Well this is our first experience of sitting in a dry dock! It's quite strange! Dark, dank and a bit spooky at night. So while I am whiling away the time I thought I would bring you all up to date.
Back at Nantwich we had decided not to navigate the Llangollen arm, but then thought we were so near so why not? Guess who we crossed over with at a lock? A boat named 'Smoke' from Blisworth marina. Only managed to exchange a few words but nice all the same.
The Llangollen arm of the Shroppie was ok but not as wonderful as the Caldon and Peak District. Uninspiring I think would be one word to describe it. We didn't go down into Llangollen itself as there was a festival on, plus holiday boats so as it would be very crowded. Also we were told if your draft is more than 22" you would ground a lot. Didn't fancy the struggle so went over the Pontecylite aqueduct to Trevor, turned and came straight back.
The day before we went over the aqueduct someone said there had been a 35 boat queue waiting! With that in mind we got up early and by 8am were going over.... Oh my God! I couldn't look on the free side, talk about white knuckle ride! it was just straight down, no edge. The 'towpath' side wasn't so bad, but I couldn't look, so scary. Never to be done again! Pics will follow....
Ellesmere was nice, had a walk around the town and Tesco of course! At Chirk marina we topped up the diesel tank. What friendly people. That is one thing we have noticed that everyone is chatty and friendly up here.
Whitchurch was another nice little town, old fashioned, with a magnificent ironmongery. At Poveys Lock an elderly gentleman had a veg stall set up. Home grown potatoes, carrots, cauliflowers and cabbage. Super, it's the one thing that is tricky to keep, especially in the summer. He also helped you by either filling or emptying the lock when there were no other boats about.
The Hurlestone flight of locks are at the end of arm before turning back onto the main line Shroppie. By a spot of luck we were the last boat through before CRT closed the middle lock and put yellow tape across whilst they put on waders to investigate what was stopping the gates from closing. We never did find out.
A touch of déjà vue, back in Nantwich. This time I met a super boater, from an original boating family.
I bought a rag rug from him, plus he taught me how to do it. So that's a winter project! I would love you to save any old T shirts, then I can cut them up and recycle them in the form of a rug! Thank you!!
We arrived at Audlem the week before the Transport festival. Shame, would have liked to go to it but only had a 48hour mooring. But it was lovely to walk down and take in the working boats gathering. I was taking a photo of a working boat, 'Ian',when the owner came along and started a long chat.... 'Ian' is the last wooden motor boat to be built,in 1946/47.
He opened her / him up and allowed me to go inside. It was all original, in the boat mans cabin. Cobwebs, dust and dirt included! So, so tiny! To think families lived in this space, washed, cooked and slept. It was such a hard life. Working all hours in all weathers.
Kevin has 'Ian' as a 'toy', a very expensive toy! He is gradually replacing the wood structure and the stern which is one piece of solid wood. It's his love and thank goodness for those like him to save and restore this wonderful history of ours.
Soon after this while walking the dogs Geoff helped another working boat through a lock. This is when I met Vivee and her partner on the way to the gathering. She introduced me to the group called Women on the Cut. A teapot on the roof of the boat denotes you are a member. I have joined the group but not found a teapot yet! On the look out...!
Then onto Market Drayton. Here we were meeting Corinne, Louis and Harvey. It was super to see them and have a proper catch up. She then drove on to Wales to visit her daughter.
Our next visitor was Karen and George at Tyrley Wharf. Once again a great chin wag!
A stretch of the canal, wood savers cutting was very narrow, shallow but beautiful! Then we arrived at Norbury Junction. It was here that Rebecca and Emily were coming to meet up. How wonderful it was to see them! Emily jumped up and down with excitement. I had cooked roast chicken, potatoes, beans and carrots for dinner with apple and blackberry crumble with custard. Blackberrys from the hedgerow already!
The next day we went on a little trip to Gnosall. Beck needed to work so she got on with that, while Emily and I took in the scenery, it started to rain but stopped soon after we had moored up. Went out to stretch our legs with the dogs eager too.
The next day we filled the water tank and took them through a lock, turned after about a couple of miles, back down the same lock, then onwards back to Norbury Junction.
Coming down that lock we saw 'Lexa' a boat that Peter and Janet used to own and Karen borrowed, with me for crew. That was a lot of years ago!
Emily seemed to enjoy fishing for the first time, even though not terribly successful. The fishing net was fun. Mainly playing with the dogs who were very patient considering they are not used to that sort of attention!
Beck really struggled with the fact the internet signal was very poor. Just not used to such things!
They left for home after breakfast, so all was quiet!
On one of our trips to the chandlery and chatting with the manager we decided to bring forward the bottom of the boat being blacked. They have a dry dock which when living on board was preferable to being craned out! So yesterday we came into this dark, dank shed. They've fitted a gang plank with hand rails and electricity, which is good because it's dark inside and you can't tell what the weathers doing! The dogs are getting used to the gang plank, Darley crawled across on her tummy first time! Our biggest fear was Archie, bull in a china shop, charging across and slipping into the pit! No soft landing!!
They power washed off the bottom yesterday, then it has to dry. Today the first coat has been done, tomorrow another two coats, then out on Wednesday. They are also making a hole in our new tiller arm. It's an extra long one as I have been struggling with the shorter one. I should be able to stand in the correct position as well.
After this we have to make speed to Stoke Bruerene for September. Looking forward to the Village at War weekend.
