The leaving of Nantwich

Having had further engine problems I'm leaving Nantwich today and intend to get to Whitchurch, which is about 11 hours away. But first I've promised to tow NB Mountain Ash to the next winding hole.

Saturday is the big day when Dr Bradley'sLinctus opensasa bookshop and cafe for the first time. Stilllots to do on the boat but I'd promised to open then so will. If your near Whitchurch why not find me and call in.

Towards Whitchurch

I didn't get the painting finished. Now there's a suprise. However it is getting closer. After a night in Audlem I've moved on to Nantwich for a few days before venturing onto the Langollen canal. Next weekend is my cricket clubs annual tour to Ludlow, so Whitchurch is as handy as it gets on the canal for travelling there.

Back to the Anchor

I have been in areas with no internet connection for some time so it's good to be back online. Since leaving Lapworth I have been having boat problems. On the BCN I was down the weed hatch many times. (I'm never going near the BCN again). The delay meant I didn't get to Brewood until after dark. As I was approaching a mooring the engine went completely dead. So I did the obvious thing, moored up and went to the pub. Friday morning I checked the engine, expecting (hoping) to find a blown fuse or similar but what I found was a flooded engine bay. My bilge pump had packed up a while back (due to spilling a tin of paint in the engine bay!) so I emptied the water by using the shower pump, which has also packed up now. On Monday I got a tow to the nearby boatyard who spent 3 days rewiring. Fortunately it does not seem to have damaged alternators or starter motor which would have cost a fortune.

I made a presumption that for so much water to have entered I must have failed to properly fit the weed hatch on the last time of use so set off Yesterday to the Anchor confident all was resolved. By Gnosall I knew it wasn't as the bilge was filling again. Running with the engine boards up to keep an eye on it, I reached the anchor and today hitched a lift on a boat to Norbury Junction to buy a new bilge pump (though I had to walk back). It's the stern gland leaking. Must need re packing - I don't know how to do that but someone on CWDF will tell me how.

Next few days will be spent here and as the forecast for the weekend and beyond looks good I hope to finish painting the boat. I'll put up a photo when it's done.

Changed plans

I didn't leave Lapworth today after all as I decided the weather was a good painting day. Have added another coat of paint to one side and it is beginning to look something like my plans said it would.

Lapworth

I met up over the weekend with friends from Canal World Forum. About 25 for a night in the pub then all 25 being treated to breakfast on NB Tawny Owl. It's Tardis like in it's ability to get so many people aboared. The weather was wet, unlike the same event last year when breakfast was taken in the picnic area.

Attendees have now largely departed and I'm away in the morning. This is the southernmost point of this years trip and I'm heading back up the Shropshire Union, eventually to cross the Pennines on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal - but no rush.

Gas Street Basin

The trip into Birmingham wasn't too bad, but not a single boat moored in 14 miles. I can imgine why. The Gas Street Basin is full. Not a single spot available.

The towpaths were the quietest I've come across in an urban area, and the majority of those that are there don't acknowledge a greeting - just eyes down and plod on. Is this a big city thing?

The Anchor

I have had my weekend at my favorite pub on the canals and am about to set off through Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Should I be looking forward to this bit of the trip or just hope to get through as quickly as possible. I'm about to find out.

Beer and water

I was  trying toget to the Anchor today, but spent too long in Market Drayton trying to find some plumbing bits so 10.45, knowing I'd miss last orders I moored at the Wharf, one mile short. Into the pub for a much required pint and the landlord claims he's shut, despite the drinkers in there. That's one way of trying to go bust.

The plumbing bits were to try and get my water tank working. On three prevous ocasions I've filled it and it all leaked away - I've never been able to get a watertight outlet. Today it's not leaking, instead its pouring out of the connection to the toilet . Of course, this is the only connection I've pannelled over. Hopefully it will fix tomorrow and I'll have running water on the boat for the first time in two and a half years. Then to get some hot followed by drinks in the Anchor.

Solved

It took a bit of tracking but the problem was a leaking hose. I had dismissed this because the header tank remained full. There must have been an airlock preventing water from the header decending into the cooling system and since the water had got too low I couldn't find a leak. The airlock must have cleared when I opened up to check the thermostats. the system suddenly needed lots of water and the leak was revealed.

So I was able to move on and despite not leaving until 1:00 I have now reached Audlum. I may stay two nights or move to the Anchor tomorrow, where intend to spend the weekend.

Broken down

I'd intended to leave Midlewich several days ago, but have managed to find a problem - my engine is overheating. Hoped it was a thermostat, which I could fix but both checked and OK. Will get an engineer on Tuesday or Wednesday. I guess it must be the waterpump. I had intended to be at the Anchor on Friday after stops in Nantwich and Audlem. I'll miss out Nantwich now and see if I can get to the Anchor in 2 days. That's 35 miles and 34 locks. Two 10 hour days should do it.

I thought they ate fish

gh

Middlewich

A long days cruise from Lymm to Middlewich with the only stops being to get diesel and pull a boat off the mud in Croxton Flash. They thought they could just cruise in and do a U  turn only to be left stranded on the mud.

Called at the King's Lock to find it recently changed hands. It has been considerably smartened up, with what looks like new upholstery, a new (gas?) fire and repaint. The dartboard has been replaced by pastel paintings and it was very quiet, late Sunday evening. It feels more like a modern "bar" than a traditional pub and I don't like it, though I suppose it may bring in more of a different type of customer. I wonder where the locals I met on previous visits have gone? At least the beer was good - Deuchars IPA. So many modernised pubs lose real ale completely and concentrate on fizzy stuff. I'll be glad to get to a real pub when I'm at Audlum and High Offley.

Lymm

Moored for the night at Lymm. Not by choice but because I ran out of deisel. Hard to believe I've used 50 litres in 32 miles. I thought I'd been lucky, running out by a boatyard, only to find it was shut. I drained the dregs from a container, which got me into Lymm - just - as it ran out again whilst passing lines of moored boats, but managed to drift into a vacant slot. I am now relying on 5 litres from a garage to get me to Preston Brook in the morning. I hope they are open on Sunday, then I'll try to press on to Middlewich.

Rochdale Canal

After messing about on the Rochdale canal for two months, I've finally left the Pennines behind and am heading out onto the Cheshire Plain. The trip through Manchester is certainly different and I found it thouroughly enjoyable. I did have assistance on these nine locks as I'd read it was extremely difficult singlehanded but I saw nothing I could not have coped with and will quite happily go singlehanded in the future.


I found it facinating looking up at everything or being undeneath multistory buildings, including a lock under one.

The duck houses add a bit of colour, but I never saw any ducks using them.

Goslings

Why are the geese in Yorkshire well into producing goslings, whilst here in Littleborough, there is no sign of any offspring. Could it be that they lay later because Lancashire weather is so awful?

Fitting out

I've had the boat now for two and a half years, which I bought as a sailaway. I've been cruising the system getting to London and the Lee and Stort last year. All this time I have been endeavouring to fit it out. Once I got reasonably comfortable, the pace slackened, but now I'm making a big push to get it finished, so my cruising this year may be fairly restricted.

The problem with living on board, cruising and fitting out is space. Every job means moving stuff about to make room for the job in hand. In addition I've all the tools, sheets of ply, various lumps of wood etc, all of which get in the way. I'm currently refitting the kitchen in its third incarnation. So everything I store in the kitchen is scattered randomly about, plus I've extended it into what was my storage space, so everything from there is also scattered about. Result: chaos.

I've been operating on bottled water now for 2 years as I've never finished the plumbing. Thought I'd get that done today, but of course I find myself short of a couple of connectors, so it's a trip to a DIY place tomorrow. Should be able to finish then and move on to the back cabin. This is when I'll get to use the sheets of ply I've been storing for ages and make a better place for storing tools. At present they are spread all over and everything I put down I manage to lose - how is it possible to lose so much stuff in a narrowboat?

highest point

Just one lock from the highest point on the canals at Summit and booked to go through tomorrow. I really like it up here with the hills towering above, it feels almost mountainous.

This,obviously, was not taken today but I like the atmosphere.

I'm officially in Lancashire. Came up the last two days with Ian on NB Sara Louise which made the trip much easier.

The main problem with being here is that their is no pub within easy reach as the Bird in the Hand s closed and for sale (at least I assume it's closed - better wander over and check)

Walsden

Another short day as I gradually approach Summit. Provided I can get a booking Friday will be the day. Lunch taday was at Grandma Pollards fish and chip shop, reputedly the best in the world. I wouldn't go that far, but certainly very good and well worth a visit.

Todmorden

Moved along today, four miles and 10 locks from Hebden Bridge to Todmorden. Approaching my planned mooring I was concerned to see the area tied up with police tape - what could be going on? Turns out it's a goose nesting in a flower tub. Didn't get that sort of responce when I was robbed.

Whilst passing through Todmorden I visited Bare Arts. It is a canalside Gallery (abstract nudes), brewery and bar. All bottled beers but the samples I tried were excellent. Recommend a visit if you are passing.

Waiting Game

I set off on my summer tour four weeks ago and have travelled five miles. This may not seem like much progress but the closed lock opens on Tuesday so I will be moving on to Littleborough, then Manchester. My only current destination is Lapworth, south of Birmingham in June but I have not yet decided how to get there. Either the Trent and Mersey or the Shropshire Union. These decisions can wait.

I have used the time to continue the fitting out of DBL though it still has a long way to go.

Introduction

For the last wo years my annual travel on Englands canals have been reported on a canal forum (CWDF). This year I decided to try Blogging. So this is the blog of narrowboat Dr Bradleys Linctus.