I wonder how long ....

.... 'til we meet again?   11:30 and they're off!

Bloggers Ann and Charles on Moore 2 Life ...

 ... and Sue and Vic on No Problem leave us (Seyella and us) at our moorings between bridges 8 and 7 ...

... the No Problem K9's are as excited as their owners ...

... as they head south towards Autherley Junction.

Over the last 3 months we have had such a good time, even through the ice age at Gailey, firstly with Moore 2 Life and then with Seyella joining us, and eventually being set free and catching up with No Problem and spending time on and off each-others boats for liquid refreshments and nibbles.  The time has gone by much more quickly than you could imagine and we're quite sorry to see them go.

Have a great journey, stay warm and safe and see you again in the hopefully not too distant future. xx

The convoy goes it's separate ways today

I forgot to post this picture on yesterday's blog ...

Catkins .. a sign of spring .. or is the weather just fooling nature into a false sense of security?

We had a great night last night- 8 people (4 bloggers) and 5 dogs all got together on No Problem to say our farewells- until we meet again, that is.  So today, if you see the owners of the said No Problem, or Seyella, or Moore 2 Life, or indeed us on Rock n Roll  -  please don't shout!  Check out Sue's blog today when she gets round to posting it for the epic snapshot!

The pins will be pulled at 11:30 today and Moore 2 Life and No Problem will make their way to Autherley Junction and turn left to cruise up the Staffs and Worcester through Tixall Wide and Great Haywood with the intention of getting through  Colwich lock by the 7th Feb.  Meanwhile ourselves and Seyella will remain here by the cherry trees for at least today before setting of south towards the River Severn and then Birmingham.  We (RnR) hope to meet up with Sue and Vic again in a few months time and spend some time on the River Thames with them.  Happy and safe cruising guys!             (This suit you better Sue?)

Little Onn to the Cherry Trees (between Bridges 8 and 7)

This sunset was taken just after 5pm on 21st January at Little Onn ...

... fabulous!

Seyella and RnR left Little Onn yesterday morning and we stopped at Wheaton Aston collecting fuel from Turner's Garage (Moore2Life was moored opposite having left Little Onn before us as they needed to catch a bus into Stafford).We then took on water before moving on; we did intend to pump-out but apparently the metre now eats the cards! So we had arranged to have this service done at Country Cruisers just north of Brewood.  We stopped at Brewood for a quick trip to the co-op and to collect our post before cruising on to our current mooring between bridges 7 and 8.

This property is just before bridge 22 - a few years ago the garden that you see here slipped into the canal and BW/contractors terraced it to make it safe - and it really does look good ...

... but we noticed that the garden on the other side of the steps is now starting to slip ...

... I wonder why BW didn't arrange to make both sides safe at the same time ... but who am I to question why?  Along this stretch of canal there are several lengthy sections of the off-side banks that look near ready to collapse into the canal bringing large trees down too.  We saw quite a lot of badger sets (huge mounds of sandy soil) which will inevitably destabilise the banks eventually. 

"I've got my beady eye on you"

Couldn't decide which photo I prefered ...

... so, me being me, I've published them both!

a Dutch barge being restored.

This place has always fascinated me near Stretton Aquaduct - not sure if it's one property or three; it could be homes for senior citizens - anyone know?

... and guess who we met at the mooring?  Why No Problem of course!

Icicles ...sort of!

Another cold, frosty night and another beautiful day (not like yesterday!)

 I took these .....

... photos from ...

 ... the side hatch of RnR ...

... at 09:30 this morning - beautiful!!

 Ann, George (my hubby) and I took the 2 Molly's (K9's) for a walk this afternoon ...

... and saw these ice 'strips'.  Ann said that when she walked her Molly this morning ...

... it was like walking through snow except that it was the ice falling from the trees.

A close-up of the ice particles - an unusual sight indeed.

 16:45 ...

 ... and a fantastic ...

... sunset.

A Cold, Frosty, Foggy Day and the Convoy reunites

It was minus one at 6am this morning, but it got colder as the day wore on.

 A tree creeper opposite our mooring

 I never saw this old fella get onto his feet, but I did see a lady from the pub feeding him.

 It really was as cold as this looks ..

 but there was a spot of colour from the mandarin.

 Visibility not good at all as we leave our mooring ...

... and didn't get any better!

 frosty trees ...

 .... and grasses (I like this one)

 What on earth is that? is it coming towards us, or what?  it's all over the canal ...

... it's pushing a hopper ...

 ... and pulling two more ..

 ... C&RS ...

... he's pulled into the side to allow Seyella to pass.

 Arriving at our destination at Little Onn and who's that through the bridge?

It's Moore 2 Life and No Problem - Vic, Ann and Sue seen here starting the K9 walk over the bridge.

Great to meet up again, but we were glad to be inside out of that bitter cold weather!

The search continues .... and is accomplished!

Sunday 16th January ...

 dawned bright and clear - and us doing ... not a lot!  

 Monday the convoy split in two - Moore 2 Life (seen here) and No Problem head south again to Gnosall whilst Seyella and us travel a little further north in the hope of finding more boaters gold; we hope to catch up with them again in a few days.

 Whilst waiting for the Norbury water point to become free we watched these squirrels taking nuts from the feeders - amazing how they hold on with their tails!

 Found it ... boaters gold at Grub Street Cutting - we tie up to the tree stumps!

Beware! ... men at work!

The guys make short work of cutting and loading the wood onto Seyella, and off we go again.

 near to Lambars Bridge 41we spy this vintage car - a Riley?

 ... another view - let us know if it's not a Riley please!
[Edit 21Jan - thanks to everyone who confirms that this is a 1950(ish) Daimler]

 Mags is trying out some of the wood just collected - it's a wonder Geoff can see where he's going - perhaps he can't!!

 a fantastic oak tree leading up to ...

the Anchor pub by bridge 41.

 It was minus 4.6 at 08:00 hours this morning but it was promising a good day weather-wise. Here we are setting off from just beyond bridge 41 just before 12 noon.

 What an absolutely glorious day - I'm walking with Molly up to Shebdon Winding Hole where the boats will turn and we'll head back to Gnosall ...

... the views on such a sunny day are a sight to behold.

 NB Jandai moored on Shebdon Embankment.

 Here they come Seyella with Rock n Roll behind

 Seyella winds (turns) ...

... and passes RnR.

 It's Rock n Roll's turn now ...

... only just missing the bank ...

... he's coming to pick me up at bridge 44.

 The sun comes through the clouds and is lovely ...

 ... also through the trees at ground/canal level ...

... and spectacular looking up ....

... as well as when I looked back.

 Geoff on Seyella shields his eyes against the glare ...

 Sorry if they all these pictures look alike to you - but I don't care - I love them!!

 The remains of the wood pile from yesterdays collection.

 What a wonderful sky! ...

... the grass looked almost luminous!

 Hi there! The tree cutter is back at the same spot where the (nearly) 4-boat pile up was at bridge 37 on Saturday; Geoff on Seyellar decided that he'd collected enough firewood for the moment so this time we didn't stop!

a Mandarin duck greets us as we moor-up back at Gnosall.

A few minutes after tying up who should we meet?  Ann from Moore 2 Life and Sue from No Problem with respective K9s out walking from their current moorings at Cowley Tunnel.

An absolutely fantastic day!!