Sunday 25th May
We have stayed on R&R in the marina since we arrived there on Thursday, on Friday we had a ride to Braunston as we needed to get some bits from AJ canopies and we popped in to the Admiral Nelson pub for a pint. It had been ages since we had been in this pub and it has been redecorated and looks good we were going to sit outside next to the lock but then Kev stood in a pile of dogs...t right next to the table, it really makes me mad that people have no regard for anybody and let their dogs do their business anywhere!!
Anyway it started yet again to rain and we headed off back to the marina, and I must say we have taken the opportunity since being in the marina to try eating out at all 3 places. It was a treat for me as Kev was away for my birthday and our Silver Wedding Anniversary so we first tried the cafe/bar at the small cinema on Thursday and it was lovely, then on Friday night we had a meal in the Waterfront pub and also they had a band on they did a lot of Paul Weller so Kev was pleased.
Last night was lovely as we went to the Thai restaurant and had a fantastic meal.
Well what can I say "CRICK SHOW" as usual the weather did what it does best "RAIN" and the ground was soaking, we didn't think we would get the car off the field as cars were slipping when we were actually going in to the show. They had put old straw down in places inside the show itself but it was torrential rain at times and it was just awful most people had wellies on and my god did you need them as it was very very muddy too. We were a bit disappointed with this years show apart from the dreadful weather there didn't seem to be much there, obviously there were plenty of new boats to look at but not really many interesting stalls so we won't be in a rush to go again.
We are back home now and the weather here in Roos has been lovely and I have managed to get lots of washing out on the line now it means I have it all to iron!!!
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Bloggers meeting & a drama on the canal
Thursday 22nd May
Well what a difference it was this morning it was pouring down! When the rain stopped we had a walk back up to Shadehouse lock to the visitor moorings to see if Sue & Vic on No Problem are about, as we got to them we saw Vic in the cratch sweeping up. Nice to see a man put to good use!! We asked him if Sue was about and he said yes & invited us on board and Vic made us all a cuppa. This is the first time we had really met Sue & Vic and we told them that it had been us waving at them yesterday it was nice to have a good natter and thanks for the tea & coffee hope to meet up again in the future.
Well what a difference it was this morning it was pouring down! When the rain stopped we had a walk back up to Shadehouse lock to the visitor moorings to see if Sue & Vic on No Problem are about, as we got to them we saw Vic in the cratch sweeping up. Nice to see a man put to good use!! We asked him if Sue was about and he said yes & invited us on board and Vic made us all a cuppa. This is the first time we had really met Sue & Vic and we told them that it had been us waving at them yesterday it was nice to have a good natter and thanks for the tea & coffee hope to meet up again in the future.
When we left to walk back to R&R Sue walked with us and brought the dogs for a walk too, and after we said our goo byes to Sue we started getting ready to leave our mooring, then something happened that could have been fatal! There was a young woman sat at the water point close to the edge of the canal and she had a little toddler in a buggy and also was holding a labrador on a lead, I never saw what happened next but Kev did!! She had the buggy facing the water and for a brief moment she let go and the buggy and the child went into the canal!! She managed to grab the buggy but was slipping down herself, I heard her screaming for help and Kev was on his way but a workman saw her and a couple of women from the cafe and they managed to get the buggy with the toddler strapped into it out of the canal. What an absolute nightmare for the poor little child's Kev said if the mother had let go the child would have drowned but if she had let go he would have jumped in the canal for the child. It was a silly thing to do to sit with the buggy facing the water and so close to the edge but sometimes people just don't think what they are doing and I wonder how it will affect the toddler in the future about water. Anyway at least it was ok in the end and the staff from the cafe were lovely and took them in for a hot drink.
This is a photo of the mother,toddler and the staff after the rescue!
After all that we prepared to get away from the mooring at Fradley and left about 12.45pm and headed down the lock and onto Alrewas where we moored just after the winding hole near the bridge and Kev walked to the shop for some cream as he wanted to have it with his carrot cake he was having with a cuppa (plenty of calories there then) Anyway once we were refreshed we headed off to the lock and onto the section of river.
Onto the river looking back at the lock
And passed the weir
Sunny all the way to Fradley
Thursday 22nd May
Yesterday we arrived at Gt Haywood just after 12.45pm, we had stopped at Wolseley Arms pub first and had some lunch but we were both disappointed with the food so we won't be going there again! Kev went to the office to let them know we were leaving while I went to the boat and turned the water etc on and then when he got to the boat we unloaded the car and once we were sorted we left the berth at 1.45pm and headed off for Fradley. What a lovely day to cruise the canal, the sun was glorious all the way and there were a few boats on the move so the locks were all in our favour. I tried to take a few photos with Kevs camera and it didn't seem to be working then Kev realised that the battery was flat!! As we were approaching Shadehouse Lock at Fradley I spied a boat we knew and it was nb No Problem moored on the visitor moorings as we passed I sounded the horn as I couldn't see anybody but as we were passing I spotted through a window Sue with Vic along side her & Vic looked out to us so we waved & Sue just waved in time before we were passed. It is always the way no bloody camera again. The visitor moorings were all taken so we dropped down the 3 locks then moored opposite the services. There were loads of motor bikers at the White Swan pub so once we were tied up etc we went for a walk to the pub for a look at them and of course a couple of pints too!!
This photo is for Kev's son Lee as he would love this VTRSP1
Yesterday we arrived at Gt Haywood just after 12.45pm, we had stopped at Wolseley Arms pub first and had some lunch but we were both disappointed with the food so we won't be going there again! Kev went to the office to let them know we were leaving while I went to the boat and turned the water etc on and then when he got to the boat we unloaded the car and once we were sorted we left the berth at 1.45pm and headed off for Fradley. What a lovely day to cruise the canal, the sun was glorious all the way and there were a few boats on the move so the locks were all in our favour. I tried to take a few photos with Kevs camera and it didn't seem to be working then Kev realised that the battery was flat!! As we were approaching Shadehouse Lock at Fradley I spied a boat we knew and it was nb No Problem moored on the visitor moorings as we passed I sounded the horn as I couldn't see anybody but as we were passing I spotted through a window Sue with Vic along side her & Vic looked out to us so we waved & Sue just waved in time before we were passed. It is always the way no bloody camera again. The visitor moorings were all taken so we dropped down the 3 locks then moored opposite the services. There were loads of motor bikers at the White Swan pub so once we were tied up etc we went for a walk to the pub for a look at them and of course a couple of pints too!!
Sorry Lee it wasn't for sale
Friday, 16 May 2014
Busy time while Kev away
Saturday 17th May
While Kev has been away at work I have been busy gardening & power washing the block paving on our drive, it is quite a large area & had got quite bad with weeds and moss. It took me 3 days to get it all done and I was happy to get it done!
While Kev has been away at work I have been busy gardening & power washing the block paving on our drive, it is quite a large area & had got quite bad with weeds and moss. It took me 3 days to get it all done and I was happy to get it done!
The drive all clean now!
some of the garden sorted too!
On Thursday 14th May it was my birthday and the next day (15th) it was our Silver Wedding Anniversary, as Kev wasn't here we will go for a meal when he comes home. he is home on Tuesday evening and we will be going to Rock & Roll on Wednesday morning. We are moving to Barton Turns marina and have a mooring there for a few months.
My sister bought us a silver wedding photo frame and I put a photo in it of Kev (with hair and no grey) carrying me across the threshold, we were both a bit lighter weight wise then!
Kev sent me some flowers and they were gorgeous Thanks Kev, we also got some champagne from the kids Kirsty, Colette & Lee along with some earrings for me & cufflinks for Kev, so thank you all for them. We will be drinking the champagne while we are on the boat. In fact we have two bottles as I have taken a bottle to the boat already so we will be full of bubbles!!
I would like to wish belated wishes to Paul & Elaine (Manly Ferry) as it was their 7th wedding anniversary on the same day as ours.
Saturday, 26 April 2014
Friends for a visit and meeting up with a boating couple
Friday 25th April
Yesterday morning we left our mooring at Etruria and I reversed the boat out and then we were facing the first lock of the day heading for Stone. It was a lovely day and there were plenty of people making the most of the sunshine, a lot were in their gardens cutting the grass, people walking, jogging and fishing and a few boaters on the move too. It puts you in a really good mood when the sun is out and seems to make people more friendly for some reason.
Yesterday morning we left our mooring at Etruria and I reversed the boat out and then we were facing the first lock of the day heading for Stone. It was a lovely day and there were plenty of people making the most of the sunshine, a lot were in their gardens cutting the grass, people walking, jogging and fishing and a few boaters on the move too. It puts you in a really good mood when the sun is out and seems to make people more friendly for some reason.
These are lovely cottages but what is beyond them is a property that we think is fantastic!
As we were moving along we heard a voice from someone shouting to another person and when we looked up we saw a man working on the pylon, rather him than me!
Sam earning his keep!
As we got through lock 29( Newcastle Road) we pulled over to empty the loo and top up with water, we was hoping to get moored after the next lock close to The Star Inn and as we were at the next lock where you drop down to the 48hour moorings another boat came up behind us the man came to help me open the gates and when I told him we were going to try to get moored here he said you will be lucky. Well we were lucky as we got moored close to the Star inn 48 hour moorings.
As I was writing this there was a couple outside the boat trying to get our attention, so Kev opened the side hatch and it was a couple who read the blog but knew us from 4EverMoore's blog too.
We chatted for a bit then Kev asked them in for a cuppa and what a lovely couple they were.
They were moored further along the canal and their boat is called "The Rooster's Rest, they are Pam & Terry and we had a good natter, they were on their way to the shops and we were waiting for some visitors. Anyway we exchanged email addresses etc and they both left to get to the shops.
Kev with Pam & Terry
It has poured with rain all day and our visitors arrived about 2pm, what a dreadful day to come for a boat trip!
Sue,George, Tom & Sam with Kev
We had a text from Pam & Terry saying they ended up in Weatherspoons for a pint, we would have been with them if we hadn't had guests! But it was nice to have Sue & the boys to visit.
Saturday 26th April
Last night we had a take away from the pizza place next to the Swan pub as it rained non stop! This morning it was quite fine but a bit breezy, so we got everybody up and once everybody was ready we left and there was a hire boat just leaving The Star Lock so we went straight in.
As we were going along we passed NB The Rooster's Rest, so another photo was taken as camera was at the ready!
Pam what a lovely smile!!
Bye for now Pam & Terry hope to see you again.
Tom helping Kev at the tiller!!
We got to Gt Haywood Marina @ 1.30pm and moored outside the office to find out which mooring we were going to be on and we are now moored on the floating pontoons where we were before only not exactly on the same one. This was the first time I had brought a boat into a marina and it was windy too so I was quite proud of myself and also after being moored outside the office I managed to get it straight into the berth. Kev took Sue & the boys back to Stone for their car so they will head off home from there and we will go for an indian meal later on to the Shimla Palace near the
Wolseley Arms.
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Rode Heath to Etruria
Wednesday 23rd April
We moored yesterday before bridge140 with the Broughton pub just across it, we went for a walk last night to have a drink and maybe a few games of pool only to find it was closed yet on the door it said that it had been closed for refurbishment and that it would open Tuesday 22nd April! Obviously not! Maybe they hadn't got all the work done for some reason but there seemed to be a few people walking to the pub only to find it closed. Anyway we walked down the road and found another pub I think it was called The Royal Oak which seemed to be the locals main pub and we had a few games of pool with Sam and a couple of pints too!
Up again bright and early as usual, we are always up early at home so being on the boat is no different for us and sometimes it is the best part of the day. Leaving Sam still in bed we set off and when we got to the first locks there was a boat coming down so they were all set in our favour. When we got to bridge 133 we moored so that I could pop to shop then we did the lock and went onto the Harecastle tunnel and moored behind 2 boats that were already waiting to go through. We were there about 40 minutes then a boat came through from the direction of Stoke on Trent so at 12.25pm we set off through with the other 2 boats that and been waiting.
We moored yesterday before bridge140 with the Broughton pub just across it, we went for a walk last night to have a drink and maybe a few games of pool only to find it was closed yet on the door it said that it had been closed for refurbishment and that it would open Tuesday 22nd April! Obviously not! Maybe they hadn't got all the work done for some reason but there seemed to be a few people walking to the pub only to find it closed. Anyway we walked down the road and found another pub I think it was called The Royal Oak which seemed to be the locals main pub and we had a few games of pool with Sam and a couple of pints too!
Up again bright and early as usual, we are always up early at home so being on the boat is no different for us and sometimes it is the best part of the day. Leaving Sam still in bed we set off and when we got to the first locks there was a boat coming down so they were all set in our favour. When we got to bridge 133 we moored so that I could pop to shop then we did the lock and went onto the Harecastle tunnel and moored behind 2 boats that were already waiting to go through. We were there about 40 minutes then a boat came through from the direction of Stoke on Trent so at 12.25pm we set off through with the other 2 boats that and been waiting.
Waiting to go through the Harecastle tunnel
A hire boat entering the tunnel
And our turn to enter
Looking back after we exited the tunnel
Very proud of myself as I did the second half of the tunnel!
We arrived at Etruria at 2.30pm and moored opposite the statue of Mr James Brindley who built the first Harecastle tunnel which took 11 years to complete and was finished in 1777!
Kev is doing a few maintenance checks while we are here and we will head to Stone tomorrow and hopefully get a mooring near the Star so we can meet up with my friend Sue & her 2 boys George & Tom, they will spend Friday night with us and on Saturday will cruise to Great Haywood Marina.
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Not a nice day for cruising very wet at times
Tuesday 22nd April
Well what a miserable day weatherise that is, we left our mooring this morning just after 7.30 am with our wet gear on but it was quite warm, we dropped down through Wardle lock then a sharp right turn to Kings lock and as we were through there we moored up to have breakfast. I know we hadn't gone far but we wanted to get through these 2 locks before it got busy but Kev needed to go back into the town to a DIY shop to buy an adapter for the water hose as we found that when we went to fill with water that our adapter had been left behind at the water point just before Grindley locks! So once we had finished breakfast Kev went for the adapter whilst I washed up etc.
He came back to the boat with 2 adapters in case we left another one anywhere!! We had some heavy showers on the way but in between it was quite fine &the sun even managed to poke through the clouds We stopped at Wheelock to fill with water then worked through the several locks heading to our present mooring before bridge 140 at Rodes Heath, but not far after Pierpoint locks i saw a boat that looked very familiar and said to Kev as we were almost passing it, that's Seyella! typical no camera (due to all the rain left it below) I managed to sound the horn as were just at their bow & Geoff popped out in time for us to shout a quick hello-goodbye. Sorry we didn't stop but we needed to crack on a little bit as we have to meet friends in Stone. Catch you both another time.
Well what a miserable day weatherise that is, we left our mooring this morning just after 7.30 am with our wet gear on but it was quite warm, we dropped down through Wardle lock then a sharp right turn to Kings lock and as we were through there we moored up to have breakfast. I know we hadn't gone far but we wanted to get through these 2 locks before it got busy but Kev needed to go back into the town to a DIY shop to buy an adapter for the water hose as we found that when we went to fill with water that our adapter had been left behind at the water point just before Grindley locks! So once we had finished breakfast Kev went for the adapter whilst I washed up etc.
He came back to the boat with 2 adapters in case we left another one anywhere!! We had some heavy showers on the way but in between it was quite fine &the sun even managed to poke through the clouds We stopped at Wheelock to fill with water then worked through the several locks heading to our present mooring before bridge 140 at Rodes Heath, but not far after Pierpoint locks i saw a boat that looked very familiar and said to Kev as we were almost passing it, that's Seyella! typical no camera (due to all the rain left it below) I managed to sound the horn as were just at their bow & Geoff popped out in time for us to shout a quick hello-goodbye. Sorry we didn't stop but we needed to crack on a little bit as we have to meet friends in Stone. Catch you both another time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)