It’s amazing how many more shops there are near the canals this year, compared to last year. Think Wolseley Bridge. A garden centre, stained glass maker, antique shop, Indian restaurant and a Vintage Inn. That was it. This year there are 4 Aldis, 2 Tescos, a Morrisons and a Sainsburys. OK, I must admit, not … Read More →
Just the right stretch to be a single hander! Bridges with a 90° bend underneath it, narrows without passing places,shallow just where you get oncoming boats. But I like it. The narrows is a matter of tunnel light on and pray. It’s just a challenge! As always this year, I manage to get just the … Read More →
No, absolute tropical! That’s what the weather forecast tells me. So I find myself a nice, kind of quiet spot at Worseley Bridge, on the Trent&Mersey. I’m in the shade from 9 o’clock in the morning till 6 o’clock at night. If I open the back doors, the wind just blows into the boat, creating … Read More →
I know, am I not on holiday all the time? Well, not really. There are always heaps of things to do, last but not least steering 18 ton of steel through shallow canals. So when I get to Tixall, and manage to get a prime spot, I decide: I’ll take a 14 days holiday. I … Read More →
There is a first time for everything. And it must be the first time in my life that I go for a beer into a pub, on my own. Not an ordinary pub, though. It’s the bar at Stafford Boat Club. So maybe it doesn’t count… Anyway, while there I meet Angela. She, and her … Read More →
It’s hard to believe that I’m out cruising for almost three months now. Not that it feels shorter or longer, it just doesn’t feel at all. Although enough happens, in a month’s time. I became ¼ boater. You’re only a proper boater once you’ve fallen into the canal. Well, it was going to be a … Read More →
I’m out now for more than two months. And I’m absolutely enjoying myself so far. I love doing locks, although it’s a lot of walking. I calculated that for every lock I do, I walk about a fifth of a mile. So doing the five Tyrley locks yesterday I walked about a mile. Just doing … Read More →
Going on the Llangollen, I mean. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great time, doing Hurleston Locks to Ellesmere (and back) with Andy and Christine on WRT 4. But there are way to many boats on the canal, it’s too shallow, and I can’t do the lift bridges. And all these other boaters seem … Read More →
I’m at Coole Pilate, a nice mooring on the Shroppie, just south of Nantwich. I’ve got a picnic table, a BBQ and plenty of room to put stuff ashore. I’m planning to clean my well deck. But then the wind picks up. I immediately realise that everything I put outside will be blown away. So … Read More →
This is exactly the situation in which my Ann comes in handy. This is me, moored up in Middlewich, just before King’s Lock. Some people just don’t give any room to manoeuvre! And, even with being on rings, I’ve noticed that, as soon as I start loosening a rope, the biggest wide beam you’ve ever … Read More →