Hedgerow Jottings: Is It Too Early For Baileys?

Evening mooring Acton Trusell

Hello again Jotters

We’ve had a very busy boating week, racing down through Rugby, skipping down the Coventry and popping out on the Trent and Mersey at Fradley. It was a relief to find some deeper water for a while as we swished through Rugeley and moored at last in Great Hayward to await the Shropshire Horde. arriving to celebrate my birthday. It’s a big number this year and the DVLA wrote to congratulate me and reissued my new licence on the understanding that I can now only drive at 25mph, with my fog lights on, to the supermarket and back.

Reflections

Monday morning was fine and sunny, a little breezy but Carl and I were down to tee shirts after the initial morning chill had worn off. It was quiet for the first hour and I had just opened my big mouth and said “not much moving today” when we met a boat at a blind bridge. We were half way through the bridge hole when the oncoming boat came into view and strictly speaking, it was up to him to move over and let us pass but I could see that wasn't going to happen. There were 3 ladies in the bows, clad in sari’s and flapping their hands like colourful butterflies. I couldn’t see the driver, I think he had abandoned ship! Their boat was across the canal, grounded at the stern in very shallow water and with another boat close behind them. Carl reversed out of the bridge and we waited patiently for the two boats to sort themselves out and get by, it took a while but everyone was smiling and waving as they went on towards Nuneaton. Good deed done for the day! We put a few more scratches on the paintwork but that’s life buoy as they used to say in the old days.

The Battered Hat

We usually stop for shopping in Atherstone but there wasn’t much water in the pound at the bottom of the first five locks so we went on through 6 & 7 where there was even less water. We carried on through 8 & 9 and moored in our usual spot just before the little white bridge. I half expected to wake up in the morning and find no water under our hull but it was ok and we tootled off towards Fradley to meet up with Bill and Ruth (the previous owners of Lady Aberlour) for a natter and to show off our freshly painted boat. They live beside the Coventry Canal and we always call in to see them whenever we are passing.

Bill and Ruth

We’ve had glorious weather this week, except for Thursday when it rained for hours. We didn’t mind as we were moored up for the day with our friends Pat and Malc. It’s been a while since we saw them so there was lots to talk about, especially as they have now sold Naga Queen. Pat arrived with a gift of Alrewas sausages for us and a bottle of Magic Water from the filter tap on Naga Queen. Tricky always loved to get on their boat and would sit by the sink waiting patiently for them to fill her dish with ‘Magic Water’. Such a kind thought Pat - we will miss you and so will Tricky.

Armitage Tunnel

It was such a nice evening after Pat and Malc left, the rain had cleared up and the sun was out and there was just a gentle breeze ruffling the water. We’d been cooped up in the boat all day, so we set off towards Fradley, thinking we could water up, get rid of the rubbish and get up the locks before darkness fell. The first part of the plan went exceedingly well. The water point was empty, I made a quick meal to eat as we were chugging along, and we set off up the locks. There wasn’t room for us to moor at Shadehouse, so we cruised along, past the dreadful scar that is HS2 and up through Wood End Lock. We like to moor there if we can but, as it was so late, we couldn’t squeeze in anywhere. There was still lots of daylight left as we passed our marina at Kings Bromley and carried on towards Armitage, pausing at bridge 56 to try to wriggle in behind the Little Chimney Boats - they have a beautiful stainless steel tiller arm on their butty and we were just too close for comfort, so we set off into the growing dusk with our fingers crossed for a mooring in Armitage. At last, we found an empty stretch of armco, hove to and tied up at bridge 57. We marked the spot on the Nicholson’s map book no. 3, which is now dotted with dabs of pink and orange marker pen, so we remember where to moor next time.

Dying days of summer

We were up and off early the next day, but got stuck behind a b.o.t.o. (Boat on tick over). It didn’t really matter as we were mooring up in Rugeley for a trip into town and a browse round the charity shops for more reading material for Carl. I spied Victoria plums for sale in the fruit shop in the arcade and that was the highlight of the trip really. Rugeley looks more and more dejected each time we visit. They are doing some work to increase the mooring spaces by bridge 66 and there is a new ramp from Tesco’s bridge down onto the towpath. Initially, I thought it was an improvement until I saw the two trolleys by the hedge that had been fished out of the canal. It seems that the local brat packs have been using the ramp too!

Fabulous skies

We’ve had some early starts and longish days in order to get to a suitable spot to meet up with the Shropshire crew. We were aiming to meet them in Penkridge but in the end, we only made it to Great Hayward. It was the perfect spot for a family gathering. There is a place below the packhorse bridge,on the Shugborough Estate, where families can splash about in the river on hot days. Oakley (4) loved it but it was too chilly for me. Once the whole gang had arrived, we set out the dining table beside the boat and had a buffet picnic, complete with collapsing chairs and lots of laughter. It’s the best unbirthday I’ve ever had!

Best Beloved Boy Oakley

I was going to write yesterday but I was glad of a day off after all the excitement of the towpath party on Saturday. We did manage a walk to the Farm Shop Cafe for brunch then I was happy to sit out in my new comfy chair and pass the time of day with the chap on the boat in front of us. Carl was in his ‘shed’ (the back deck) painting some doors and Tricky was, for once, content to sit in the bows, watching the world go by.

Giggles with Great Grandma

Today we have turned onto the Staffs and Worcester Canal, skirted round Stafford and moored just through Acton Trussell, ready to hit the bright lights of Penkridge tomorrow. There will be more visitors and more celebrations and I get to open a very intriguing parcel that has been travelling with me ready for the big day. I wonder what it can be! (Intrigued face emoji)

Happy Days

I hope you’ve had a good Bank Holiday - how the weeks are flying by. We'll be chugging on towards Kinver this week, hoping that we can get our new cratch cover fitted before we moor up for the winter. I'll write again soon.

Love from

The Floating Chandlers