Fancy not looking up the local Rector.....! Ian Cardinal aka Norman the Narrowboat
> -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > [email protected] > Sent: 29 September 2009 22:06 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [canals-list] Navus interruptus > > 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 > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > >
