Stourport or bust!

Captains Log
Canal Date 23rd April 2013

Cookley to Stourport

8 miles and 11 locks  1 supermarket and 1 canal-side cafe! (note no pubs)

We set off nice and early. It was good to on the move again, even better to on the move in the sunshine and better still to on the move in the sunshine in the warm. Good days are coming! We stopped at the Lock at Wolverley and had a tea and bacon sandwich. All very nice and leisurely. We then found our selves in a queue for the locks. Just passed the lock we came across narrowboat  "FT-100" with Roy & June. We stopped and had a chat for about an hour before moving on to the shops in Kidderminster. It was good to see Roy and June, they did look well. June is still looking forward to retiring from the pub and Roy is till not sure if he wants to sell it. Nothing changes there. Pam went to the massive Sainsburys while I stayed on board. I waited, and waited for Pam to return. After 1 hour 45 minutes had very slowly passed, she returned with a trolley full of food. We then struggled to find space on board to stow it all. By now it was becoming apparent that we may run out of daylight before we get to Stourport. We had a good run from there and arrived in the town with plenty of light left and we filled up with fresh water and disposed of our rubbish. There was no suitable moorings in the basin so we moved on down the 4 locks to the river. By the time we had done that it was just about dusk. I dispatched Pam to the chip shop and we had a chip shop supper in our boat. It was not a late night, we were all very tired and ready for bed.   A long but most enjoyable day!

Greens Forge to Dimmingsdale

Captains Log  8th Leg of the (very much changed) World Cruise.



Canal date                     31st March 2012
Start Location            Greens Forge Lock (Navigation Inn)
Finish location          Dimmingsdale Bridge


Miles 7       Locks 13

While moored at Greens forge I became all clever and practical and made a cover to protect the tops of the new batteries. A simple but effective use of MDF.

Well, as forecast yesterday. The weather did not last. It was dull and grey on Friday morning. (Boo Hiss)
We set off at 10.00 with 6 miles and 13 locks to do it was not going to be a lazy day. I was surprised on how much colder it was today than the rest of the week.  On the plus side, there was very little traffic on the canal. We were approaching Bratch when there was a loud thud in the engine bay and the engine warning buzzer sounded. Not good news! We pulled in to the bank to investigate. As I was pulling the boat to the bank, the mooring pin came adrift and I went flying backward. Again, not good but at least I landed on the tow path, not the canal!!! I landed in a heap, flat on my back. Luckily, no damage or injury. Back to the engine problem. Both multi V drive belts have gone. I suspect that the 240v one has failed and wrapped it self with the 12v belt. The 12 volt alternator has a complete birds nest of rubber and string tightly wrapped round it. After a few minutes I managed to clear everything away from any rotating parts and continued our journey. The engine was just too hot to work safely on. We continued on to Dimmingsdale. I let things cool down before having another go in the engine bay. When I went into the engine bay, I was horrified how much belt was wrapped round the pulley. It was pulled so very tight I thought that the only way would be to remover the alternator and pulley. I know how difficult it is to remove the pully in a workshop, doing it on the bank was going to be almost impossible. I persevered and eventually managed to remove the tangle. Then came the fitting of the new belts. The 12volt belt was fine but the 240volt belt was just a bit smaller than the original. It was an abolute bugger to get on but it did eventually. After tightening and checking everything I ran the engine. Perfect – everything working, no funny noises, no wobbly pulleys, no squeaks or squeals from the belts. Another fine job well done. Almost as soon as I had done that It was time to go to our friends, Glynn & Ro for dinner. We had another fine meal as always. By the time we were back on board it was time for bed. Yet another full day. All this doing stuff  is in danger of becoming the norm.

We have now abandoned Plan A completely.
We were going to cross the Ribble Link and travel the Lancaster Canal. Simple enough you may think. On BW’s site they say you must book the crossing at least 5 days ahead. I tried to book a month ahead and the earliest crossing they could give me bearing in mind it is still march, was to be 19th July! And to make matters worse the earliest return trip would have been very late August. Absolutely no use to me at all. So it looks like we shall not be doing the Ribble Link and Lancaster Canal this year.

So its time to sort out plan B
This will take us over the Pennines and on to York before heading south, taking in Boston before heading back to Gods own Worcestershire. With B.W.  & the Ribble Link fiasco, we have gone from in a mad panic rush to get there to no plans at all so we will stay here at Dimmingsdale for the weekend.

I wonder if that will work or if BW conspire to stop me again?

7th Leg of Daddy Cooks World Cruse Of the Inland Waterways!

Captains Log 7th Leg of the World Cruise.


Canal date                 29th March 2012

Start Location       Cookley

Finish location     Greens Forge Lock (Navigation Inn)

Miles 7       Locks 6

We have gone as far south as we intended and have now turn to face North. This trip and the next one shall be no more than a return trip. This time though the weather was so much better. This morning was another bright and sunny day, I could get used to this very easily. We set off in brilliant sunshine, not that warm at the start, but getting warmer by the minute. It is one of those “good to be alive” days. The spring sunshine and new greenery everywhere you look make for a really nice cruising experience. We carried on to just south of Greens Forge Lock and the Navigation Pub. Close enough to walk to the pub but far enough away to not to be bothered by the noise. A pleasant rural spot. This will do nicely for the next few days before heading on to Dimmingsdale.

Greens Forge to Caunsall (Cookley)

Captains Log                  6th Leg of the World Cruise.
Canal Date                                  9th March 2012

Start Location                         Greens Forge Lock (Navigation Inn)
Finish location                          Caunsall Road Bridge (28)


Travels                              Miles 6     Locks 6


The weather is a grey today, not so nice as yesterday but still good for the time of the year. We set off at the crack of dawn at 10.00. We wanted to get to Wilsons before they close for the weekend so that they could have a look at some repair work to the rear pram cover. We arrived at Wilsons (Kinver) at just before 1.00 After a short chat they said someone will come and look at the canopy on Monday. Now, that this may be unbelivable but we moored next to a pub at luch time and did not go in. How about that for will power!
We arrived at our destination for the day at Caunsall Bridge at 1.45. We moored closer to the road than usual. This is so that Wilsons can find us and to make it easier to move the batteries on & off the boat.
Why are lead acid batteries so heavy? They only store electricity. Electricity does not weigh much!

We shall remain here for a week or so before turning round and slowly heading north towards Lancaster.

escape from the Black Country Museum!

Captains Log                      4th Leg of the World Cruise.
Canal Date                                        6th March 2012


Travels                                                Compton to Dimmingsdale

Miles 3                                               Locks 2

Another bright and sunny morning and no where near as cold as yesterday. After a walk round the village we set off on our short hop to Dimmingsdale Much more like our idea of traveling, better and more leisurely than yesterday. We moored on the off side by Dimmingsdale lock. A pleasant spot indeed.
I know, I am getting soft. After yesterdays 22 locks I gave Pam a day off and only 2 locks to do today. I’m all heart really. This will do us for a while. It is a very nice and quiet spot. Millie was very good at finding just the right seat to lie down on and get maximum sunshine! I am sure that she should have been a cat!

Gailey to Great Haywood

Captains Log


Canal Date                             17th May 2011
Travels                                    12 miles –10 Locks
Canal                                      Staffs & Worcester / Trent & Mersey
Current Location                  Great Haywood
The canal was just about as busy as I have ever encountered before. There were boats coming towards us every other minute. Many of the approaching boaters passed comment about a boat & butty ahead who was a bit slow in the locks. There were not wrong, we caught them up at Penkridge. It took them over 45 minutes to get through one locks. By this time there were a queue of boats in each direction! Luckily, they were not going any further so they did not slow us after that. We called it to Midland chandlers at Penkridge for the spare impeller for the shower pump. Luckily they did have one in stock. We then soon came across Tixal Wide. It is much more like a lake than any canal. Pity they are not all like that. We moored for the night at Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal. As I was securing the boat and sorting out the fenders I managed to knock the nice new shiney chimney overboard. My heart sank with the sight of the chimney sinking. It is held on a piece of steel rope to stop such a thing happening but the rope had rotted through! Not a problem, I saw where it went in, I will retrieve it with my trusty magnet. Now their are 2 types of stainless steel, one is magnetic, the other is not. Mine is very much the “is not” verity. I groped around with the boat hook for some time. I could feel it but not hook it. Pam then tried with a landing net, she could feel it until the moment that the landing net fell apart.


There was nothing else left in our recovery arsenal so it was down to me. Now before I get myself wet in the cut I am going to be curtain that I can have a shower after. I spent the next hour repairing the shower pump with the kit that I had brought an hour ago. Once that was done and tested I stepped over and quickly found the remains of the net. Not long after I came across the chimney. With everything recovered I had a well deserved shower and then off to the local pub for a pub lunch and a beer or three.

Gailey Lock

Captains Log


Canal Date                 16th May 2011
Travels                       15 miles –4 Locks
Canal                          Staffs & Worcester
Current Location      Gailey

We are now heading for Nuneaton; we have to be there by Monday 23rd May. This is one of the times that there is a definite time scale.

I panned to go as far as Penkridge today but my foot would not let me! I had to stop in the end at Gailey Lock. Not a bad place to stop at all, in fact it is a very nice place to stop, so we did stop, full stop! After leaving Dimmingsdale we had to stop at Compton for a few bits from the chandlers and top up some food shopping. On the way back to the boat we have to pass a chip shop, only this time we did not quite manage to pass it, we called in and had some of the best fish & chips ever. It is fully recommended by me. (And so low in calories too!)

The journey it self was not remarkable, it was just very nice, very calm, very relaxing and very windy! We had travelled for a few hours before we met a boat coming towards us, and in true boating fashion, it was at a blind bend into a narrow bridge hole. We missed each other, or rather I missed him, I do not think that he had even noticed I was there until it was far too late for to do anything at all. Almost straight after that a hire boat drove into the side of us, the look on his face was that total panic with just a hint of guilt together with that look of “Oh my god what have I just done”

Pam & I reassured him that is all OK and everyone has to learn. I don’t think that it helped matters on board his boat as his wife came up the stairs wearing here life jacket! We also met up with and got tangled up with a bunch of school children in canoes. I slowed down almost to a stop and they were drifting everywhere. Now from the back of a 60ft narrowboat you can not see kids in canoes at the front. As no one shouted or anything, I assume that I did not slightly kill any of them, in fact they took great delight in standing up and shouting “Ahoy captain! “ as they eventually paddled past.

Dimmingsdale (Again)

Captains Log

Canal Date                     11th May 2011
Travels                            6 miles – 14 Locks
Canal                              Staffs & Worcester
Current Location          Dimmingsdale Lock Nr Wombourne


We sorted out the front cratch, it is no longer a fuel store, we can now use it as a seating area again, the wood & coal is back in the top boxes on the roof for the summer. I was hoping to give the rear paint repair another coat today but it has been too wet & windy and far too many crawly bugs that insist on sticking to wet paint!

We set off for Greens forge. Unfortunately the rain started just after we moved and the rain soon became a raging torrent of water. We were all rather damp. That’s life I suppose, 4 weeks of sunshine and the moment we move it starts to rain!

We arrived at Greens forge about an hour later and pumped out & flushed out the loo tank, filled up with fresh water and disposed of all the rubbish.

It did not take much persuasion to get us to the pub for a meal, it was as good as ever, The navigation is a no frills pub with good food – good beer – good prices. We shall stay here just overnight and look for better moorings tomorrow.

A better start than yesterday, the sun was shining, however there were a lot of heavy clouds in the sky but at least is was not raining. We had a leisurely breakfast and got the boat ready for moving. We were not going very fast even by our standards. I know that we were following some one as the locks were all against us. I also know that some one was following us. We did not catch up the other boat and neither did the boat following us. There was very little oncoming traffic. This is a hilly bit of canal and has plenty of locks. Most are spaced out at about every ½ mile but then there are stair case locks and the famous Bratch rise. We did see more than usual amount of fluffy ducks and moorhens. It is that time of year. We eventually arrived at our destination - Dimmingsdale Lock at 4.30. No Satellite TV, very poor internet, and what’s more, there is someone else on our spot! This spot will do us for a day or so.

Cookley

Captains Log



Canal Date                      10th April 2011
Travels                             none
Current Location           Still at Cookley Village

Getting itchy feet now – it is time for a change of scenery. We have been moored at this location for our allowed 2 weeks so we are expected to move on anyway. We were planning; no, I will use the word “thinking” rather than planning as plans can fail and thoughts don’t? As I was saying before I started an argument with my self - We were thinking of moving on to Dimmingsdale and spend Easter there. We have since found out that there is a boat rally over Easter at Dimmingsdale so we shall look elsewhere for a suitable mooring. I am sure we shall find somewhere between Kidderminster & Wolverhampton. Kinver or Greens forge are likely prospects. Both have pubs and both have somewhere to park up the petrol gobbling monster (V8 Disco)


Its almost a shame to move from here, we have grown to like it, nestled between the villages of Caunsall & Cookley, with nice walks and good views, plenty of fire wood, somewhere to park the car and walking distance to the Little Cooks of Cookley. I suspect, in the words of the great man “We shall return”

The Cooks of Coolkley

Captains Log

Canal Date                 3^rd April 2011
Travels                        none
                                   

Current Location       Still at Cookley Village

I have not published my blog for a few days now, mainly as we have not moved and not much of note has happened. It’s not all falling in and splashing about in the canal you know.

So what has happened? Well as I said not much at all really. We did have a tree fall across the canal a few yards in front of us, I am very glad it was a few yards in front and not on top, I would have woken us up!

The boat has developed a small drip (No, not Pam) as it only leaks when it rains and we have not had much of that it is hard to find where it is coming in. I can only assume that it is where Wilsons of Kinver attached a fitting for the rear pram cover. This has been fitted for two years and has just started to leak – odd indeed. I can not see any other possible way of water to penetrate the roof, after all it is solid steel and no holes or fitting anywhere near the drip point.

I have also been issued with a device that is supposed to improve battery performance. It is called “PULS-R BEAT100” from Puls R Ltd Redditch www.puls-r.com

It is very easy indeed to fit, it is hard to see any immediate difference but this is a long term test and a true and unbiased report will be made in due course.

It is just the best time of year now, the hedgerows and trees are wearing their best spring green clothes, and blossom is blooming everywhere you look. The birds are getting noisy doing what ever birds do at this time of year. We have nothing to look forward to other than the long warm summer days ahead – Life is just so good!

The long very cold dark winter seem to be just a very distant memory now.

Captains Log

Canal Date                 25th March 2011
Travels                        3 miles
                                     4 Locks

Current Location       Cookley Village Nr. Kidderminster.

We have now turned the boat round and have re painted the other side. It is looking much fresher now.
This morning was going to be a lazy day – Plan A was “nothing to do and all day to do it.” We do have quite a few of them. All was going according to plan until we had a phone from call Kath saying “We are on our way to meet up with you at the nearest pub for a spot of lunch” Well that sounds like a good plan to me, so we walked along the canal to the pub. The weather was so nice that it would have been almost a crime to sit indoors, so we ate alfresco. After lunch we all walked back to the boat for coffee. After coffee we took the two dogs a walk, Millie, as usual was in the canal almost instantly, quickly followed by Em. Two very wet dogs in a boat! Not good, but much better than me falling in. I have managed to go more than 6 months since my last dip in the canal.
After we said our goodbyes to Kath & Martin we reverted back to plan A

Next day, a lazy day with nothing to do and all day to do it. Once again it was going to plan until we had a call from Richard & Ruth. After a short chat, it was agreed that we should meet up at the pub for a meal (Spot the pattern forming here). As we were handing back a sack truck, I decided to move the boat to the pub rather than keep walking, well it just makes sense.
We had another good meal in the pub, Note to self – Must moor further away from Pubs if savings are going to last at all!!!
We are moving back to the Cooks of Cookley today, well that is today’s plan A.

Wolverley

Captains Log


Canal Date                   21st March 2011
Travels                        6 1/2 miles 14 Locks
Current Location       Wolverley (North of Kidderminster)

Well, we had a good time in Stourport. We spent the first night in the basin, a pleasant location and much quieter than you would imagine. The next day we meet up with friends Jim & Joan and went for a cruise along the River Severn. As it is still winter time the locks are closed for much of the time so we went as far as the locks then turned and went as far north as possible. While on the river we saw 6 King Fishers. I have never seen that many in one day. We moored on the River, much nicer than the basin. I think that in the summer it may be a very different story.

The next day we met up with more friends, Terry & Jackie. This time I had booked the locks so we went a little further this time. On route we picked up even more friends Geoff & Marg + 2 dogs. We stopped off at a river side pub that we have used many times when caravanning – The Astley Burf. It has changed its menu and now it is an expensive restaurant rather than a cheap & cheerful pub.

We have now left Stourport and have stopped just below Wolverley Court Lock.
This is an ideal spot to carry out a bit of spring time maintenance. I have re-blacked the sides and touched up the green paint. Just a quick job. None of the rubbing down and undercoating stuff! That will be done when it is dry dock later.

We shall stay here for a few days before continuing our World Cruise of the Staff’s & Worc’s Canal

Stourport on Severn

Captains Log

 
Canal Date                   15th March 2011
Travels                          6 1/2 miles - 6 Locks
Current Location        Stourport Basin

We have now been at Cookley for 2 weeks and it is time to move on. So move on we did. I dropped the car off at the younger Cooks house in Cookley while Pam moved the boat closer to their house. We met up at the pre-arranged bridge bang on time. I was walking over the bridge as Pam was going under. The weather was cloudy with little or no wind, however it was still a little on the cool side. Before long I had given up and put on my coat & gloves. It did get colder as we progressed.

As one may expect at this time of year the canal traffic was very light, indeed we did not see another boat moving until we came to a blind bend which narrowed into an even narrower bridge-hole, and as I was not concentrating as much as I could have, we were on the wrong side and heading directly at another boat coming towards us who also was not concentrating as much as he could have! With copious quantities of reverse gear, we managed to miss each other, just. With the panic of the day over, and nobody being slightly dead or even slightly injured, we carried on to Stourport Basin.


Once there, I filled the water tank that was looking a bit on the dry side. I am sure that if we had stayed at Cookley much longer, then the tap would only have produced dust!


We managed a stroll around the town, which took all of 10 minutes then retired back to the boat. The only thing of note at Stourport is the massive amount of pubs, Indian & Chinese restaurants, chip shops, Kebab houses and Pita parlours. We could stay here for weeks and never eat on the boat and not eat in the same place twice! Not that we would eat out of course. It just is not in our nature. (Its hard to type blatant lies with your fingers crossed)


We had planned on spending tomorrow chugging up and down the River Severn. I have just found out that the river locks are working to winter program, and do not open on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, so a bit of a rethink is required.

Stourport - Wolverley

Captains Log Canal Date 22nd August 2009 Travels 5 Miles 3 Narrow lock Current Location Wolverley Lock (Lock Pub) OS REF SO 830 790 Lat Long 52 24 31.4N 2 15 03.9W Once again the batteries have gone flat, this time I have replaced the remaining batteries so I now have 4 new and hopefully good batteries. Let’s see how long these hold up. What a change from Worcester, although we were moored very close to a pub (so what’s new there) and to the main ring road it was very quiet. Only a few minutes from shopping, it was a very good stopping place. The stay was made all the better when we were invited to a very good lunch with Geoff & Margaret. We ran out of mooring time at Stourport, only 5 day moorings here. Time to move on. This time we headed for Kiddie to do a bit of shopping. We did not find what we were looking for. Then we carried on to a moor rural spot to moor for a few days. We have stopped close to the “Lock Pub” at Wolverley, about 2 miles north of Kiddie. It is a pleasant spot with a tree lined bank to the far side and open views on the towpath side. There is no TV, no satellite reception. This will do nicely for the next few days.