Canal Wanderers (2024)

28/04/2022

Last night in our boat and for the first time in weeks the sun is not shining! But it isn't cold, raining or windy and we sat outside for a G & T by our sparkling, clean boat free from the detritus of 2 months of our occupation with Peggy and Finlay! We so enjoyed our seventieth (Fran) birthday tour but holiday's always have to end and we look forward to getting home via Grassington for a Cree family party weekend.

27/04/2022

Well.....what a long time since we posted! We did the Harecastle Tunnel north of Stoke on Trent and came out at the other end in high winds which meant a stop in photography and increased time in boat handling! We headed north steadily on the Trent Mersey Canal mooring one night near a beautiful bluebell wood, the dogs loved it! They call this section of canal heartbreak hill because of the number of locks- 31 in 3 milies- we could see why given the wind making entrance and exits interesting! We turned onto the Middlewich Canal at Middlewich and headed to turn onto the Shropshire Union and then onto the Llangollen Canal for a brief little holiday jaunt before getting the boat back and heading home. The Llangollen is a very popular holiday canal and was busier than the others we had been on but lovely boating. We turned round at Whitchurch and are now heading back to Nantwich and the car. But it has to be said - all in lovely sunshine even when it was windy!

22/04/2022

Onward in lovely weather - heading north up through Stone, reputed home of narrow boating and mid point of the Trent Mersey Canal, then on to Stoke on Trent. Stone was busy - its amazing how the canals have come to life with the Easter holidays. We stopped in Stoke at the Middleport Pottery, home of Burleigh, to replace my broken teapot. Then onwards to Westport Lake to moor and have a BBQ in the park watching newly hatched signets being paraded by their proud parents across the lake!

18/04/2022

Well what an Easter Weekend! Weather just wonderful - maybe even too hot for some! Travelling onwards along the Trent Mersey canal , the last two big double locks were b.....s! but now it is just single locks for all the way! Through Burton Trent and to Fradley and a favourite pub - The Swan: it was mad - Morris men Vintage cars , motorbikes, but still found space for a pint. There are five locks through Fradley which all have spectators so best get things right!
Now at Great Haywood junction where we wanted to visit Shugborough Hall - again things are mad as there was canalside fair where travelling boats sell there wares, mainly "tat"!
A world away form Wester Ross - but an enjoyable weekend nonetheless.

15/04/2022

We are now back to the 'safety' of the canal after the River Soar and River Trent journeys. We enjoyed the Soar but everyone warned us it floods easily after rain - luckily no rain worth speaking of for us and the navigation was through mainly rural English countryside. We now sit on moorings just onto the Trent Mersey canal at Sawley, Nottinghamshire, with East Midlands Airport to the SW and the M1 just ahead and Castle Donnington motor cycle race track can be heard in the distance - but still surprisingly tranquil and in hot sunshine.

12/04/2022

THE SIGHTS OF LEICESTER CENTRAL - after a number of locks we meet The Golden Mile in the centre. Contrasting from wealthy old and new to the more seamier side of a city! Back out now into the Soar valley - lined with country parks which are great for the dogs!

11/04/2022

13 locks along the Leicester canal - getting into position to go through the City Centre tomorrow. We are advised not to stop overnight in the centre!
Moored tonight in the pound which last time we travelled through had no water - had to stay in the centre avoiding all the bricks and concrete. Today much prettier and enjoyable - might not sleep tonight for fear of drying out again!

10/04/2022

Foxton Locks on the Grand Union Canal......a visitor attraction seeing 400,000 visitors a year and a route down to the Soar Valley for narrowboats. Ten locks in two sets of staircases - unique on the canal network! We achieved the ten in record time with the help of Canal Volunteers and tourists - one hour to do the ten! We moored at the bottom to do the laundry in the launderette which just happened to be next to the coffee shop and pub.........coffee then pie and a pint made doing the washing very enjoyable indeed. 😀 We then set off towards Leicester in very attractive rural countryside - went down five more big double locks and moored for the night. Sunshine all the way!

08/04/2022

After the last two windy days we had a long day today to catch up a bit!
We also took the decision to change our route home and go via Leicester and the River Soar. So turn left at Norton Junction and head to Watford Gap - here the Romans started with the A5 (Watling St) , then came the railway and canal and now the M1. All squashed into 400m's!
The canal rises through a special set of 7 locks which you have to book but get help going through. After an hours wait we were quickly up them. Surprisingly in 5 minutes we find a lovely rural mooring in the evening sunshine - albeit with a bit of an M1 drone!

06/04/2022

Had more of an explore of Cosgrove from the land. Looking at the iron trunk we crossed yesterday from below made it seem even more impressive! Finlay particularly liked the River Ouse taking several dips! The horse tunnels under the canal are a bit weird when you think there is the canal above your head, The best one is in Cosgrove leading to the pub where we had lunch!

06/04/2022

Warmer weather and dry for our return through Milton Keynes. The first task was to go down three locks with an aptly named pub half way down - unfortunately it was 9am! We also had two strapping canal volunteers to help so achieved the locks in record time. We decided to put off the delights of Milton Keynes Launderette and get as far north as Cosgrove to moor as the forecast is for a couple of days of strong wind. We saw our first ducklings of spring having their first swimming lessons in the murky canal waters!

03/04/2022

Given we are now reversing our journey you might think there is nothing to report but there are things along the way we missed and there are always new experiences. Like today sharing the locks with this "live aboard" person - somewhat eclectic but happy to work with us down the Marsworth locks. Engine was a bit fumey though! So now coming down from the Chilterns and heading north.

02/04/2022

Other pics from today - none of the drained pound sadly forgot the camera!

02/04/2022

Deep frost on awakening but the sun was shining so ice on the boat quickly melted. We had 2 locks to do immediately but when Fran went to open up there was trouble. The water had drained completely from the pound between the 2 locks so we had to drain water down from above - quite proud of ourselves really as we managed to sort the problem without calling for help! We then had seven more locks to work before reaching the top pound of the Chilterns. There was lots of help from walkers out enjoying the Saturday morning sunshine. It was then time to turn round - always fun! This was as far south as we were to travel and only 34 miles from Brentwood and The Thames!

31/03/2022

Well we expected some winter weather -it's just a shock after the warmth of the last few weeks! Have left Milton Keynes behind and started on the climb up the Chilterns. Managed for a while in the cold - infact it was quite pleasant between squalls of sleet and snow! Moored up just short of Leighton Buzzard in the countryside but still watching the trains - which are busy enough!.

30/03/2022

What a difference a day makes! From hot sunshine to cold grey skies! Monday dawned drizzly meaning the new sowester was worn for the first time! The drizzle lasted around an hour but the air was cooling all the time. We ha problems with the charging of the leisure battery and needed the boatyard to come out to sort things out. Today the engineer arrived with three new batteries for us and fitted them this morning. On our way again wending around Milton Keynes which is a testament to good planning - park after park between all the housing developments. We even saw concrete sheep (couldn't find the famous cows). The canal skirts the northern edges and we are heading towards Fenny Stratford and Bletchley.

28/03/2022

What a day! Thick fog surrounding the boat in the morning which quickly cleared but made the railway to the left and roads to the right look mystic! We motored on in warm sunshine, through Gayton junction taking the turn for Brentford (London) until entering the Blisworth Tunnel, second longest navigable tunnel in the UK! Peggy was not impressed with the water leaks but Fran tried to shelter her with an umbrella - not with any thanks!! Blisworth is a two way tunnel and we met a boat coming towards us in the middle - a few inches to spare in passing!! 3057 yds in total. Out in glorious sunshine at Stoke Bruene just in time for lunch then a quick trip down the seven double locks with the help of a cheery Canal Volunteer. A couple of miles further motoring and we moored in the countryside well away from the rail/M1! Wine on deck .in the sun

27/03/2022

A very quick 7 locks at Buckby this morning with lots of hire boats ( which we are of course) all either rushing to get their boats back on time or having just set out and learning the ropes. Consequence was a slight collision with a boat who hadn't found reverse!
Much of the canal today was sandwiched between the M1and the main West Coast trainline - not so peaceful a Sunday.
Bit confused with the clock change - but atleast the dogs apparently gave us a lie in.
Definite change in weather today - colder to come we hear!

26/03/2022

Slow start to the day - found a very helpful boat yard to sort the electrics out on the boat. Not easy on a change over day! All sorted now with a new bilge pump which means we had a light for the up coming tunnel! Now progressing further south on the Grand Union Canal. Hopefully no more hold-ups. Weather has been fantastic - in shorts for two days! Apparently about to change back to normal March weather.

25/03/2022

A strange and muddled few days - climbing Stockton locks with another boat, much quicker and sociable! Through several junctions around Braunston. Bit of a logistical hiccup with Fran needing to go to hospital for a small procedure - not many hospitals adjacent to the canal!
All sorted now and back to Braunston - which is a bit of a canal Mecca ! Not so much so that we can't find someone to fix an electrical problem leaving us no headlight and with a tunnel tomorrow, not funny! We've got a big torch though!

Canal Wanderers

28/04/2022

27/04/2022

22/04/2022

18/04/2022

15/04/2022

12/04/2022

11/04/2022

10/04/2022

08/04/2022

06/04/2022

06/04/2022

03/04/2022

02/04/2022

02/04/2022

31/03/2022

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