Saturday, 28 January 2012

A good day's cruising ...

Started off a bit earlier today from our mooring near bridge 50, it's only 10:15
Ready to rock n roll ... just half a mile or so to start with ...
... to collect Geoff's stash of boaters gold and load it onto his roof ...
... the canal is not very deep here and Seyella's deeper in the water with the extra load and he's having difficulty getting away from the side ...
... he backs up a little and tries again but no joy he's back on the side again.  George eventually managed to push him off ...
... and Mags gives us her regal wave as they pass by ...
...  boaters gold ... enough to last a week or so once it's split.
A lovely day
Lyneal Wharf with it's Trust boats
Whoops, a BW boat in the bridge 'ole ...
... but he backs off and pulls into the side ...
... they're infilling behind the pilings along this stretch ... and if I may say so doing a good job too!
The canal wends ...
... its way ...
... this way and that ...
... through Miss Each Bridge which has metal doors in the archway that would house the stop planks ...
... and past a few more logs which would have probably been the straw on the camels back if Seyella had stopped to collect them!
Cole Mere ...
... sailing boats on the far shore ...
... and wooden chalets in the woods ...
... and a project for the future perhaps!
This boat is moored near Cole Mere - Its name is Welsh and I think it means 'the two within' or something similar ... (edit) I've been informed that it means the two genies!
Colemere Country Park
No idea what this notice is about near bridge 56 Burns Wood, it does't look like a tip!
Blake Mere ... fantastic!
Approaching Ellsmere Tunnel and you have to have good eyesight to read this from the boat!
Nothing coming so we can proceed ...
Two way traffic!!! You've got to be kidding!
The flow of water from the River Dee kept pushing the bow left into the tunnel wall
Not sure if this represents Chirk Aqueduct or Pontcysyllte
Cold but sunny as we approach Ellesmere ...
Go for it ... hope you're feeling better soon Colin
Blackwater Meadow Marina ... you need to book a slot before you can enter here!
Left to continue on the main line and under the White Bridge into town
Beech House was once the Shropshire Union Canal Company's Head Office but has been split into at least 5 residences
There's Seyella taking on water as we ...
... approach the town arm ...
... passing nb Jandai and coming in onto the 72-hour visitor moorings.
The convoy is once again reunited!

A troublesome day!

10:30 Thursday morning and we're ready to leave...
 Geoff is ensuring that wife Mags will be kept warm today.
We're going down the Prees Branch to for fuel. (photos from our walk yesterday) 
 It's really cold and very windy as I crabbed down the canal with the wind broadside negotiating the lift bridges.  Lift Bridge 1 in this picture is apparently grade II listed but it really does look like all the rest!
At Whixall Marine yesterday George had noticed that the diesel was only 87p per litre and fixed at zero tax ?? ... we were disappointed and cross when we arrived for fuel the place appeared to be shut but then we realised that it was a self-service pump, you put your credit/debit card into the machine, enter the maximum amount you want to spend, take the nozzle and fill your boots tank! brilliant! The marina belongs to BWML (British Waterway Marinas Limited) and because it's so quiet during the winter the shop is only open a few hours per day so there's not always an employee to hand to calculate the various taxes on fuel purchased, hence zero rated.
 The terminus of the Prees Arm ... beyond this bridge is a nature reserve ...
 ... looking back towards the main line ...
... hungry sheep ...
 ... nosey too!
As I waited for George to let lift bridge 2 down after I'd gone through the wind took my bow out into the channel and my stern obviously into the bank where we had a hell of a job getting out again, but we did ...
... and continued back up the a arm; we now turn left to continue our journey and hopefully catch up with the rest of the convoy.
Back to today's pictures ...
.... new trees have been planted
... playing leap frog with NB Armadillo, they'll probably pass us again ...
St John's Church Bettisfield in the distance ...
Interesting narrowboat - I love the bow (front) of this
It's narrow and and flow on this canal restricts movement tremendously, add on the wind that was blowing ... it took a lot of effort to get through here!
The countryside is rather flat ...
... but beautiful ...
... in its own way.
We'd had a text that Geoff and Mags had called it a day near Hampton Bank Bridge and there they are 3rd boat down with just enough space for us to slip into.  A cuppa with them and then ...
... and our afternoon walk ... a buzzard keeping lookout ...
... and a pretty sunset to round off the day!