Gypsy Rover and Epiphany

A little detour on the way home today took me to Todmorden station and then to the Rochdale Canal.

Walking upwards I soon caught up with Gypsy Rover and Epiphany who were heading towards Walsden.

The broad locks are a little heavy, with some of the paddle gear rather stiff so they all appreciated another pair of hands.

There’s great views of the Pennine scenery as the canal climbs up through the narrow valley and the Rochdale Canal is the only one to cross the Pennines without a summit tunnel.

That’s why there’s so many locks and, being a broad canal, they are all broad locks making them just that bit harder to work.

After being treated to lunch at Grandma Pollards Fish and Chip shop - an amazing place - I headed home

Posted on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 19:56        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Bloggers , Rochdale

Windsong

We’re still catching up on the blogging from our trip on the Caldon Canal and the bloggers we met on the journey.

We’d been to the end of the Leek Arm and moored while Christine and Susan went shopping and I went filming.

When we say we’d been to the end we really meant it, and we were using our bow thruster to steer as we backed out.

With the narrow channel and the wind blowing sideways I was suddenly surprised by a head appearing from Windsong and Roger shouting "we read your blog".

We usually have to reverse back when caught like that, but this time we went forwards to say a few words to Roger, and to Pip who had appeared by then.

They are more up to date with their writing and have already blogged about our encounter on their site.

Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 19:58        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Bloggers , Caldon

No Problem at Rothersthorpe

It was a trip on the train this morning to reach Northampton for a short walk down to the River Nene where No Problem was just arriving.

After spending summer on the rivers they were returning to the canal system for the winter and I was to help them work the 17 locks of the Rothersthorpe flight on the Northampton Branch of the Grand Union Canal.

There was just time for a little (or was it a lot of) shopping before leaving Northampton.

The first few locks near the town had anti vandal devices fitted.  I’ve seen many variations before but these are the first I’ve seen fitted with a Yale key rather than a handcuff key.  I assume it makes them harder for the vandals to gat around.

With Sue and Vic taking turns steering and working the locks and with help from Anne (from Moore2Life) and from me, we managed the flight in reasonable time.

I left them at Gayton Junction, shortly after the top lock to walk to Milton Malsor for a bus to Northampton and to return home by train. Sue had already written her blog by the time I had returned home.

Posted on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 22:56        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Bloggers , Northampton Branch

Boats and Boaters

Were shuffling around a little in our cruising as we fill gaps in our filming when we have been rained off during our last cruise.

Today we passed Whittington and there was Jannock, with no visible crew, so I couldn’t call out to them as last time.

At least I got a picture of the boat this time, perhaps I’ll manage to capture both the boat and the crew next time.

Moored at Fazeley Junction I was looking out of the window and spotted a boat we had seen before.  It was Keith and Mandy on Takin’ our Time, with son and friend (whose names I’ve forgotten already - oh dear).  Just time for them to pull in behind us for a quick exchange of news.

We’re moored at Fazeley Junction, hoping to reach Atherstone and beyond tomorrow to complete another missing chunk of filming.  Then we’ll be returning to Fazeley Junction to see who else we spot.

Posted on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 20:18        Comments (3)
Category(s): Birmingham & Fazeley , Blog Readers , Coventry

Tom Jones reads our Blog (and so does Jan)

Yesterday, a Black Prince hire boat passed us part way down Tardebigge Locks as we were making our way up.  I took the opportunity to film their boat for a little variety and, looking straight into the camera, the steerer shouted “We read your Blog”.  We don’t usually have speaking parts but that seems a good way to make sure you’re included in the next DVD.

The lady asked if I could do something else with the filming, but I won’t reveal what, before introducing themselves as Tom & Jan Jones.

They are regular blog readers from New Zealand but living in Australia (I do hope I remembered that the right way round) but we didn’t have time to chat as we both had lots of locks to work.

It’s nice when blog readers say hello as we pass, so please do so - unfortunately we can’t recognise you if you don’t.

Today we’ve progressed onto the Stratford upon Avon Canal, heading towards Lapworth Junctions and the Grand Union Canal for more filming.

We’re moored at Hockley Heath, hoping to reach Catherine de Barnes tomorrow.

Posted on Friday, July 17, 2009 at 20:54        Comments (2)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Stratford on Avon , Worcester & Birmingham

Double Bloggers

After a day in London (doing some other work) I spent last night on our boat in Birmingham as a convenient staging post for today’s expedition.

An early start ensured I could catch Sue & Vic (and Lucy & Meg) on No Problem before they sneaked off shopping, walking or whatever.

It worked.  After a brisk walk from Sileby station I found them they were exactly where I expected them to be.

We spent all morning chatting about all sorts of canal related topics from battery monitors to continuous moorers.

I was also introduced to Geoff (and Meg) from Seyella who had been sharing locks with No Problem recently and was moored just in front of them.  Hopefully I’ll also meet Mags next time.

Somehow, Geoff knew about our DVDs already, which makes him a really good boater and blogger.

Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 20:53        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Bloggers , Leicester Arm

Bloggers & Blog Readers

I was walking down Farmers Bridge locks on Monday afternoon, windlass in hand, and caught up with a familiar boat.  Don scores a hat trick as he appears in three consecutive blog postings.

He and Joy were escaping from Birmingham - Matt having returned to London, leaving them to the delights of Farmers Bridge Locks on their own.

I helped with a few gates and paddles as I passed on my way down the flight.

This story really begins back on 18th April when I helped Sue & Vic down the Rothersthorpe flight of locks.  I just appeared, windlass in hand, along the towpath.  In the comments Adam (from Narrowboat Debdale) asked if this service would extend to him when he was passing through Farmers Bridge Locks.

Well that’s a challenge to be addressed.  A careful watch was kept on Adam’s Blog and Sunday’s post indicated that he’d be climbing Farmers Bridge locks on Monday.

So, off I go to London, to cram in a morning’s work, then onto a train to Birmingham.  A quick dash to pick up a windlass from our boat - I’m sure Adam would have lent me one but it would have spoiled the effect to not have one in hand when I arrived.

Then off I go down Farmers Bridge helping Don & Joy a little on the way.  A few locks later I spotted a boat coming up with boater on the towpath.  “Are you Paul?” he asked, quicker than I could ask if he was Adam.

Adam quickly introduced me to Adrian and Adrian’s Mum and up we went, passing Don & Joy in one of the short pounds.

A chance to chat as we worked the locks, before mooring on the Main Line.

It’s almost 12 months since our boat appeared in the October 2007 issue of Canal Boat magazine and we were first spotted by Adam.

Now Adam writes the boat reviews for Canal Boat magazine and I offered him a turn on our boat to see just how quiet our electric power is.  A quick figure of eight around the the Icknield Port and Oozels Street Loops before Adam headed off back to Debdale and I headed off back to Bristol.

Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 20:35        Comments (2)
Category(s): BCN , Birmingham & Fazeley , Blog Readers , Bloggers

We caught them up

When we returned to Birmingham yesterday we spotted the blog readers we had passed the day before.  They weren’t going to get away without a proper photograph a second time.

Now we’ve formally said hello and used the camera to welcome Don, Joy and Matt - enjoying another canal holiday in England.

They follow other blogs, including fellow New Zealander’s Dot & Derek on Gypsy Rover and, I suspect, Sue and Vic on No Problem.

Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 15:08        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers