I've been very tardy with posting reports of the run to the cutweb
rally, but I've got some time now so here goes.
Saturday Sept 13th - 2 furlongs, 1 lock - Middlewich to Middlewich
Total cruising time 20 minutes.
Drove up to Middlewich with Chris in her car, as she has to go back home
tomorrow as she is working all week. Carted various bits and pieces
to the boat and then got the engine started and the boiler lit. Left
the mooring with Middlewich narrowboats at 12.50pm, turned right at the
junction, through Wardle lock and moored on the first mooring beyond the
road bridge at 1.10pm. Definitely one of my shorter day's cruising!
Several beers at lunchtime in the Boar's Head, before a spot of
shopping. Chinese restaurant for dinner before returning to the Boar's
Head for the rest of the evening.
Sunday Sept 14th - 25 miles, 2 furlongs, 25 locks - Middlewich to
Market Drayton
Total cruising time 11 hours 15 minutes.
Chris left to drive home just after 8am, and I got going at 8.15am
straight past Tam Lin and Felis Catus III. No sign of activity on FC.
Bought a bottle of gas while waiting for Cholmondeston lock and stopped
again at the chandlery by Barbridge Junction. I was hoping to buy one
of the flat side fenders, as one of mine had been ripped off when the
boatyard moved my boat along the bank a bit. Unfortunately they had
sold out of these, so I bought a new boat pole instead (the previous one
having been liberated from the roof of the boat many months ago).
Turned left at the Junction at 12.20pm and passed Nantwich Basin at
1.25pm. Somewhat amused by the brown tourist signs showing the way to
the Hack Green secret nuclear bunker - not so secret now is it. :-) A
plastic cruiser had been following me from Nantwich, but he never really
got close enough to have a stab at overtaking me, and I didn't see him
again after going up the Hack Green pair. Arrived at the bottom of the
Audlem flight at 3.20pm, and cleared the top at 5.20pm. I had some
assistance from a couple of passing walkers who were also boat owners.
I loaned them a couple of windlasses (should that be windlii?) and we
fairly raced up the last twelve. Through Adderley by 6.35pm, and moored
for the night beyond bridge 62 in Market Drayton at 7.35pm. Walked up
to the Talbot for food and beer before returning to Arun for sleep.
Monday Sept 15th - 21 miles, 7 furlongs, 6 locks - Market Drayton to
Brewood
Total cruising time 8 hours 35 minutes.
Left Market Drayton at 8.55am and through the Tyrley locks by 10am.
Long level run to Wheaton Aston where I stopped to fill up with diesel
(264 ltrs at 66.9ppl). Passed a cutweb boat (Pangur Ban) somewhere
along this stretch, but can't remember exactly where - possibly High
Onn. Through Wheaton Aston lock at 5.05pm, and moored for the night in
Brewood at 6pm. Could have gone further, but this was the last pub
before Autherley Junction. Don't trust the sign by the steps that says
the Bridge Inn does food 6-9pm Mon - Sun. They don't do food on a
Monday now as I discovered just after I'd ordered a very ordinary pint
of beer. After finishing it I walked into Brewood to find the Indian
restaurant (no longer called the Moti Mahal, but something like The
Curry House - how original). Good meal there and stopped at the late
opening spar shop for provisions.
Tuesday Sept 16th - 21 miles, 3 furlongs, 25 locks - Brewood to
Birmingham
Total cruising time 9 hours 45 minutes.
Early start at 6.25am for the run to Autherley. Passed Ernest (not that
one, the other one) a couple of miles before the Junction turned right
at Autherley and left at Aldersley for the Wolverhampton 21 at 8.25am.
There was a boat moored on the lock bollards before the lock, but no
sign of activity on the boat or at the lock, so I took the opportunity
to pass him. Glad I did, as I had a very good road up the flight
arriving at the top at 11.40am. The only lock I had to turn was the
very last one. Tied up at the top for 50 minutes while I had a late
breakfast and then set off along the BCN for Birmingham. Through the
Tipton Factory locks by 2.30pm and called in at Sherborne Wharf for the
replacement fender at 4.45pm. Had a look at Cambrian Wharf but all the
moorings were taken, so after winding I went back along the main line to
Ladywood Junction, winded again and moored for the night at 5.12pm.
Went ringing at the Bullring by way of evening entertainment and
adjourned with the ringers to the Wellington for several pints of
Ringwood 49er.
Wednesday Sept 17th - 17 miles, 30 locks - Birmingham to Kingswood
Total cruising time 10 hours.
Set off at 6.05am and down the Farmer's Bridge flight by 9.15am. A boat
was following me down the flight, but was never closer than two locks
behind. Turned right at Aston Junction and down the Ashtead locks by
10.40pm. BW could really do with re-profiling the tunnel below the top
lock, as you could easily scrap quite a lot of paint off the handrail
there. I think I missed the roof by at least an inch in places. Up the
Camphill locks by 12.05pm having stopped briefly to remove a discarded
jumper from the prop. Cath de Barnes by 2.10pm, and arrived at the top
of Knowle at 3.05pm. Through the flight by 4.20pm, passing a boat
between the top two locks. Tied up outside the Navigation at Kingswood
at 5.20pm, where I will be venturing shortly after I send this report!
More to follow
Terry Streeter
NB Arun - Kingswood
