Narrowboat Maid of the Mist Blog - March 2011

We hope you enjoy reading about our travels around the British Inland Waterways

Staffs & Worc Canal cont ...

1st - Cruised from Hinksford as far as Bratch Locks today and moored on the 48 hr moorings at the top (3 miles and 9 locks). Bratch locks can be quite confusing as they are a flight and not a staircase. However, if you treat them as individual locks you should be able to cope ok. The instructions for going down the locks appear to be much clearer than those for going up. The paddles are painted red (double gates) and blue (single gate).

2nd - Six locks and 6.5 miles today, as far as Oxley Marine at Autherley Junction. Going to start throwing out some old clothes today, to make room for the new ones bought for our holiday. That's the good thing about living on a boat, you have no room to hoard.

5th - From Autherly Junction to Gailey today. Been spending our time making sure all the laundery is done and have thrown out a lot of old stuff. Also I managed to give the boat a quick wipe down on the outside while we were filling up with water at Gailey top lock. We don't like going into a marina looking dirty. We have moored up two locks down from Gailey. There are usually horses in the field opposite, but we think they have been taken in during the bad weather.

While we have been sorting out our packing for our hols, we have had the suitcases on our bed, so we have been sleeping in the dining booth for a couple of nights. Tonight however we will be back in our own bed as the packing is almost done and the suitcases have been closed up.

6th - Moved boat into Marina at Otherton.

7th to 22nd - On holiday in Malta.

23rd - Back on the boat and out of the marina. Just moved to the bottom of Gailey top lock where we will stay until after our Boat Safety Certificate inspection is completed, which is due on the 28th. We have plenty to do to keep us busy until then.

24th - Graham worked very hard in the engine compartment today, tidying it up and making sure it is clean and dry. He only had one mishap, which was a broken fuel line, soon sorted.

Myself, I spent the day in bed with a cold. I have had this cold for about 12 days now and it is wearing me down.

25th - Still working on the holiday washing. It's worth a note that to run a washing machine on a boat generally means running the engine or being hooked up to electricity. Whilst running the engine you are also trying to charge the batteries, so in our case, we can only do two wash loads a day before we start to eat into our fuel consumption.

We have a large integral water tank, so under normal cirumstances we can go two weeks before we need to fill up again, but with extra wash loads we expect we will need filling up again in a week.

26th - The final holiday wash loads will be finished today and the suitcases stowed. I will be changing the bedding tomorrow and will then be back to normal.

27th - Almost ready for the inspection. It's only once in four years, but despite knowing we have no problems, there is nearly always something arising from a change in the law. Being without gas helps as there is less to inspect, so fingers are crossed.

28th - Well, she passed her boat safety certificate. No problems whatsoever. Moved above the lock to fill up with water and collect our summer supplies from David at Gailey Boat Services.

29th - Cruised to Autherley Junction and moored opposite Oxley Marina. Walked across the park to Morrisons (it seems much quicker that way than up the towpath and over the bridge). Just purchased as much as we could both carry, will top up again tomorrow before we set off towards Wheaton Aston.

30th - Guess who was a plonker today. After our second trip to Morrisons, Graham reversed the boat to the junction while I set the lock. After coming out of the lock I managed to perch the boat on the slipway just after the lock. I didn't even know the slipway came out that far. There was no warning signs.

We couldn't move the boat in either direction and eventually the lads at the Marina got a tractor out and pulled us off. It wasn't easy and our rope came very close to snapping. Still it all adds to the excitement of cruising. No harm done, and we set off to Wheaton Aston.

Zoe met us at Wheaton Aston and stayed for an hour or so while we topped up our water supply. Topic of conversation, surprise surprise, next year's holiday in Tenerife.

31st - Having fuelled up we cruised to the winding hole at High Onn, turned and moored in the country for the night. It's been a lovely month March. Hope you will follow us again in April.

Author: Jean Beven

Staffs & Worcs Canal - Bratch Locks

Staffs & Worcs Canal - Bratch Locks

Nice carp caught by an angler 27th on Staffs and Worcester Canal. He knocked on our boat to ask if we would take a photo for him. I believe it was 13lb.