We are a retired couple who after living abroad for 5 years are now living in Levin, New Zealand. From October 2006 we cruised the inland waterways of Britain. We sold Narrowboat Gypsy Rover in July 2010 and continued our travels around the UK in our new Motorhome. In August 2011 we returned to New Zealand ahead of our motorhome which arrived in October. Although now land based we will be continuing our travels throughout New Zealand when time allows.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Wow and so close to town
Chasewater the Reservoir that isn’t.
0 Locks, 7.32 Miles. Now moored at Anglesey Basin.
Yesterday, rain stopped play as they say in cricket. After several days of heavy locking we were all quite happy to sit it out for a day. While chilling out we did receive an unusual phone call from Geoff ( I hope I’ve got that right) from Nb Dash that was moored immediately opposite us. He wasn’t on his boat but home somewhere in Suffolk. He has been following the blog and twigged that we were moored somewhere near his boat so gave us a call to ensure his boat was OK and a quick chat about the area. Thanks for that Geoff.
This morning was clear and bright so we watered up and gave the boat a bit of a wash before setting off once more. The first couple of miles through a vast area of warehouses and light industrial was slow going due to mud and weeds. Luckily we didn’t have any problems with a fouled propeller, just plenty of reverse thrusting kept it clear.
Once we got closer to Catshill Junction the condition of the canal improved in width and depth and we were able to make better progress.
Considering how close we are to Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton the scenery has been quite spectacular in places making our trip up here worth while. Arriving at the terminus of the canal we found one boat on the moorings so just moored in front of him on the grass bank. An hour or so later the owner of the other boat returned and left so we were able to pull back on to the wharf albeit breasted up as usual. There appeared to be a large rock or stone in the water on the other side of the moorings stopping either of us from getting in close. I tested the water depth which was fine it was just this obstruction.
Walking up to the reservoir we were among hundreds of others who had all come out for a stroll in the sunshine and a walk around the very empty reservoir. Despite signs to say “Stay off the Soft Mud” many people were walking right out to the edge of the present waterline and no doubt getting themselves in a mess. Looking at the water level and the position of the pump house I doubt whether they can lower the water level much further than they have already. Apparently stranded fish have been a bit of a problem during the draining process but all appeared well today.
Sorry no photos tonight as the internet is not stable enough. Normal service will resume as soon as possible.
2162 locks, 4187.23 miles, 87 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 58 lift bridges since Nov 2006
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Have Suitcase but no travel!
9 Locks, 5.10 Miles. Now moored at Longwood Junction.
Well today started out reasonably well. I managed to get a looooong hot shower at the facilities block and we had a peaceful night despite being near a road bridge. Unfortunately Derek on Uccello was only slightly improved after doing his back a mischief a couple of days ago but he was determined to soldier on. Everything was going well until we turned right at Rushall Junction. It was like changing from a wide river to a narrow stream. With reeds on both sides and the water depth becoming shallower our progress slowed quite decidedly.
At lock 9 I dropped Dot off to do her locking duties and immediately became grounded in soft mud. When Dot had the lock set I tried to move off when all of a sudden there was a bang and the engine died. I signalled Derek on Uccello to pass me as he was sitting mid stream awaiting his turn. When I got down the weed hatch I was confronted by something big and blue. I attacked it with my pole hook to start off with and came away with the lid of a vinyl suitcase. I could feel wire in amongst the debris but my cutters were not strong enough to cut it. What I needed was a pair of bolt cutters which Carrie was kindly loaned by a neighbour tending his garden. I did manage to make a few cuts in the wire but to no avail due to the age and condition of the cutters.
Only one thing for it but to ring BW for some heavy equipment. The Foreman I spoke to said that he could have somebody with us in about an hour or so and I told him what would be required, i.e. bolt cutters. While waiting we decided to keep going by bow hauling Gypsy Rover up through the locks as they are fairly close together. This went well between locks 9 and 8 but going up to lock 7 we went aground and had a devils own job getting into the lock. With some help from Carrie we did finally make it but decided that was enough bow hauling for one day. It worked out quite well actually because BW could drive in right alongside the boat at this point.
BW crew No 1 arrived only armed with an extra long pole hook with which they manage to extricate the main body of the suitcase but there was still a lot of the framework wrapped around the prop shaft. Only one thing for it they had to go to the yard for some bolt cutters, (that’s funny where had I heard that mentioned before?), this they assured me would only take 20 minutes. In the meantime we had our lunch. About an hour and a half later a BW truck arrived, but hang on that’s a different crew! Sure enough BW crew No 2 had received a phone call from crew No1 to say that the front wheel bearing on their truck had collapsed and they were awaiting a recovery wagon to take them to the garage so could crew no 2 carry on where crew no 1 had left off and finish trying to help us.
Not a problem but of course they were on the other side of Birmingham hence the time delay. Needless to say they didn’t have any bolt cutters, only a hack saw and secateurs neither of which were going to be much use. However the younger of the 2 guys donned his long gloves, headed down the weed hatch and after about 20 minutes had managed to unwind the wire and remove it completely. After a quick check to make sure that we were back in working order they left taking with them one very battered and torn suitcase.
The irony of crew No1’s truck is that it was due to be written off and replaced with a brand new truck next Wednesday. What a bummer! After all this we finally got under way again and made our present moorings with no further ado but we have since learnt that the canal is much shallower this week due to the Chasewater Reservoir being drained.
2162 locks, 4179.91 miles, 87 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 58 lift bridges since Nov 2006
Friday, 19 March 2010
Heading up the Tame Valley.
13 Locks, 3.32 Miles. Now moored at Perry Barr top lock
Last night’s moorings were not the most salubrious so with the weather being in our favour we opted to move on this morning.
At Salford Junction we turned left underneath the concrete jungle of the motorway interchange commonly known as “Spaghetti Junction” Hundreds of concrete pillars of all heights bearing huge cross beams carrying the M6 and A38(M) in all directions. Contractors were busy carrying out remedial repairs on this massive concrete monstrosity but this didn’t affect the canal.
Again we had a good run up through the locks passing some of the relics of the old back pumping system used to recirculate and save water. Once away from the motorways it was nice to hear the sound of the birds instead of the drone of motor vehicle’s even though we were passing through residential area’s. At the top of the Perry Barr locks we could look back toward Birmingham which is only a couple of miles away as the crow flies.
2153 locks, 4174.81 miles, 87 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 58 lift bridges since Nov 2006
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