Cruising Log 2002

Arrived with John and Marcia at 11am. Loaded up and moved up to the Black Horse for water. Then back to Littleport for last few recommissioning jobs, loo, stove clean etc, supper and bed.

½ hour

Got papers and bread in town and set off for Ely. Moored on the grass side and got some huge portions of fish and chips from John’s Chinese chippie. Left Ely at 3 and moved on the Popes Corner. Moored outside the pub. During the evening some teenagers in a cruiser called ‘Munchkin’ moored alongside and climbed all over the boat without as much as a ‘May we?’ They were gone again in a couple of hours.

2 hours

After breakfast, showers and all the rest, left the Fish and Duck at 11.45! A dreary day. Headed back to Ely where we re-dieseled then on to the Ship at Brandon Creek where we were lucky to get a mooring just as another narrowboat was leaving.

The usual beer routine and supper at 7.30pm. Bed at midnight after a board games evening.

3 ¼ hours

Bought some eggs at a local farm and left Brandon Creek at 9.45, arrived Denver at 11am. Watched some boats going through Denver on the tide, then a bar snack at the Jenyns. Strong southwest wind and very choppy water; the wind kept blowing the Paloma pilot light out. Left Denver at 2pm, arrived Littleport at 4.

3 ¾ hours

Arrived with John and Marcia for a clean-up day. Strong east wind. Polished outside (using Steve’s new electric buffing tool - marvellous) and cleaned inside. Made a snap decision to go the Black Horse at 6pm for a pint and stay there the night to make it easier to polish the other side. Had a lot of trouble with the Morso blowing smoke back because of the wind direction.

½ hour

Got up at 8.30; less windy today. Tried to polish the other side of the boat but the inverter wouldn’t drive the electric buffer – so we reversed back to the mooring and into the boathaven astern to tie up the ‘other way round’. Had some nice compliments about our reversing from onlookers waiting for us to cock it up. After buffing the paint-work we turned round again and tied up the ‘right’ way again. Drained the engine oil and changed the filter but couldn’t re-fill with oil due to the very awkward position of the engine filler cap. Took John and Marcia to the train at 2.30. Packed up in lovely sunshine and left at 3.30pm

1 hour

A lovely spring evening. Steve arrived with the home-made oil-filling device – a small funnel with a length of plastic tube fixed to it with a jubilee clip. The funnel is g-clamped to the engine cover support bars and the plastic tube routed into the engine filling hole. Re-filled with oil, ran the engine to check for leaks, cleaned out the gunge from the bilges and away by 7.30pm.

Arrived at Littleport (via Ely Tesco) at 9am. Loaded up, got coal and left for the fish and Duck at 10.45am. Arrived 1pm. Met John and Deb, had a bar-snack and a beer or two, and away at 4. Stopped briefly at the 5 Miles but decided to go straight through to Reach. Had a bit of fun trying to figure out the new control system at Upware lock, but sorted it eventually. Turned easily at Reach Hythe despite a lot of hippie boats about, and moored up against the sheep field. (very shallow, gang-plank needed). Met Derek and Elizabeth off Zadok and had a few drinks in the pub

4 hours, 1 lock

Lazy day at Reach. The Bar-b-q was cancelled due to the high winds, so we cooked on board and went to a boat-people’s meeting in the pub later.

Reach Fair day. Chilly but stayed dry. Found out we had won the boaters pub quiz the previous night – hooray! After a pleasant day at the fair, we set off back at 5pm; much less windy now and some weak sunshine so a pleasant end to the day. We were chased by a cruiser all the way to the Y-junction with Burwell Lode. Locked through Upware and got to Popes Corner at 7.30pm. A couple of beers in the pub; John and Deb left at 9.30 and we had an on-board burger and bed. A great weekend but spent an awful lot of money.

2 ½ hours, 1 lock

A real grey fen morning with lead skies, drizzle and very cold. After the usuals set off at 10.45. Stopped near the Cutter in Ely for another food shop at Tescos. Had a walk round the town, met Harry and his wife off NB ‘Vale of Saffron’, bought Meg a new handbag and ordered a drum kit for Gary for his 21^st birthday present (must be mad).

Re-watered and did the loo and the sun came out for a pleasant spring evening. Cruised to the Black Horse and stopped there for the evening and a big steak supper in the sunshine.

2 ¼ hours

After showers, brekky etc we set off at 9.45 on another cold grey morning. Stopped at Littleport for coal then onward down the long drag towards Denver. Turned right onto the Wissey at 11.45. This river is charming; quite narrow and windy like a contour canal but deep and surprisingly fast-flowing. Arrived at Hilgay Wharf moorings at 12.45 and decided to stay until tomorrow. A pint in the pub, salad lunch and then a walk round the village to explore all the little alleys and lanes. Came across a useful garden centre but resisted the temptation to spend.

Turned into quite a pleasant afternoon out of the chilly NE breeze. We set to work polishing brass and chatted to other boaters coming and going. Burger and tinned stuff for supper at bed around 10.30pm.

3 hours

Not too bad a morning, overcast with a light breeze. After breakfast, cruised up the Wissey and turned in the flash beyond the sugar factory. By the time we left the Wissey onto the Gt.Ouse, the weather was deteriorating; a thick gloomy mist closed in and the temperature dropped like a stone.

We stopped at the Ship at Brandon Creek for lunch intending to carry on to Littleport and pack up and go home because of the awful cold. However, changed our minds after lunch and settled down to read. The mist lifted later so took the dog along the flood-bank for a stroll. Went to the pub at 6.30 only to find a sign saying ‘closed except for Friday evenings and weekends! Damn! Back to the boat and cracked a bottle of red. Then another NB arrived next door who told us the pub was open, the landlord had just forgotten to take the ‘winter opening hours’ notice down. Cheers! A couple of pints, chicken drumstick supper and bed.

3 ½ hours

Set off for Littleport at 10.45am. Arrived 11,45 am for post-holiday clear-up and home. Another grey and murky day but slightly warmer without the wind.

1 hour

After a Saturday at the Crick Boat Show, arrived Littleport at 10am. Set off at 11am and for once a beautiful sunny day. Stopped for water at Ten-mile Bank then moved on to Hilgay, arriving 2pm. Met the other Pikeys, had some lunch, went to the pub etc. A bit of bother with some noisy kids hanging round the bridge but they went away later. A late and boozy night with the boatclub. That night we slept through a really fierce thunderstorm which woke everyone else up.

2 ½ hours

Woke with a minor hangover. Helped take down the PEBC gazebo then chatted to owners of NB Cleo tied up behind us; they had come from Warwick to tour the fens. The cruisers began to leave, concerned that the water level in the Wissey was rising and they mightn’t get under the low road bridge. We left around mid-day and turned in the flash beyond the sugar factory. Arrived back at Hilgay at 1.30pm and tied up again for lunch. The weather was becoming chilly again so we decided to stay for a further night and did some paintwork touching-up. Dipped diesel and found it was less than ¼ full – so either we didn’t completely fill it last time or the engine has become very thirsty suddenly. (We’ve since concluded after talking to other 1505 users that these engines are very frugal until you start to push them hard; the fuel consumption then increases very rapidly).

1 ½ hours

Woke at 8.30 and set off for Littleport at 9.45 after breakfast. Weather broken cloud; warm in the sun but chilly in the shade. Arrived Littleport at 1pm. Saw Peter and Jean on Arachne and several other crews we know by sight. Lunch and a clear-up, and away by 2.15pm.

Left Meg’s car at the Pike and Eel then drove to Littleport. Cast off at 11am. Calm but murky morning. Took on water and diesel at Ely at 12.30, then crossed over and tied up near the Cutter Inn. A couple in the Cutter then we walked to the amazing chinese fish-and chip shop. Left Ely at 2.30pm, arrived Fish and Duck at 3.25pm. Weather now cold and drizzly so we tucked ourselves in with the stove on for the rest of the day.

2 ½ hours

A slightly brighter morning. Set of shortly after 8am and had an uneventful run to the Pike and Eel, arriving at 12.30. After a bit of faffing about over moorings Steve brought the boat across from our old jetty to the boat club area. Left the Pike at 1.30 to collect Steve’s car from Littleport.

4 ½ hours, 2 locks

Pike and Eel regatta weekend. A good do, though Steve managed to get a nasty upset tummy on the Saturday evening.

We arrived late morning and left the Pike in blistering heat. Picked up a load of weed on the Old West which caused the engine to overheat. Stopped at the GOBA moorings at Aldreth Bridge for a de-weed and stayed for several hours as it was so hot. Carried on to Ely and moored outside the Cutter pub. Sampled the take-aways in the evening, the chinese run by English people and the chippie run by Chinese people.

5 hours, 2 locks

We left Ely early afternoon and returned to Littleport via the Black Horse to collect a lift back to the Pike and Eel to pick up the cars.

1 ½ hours

Arrived at Littleport at 8pm, loaded up and got a chinese take-away for supper.

Ian and Therese arrived at 9.30, thoroughly confused because Steve had given them the wrong mobile phone number. Left Littleport at 10.15 in blazing sunshine and cruised to the Fish and Duck. Moored outside, had a couple of drinks and the cruised on to the Pike, arriving at 6.30pm, a pleasant and unremarkable journey in warm sunshine. Had supper on board, a nightcap in the pub and bed at 11pm.

6 ½ hours, 2 locks

Another beautiful morning. Emptied loo and topped up with water and left the Pike at 10.30. Ian’s cap blew off into the water but we rescued it with the boathook. Carried on through Brownshill and Hermitage and noticed severe weed growth especially between the Pike and Brownshill. Lunched on the move along the Old West; very shallow in places and we were pushed aground several times by deep-draughted cruisers hogging the centre of the channel.

Saw our old cruiser ‘Elizabeth’ near the Lark junction; very smart re-paint, new canopy and new engine. Now moors at Isleham. Took several photos. On the approach to Littleport engine began to labour and the ‘overheating’ buzzer fired up – looked like an accumulation of weed round the prop. Ran on tick-over for 10 minutes or so to cool it down. Re-berthed at 5.30pm. Ian and Therese packed up their bits and left, we departed around 6.15pm. A good weekend with lovely weather for a change.

7 hours, 2 locks

Arrived 6.30pm. Lovely evening. Checked weed hatch, topped up engine oil and water, swabbed bilges out, topped up batteries (no.4 dry), new dehumidifier crystals.

JJ and Nancy arrived at 7.30pm; mild calm evening. Had a spinach bog and red wine supper and bed at 11.30pm

After usual breakfasty things, left at 10am and cruised to Ely. Mostly sunny but a couple of sharp showers which quickly dried off. Stopped at the Fish and Duck at 12.15 for a couple of beers and a salad lunch then on down the Old West and arrived at the Pike at 7pm. The river was very busy today and most moorings were completely full but we were OK on our secret spot inside the Pike marina. Saw lots of people we knew on the way. Had a couple of beers in the Pike then JJ cooked us an excellent spicy steak supper which we washed down with some very passable red stuff.

6 ½ hours, 2 locks

In contrast to yesterday, a cold and gloomy morning. Went for water but a narrowboat had decided to use the water point as an overnight mooring so we couldn’t reach the tap. A gentle journey to Popes Corner; the EA radar trap man was beside Stretham Ferry Bridge; he clocked us at 3 ½ mph but we had already slowed down for some anglers further back. Saw several kingfishers on this stretch of river. Tied up bankside at the Fish and Duck for a couple of beers and a late lunch. Wandered on towards Ely, river very busy with boats going home. Stopped briefly for a water top-up. Saw ‘Vale of Saffron’ moored against a field bank near the Lark junction. Finally reached Littleport at 7.30pm; packed up and away home after a fun weekend; shame about the weather.

7 hours, 2 locks

A difficult start to the day; phone calls to and from Reading and Cardiff but eventually decided to boat. Arrived at 11.45 and idled down to the Black Horse. First we tied up opposite the pub then changed our minds and crossed to the other side. Chatted about boats and canals to Frank and Gillian of NB Fragil, visiting the area from the West Midlands. Interested to find that they would be at the Black Country Boat Festival which is one of the targets for our September canal trip. Eventually headed back to Littleport at 5pm. River current very strong today and a very rapid run back. Tied up and left Littleport at 6.15 pm – still raining.

½ hour

Arrived early evening, met Frank and Gillian in the pub (again) dumped gear and got a chinese take-away.

After breakfast, travelled into Cambridge on the train to try and get a TV set for the boat. The one we chose was out of stock at John Lewis (of course). Had a baguette lunch on Cambridge station. The return train was held up for ½ hour just before the level crossing by the Black Horse - some signal failure due to the very hot weather. In the evening had a bar-b-q with Rob and Sarah from NB ‘Dora’ next door. A warm evening but quite windy.

Today it rained – a lot. Checked running gear over (anchor, ropes, mud-weight etc) and did various other odd jobs. Meg made a cupboard inventory. Chilli lunch and home around 4. Got back home to find it hadn’t rained at all there.

Arrived mid-day after the Bank Holiday party at The Red Cow. Slightly fragile. Dumped dog on board and went back to Tesco to stock up on tinned stuff from their ‘damaged tin’ box – saved nearly £6! Quick pint at the Black Horse, lunch on board then an afternoon of odd jobs. Fish pie supper and bed at 10.45pm.

Woke to a grey drizzly cold misty horrible fen day. Set off for Ely around 9am. No-one on the move at all. Water and dieseled up at Ely and then flogged back to the Black Horse, arriving 12.15pm. A couple in the pub and a moan to other boaters about the weather and then back to Littleport, cold and wet. (Gloves, anorak and hat needed). Packed up after lunch and home at 3.30 pm.

3 hours

Arrived at 9.30am for the big trip. Meg and Ali did some last-minute stocking-up at Tescos and we left Littleport at 2pm. Tied up at the Ship at Brandon Creek at 3.

A drink in the pub, chicken supper and bed around 10.30. Weather overcast but warm, forecast promising. Lock out of Denver tomorrow at 3 and we want to be 1^st in the queue.

1 hour

Andy set off solo at 6.45am (not sure why). Arrived Denver at 8.45am and topped up with water. Checked with the Denver lockie only to find that chances of getting through today are remote due to low tides. We hung around, chatted to other boaters, had a pint in the Jenyns Arms and waited for news. At 3pm the lockie confirmed insufficient water today - and tomorrow will probably be the same. 1^st set-back. So – veg-out for the rest of the day, visit pub etc. All we can do is wait. Roast lamb dinner and bed at 10.45pm.

2 hours + charge

                                                                                                                                Waiting for the tide at Denver Sluice

A warm sunny morning. We lounged about, emptied loo and had a few in the Jenyns. Several other boats arrived to lock through during the morning but had got the bad news from the lockie and either turned round and gone away again or tied their boats up to come back later. Organised a taxi for Ali to go back to Littleport for her car as she had to return to Worcester. At 3pm we were told that boats were about to come up from Salters Lode as the wind direction had changed and raised the water level - and if we were quick we might get through. We hastily chucked our tow-path side camp (chairs, tables. books, papers etc) into the boat, grabbed the dog and crossed to the waiting area. We locked in with NB Birdsong (on her way to March) but left the lock on our own on the incoming tide. An easy run down the tideway and Andy did a faultless entrance into Salters Lode lock. We then cruised on along Well Creek through Upwell and Outwell; very shallow and we were pushed aground twice by boats coming the other way. At Marmont Priory lock, the lock lady told us we wouldn’t make it to March in daylight but we could use the lock landing stage as an overnight mooring if we wished. Celebrated with another roast lamb dinner and too much wine.

4 hours, 3 locks

                                                                                                        Out of Denver sluice - Andy has the helm - NB Birdsong behind...

                                                                                                                        ...and out of Salters Lode sluice into 'the Levels'...

                                                                                                    A quiet end to the day at Marmont Priory, Middle Level Navigations

We were all up early and left Marmont Priory at 6.30am. Arrived March 8.30am. Moored on the Town Quay by the sign saying ‘Fishing only’ (makes a change, you usually find fishermen where it says ‘mooring only’). Had some breakfast, did a bit of supermarket shopping, Steve brought some new shoes from Clarks. Left March at 10, emptied loo at the sanitary station but the facility was so smelly and dirty we decided to forego water. There was a nasty pong through this part of the river so we didn’t linger. The journey through to Whittlesey was slow and a bit tedious, parts of the route were very shallow. Passed NB ‘Iceni’ at Floods Ferry, the only boat we saw on the move today. We successfully negotiated Briggate Bend, arrived at Stanground at 3.45pm but ripped off a side-fender entering the lock. Stopped for diesel at Peterborough Boat Centre and water on Peterborough Town Quay.

We then set off up the Nene, through the heavy Orton and Awalton locks. We arrived at Peterborough Cruising Club where the club treasurer, (met while on waiting time at Denver) had told us that if we mentioned his name we could stay overnight.

This worked, and we tied up at 7.15pm by which time it was getting towards dusk. No pub tonight because we were locked in at the cruising club (security precaution). Bed at 9.30pm.

11 ¼ hours, 4 locks

Andy and Meg were up and away from Peterborough Cruising Club at 7 in thick mist with bow and nav lights on. Sun came out at 10 and we met our first boat on the move at Elton lock at 10am. Flogged on through a mixture of beautiful and gloomy countryside and hauled in to Oundle Marina at 3pm. A miserable place, closed all day on Wednesdays and no-one around, so we emptied the loo in their facility and reversed out (with a bit of bumping through the very narrow entrance) and stamped on to Wadenhoe, arriving at the Kings Head moorings at 5.45pm.

Re-filled with water, had a drink in the delightful pub followed by supper and bed (though Andy went back to the pub for a nightcap before turning in).

10 ½ hours, 12 locks

                                                                                                                        Moorings at Wadenhoe on the river Nene

We were all up early and away from Wadenhoe at 7am. A gloomy morning but the sun came out later and it got very warm. We had a steady and uneventful run through the seemingly endless heavy Nene locks, only about half of which were electrified. At Islip lock we came across a stolen boat which had been vandalised. Informed a man on the opposite bank who claimed to know the owner. Re-dipped the diesel tank – more than ¾ full so will make Northampton easily. Soup and biscuit lunch on the move and around 3.30pm pulled in at Wellingborough to get cider and beer from the nearby Tesco. We were helped through Wellingborough Upper lock by a drunk but friendly individual living in a tent on the scrubland by the lock (he claimed to be fishing). We were getting a bit pushed for time and the wind was starting to get up; we encountered locks with broken paddles, immovable paddles, gates too heavy to push and everything seemed to conspire to slow us down. Finally arrived at Cogenhoe and tied up on the field bank above the lock at 8pm. After a huge beef carbonara supper, Andy and Steve walked the dog into the village and had a couple at the Royal Oak and eventually turned in at midnight. We saw just 2 narrowboats on the move today, nothing else at all.

13 hours, 16 locks

A quiet night at Cogenhoe and away again at 7am. Met up with two live-aboard boats at Billing lock all covered with flowers and one with a huge tomato plant growing on its back fender. Then followed a slow trek into Northampton; more heavy gates, broken paddles etc. Patchy cloud but quite warm and becoming breezy. Met the fire brigade doing a rescue exercise at Abington lock.

At the lock beside Northampton Cruising Club a gust of wind fetched our Imray Nene map into the water and we couldn’t get it back. Crossing the flood basin was choppy in the increasing wind, with white horses on the water. The flood basin is quite shallow and we touched the bottom a couple of times.

Nearer Northampton the locks were security padlocked making for slow progress. At Northampton Town lock a motorbike had been fished out earlier in the morning and was hanging from the lockside on a rope.

Tied up at Becketts Park; Andy gave the engine a quick once-over, Meg and Steve visited the rather dreadful but cheap Morrissons supermarket to stock up. We looked around for the sanitary facilities but couldn’t find them despite their being marked on the map. (We later learned we had been looking in the wrong place).

We pulled in below lock 17 on the GU Northampton arm, removed the side fenders and Tambourine nosed into her very first narrow canal lock. The ground paddles were stiff and heavy but the gate paddles were OK. The wind was getting very strong. We passed the scally bit of town (debris, graffiti and kids living under the railway arches) but were soon through it.

We worked out a locking system for the Rothersthorpe flight; Andy driving, Steve running and Meg doing the gates. Got up the flight in less than 2 hours in very fierce winds and with quite a few bumps at lock entrances. Arrived at Gayton Marina exactly on 5pm as it was closing. The helpful manager allowed us to tie up on the marina front. Did the janitorial bits and Steve and Andy set off to find a pub. After numerous wrong directions, found the Greyhound in Malton Maelsor. A couple of pints and then away back to a fab fish pie supper. Demolished a bottle of red wine and bed (knackered) at 10pm. A great day.

10 hours, 23 locks

                                                                                                                             The Northampton Arm, Grand Union canal

Progress report = 101 miles and 59 locks in 51 hours, an average speed of 3.2 lock-miles/hour.

Another bright sunny morning. Re-filled with diesel when the marina opened and set off onto the GU main line. Lots of traffic – a bit like the M6 after the isolation of the Nene. A pleasant relaxing run past Stowe Hill and Weedon and through Whilton and Buckby locks. The locks were big and heavy after the narrow arm locks but we worked through the first 5 with the crew of an un-named sail-away finished in grey primer. We were shouted at by another boater for inadvertently leaving a lock gate open – us river folk aren’t used to closing gates behind us - and later realised this was our first encounter with a canal Self-Appointed Policeman or SAP. We don’t have them on the rivers!

Braunston Tunnel was creepy – our first real tunnel – but was helped by our extremely powerful Hella searchlight which one passing boat commented on. The tunnel passage took 20 minutes. Arriving at Braunston locks was like reaching Piccadilly Circus at rush-hour. Boats and boaters everywhere! There were more SAPs here, all running about shouting ‘do this, do that’ but we hung back and took our time, eventually locking down the flight solo.

Tied up on the visitor moorings just on the far side of the marina entrance at 5.30pm, bang on schedule! The moorings were jam-packed and many boats came through later looking for somewhere to stop but to no avail. We visited the little canal shop where Meg bought a glass swan, then went to the Lord Nelson pub for a couple of pints and a game of skittles. Back at the boat, a spag bog supper and bed at 10.30pm.

8 ½ hours, 13 locks, 1 tunnel 2017 yards

                                                                                                                                    Whilton locks, Grand Union canal

Left Braunston at 8.15 on a lovely sunny morning. Crept past endless lines of moored boats round Braunston Turn onto the North Oxford canal and still more moored boats. The canal is shallow and not especially scenic. Worked through the Hillmorton paired locks - where there were a couple of SAPs on hand to give us our instructions - then on through the tunnel. Here the canal was covered with thick blanket weed and we caught up two extremely slow boats. We weren’t sure if they were having trouble with the weed or if they were just in no hurry but we stayed a tactful distance behind and followed them on tickover – fortunately without any weeding up.

Out of Rugby the canal became very shallow again. The sunshine was briefly interrupted by a short rain-shower but it cleared to a fine evening. We passed through Hawkesbury Stop-lock (rise and fall 6 inches!) and tied up on the Coventry Canal about 50 yards beyond the bridge, almost opposite the old engine-house just before 5. After the usual utilities we went for a couple of pints in the Greyhound; a pretty pub with a flagstone floor, a surly barmaid and no tobacco. Had a roast turkey supper and demolished a bottle of red. Got chatting to a passing couple and showed them over Tambourine. They had just ordered a new boat from Sabre Narrowboats – how lovely to be rich!

8 ½ hours, 4 locks, 1 tunnel 250 yards

                                                                                                                                    Greenery on the North Oxford canal

The weather forecast was bad for the day so we left Hawkesbury at 7.10am after watering up. At Nuneaton we stopped at Harry Glover’s yard for diesel. Meg and Steve bought some supplies from a nearby corner shop where the owner refused to accept a credit card – so emptied us of almost all our remaining cash. After a slow drag along the shallow pound we reached Atherstone Top lock. It was very busy here and it took 3 hours to work the flight of 8 locks.

By this time a steady light rain was falling; it increased in intensity and as we approached Tamworth it came down like stair-rods. We got completely saturated working down Glascote locks and Andy decided enough was enough. He had seen a sign saying ‘pub moorings 200 yards’ and although one or two people has said it could be iffy to overnight in Tamworth we hauled in to the Barge and Barrel moorings at 5.30pm. The stove was going well; we hung up all our saturated clothes around it, changed and went for a much-needed beer. As we were without cash, the landlord very kindly changed a cheque for us to keep us going, probably realising he’d get all of the cash back during the course of the evening anyway. The rain had stopped as we returned to Tambourine for a turkey carbonara supper followed by a nightcap in the pub and bed at 10.

10 ½ hours, 13 locks

Left the Barge and Barrel at 7.30. Stopped at Fazeley Junction for water and picked up some free maps and leaflets from the BW office. Just missed a meet-up with George and Sheila on NB Katy Rose II who were (unbeknown to us) a short way behind. Worked up the Birmingham and Fazeley canal and stopped on rather shallow moorings outside the Dog in a Doublet pub at 11am. Had a fine lunch here and left at 1.30pm after watching a working boat loaded with coal work through the lock single-handed – really slick and professional. Arrived at the moorings on the far side of Curdworth Tunnel at 3.30pm. This was where the BW lady at Fazeley had suggested stopping for the night. This is a delightful quiet spot; we set up the bar-b-q and cooked steaks on the towpath and Andy went collecting firewood from the wooded sides of the cutting. Despite a fairly leisurely day we were tired and in bed by 9.30pm.

6 hours, 11 locks, 1 tunnel 50 yards

                                                                                                                   Bar-b-q at Curdworth tunnel, Birmingham and Fazeley canal

All up at 6 and moved on from Curdworth in thick mist. By Minworth locks the mist had cleared and the sun came out. Fished out a couple of car tyres and some plastic bags full of rubbish at Minworth Top lock before we could open the gates. Canal now becoming industrial but surprisingly open which offsets the grim bits. Picked up a plastic bag round the prop at one point and scraped the bottom several times but generally no problems. Under the M6 flyover at Salford junction we worked up the Aston flight of 11 locks and crossed with several boats coming down. We couldn’t work out why some locks we reached were empty and some were full but there was no-one ahead of us. At the top lock we had to wait in the chamber while the crew of a hired boat tried to extricate themselves from trouble; somehow they’d lost it and ended up straddled across the cut.

Then up the grimly fascinating Farmers Bridge flight with some of its locks in dark places beneath buildings and surrounded by graffiti-covered walls. This time all the locks were in our favour as we passed another boat coming down. Reached Cambrian Wharf at 1pm. Went into Gas Street basin and beyond to Worcester Bar, then turned back and moored outside the Pit Stop bar in the sunshine. Meg went shopping in Brindley Place, Andy went off to take photographs and Steve sat in the sun and chatted to passers-by – including a group of Americans who wanted to see over the boat and a party of Japanese who wanted a ride!

Met Frank and Gillian from NB Fragil and on their advice moved the boat round the corner and moored near them by the flats opposite the NIA (Symphony Court). Spent a quiet evening lounging about in this fascinating place but a fairly early night after the 6am start.

6 ½ hours, 27 locks

                                                                                                            Cambrian Wharf, central Birmingham (Birmingham Canal Navigations)

                                                                                                                           Moorings at Symphony Court, central Birmingham

A gentle start today. Andy and Meg went off to Tesco for shopping and we cast off at 11am, following NB Fragil. Up the BCN main line through a mixture of scrubby country and smelly factories. Turned left onto the Dudley No.2 canal at Dudley Port. Watered up and did the loo at the entrance to Netherton Tunnel. Through the straight wide tunnel and reported to the harbour-master for the Black Country Boat Festival at Windmill End. We were directed to our mooring offside of NB Alison. Andy did a fine 3-point turn in the old Warren Hall Colliery basin and we tied up alongside ‘Alison’ just beyond the gauging island at 3pm. Had a wander about and went down to the Wheatsheaf pub for a couple of pints. Returned to find our gangplank between the boat bows had been dislodged by passing traffic and was floating gently away. Retrieved it with the boat-hook. Found out that the festival mooring plan is a bit of a muddle due to unexpected arrivals (a couple of BW working boats) and we’ll probably have to move tomorrow. Met up with the coal-man we had last seen at Dog-in-a-Doublet, reversing his coal-boat along the canal from the junction to his mooring further down. After a quick change of gas bottles we enjoyed a lamb chop supper and bed around 10.

3 hours, 1 tunnel 3075 yards

                                                                                                                                 Exiting Netherton tunnel, Dudley No.2 canal

                                                                                                                    Black Country Boat Festival, Windmill End, Dudley No.2 canal

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Picture © Roger Chesher

Breakfast at 7.30 and after a dog-walk. Andy went off to see if he could sort out the growing mooring muddle. On his return both NB Alison and ourselves moved up further towards the bridge and moored stern adjacent to make it easier for the dog to get on and off. Went for a couple at the Wheatsheaf where we met up with Frank and Gillian again then back to the boat for lunch and some brass and paintwork polishing.

Filled in the cruising log and journey form for the ‘longest distance travelled to the Festival’ competition to deliver to Dave Dent the competition manager on NB Albatross 2 – who has promised not to lose the logbook… our score is 250 ¾ miles and 127 locks although the locks don’t count, only the distance.

1 hour mooring move / battery charge

An enjoyable warm sunny day at the Festival and apart from the appalling beer in the beer-tent, a good show. Met lots of people. Didn’t win the ‘longest distance travelled’ – beaten by 4 miles – but we were mentioned in dispatches. Roger and Ros arrived around 11, Ali at 2.30. Did a huge bar-b-q on the towpath for supper and made a brief visit to the beer tent in the evening.

A lazy start and spent the day wandering around the festival and the pubs. Ali left at 4.30pm and by early evening most of the boats had gone; just 4 left on our stretch of mooring. A steak pie supper and a quiet evening watching the TV.

Left at 9.15am following NB El-jen-jac (who passed us some useful info on moorings at Wolverhampton Cruising club at the bottom of the Wolverhampton 21). A gloomy morning. Did the janitorials at the end of the tunnel and at Dudley Port turned left towards Wolverhampton. Followed El-jan-jac through Factory locks – they very kindly left paddles half-up so the locks would be ready for us on arrival. Along the grubby and crud-filled Wolverhampton level and arrived at Malcolm’s yard at Victoria Basin, Wolverhampton Top lock at 2.30pm. After chatting to Malcolm about the winter work, Meg and Andy settled down for an evenings read; Steve walked to the station and got a train back to Littleport to collect the car. Train was ½ hour late, arriving Littleport at 8.15pm. Returned the following morning for the drive home.

4 ½ hours, 3 locks, 2 tunnels (3075 and 350 yards)

                                                                                                                   Journey's end - Victoria Basin, Wolverhampton Top Lock