Heading toward Shardlow.

For a change I walked into Branston for a paper. I don't read papers as a rule. In the afternoon we moved down the canal to Shobnal Marina, mooring up just outside opposite Marston's Brewery. On Monday walked to B&Q but couldn't decide what wood I needed. The morning of Tuesday we were brought awake by a young man on his way to school shouting wakey wakey as he rode past on his bike.
While Marlene did some washing i went back to B&Q to get the wood I needed to put a lid on our roof box. The rest of the morning we put the lid on the box, with a few problems, however by lunch we had finished. Later we moved down to Shobnal Park Mooring for the Night.
Wednesday we walked across the park to the foot bridge over the A38. Crossing this we came to Burton Hospital so Marlene could have a blood test. Afterwards we took a bus to Barton so I could pick up a Prescription. Returning to Burton to do some shopping then back to the boat for lunch.
This afternoon we moved on to Willington for the night. Tomorrow we will carry on toward Shardlow for the weekend.

Start of our summer cruise.

Last weekend we had been out for four days with Pamela, Nathan and little Archie.Also on board were their dogs Winston and Lucy. On the Friday we had gone as far as Fradley Junction, while there we met some people we knew from Fox narrow boats in March, Graham and his wife were on their boat Sorted, which they had had painted since we last saw then. While cruising up to Fradley we came across a couple we hadn't seen for four years. We had moored with them at Rushton and Diamonds on the Nene.
Saturday morning we left Fradley heading for Great Hayward, sopping for lunch at the Ash Tree between Armitage and Rugeley. On Sunday we spent the day at Shugborough Hall. The farm park was a hit with Archie, especially feeding the lambs. After a great day we left at 4 o clock cruising back toward Fradley where we moored just above the top lock for the night.
The following morning we set off back to the Marina stopping at Alrewas for lunch. Arriving back at the marina around mid afternoon we loaded up Their car and made the trip to their house where we spent Tuesday and Wednesday. Then on Thursday Marlene and I returned to the boat.
What had been a lovely sunny week now turned to rain ready for the start of our summer cruise. Yesterday we left Barton Marina after filling up with diesel, the price of which had risen to £1.37 a litre for Propulsion and 89pence for heating. At a 60-40 slit this gives an average price of £1.16 a litre. Compared with the price of road diesel we still seem to be paying over the odds for our heating. We only cruised as far as Branston (getting wet in the process) before mooring for the Night. We have decided to stay here tonight even though the weather is a little better.

Back to base.

Leaving the daffodils and large carved Kingfishers behind we went up to Shobnall Marina and moored just outside the entrance. Walking down to Wickes we bought some wood to make a new top box. Our next stop was at the mooring just short of the bridge carrying the A38 over the canal, from here it's a short walk through the industrial estate to Morrisons where we did some shopping. Returning to the boat we move up through Branston lock to the mooring at Branston WaterPark and moored for a few hours. While there I cut the wood for the top box. When I came to screw it together I found I had no screws, oops, should have bought some at Wickes. At 17-00hrs we headed back to base at Barton Marina. On Saturday morning Richard, Gill, Aaron and Duncan came to see us for the day. It was lovely to see them. The pictures are; Carved Kingfishers, enterance to Shobnall Marina and The mooring at Branston waterpark.

A few days on the canal.

Tuesday saw us out of the marina turning right towards Burton-upon Trent. There were BW workers painting the cill markings on the first lock and two checking licenses. Still OK till the end of the month. We cruised steadily down to Shobnall and moored just short of Shobnall Marina. After lunch we walked down to B&Q and Wicks, didn't get what we wanted. Stayed at Shobnall over night.
On Wednesday we pulled into the marina to pump out, then reversing out we carried on toward Willington. Mooring for lunch and do some shopping. Later we went as far as Stenson lock where we turned round then moored for the night just passed bridge 20. We had collected some wood for the stove so I cut it into small pieces. No television tonight, too many trees.
Thursday morning was bright and sunny, we cruised back to Willington and filled up with water at the BW service point. Spending the day moored near bridge 24 we got some housework done, then relaxed in the sun. Around 16-00hrs we moved up the canal to moor for the night at Shobnall park mooring. The display of Daffodils is stunning.
Did some reading while dinner cooked.

Five days on the canal.

Starting the engine on Wednesday took some time, It had not been started since we went shopping in Burton-upon Trent. The weather was looking promising for a few days so we had decided to take a trip down the Coventry canal.
We left the marina at about 1-45pm turning left onto the Trent and Mersey heading for Alrewas. On our way to Wychnor lock I collected some wood for the stove, only collecting wood that was not attached to trees or bushes. Doing the river section past the large weir we arrived at Alrewas lock. After locking up we moored for the night. It was good to be out on the canal again. We had a quiet evening of television and Scrabble.
Thursday dawned with blue skies and a heavy frost. After breakfast we took the bus into Lichfield to do some food shopping, arriving back at 1-35pm. Leaving Alrewas when lunch was over, our destination Fradley Junction. Mooring at the 48hr moorings between the second and third locks. A walk round the nature reserve before dinner was pleasant in the evening sun. That evening we went to the Swan Inn for a drink, a friendly pub with locals and visitors having a good night out.
cold but sunny again on Friday morning. As we came out of the lock to the junction we turned left onto the Coventry Canal. The canal was frozen at this point so ice breaking was the order of the day,although it soon melted as it was quite thin. We watered up after the swing bridge at the start of the Coventry. As we were leaving we were told there was a stoppage at Hopwas bridge, this would stop us going down to Fazley Junction. Still we could go as far as Whittington before turning. at Streethay Wharf the canal was almost blocked by boats, just enough width to get by. We stopped here for lunch before continuing on to Farmers Bridge where we turned then moored for the night. Starting the engine on Saturday morning we were faced with a warning bleep, thinking we were low on water I turned off the engine. The water was OK however, restarting the engine I found the warning bleep was accompanied by a light above the picture of a battery with a D in it. I decided this must mean the domestic batteries were not charging, so we set off intending to go all the way back to the Marina, stopping at Whittington for a brief walk round and do our lottery.
Descending the second lock at Fradley we noticed the red light had gone out and the bleeping had stopped. All our electrics seemed to be working so we moored at Alrewas for the night.
Sunday morning with ice on the canal again we returned to our mooring at Barton. The warnings did not come on again. For the five days I was unable to get on the Internet so this is why I have had to write all five days to day. Pictures are of Alrewas.

Delayed.

Today should have been the day Doublefracture left Barton Marina for the start of our 2010 cruise. Unfortunately we look like being here for the foreseeable future. Both Marlene and me have Hospital appointments on the 22nd March, Marlene for a lump on her shoulder and me a Hernia. Then I have to wait for a date for the operation. This would be bad enough but after the op it will take six week to get back to normal. Don't get me wrong, Barton Under Needwood is a very nice place, as good a place to be moored as any. the marina has good facilities and there are plenty of pubs to visit. There is a good bus service to Burton upon Trent and Lichfield, both good shopping centres. We were in Lichfield last Thursday and had a nice day looking round the cathedral and the shops. We will of course take a few days on the local canals starting this Wednesday if the weather holds. So keep watching. The pictures are just two of the four village pubs that do meals.

Christmas Shopping.

On Saturday we arrived back at the boat after two week visiting first Pamela and then Stephen. Before that we had been up to Yorkshire visiting Richard and my mother.
Yesterday we got itchy feet and with the sun shinning decided to take the boat down to Burton-upon-Trent to do some Christmas shopping. It was nice to be moving again. Leaving around 10-o clock it took us two hours to reach Burton, mooring at Shobnall next to Marston's brewery. At one time there were 31 breweries in the town, producing 3 million barrels a year. Not bad considering it all started with the monks at Burton Abbey,apparently the water here abouts is good for brewing. We were in town most of the afternoon, it was very busy, not my idea of fun but it's done now.
Staying over night we set off back this morning. The sun had not come out today and we had a few showers, plus it was alot colder. Still, we are a hardy couple and enjoyed the trip back, surprisingly we saw a few more boats out and about. while out we took the chance to stock up on wood for the stove,there are plenty of fallen branches along the canal. The down side is I have to cut them into logs with a bush saw. Perhaps I should invest in a chain saw. We are now back moored in the marina for the rest of the week before going to Pamela's for Christmas, So, from Marlene and me a very Merry Christmas to all our followers and we will be back in the new year.