great amble about on a nice day. Not so good on a cold windy and drizzly day but still a delight to see the old buildings and warehouses by the water too.

The basins and the river side make for such a nice walk that folk used to come out for day trips from the industrial towns of the West Midlands. For this reason the town has a bit of an air of a seaside town complete with fun fair, candy floss and ice cream!

It would be easy to get lost making your way to the river from the upper basin as there are all sorts of little arms and  sheets of water so to save embarrassment they have a sign post for us boaters.

We popped into the chandlers for a couple of bits and then  headed off on our tour. We stopped for a pork pie and then had a pint at the Black Star. The served beer from the Wye Valley Brewery and I tried the HPA and Butty Bach before further wanderings. Before finally heading back to the boat we stopped at the Holy Bush for a drink, and to warm up if the truth beknown. There were only a few in but as soon as we had our drink we were included in the conversation and made to feel right at home. A girl came in and they asked why she was there as she wasn't due to work until the following day. It turns out that she had just got back from her holiday and had missed folk so much she had just popped in to catch up! I reckon that is the sign of a good boozer. The beer is largely from Black Country Ales and at £2-35 they were good value. I tried the 'Pig on the Wall' that almost had the look of a mild it was so brown. There is a rich malty taste that gives it a touch of coffee and chocolate. I also tried the 'BFG' or 'Bradley's Finest Golden'. This pint had more of the hops taste and was a complete contrast as there was the citrus on the tongue. I enjoyed them both and will definitely be back when we pass through next time.

www.waymarking.com

The Holy Bush, Stourport.