Last tram

Yesterday was my last tram driving of the season.

It was a special event called Starlight Halloween.

There were lots of trams out.



And many other child friendly activities.



My first drive was to do a lunchtime relief for the crew of Blackpool 40.



After this it was time to get out my tram which was Leeds 345.



It is the only opportunity to drive in the dark at the museum.







Thoroughly enjoyable but an unbelievable 3 different road closures on the way home and some mistakes on the diversions meant we didn't get home until after 11 o'clock.

Our new Marina

A couple of aerial photos we were sent yesterday.

Catch up 4

Today we have been to London to meet some friends of Alison from the Czech Republic.

We had lunch in the Red Lion on Whitehall but didn't spot an MPs.

We then walked up to Camden Lock to do a bit of research for when we finally manage to get to London. It was very busy around the market, but the canal was quiet.





We walked on the canal towpath right through Regent Park and London Zoo. You could see quite a few animals but also I was worried about animals of another sort mugging me if I got my camera out as it was going dark, so no pictures of that. However it was a lovely trouble-free walk in the end.

Catch up 3

Yesterday we decided to take the plunge and go and look at a new marina. It's not that we are in anyway dissatisfied with Droitwich, quite the opposite, we have been very happy there. It's just that we have cruised those canals and only being able to get out for short breaks, feel having another base will give us a chance to explore other areas.
We were so impressed we decided to sign up. Here is Kenneth in what will be our berth.





The entrance to the marina is shown by the red fence.





And it is going to have very wide pontoons, our current one must be 75 centimetres the new one will be one and a half metres full stop a considerable difference.



There is not much else to show as obviously everything is under construction but we have decided to be very close to the amenities block. Having to set off 10 minutes before you need to go has almost proved costly on numerous occasions.

Catch up 2

Last week we went to visit Magpie II at Droitwich and touch up all the paint work from the scrapes during the summer. It was a relatively uneventful day until I got the chance to take these pictures of Gerald and Margaret's house where we go to get all our eggs and vegetables. Their produce is delicious and really is the House at the end of the rainbow.

Catch up

We have been very busy since our last post but typical of this year is that I just haven't found the time to blog. I intend to do better.

We have been on this train.



It was a day out organised by Vintage Trains of Tyseley to Portsmouth.



We had full table service and amazing food but unfortunately the highlight of the day was meant to be a trip around the Isle of Wight on the Paddle Steamer Waverley, but this got cancelled. Never mind we still enjoyed Portsmouth.

Paris and the Rhine

We have been in Alsace for 4 days visiting Lyn and Chris.
We had a magnificent time, so much so that I forgot to take blog pictures. Mea Culpe.

I did take one of a barge going up the Rhine from our car ferry.



I caught the TGV from Strasbourg to Paris in under 2 hours travelling at about 200mph.
I had 2 hours to wander around Paris so I went off to see Canal Saint-Martin.

There is a nice staircase lock.



And are this point it disappears off into a tunnel.



It is a very wide canal.



Partway along I found an overhead railway which brought back many memories of Chicago.



A bit further on information is provided about distances around the canal network.



And then it must be a former wharf as it really widens out. I think it will be time for some research when I get home.



But first this needs to do its job.

Home again

We made it back from Worcester ok.

It was a lovely day and we had a nice journey. The whole trip took us about 5 hours.





The reason for our shorter than usual trip was so that we could attend the cricket quarter final at Edgbaston. We
managed to use our Birmingham Bears season pass for entry as compensation for the Yorkshire game being rained off. It was a glorious day and a very good match with a comprehensive Warwickshire victory.

Three days on our own.

We are heading for Worcester to have a mini cruise on our own and have moored in one of our favourite moorings at Oddingley.



They have dredged the canal here and are using it to bolster the bank.



We like this spot as you can also see the railway from here but unfortunately it looks as if the signal box will not be here much longer.



The barriers were not here last month and are not yet operational but they look ready to go so switching on will probably be soon. I suppose they will give us a warning of an approaching train next time we moor here.

Back home again

Due to various technological difficulties and a lack of Internet signal I have been unable to post a blog for a few days.
My meal in Kinver turned out to be somewhat disappointing, served on a cold plate which meant by the time I was ready for it, half of it it was already called and got left. The gluten-free menu went from bad to worse as every course had gluten containing ingredients down to wafers in his ice cream. Some people obviously need more brains or more training.



We have made it back to the marina with no further incidents, a nice shared trip up the Droitwich barge canal yesterday with some regular hirers whose children got on very well with Kenneth. That was lovely for him to make more friends.
We made it to Stourport and got a good morning and then went to the compulsory fair to spend all his remaining holiday money. He did impress me by going on a very high ride.







We managed to get several jobs done on the boat before we left this morning, and went to look at lock 28 on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal on our way home as Canal and River Trust had emailed saying the lock had a bulge in and could only be passed by vessels of a certain width. We could not see anything nor any notices on the lock. Quite bizarre.
We may well go out for a short cruise next week, but for now the big summer cruise is over.

Kinver

The settee I broke is mended.

Last week I broke one of the struts when I knelt on the settee to reach behind it. I forget how heavy I am.
I have also broken the one at home in similar circumstances.

Ralph Wilson met us in Kinver and provided 3 replacement struts and 2 mountings and then supplied invaluable information about how to fit it. And all for £3. Best buy of my life.

We also had a good day cruising with 7 locks today.



We are now in Kinver but as the canalside Vine has gone up market and closed the bacon butty shop we have explored the town instead and arrived at The Olde White Hart.

Interestingly the gluten free menu was extensive but not gluten free!

I have complained to Marstons and await their reply.

To celebrate the settee being fixed I have gone for Meat the Beast.


Perhaps I'd better not sit on it let alone kneel on it for a while.

Back to usual

Last night was nice with little light under the trees we could sleep until late. That's 7.45 boating time. 3 boats had part us by then.

The views from our mooring follow.






We have made it to Swindon and found a Sunday lunch for tea. We are not pedantic and joyfully consumed it.

A long days cruise including The Bratch

And many other locks. We will sleep in tomorrow despite the early morning light!

On the move again

We are fixed and I have a signal so I can post a blog.

Ian arrived on time and did his stuff yesterday. We now have a working facet pump and therefore a working boat.

And none of the problems from the last RCR work when the wires had been

connected to the wrong terminals of the smart meter shunt.

I took pictures of the engine so we knew how it had been connected.










Today is sunny and we have made it to Breward. I was too busy steering to take photos but did spot this unusual duck when we moored.



Now it's time to explore.