Once in a lullaby.

We set off for home bright and early this morning.

We had help on the staircase locks from a great volunteer who entertained the gongoozlers as I attempted to make the transition from one set to the other.



Bright and early it was but soon it was later and dismal. The heavens opened, there was so much rain I was amazed the river didn't go into flood.

Therefore no more pictures I am afraid but we are safely home and there is no need for lullabies for once as we are all shattered.

That was summer. At least we can probably use the sun cream we invested in next year.

And the dreams that you dreamed of

Last night we spent doing quizzes and drinking wine. Our scores went lower as the evening progressed but the enjoyment level went up!

This morning Dorothy asked us why we went rushing through her room to sort out the electrics in the middle of the night. We didn't! Perhaps dreaming about all that can go wrong with the boat is catching. We are currently very worried about the leaking toilet. We can only dream of happier times.

Today we were off just after 8. We got the generator out early so we could have a microwaved breakfast and suitably fed we set off.



The first bridge is definitely not symmetric. It also looks new under the arch but the parapet seems aged. It probably has an interesting history.

Plenty of locks today. And the crew are beginning to work as a team.



We found lots of moorings available when we made it to Stourport. Always a worry as we don't want to end up on the river.

First stop (as always) we Tesco for supplies and the free loos. Then an interesting afternoon observing every kind of life. It's just like a miniature Blackpool without the trams.



Last day tomorrow, or at least that is the intention.

Way up high

Today we decided not to cruise too far and go a walk up into the hills.

The day started with bacon sandwiches from the Canalside cafe which were delicious.

By 12:30 we were mooring up.



We are moored by an interesting structure that we have no knowledge about. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated please.



The rest of the day was spent walking. The path disappeared up into the hills.



For some narrowboating is a leisurely pursuit to be enjoyed at normal walking pace. For others that is too quick as you can see by the figures in the distance.



We finally made it to the pub but the stragglers had still not caught up so I was first to the bar. Hmm - note to self: more haste, more rounds bought.



At least I could find the way back for fresh sweetcorn and baked potatoes.

Somewhere under the rainbow

We have been promising Dorothy a holiday on the narrow boat and here we are.

We set off yesterday, with fine weather.




And we tried to tell her how to do the locks but Alison still ended up doing most of the work.



The rest of the day was very wet so despite having amazing fish and chips and exploring Stourport there are no more pictures.

Today it was much nicer and time to get the radio out and listen to TMS.



The Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal is beautiful though sometimes a little narrow.



It was still conspicuous that nobody else volunteers to take the tiller and therefore have to do the locks.

There is little complaint about the amount of work they have to do though.

Maybe the following picture says why. Find a helper and let them do it all.



We finally made it to Kinver and got a nice mooring. A pity we can only stay for 24 hours here.

At Droitwich Moored Baht' Flat

We have made it back on day 18. Wow. I think I will sleep for a week. 

The day started with a trip to Tesco to use their loos and to get some more petrol for the generator. I was shocked that the petrol was 3p per litre more than the diesel but we do feel out of touch with what's been happening in the world for the last couple of weeks. 

Then it was down the double unaligned staircase locks at Stourport. 

We managed them better than last time with less shouting out instructions to each other and are confident we have now found a way we can manage them without appearing like imbecilical novices in the future. Time will tell. 

We had expected the Severn to be flat calm in August but it was anything but that. Water slapping the hull and creating quite a bit of movement made for an interesting couple of hours. 

Finally we made it on to the Droitwich canals. 

The paid help were getting weary, but the trip included 193 locks in total. I'm weary of standing at the tiller so know how they feel. 

The worker pressed on, and also passed on tips to the Belgian couple we shared the last six double locks with as they have just purchased their boat. 

After negotiating the M5 tunnel where I have to steer on my knees looking down the side of the boat as headroom is virtually non-existent we came to our final lock, which is also our third staircase lock of the day. 

The gates look big and imposing. 

With a deep sigh of relief and a bang on the jetty to show that despite all this experience a helmsman needs to be continually alert we manoeuvred into our berth. 

Home tomorrow to remind the Washing Machine that its days of rest are well and truly over. 

All's fair in love and Stourport

The day started well. We purchased breakfast sandwiches from the canal side cafe at The Vine. 

The bacon ones were fantastic but we will avoid the sausage ones next time. 

When we set sail it wasn't long before we passed the county boundary from Staffordshire into Worcestershire. 

And then on through Kidderminster where the clock struck 12 as we waited for the lock. 

We passed a boat with L plates on today. We have often thought some boaters (including ourselves at times) should have them, but never seen them before. 

Then it was Stourport fair thanks to Uncle Graham and Auntie Roslyn giving the children a special unbirthday present. 

The Helter Skelter looked great 

and was thoroughly enjoyed. 

And the giant slide definitely lived up to its name. 

Blackburn beat Burnley 8-7 in the great Air Hockey challenge. 

The kids are having a great time but we thought canal holidays were quiet tranquil times. We would love that right now. 

Regained.

We managed to get to a pub with Sky TV  to watch the cricket today. Arriving before lunch on the third day proved too late for the woeful Aussies as the match was over, hey ho, now we can explore Kinver this afternoon. 

Today we did five locks, it always makes me think when we are in one just how much water these gates are holding back and if they fail then .....

This is a modern one, though it doesn't look new. 

It has been a short cruise today and it is lovely to be sat out in the sun. We have seen far too little of it this week but perhaps rain is better than sun stroke. 

We passed through Stewpony and the final junction on this canal. 

And avoided the locks up to Merry Hell shopping centre. 

The visitor moorings at Kinver are quite full, but we do think that most do not stick to the 24 hour rule. 

We are quite happy with where we found however as it is right next to the picnic area. And there in time for lunch. 

Down the Bratch

Today was another easier paced day. Our new water heater gave us a warning that the gas cylinder needs changing, but then the new cooker happily boiled the kettle. Hmm. We will have to change a cylinder soon, another first for us. 

At today's first lock, the bridge was done in an ornamental style, we are not sure why but it does look nice. 

We had decided to take off the chimney today and we're really pleased as some of the bridges would have removed it if we didn't. It is worrying when it is on the canal side of the boat as any slip would be either a quick bath or a lost chimney, but so far so good. 

Next it was the Bratch locks with their lovely toll house and friendly lock keeper. 

There are three locks, each separated by three feet. Therefore you cannot pass and have to do all three before a boat can come the other way. 

The instructions are quite complicated, we sought regular reassurance before doing anything. 

Colour coded padels help. 

We were successful traversing the locks and were making good progress towards Sainsburys when we passed the candy boat. 

There was a mutiny in the crew and I was forced to stop. 

We also did a staircase lock today, which was interesting and luckily nobody was coming the other way so we didn't feel under pressure when doing it. 

Finally we arrived at our mooring point. This picture doesn't do it justice, the sign on the left says the start of the visitor moorings, yet there are boats moored across on the offside so you cannot moor as the canal would not be passable. As you can see we moored further down but visitor moorings are there for a reason and should be respected 

We are now at The Navigation, which is by the lock where we first met Martin and Margaret on Erin Mae. 

Happy memories. 

60 all out? I don't believe it.

Today was dominated by checking the cricket score and pinching ourselves. 

We set of at 8:10 with a mission of a day but again found that the locks all had queues. 

The crew were willing to help and so on we went. 

We did it have a mooring in mind for tonight, we had just planned to moor up at 4:00 ish wherever we ended up. 

We passed three junctions today. 

This is approaching Hatherton. 

Hopefully it will get restored all the way to Lichfield. 

Then came Autherley and the turn to the Shripshire Union canal. 

And the Aldersley junction and the 21 lock flight up to Wolverhampton. 

Unfortunately the cricket had occupied my conscious mind and I happily told passing boaters the score 

I totally forgot to check the bilge and when I remembered we were flooded. 

Emergency stop and lots of greasy mucking out and use of sponge ensued. 

Hey ho, it was before lunch and England were batting. 

The bridges were low as warned in the canal guides 

But by luck and judgements we coped. 

The bilges were filling quite quickly so we stopped to adjust the nuts on the stern gland. They seemed quite loose but after adjustment the propeller shat got quite warm. We are not sure which is best. 

And then when the engine is at low revs both the battery warning light and the temperature warning light have a dull glow. They go off at cruising revs. Is this a problem or normal. 

We will monitor on this trip and ask Gordon the Guru at the Marina. 

More haste less speed.

A year ago we bought our cheese wedding cake from Wycherleys who have a stall on Penkridge market. 

So a great opportunity today to go to see them and buy some more excellent cheese. 

The only problem was that the market closed at three o clock and we are 6 to 7 hours away according to the very flowery Pearsons guide. 

We managed to set sail at 8:10 and made it through our last lock on the Trent and Mersey and successfully made the turn on to the Stafford and Worcester Canal.  

First place of interest was Tixall Wide. The canal becomes a lake at this point. 

The gatehouse is the only part of the original Hall that is left. 

With cheese time quite limited we pressed on, but at every lock we had the same three boats in front of us and suffered delays at each one. 

We were just in time to make the last 30 minutes of the market at the last lock before Penkridge when the boat I front of us jammed a fender on the way in and was well and truly stuck. The skipper of this craft had cleaned his roof this morning and was reluctant to walk along it up free the fender. 

In our haste I volunteered to climb down the lock ladder at this deep lock, free the fender and then ascend Dibnah style afterwards. It worked, we got through, moored in record time and have purchased cheese and wine for tonight. 

At Penkridge we found another horse tunnel. 

A park for the children 

And a place to recover from the stresses of the day. 

We are still smiling, and in those moments when we find that we aren't, all we need to do is say "cheese".