Reached Uncle Mort at Stafford Boat Club, early Sunday pm. Took the chance to car shuffle to Aqueduct Marina with the taxi/train/bus/walk return trip.
The need for flue fixing fire cement (stock tub rock solid) postponed our departure on Monday morning, we walked into Stafford B&Q, smallest tub £4.98. Used 50p worth and stashed remainder for auto conversion to pumice. Chugged off at Monday 2:15. Tixall moorings about half full, only. Modest waits only at both Hoo Mill and Weston Locks. Yippee the end of the queue season is upon us. Overnight just prior to Sandon Lock. Tuesday great plan, which was set off at 8:30, get to Stone by 11:30 when most of the previous overnighters will have cleared out. Great plan wobbled at Aston Lock about 1 hour wait plenty of time to watch the civil engineering works at the new marina project. Recovered plan by noon, loads of space below Stone bottom lock. Chilled, shopped, read paper etc. Note : Stone has 2 independent hardware shops always worth a gander. The first had small fire cement for £1.95, the second at £1.65. Sod B&Q. Bought a bag of kindling for £3.50 that will last us 2 years. Next plan hatched during a period of few boat movements . . . . head off in leisurely manner up 4x Stone Locks and on through 4x Meaford Locks, find a mooring up there somewhere, an easy day from Harecastle South. The reality . . . about 4:15 begin casting off operations, bow free, walk aft. Oh look a boat approaching. We never cast off in front of an approaching boat. Ah not one boat, two boats. Darn it ! And theyre joined with a long rope. Bugger. Had we pulled out in front of them they would have been delayed by 10 minutes. In the event we were delayed about 1.1/2 hours while Aquarius & Ilford gave an immaculate display of motor & butty work playing working boats with a cargo of 30T felled willow, destination R Fullers zone. Oh well, boating is not F1 racing, we didnt have any problem either with the hirer training on one boat or the single hander confined to his counter. Our timing was just unfortunate. And so we pressed on to Meaford. Arriving 6:30 pm as dusk began to fall. Great progress through 3 locks then spotted a boat descending the 4th lock. Instead of being handy for us this was a further interruption to progress. They exited the lock without noticing us and immediately drew top paddles ready for their chums close behind. By 7:10 in gathering gloom we left the top lock, having helped a long term injured, Springer dwelling artist carry his unsold works back to his boat from the lock-side gallery. And so a bit of boating in the dark. Determined to reach Barlaston we pressed on in gathering gloom. The hazard of mooring remained not falling in or dropping the torch. All went well except I trod in a dog turd ! Beeky Reached Uncle Mort at Stafford Boat Club, early Sunday pm. Took the chance to car shuffle to Aqueduct Marina with the taxi/train/bus/walk return trip. The need for flue fixing fire cement (stock tub rock solid) postponed our departure on Monday morning, we walked into Stafford B&Q, smallest tub £4.98. Used 50p worth and stashed remainder for auto conversion to pumice. Chugged off at 2:15. Tixall moorings about half full, only. Modest waits only at both Hoo Mill and Weston Locks. Yippee the end of the queue season is upon us. Overnight just prior to Sandon Lock. Monday great plan, which was set off at 8:30, get to Stone by 11:30 when most of the previous overnighters will have cleared out. Great plan wobbled at Aston Lock about 1 hour wait plenty of time to watch the civil engineering works at the new marina project. Recovered plan by noon, loads of space below Stone bottom lock. Chilled, shopped, read paper etc. Note : Stone has 2 independent hardware shops always worth a gander. The first had small fire cement for £1.95, the second at £1.65. Sod B&Q. Bought a bag of kindling for £3.50 that will last us 2 years. Next plan hatched during a period of few boat movements . . . . head off in leisurely manner up 4x Stone Locks and on through 4x Meaford Locks, find a mooring up there somewhere, an easy day from Harecastle South. The reality . . . about 4:15 begin casting off operations, bow free, walk aft. Oh look a boat approaching. We never cast off in front of an approaching boat. Ah not one boat, two boats. Darn it ! And theyre joined with a long rope. Bugger. Had we pulled out in front of them they would have been delayed by 10 minutes. In the event we were delayed about 1.1/2 hours while Aquarius & Ilford gave an immaculate display of motor & butty work playing working boats with a cargo of 30T felled willow, destination R Fullers zone. Oh well, boating is not F1 racing, we didnt have any problem either with the hirer training on one boat or the single hander confined to his counter. Our timing was just unfortunate. And so we pressed on to Meaford. Arriving 6:30 pm as dusk began to fall. Great progress through 3 locks then spotted a boat descending the 4th lock. Instead of being handy for us this was a further interruption to progress. They exited the lock without noticing us and immediately drew top paddles ready for their chums close behind. By 7:10 in gathering gloom we left the top lock, having helped a long term injured, Springer dwelling artist carry his unsold works back to his boat from the lock-side gallery. And so a bit of boating in the dark. Determined to reach Barlaston we pressed on in gathering gloom. The hazard of mooring remained not falling in or dropping the torch. All went well except I trod in a dog turd ! Beeky
