Faster now though ...

Just after my last posting we reversed RnR through the bridge back to the water point and since the 5-day moorings were now vacant we moved back and tied up there ... and guess what ... an 'H' internet signal (apparently even better that 3G)!

So, where was I?  Oh yes, walking towards Norbury on Monday ... I waited at bridge 37 for George to come along and pick me up ... these are the pictures of the surrounding area ... so green ...

Looking back from a the bridge 'ole waiting for Rock n Roll

I think that will be Gnosall Church in the far distance

A bit out of focus I know, I wasn't quick enough with the camera when I saw them first, the bird on the left looks like a mandarin/mallard cross, he was certainly part of the 'gang'

Arriving at the always busy Norbury Junction

and the view through the cratch window at our mooring spot

On Tuesday George and I together with Ann Moore 2 Life and Geoff Seyella went for a walk over some fields, down and round some tracks ending up back on the towpath at High Bridge

Yesterday (Wednesday) a bright, crisp day ... views of ...

Norbury Wharf from the bridge Norbury Wharf Blog

Wednesday afternoon ... same walk as yesterday but Chas Moore 2 Life is with us today (Seyella having returned to Gnosall to collect post).  Over the muddy field ...

20 to 5 and dusk is falling

there's a bit of red in the sky

this path is worse than it was yesterday!

The view from the side hatch this morning ... Norbury Junction private moorings are getting a new pontoon

After revising for water and again onto the 5-day moorings, this is the view from the window - so much better!

.. and this from the front ...

... looking once again towards the junction - that sky is certainly promising something!

Out for a walk again this afternoon ... these horses, cosy in their blankets were eager for company.

It's ohhh sooo slow!

After refilling our water tank we left Gnosall to cruise the two miles to Norbury Junction at about 11:15 on Monday 12th December ...

I walked about a mile on the rather soggy towpath towards bridge 36 in the picture above ....

The internet signal here really is diabolical! We have several 'dongles' (mobile internet connections)...T-Mobile/Orange and 3; 3 had No Network at all, T-Mobile/Orange gave us 2G but no 'bars' (signal strength).
I persevered last night though and managed to load just the one photograph...
it only took just over 2-hours!
So that's yer lot for now! Although I will post the others when I can.

Thanks to Ann and Chas on Moore 2 Life for making my birthday yesterday so very enjoyable.
George and I were invited round for a fantastic cooked meal after which we walked off the excess and returned to Moore 2 Life for a cup of tea and a slice of birthday cake - a great day - thanks again!

Here in the Midlands we're apparently in for a huge snowfall tomorrow with gale-force winds too - so we won't be moving from here just yet!

The C & RT Council Election

The Canal & River Trust Council election

Captain Ahab has my vote!

Click on the title above for more information about this blogger!

Captain Ahab (Andy's) words ...

The Council performs an essential role as the guardian of the long term values and spirit of the Trust. The Council will have an important role in helping to shape policy, raising and debating issues, providing guidance and providing a sounding board for the trustees, who determine the policy and strategy of the Trust.

Now here is the thing. Having given the matter much thought I have decided to stand for election as a boater representative. You will be aware of my passion for our waterways, but there are some aspects to Captain Ahab that are not immediately apparent from my blog, aspects which are very relevant to my desire to serve in this way.

A little about Captain Ahab (from his 'about me' page)

.... I have just turned the big 50 and am celebrating over 40 years afloat. My love affair with the canals started with The Captain Snr, my father, who introduced me to the delights of the BCN in the late 1960's when things looked very different. Even at the tender age of eight I harboured dreams of one day owning a narrowboat, if i I ever came to live in the Midlands.... and here I am. ...

It's definitely getting colder!

 It has been bitterly colds and extremely windy whilst moored at Little Onn

 We all upped sticks from here yesterday morning - 

Ann (Moore 2 Life) and I and the two Mollies walked a little way ...

 Chas has picked Ann and Molly up and I now wait for my knight to arrive

Cowley Bridge and through the bridge 'ole Moore 2 Life nears the tunnel

 Looking back at Cowley Cutting ...

 ... where I manage to snap this jewel - one of the very few we've seen this year

 Entering Cowley Tunnel ...

 ... and soon exiting it too ...

Looking back -Seyella is nowhere is sight yet.

After filling the water tank when we arrived at Gnosall we reversed and put the pins into a rather soggy towpath.  Shopping in Stafford today.

They were still there!

After Lesley and Joe left us on Saturday we moved up a couple of hundred yards out of the gloom at Brewood's visitor moorings.  On Sunday Seyella moved on and we stayed put as we were meeting up with our son and his family who were doing a post run for us.  We met them in the Bridge Inn where George and I enjoyed a beautifully cooked Sunday Lunch. Whilst I was looking for a 'link' to the pub I found this one - posted online the day after we visited - Marston's Tenanted Vacancy - The Bridge Inn, Brewood Job ... - I hope that the next tenants keep up the quality of the food served.

 On Monday in the very nippy, strong wind at about 10am we upped-sticks from our mooring just north of Countrywide Cruisers ...

 ... and struggled a little to get out into the channel ...

 ... across Stretton Aquaduct which crosses the A5 Watling Street ...

 ... approaching Industry Narrowboats where we see a real tart ...

 ... and Chertsey!

 The boatyard restores classic narrowboats and builds authentic reproductions and always seems busy whenever we pass here (info@joshers.com)

 Plover - Boat Details is also moored here ...

 ... alongside Prince

 We soon arrived at Wheaton Aston, filled our water tank, got rid of the rubbish and received our Tesco delivery before moving on a short distance to Turner's Garage to fill the diesel tank where we saw Moore 2 Life berthed opposite ...

 ... Chas appeared with Molly just as we were setting off with our full tank; he's waiting for Ann to return from her family visit later this afternoon and we hope to meet up with them again tomorrow.

 Horseshoe shaped Rye Hill Bridge No 22 where just through the 'ole ...

... were these two lamas!

We continued through bridge 23 and to our surprise realised that Seyella was still there; we thought that they would have moved on towards Gnosall by now.

Yesterday (Tuesday) George helped Geoff to line his roof with boaters gold (fallen trees for the fire) and then completed an engine service whilst I started writing the Christmas Cards and walked Molly.

We were joined soon after by Moore 2 Life - so the convoy is reunited!

Last night all 6 of us got together on M2L to make a(nother) plan! We shall stay here today and move off to Gnosall tomorrow and take a bus into Stafford on Friday!

At this time of year I quite like these short-term plans.

Whilst looking for a link to Turner's Garage I came across this very interesting site -

Inland Waterways Diesel and Pumpout Prices - certainly worth a look when you need fuel of any sort.

A short cruise in the sunshine and visitors!

Woke up this morning (Saturday) to bright sunshine ...

... these two photos were taken at 10 am ...

... at our mooring between bridges 7 and 8 on the Shropshire Union Canal just south of Brewood

I'm walking the two miles into Brewood; the men appear to be having a conflab whilst Geoff ensures that Mags has plenty of logs to keep the home fire burning today

Just under Park Bridge 8 and just far enough away from the M6 traffic noise it was a peaceful view

He was watching me getting nearer and nearer ...

... until he decided it was time to move on ...

... to a lower perch.

Looking through Chillington Bridge towards Avenue Bridge ...

... and Avenue Bridge in all its splendour ...

... and into another fantastic space

Looking back at Avenue Bridge along a rather soggy towpath

Brewood - nearly there!

Mr Grumpy!

Interesting and informative signs at the 48-hour visitor moorings by High Bridge Brewood

Molly waits not very patiently for Rock n Roll to arrive ...

... and here she is

Seyella has arrived and to make life easier since the towpath is so muddy Geoff has pulled along side us ...

... and here comes Lesley and Joe of NB Caxton and NB Yarwood

Mischievous Mags eating sugary doughnuts!

Thanks to Mags and Geoff for a lovely lunch and time to catch up with all the goss!

All too soon it was time to say 'Cheerio'. We hope to see you both again perhaps at Yarwood's launch in January/February or on the Fens in the spring.