Our first visit to Bonjour this year was delayed till the end of March, partly because of bad colds or the weather, but mostly because we needed to be sure our new dog Jess was used to us before we introduced her to our home from home. But she trotted on board and investigated everything quite happily as we unpacked and had a cup of tea. She took rapidly to boat life, though had to learn that dogs can’t walk on water!
 |
| Yes Jessie, this is boating! |
When we arrived at the marina for the first time this year we were delighted to find that the batteries had been kept topped up by the solar panels and we had no need to plug in the shore line. The solar was the best boaty investment we have made since we bought Bonjour. As usual our first trip was just for a few days, to check everything over and to start restocking the galley. We cruised towards Worcester and back, taking in some of our favourite moorings.
 |
| Rainbow above the level crossing at Oddingley |
In April we left the marina for the summer, bound for the Shroppie. We would have preferred to go via Stourport and the Staffs and Worcester canal, but once again the Severn was in flood, so via Birmingham we would have to go. It’s a good thing we enjoy the Tardebigge flight, although we were heartily glad of the volunteer help this time, as we were both feeling under the weather with colds and coughs.
The next day we were in Birmingham for a few days. How lucky that we were moored opposite Legoland when my cold turned into pneumonia, and that the hospital was an easy walk up the towpath!
 |
| Moored in Birmingham |
With the help of antibiotics we were able to continue our journey to Swanley Bridge marina which would be our base for a while. We hadn’t been on the Shroppie on our own boat since 2015 on Chuffed.
 |
| You just have to take a photo of High Bridge |
Having over-indulged on the goodies from the stall at the top of Audlem locks we didn’t feel like eating in the Shroppie Fly, though we did take Jess for her first visit to a pub.
 |
| An excellent pint |
Along with other bloggers we have noticed the declining state of maintenance of the locks, with paddles out of action and leaking gates. At Hack Green it was so bad, and getting the levels to equalise and the top gates open was so tricky, that we contacted CRT, and a couple of weeks later they must have had enough comments from boaters to spur them into carrying out an emergency repair.
 |
| Hack Green bottom lock, paddles fully closed |
Our next trip took us to Llangollen, for the fourth time – we visited twice aboard Chuffed, and in our early boating days on a hire boat with friends in the late 1970s, and we were delighted to be back. The weather this year seems to have been generally very windy, and it certainly made for cold and difficult cruising conditions at times. As we crossed Chirk aqueduct, the strong wind made it a real struggle for Dave to keep the boat from bashing into the side of the channel.
 |
| Crossing Chirk aqueduct |
But the next day the wind had moderated somewhat, and we had a delightful crossing of Pontcysyllte aqueduct in bright sunshine.
Navigation through tunnels and narrow sections can be hard work on the way ‘upstream’ to Llangollen against the flow (the canal is used to transfer water from the Dee to the reservoir at Hurleston for the water supply to places like Crewe and Nantwich). On our return we could reduce our revs and let the flow carry us gently downstream.
 |
| While in Wales we took care not to get menaced by dragons (top right triangle) |
Sometimes the weather was glorious, particularly when we were sheltered from the wind.
 |
| The fabulous mooring at Hampton Bank |
Of course, there had to be time spent on boat maintenance, and Dave spent a while refreshing the faded red on the cratch board and the sliding hatch.
 |
| Moored below Quoisley bridge |
Our next trip took us to Chester, where we hadn’t been since 2012, when we went on to Ellesmere Port and visited Chester Zoo too.
 |
| Shuffling at Bunbury staircase |
 |
| Emergency paddle repair at Northgate staircase locks |
Then we went back southwards along the Shroppie and north-east along the lovely Middlewich branch to make a right turn onto the Trent and Mersey, and the start of Heartbreak Hill. We had a lot of damp weather as we re-acquainted ourselves with the paired locks. We might complain about CRT’s mowing policy but there have been some real gains for nature.
 |
| Orchids flourishing on the uncut towpath near Hassall Green locks |
Although I’m not a fan of tunnels as a rule, I was rather looking forward to revisiting the Harecastle and the orange water.
 |
| We moored on the long stretch below Poole aqueduct the day before we went through Harecastle. A new mooring for us, and a real find – peaceful, sheltered, good sun and two supermarkets in walking distance. |
After leaving Stoke, we spent a night in Barlaston and two nights in Stone, where we found many changes in the town centre since our last visit. I took the train from Stone station to fetch the car from Swanley Bridge.
 |
| Stone station building |
From Stone, we cruised on to Aston marina for our next temporary base.
March; short trip from Droitwich Spa marina towards Worcester, and return
April/May; Droitwich Spa marina to Swanley Bridge marina via Birmingham
May/June; Swanley Bridge marina to Llangollen, and return
July; Swanley Bridge marina to Aston marina via Chester and the Middlewich branch.
No comments:
Post a Comment