Keeping the cold out...

Last weekend we called down to D.O.G and set up an oil filled radiator in the saloon, thermometer set at 5c.

Today we visited again to check on how things were doing and top up the electric meter. Looks like it's doing the job.

The Original...

Dee O Ghee. Charlie, our faithful and loved friend of twelve years was put to sleep this morning after a short illness. (Cancer)

He had a good life and loved his time spent on long walks, caravaning and the last few years, canal adventures. oh! not to forget his weekly visits to his nans.

He was our Rhodesian Ridgeback or Rhodesian Reject (-: as he was missing his ridge. A sad time for us but some lovely memories.

RIP Charlie, We're missing you xxxxx.

Flying visit...

It's not been easy finding time to get down to Dee O Ghee this last month or so, Mark's been working seven day weeks and Charlie hasn't been well, daily visits needed to the vet. 

Arriving late morning at the marina everything was ok on board, we did trial runs and changed two of the porthole glass seals that were becoming rather tatty. The others can be changed next time we're here.

Before leaving for home, we called around to see Steve and Chris on Nb Amyjo for a cuppa and catch-up, not long after we arrived Richard and Sharon from Nb Oakapple also called in, it was good to hear how everyone was doing.

 

Nantwich...

Arriving in Nantwich earlier after only a short trip, we'd decided a rest was deserved after yesterdays longer than expected trip in the rain. We had a good spot so lounged around before taking a walk into Nantwich. Its a lovely town and has some really nice buildings.

Our mooring for the night

The Old Savings Bank

Looking like work has just started on renervating

Small courtyard of shops

Would love this as a house

Leads to coffee shop

On our way back to the boat we bumped into Diane and Ray from Nb Fernwood, we met again in the morning as we both arrived at the service area together. Hope to meet you both again soon for a proper chat.

Audlem in the rain...

It was definitely a more pleasant trip going than coming back through Audlem. We moored up for a water top up, not that we really needed it just wanted a photo of us outside the Shroppie Fly. 

Us outside the shroppie

Our prefered feeding and watering hole when in town.

Half way up the locks

Our homeward trip happened to be on Monday Bank holiday, it rained all the way down the fifteen locks, hardly anyone was passing in the opposite direction so it made things even harder. 

About half way down Charlie decided to fall off the boat at one of the locks, not just his back legs this time, he was slowly sliding down the stern claws grinding at the paintwork as he went, we caught hold of his collar then a leg then anything we could, it took both of us to pull him out of the water, I still dont know how we did it without having to get in the water, Charlie weighs nine stone on a dry day and I'am sure hes put on a few pounds since his last check-up. All the visitor moorings had gone after lock 10 so on we go.

As we emptied lock 13 a CRT man appeared from nowhere and helped while Corinne walked down to start setting the next lock. We were shocked at the amount of moored boats, it must have been the rain that dissuaded them from attempting the locks. Pussies!

We finally stopped just passed the marina at Overwater.

Wolverhampton...

Wolverhampton, heading south the approach to and including the 21 lock flight didn't seem too bad but once we'd passed the services at Broad Street Basin things went down hill pretty quickly, not the sort of areas I would willingly stop for the night at, the water was covered in a film of something but we couldn't decide what, we just new it wasn't the time fall in, wildlife was also non existent but that was probably understandable. Today had turned out to be the worst day so far. We decided to continue into Birmingham, a long day and not one we had planned, it wasn't even guaranteed that a space would be available so late in the day.

Approach to lock 21

Charlie playing around

Flight ahead of us

Cottages at lock 1

Broad Street Basin

Passing through old Wolverhampton

 

The reverse trip was much better probably because we knew what was ahead of us, still a long day but it was done. The McDonald's next at lock 14? on the Wolverhampton flight made for a nice distraction as Corinne nipped to pick up donuts and coffee while I emptied the next lock.

 

Don't stop now only one more to go.

Birmingham...

It was good to reach Birmingham, we got a spot just before Sheep Cote Street Bridge it was late in the day and thankful to find somewhere.

We settled down to relax and have dinner before taking Charlie for a walk along the canal and onto Gas Street Basin, It's a great place with plenty of places to eat and cafes to sit outside and watch the world go by.

Our mooring for two nights



Staying for two nights, we didn't venture far from the canal but we not the city type and the experience may have spoiled it for us, we enjoyed our stay around Birmingham Gas Street and would definately come back.

 

Market Drayton...

Moored up at Market Drayton last night, there's a floating market on so most of the visitor moorings were reserved for trading boats but most were empty. Needed food supplys and ionising water to top up the batteries. A late start today and a few boats going past.

 

 

 

Gnosall. S.U.C...

Stopping at Gnosall last night, we treated ourselves to fish and chips, not from the pub adjacent to the canal that offers takeaway fish and chips but from the chippy about a mile down the road and £4 cheaper, lovely they were too.

 

 

Charlie isn't allowed on the chairs but he always manages to work his way between us.

 

 

Trouble at the Junction...

Arriving at Norbury Junction today we made use of the CRT Services filling up and emptying the necessary thing's, then moving onto the diesel point. My high tech fuel gauge (a wooden dipstick) was telling me to fill up. We secured the ropes and Corinne went inside to see what the protocol was for getting fuel. It turns out we help ourselves then pay inside. What we didnt notice was Charlie had decided to take a look around by himself, and being a food monster followed his nose straight in to the cafe, not happy with that he then proceeded into the kitchen, as Corinne was leaving she could here shoo shoo and saw big lump 'Charlie' backing out of the kitchen. Oh dear in trouble again.

 

Audlem to Market Drayton...

Twenty locks completed today, thats the fifteen at Audlem and five Adderley.

The house adjacent to lock 1 sells scones and cakes so we treated ourselves, turns out that the farm at Adderley locks were selling the same but half the price. Just my luck!

We've put Market Drayton in the title but have actually stopped for the night just before.

The wind has started to blow pretty hard, hope the surrounding trees can take it.

Wifi and Blogger...

I have never posted a blog on previous trips because of the problems I've had with image sizing, laptop, notepad, nothing worked. I've found out on this trip that posting using my phone works apart from, I can only post two images max, something to do with data levels being exceeded,  but I suppose two images are better than none.

Beeston to Audlem...

Three broad locks and staircase locks completed first thing this morning,  pairing up with some hire boaters made it easier.

Passing Barbridge Inn, it was a lot quieter than the last time we were here, on our return journey we intend to call in for a a meal.

 

Last two locks of the day at Hack Green.

Moored up in Audlem not far from where we stayed a few weeks ago.

 

 

 

Late start to Beeston...

Left the marina late yesterday evening for a head start through the broad locks today, managed to get one lock under our belt before mooring up for the night. This morning we woke to total silence. Bliss.

Heading South down the Shroppie this morning.

Christleton...

Last week we'd promised our mum and her sister a trip out on Dee O Ghee if the weather was OK today, going off the last few days rain it didn't look very promising, but peeping through the curtains early this morning it looked fine outside so the trip is on.

Having breakfast and taking Charlie out first, he wouldn't fit in the car with everyone else so was being left at home with Andy our son. Poor Charlie we don't like leaving him and he can certainly put on that sad look to make us feel even more guilty

We made the phone call to say we'd pick everyone up at 10.00, and had a quick coffee before setting off.

Arriving at the marina at 11.30 we soon got underway heading towards Chester our plan was to stop at the Cheshire Cat in Christleton for a meal before returning back. As we approached the pub it looked very busy so we winded at bridge 121 and moored up for a short walk further along the towpath to the Trooper. We tried their meal deals, Main course, as much salad as you wanted, as many drink refills (soft drinks or tea and coffee) plus ice cream, it was very nice and definately worth £9.99.

Back at the marina we'd had a lovely day, only one very short shower on the way there.

This trip: Miles 10.

New Tiller Handle...



Corinne has mentioned on a few occasions in the past! that the original tiller handle was too long when standing in the streering position, my project today was to make us a new shorter handle, this time in oak to match the boats interior.



Old handle on bottom, new one on top.

Audlem festival 2014...

Back home now after an excellent few days trip to this years Audlem's historic transport festival but this years was more special than previously,  it was the first time we'd gone with Dee O Ghee.

Setting off last Wednesday evening after work we untied after seven and had moored up an hour later near Beeston for the night.

Thursday morning setting off in brilliant sunshine was very nice but we know what lay ahead of us, the dreaded five broad locks that take so long to do on your own, is time we were fortunate and a work boat heading for Tilstone emergency lock repairs on Friday was heading our way, at least for one of the locks. Three and a half hours later we had completed all the locks, Barbridge junction next and onto Hurleston junction that was deserted when we past by.  We continued ahead and past a long line of boats, we had hoped to moor in the heart of Nantwich tonight but instead we had to settle for a mooring just past the aqueduct.

Again Friday was very hot as we set off. The damn horse flies were bugging us something terrible and I'm still blaming one of theses flies for making me hit some bushes, Corinne was down getting a drink when we hit and she came rushing out thinking id either fallen off the boat or had a heart attack. After a quick check over Dee O Ghee and a thumbs up from the bow, no serious damage done just another war wound on the paintwork. A bit further along as we approached Hack Green lock Nr2. You know the one with that Secret bunker location that nobody knows about.

 Guess who was coming out of the lock in front of us, it looked very much like someone we know, the sailing boats on the bow gave it away. As they pulled over to the towpath and we entered the lock Steve and Chris from Nb Amyjo walked back up the lock to meet us, it was great to see them at long last after following the blog for so long and knowing we were going to be neighbours in the same marina when they finally brought Amyjo home, it was a shame we met where we did and couldn't stop for a longer chat.

We soon reached Audlem and checked for a space as we passed along all the boats, turning around at the winding hole just before bridge 79, and finding a mooring closer than we had expected to the festival, the day was still very hot and we know Charlie would struggle in the heat if we went walking too far, in the end we took a nice slow stroll up to Audlem Mill and picked up a souvenir of our trip, a big red pot teddybear.

On the way back to the boat we sat outside The Shroppie Fly for a drink and a cool down under an umbrella bench.

Later that evening once the suns heat had dropped we headed back for another look around the boats before the crowds arrive tomorrow.

Cheese Boat

Saturday and the official first day of the festival it was a scorcher, we went out earlier to miss the heat and called in at the Mill again and bought a foxy door stop we'd seen yesterday,

Foxy door stop

Charlie flaked out with the heat

had another quick look around the boats and headed back to take shelter from the weather, as the day came to a end we repainted the towpath side of the blacking to hide some of the knocks we had acquired since last November.

Sunday. Today was Corinne's and Charlies birthdays,

Birthday girl

we all lounged about till around ten thirty and then headed for the procession of vintage and some not so vintage vehicles that pass through the village at 11:15. The hot weather had eased slightly. We watched all three hundred vehicles pass by then headed up to the green where they had parked up for people to look at them more closely.

We slipped away slightly early to get lunch before the rush started, Thinking we'd give the Shroppie fly another chance after last years disgracefully attempt at food, only to find they are no longer a dog frendly pub, their loss not ours. We took a walk up to the Bridge Inn just a 100 yards up the towpath and found dogs are more than welcome, the drinks are better too.

Wanting to get back the the boat before the Dakota fly past we headed back after lunch. Its been a great day and the fly past topped it off.

Monday was our day to be heading off home, we set off around 9:30. the narrow locks we came to were a dream compaired the doubles we had ahead of us.

Aqueduct at Nantwich

Coming into Nantwich we needed the get water and empty the unwanted waste and rubbish, two boats were aready on the services but it didn't take them long to move off, all full and clean again we were off, today was yet another very warm day, we were making good progress too. As we approached Barbridge Inn a space just big enough for us to squeeze into was avalible at the front of the pub, inches to spare and we were in. Everyone was sat in the garden to the side but the tables at the canal front looked better and in the shade, We had seafood salad and banoffee mess, both lovely and on our to visit again list.

It was then we made the decision to go on and get the five broad locks out of the way today, leaving lock free cruising tomorrow. It was a good choice too because as we waited at Bunbury Staircase a boat came up behind, and joined us for all five locks, we both moored for the night at The Shady Oak Beeston.

Tuesday and a slow get away, no need to rush as all the work was done yesterday, it was a nice trip back to the marina, the weather had gone a lot colder but it was fine.

This trip: Miles 34. Broad locks 12. Narrow locks 4. Aqueducts 2.