Gecko has landed
Arrived at our winter mooring this afternoon.
Reedley Marina is built at the back of Barden Mill with views across to Pendle Hill.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Gecko has landed
Arrived at our winter mooring this afternoon.
Reedley Marina is built at the back of Barden Mill with views across to Pendle Hill.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Rings and Things
Our first canal trip was in a boat hired from Canal Cruising Company in Stone. 1976 was the year of the drought with hosepipe bans in force from mid-February onwards. James Brindley II was in the vivid green livery still used by CCC today - it was 36ft long and slept six.
Yes, six.
One bedroom also doubled as lounge/diner and when the table was erected it rendered the front door unusable. The toilet was flushed by pumping a handle at the side with drew water in from the canal and returned it along with your deposits. In order to get our money's worth we drove ten hours every day and so reached Llangollen in six days which gave us ample time to replenish the crew and return to Stone within our fortnight. It was a very memorable trip for many reasons many of which I would be too embarrassed to recount here. One thing which still sticks in my mind was the tunk, tunk which accompanied the evening birdsong as fellow boaters hammered mooring pins into the dry ground. This year we made our second trip along the Llangollen Canal although we could not venture past Trevor with a draught of 33 inches. Of the changes we noted the most remarkable is the profusion of prepared moorings - rings, piling or bollards - we didn't use mooring pins once.
Canal Cruising Company is still hiring boats and gained some publicity recently when they prepared Terry Darlington's boat Phylils May for its ridiculous channel crossing which he chronicled in Narrow Dog to Carcasonne.
Giant Haystacks Time
Around the time of this first trip on the Llangollen Canal was the era when Grannies all over the country would spend Saturday afternoon shouting at the TV as the likes of Jackie Pallo, Mick McMannus (not to be confused with Mark McMannus who starred in Taggart) and Giant Haystacks pretended to beat the **** out of each other in what was called professional wrestling. It was fortunate that the commentator, Kent Walton, was heard and not seen as he must have found it difficult to keep a straight face describing their antics in such a serious manner. The entrance to the Llangollen Canal is guarded by what claims to be the narrowest locks in the English system - at Hurlesden. A local farmer has been adorning one of his fields each year for the past decade with sculptures built from straw bales. These have included The Millennium Dome, the London Eye, an ice cream cone, a Jersey cow, a windmill and Jodrell Bank.
This year his offering is St. Stephen's Tower, Westminster ( see Blog post - Who has seen Big Ben - 6 June 2007)
Some things have not changed
We were surprised to find the butty Saturn on the bank at Ellesmere with its elum removed. I did not realise it was still around.
Boats in the Sky (for Denny & Nikki)
The highlight of such a trip has to be the two aqueducts at Chirk and Pont Cysylte. After waiting for 30 minutes to capture a photograph of a train and boat crossing their respective structures simultaneously I gave up.
She who must be obeyed had more luck than I.
Flying Boats (for Dave)
The most unexpected event occurred in the Bridge Inn in Chirk Bank. Dave's research discovered that Wednesday night was quiz night so we tried to mingle unnoticed (unsuccessfully) with the locals for an evening of humiliation (successful). The only question I thought I knew the answer to proved incorrect. The first trans-Atlantic flight was made by Alcock and Brown in June 1919 in a Vickers Vimy which had been assembled in Leighton Buzzard on the canal-side site now occupied by Tesco. Or so I thought. Apparently about a month earlier a US Navy Curtiss flying boat made a crossing from new York state to Lisbon. This took 10 days 22 hours with two stops in the Azores. Over that period the plane was in the air for 26 hours 46 mins. Alcock and Brown, of course, made their crossing in one hop of 16 hours 12 mins. Despite my efforts we managed to finish one place above the bottom which seemed to satisfy the locals. They were a little less satisfied when Dave's ticket was drawn and he masterful playing of Play your cards right netted the jackpot and cleaned out the quiz kitty.
We may have to wait another 30 years before we venture that way again.
Our first canal trip was in a boat hired from Canal Cruising Company in Stone. 1976 was the year of the drought with hosepipe bans in force from mid-February onwards. James Brindley II was in the vivid green livery still used by CCC today - it was 36ft long and slept six.
Yes, six.
One bedroom also doubled as lounge/diner and when the table was erected it rendered the front door unusable. The toilet was flushed by pumping a handle at the side with drew water in from the canal and returned it along with your deposits. In order to get our money's worth we drove ten hours every day and so reached Llangollen in six days which gave us ample time to replenish the crew and return to Stone within our fortnight. It was a very memorable trip for many reasons many of which I would be too embarrassed to recount here. One thing which still sticks in my mind was the tunk, tunk which accompanied the evening birdsong as fellow boaters hammered mooring pins into the dry ground. This year we made our second trip along the Llangollen Canal although we could not venture past Trevor with a draught of 33 inches. Of the changes we noted the most remarkable is the profusion of prepared moorings - rings, piling or bollards - we didn't use mooring pins once.
Canal Cruising Company is still hiring boats and gained some publicity recently when they prepared Terry Darlington's boat Phylils May for its ridiculous channel crossing which he chronicled in Narrow Dog to Carcasonne.
Giant Haystacks Time
Around the time of this first trip on the Llangollen Canal was the era when Grannies all over the country would spend Saturday afternoon shouting at the TV as the likes of Jackie Pallo, Mick McMannus (not to be confused with Mark McMannus who starred in Taggart) and Giant Haystacks pretended to beat the **** out of each other in what was called professional wrestling. It was fortunate that the commentator, Kent Walton, was heard and not seen as he must have found it difficult to keep a straight face describing their antics in such a serious manner. The entrance to the Llangollen Canal is guarded by what claims to be the narrowest locks in the English system - at Hurlesden. A local farmer has been adorning one of his fields each year for the past decade with sculptures built from straw bales. These have included The Millennium Dome, the London Eye, an ice cream cone, a Jersey cow, a windmill and Jodrell Bank.
This year his offering is St. Stephen's Tower, Westminster ( see Blog post - Who has seen Big Ben - 6 June 2007)
Some things have not changed
We were surprised to find the butty Saturn on the bank at Ellesmere with its elum removed. I did not realise it was still around.
Boats in the Sky (for Denny & Nikki)
The highlight of such a trip has to be the two aqueducts at Chirk and Pont Cysylte. After waiting for 30 minutes to capture a photograph of a train and boat crossing their respective structures simultaneously I gave up.
She who must be obeyed had more luck than I.
Flying Boats (for Dave)
The most unexpected event occurred in the Bridge Inn in Chirk Bank. Dave's research discovered that Wednesday night was quiz night so we tried to mingle unnoticed (unsuccessfully) with the locals for an evening of humiliation (successful). The only question I thought I knew the answer to proved incorrect. The first trans-Atlantic flight was made by Alcock and Brown in June 1919 in a Vickers Vimy which had been assembled in Leighton Buzzard on the canal-side site now occupied by Tesco. Or so I thought. Apparently about a month earlier a US Navy Curtiss flying boat made a crossing from new York state to Lisbon. This took 10 days 22 hours with two stops in the Azores. Over that period the plane was in the air for 26 hours 46 mins. Alcock and Brown, of course, made their crossing in one hop of 16 hours 12 mins. Despite my efforts we managed to finish one place above the bottom which seemed to satisfy the locals. They were a little less satisfied when Dave's ticket was drawn and he masterful playing of Play your cards right netted the jackpot and cleaned out the quiz kitty.
We may have to wait another 30 years before we venture that way again.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Name Check
For the past week we have had guests aboard - Dave the Rave & Margaret and so we made a diversion from our intended route to visit Pont Cysylte. Highlights of this trip will be posted shortly. However we did meet a few old friends. Before we left Nantwich Di and Martin came to visit us with their (new to them) dog - Jake. Poor old Charlie died a year ago but his successor is a lovely fellow. The next day we passed Tantler who had been on the BCNS Explorer cruise wit us. At Wrenbury we saw Bimble from Stourport and the next day we saw Micky Jay at Grindley Brook (she was built immediately after Gecko). We also saw a rarity - one of the boats built by Midas - Dorcas. Midas was set up by Darren when he left Severn Valley but they only produced four boats. At Whitchurch Chough was tucked away in the town arm. When we were in Thrupp back in July they saved us a space on the 14 day moorings so we could go to the weeding in France. On our return journey Mañana, which Brenda and Paul sold recently, was moored above Grindley Brook.
For the past week we have had guests aboard - Dave the Rave & Margaret and so we made a diversion from our intended route to visit Pont Cysylte. Highlights of this trip will be posted shortly. However we did meet a few old friends. Before we left Nantwich Di and Martin came to visit us with their (new to them) dog - Jake. Poor old Charlie died a year ago but his successor is a lovely fellow. The next day we passed Tantler who had been on the BCNS Explorer cruise wit us. At Wrenbury we saw Bimble from Stourport and the next day we saw Micky Jay at Grindley Brook (she was built immediately after Gecko). We also saw a rarity - one of the boats built by Midas - Dorcas. Midas was set up by Darren when he left Severn Valley but they only produced four boats. At Whitchurch Chough was tucked away in the town arm. When we were in Thrupp back in July they saved us a space on the 14 day moorings so we could go to the weeding in France. On our return journey Mañana, which Brenda and Paul sold recently, was moored above Grindley Brook.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Ladbroke Grove
Tomorrow will be the tenth anniversary of the tragic railway accident near Ladbroke Grove and I expect that the various arms of the news media will commemorate it in some way: 31 people died and over 400 were injured. The subsequent enquiry found Thames Trains and Network Rail each guilty of breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and they were fined £2m and £4m respectively.
When we were in London in May this year I visited the area and walked down Barlby Road.
In 1903 the Earl of Shrewsbury established his Sunbeam Talbot company here in Ladbroke
Hall. 
This later
became part of the Rootes Group along with Hillman, Humber and Singer.The site of the Sunbeam Works is now a small housing development but retains many links with its previous life in road names and building decor.
During their life each marque achieved fame in one field or another. In 1952 a Humber Super Snipe (remember the vicious bonnet trophy?) was driven from London to Cape Town in 13 days, 9 hours, 6 minutes. This was obviously before the M25 was built. In 1926 Sunbeam was the first car to exceed 150mph and the following year held the world land speed record at 203.44mph.
In later years many Rootes models were remembered for achieving an unprecedented speed of rusting.
Ladbroke Hall is still standing and belongs to the Workspace Group who renovate old industrial and commercial buildings and then let them as office or light industrial units on
terms of one month upwards.
The Pall Mall Deposit on the opposite side of Barlby Road us a Workspace building.
On my way back to the canal I passed a piece of ground displaying this sign. I was not aware that the Channel Tunnel extended as far as North Kensington.
Tomorrow will be the tenth anniversary of the tragic railway accident near Ladbroke Grove and I expect that the various arms of the news media will commemorate it in some way: 31 people died and over 400 were injured. The subsequent enquiry found Thames Trains and Network Rail each guilty of breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and they were fined £2m and £4m respectively.When we were in London in May this year I visited the area and walked down Barlby Road.
In 1903 the Earl of Shrewsbury established his Sunbeam Talbot company here in Ladbroke
Hall. 
This later
became part of the Rootes Group along with Hillman, Humber and Singer.The site of the Sunbeam Works is now a small housing development but retains many links with its previous life in road names and building decor.During their life each marque achieved fame in one field or another. In 1952 a Humber Super Snipe (remember the vicious bonnet trophy?) was driven from London to Cape Town in 13 days, 9 hours, 6 minutes. This was obviously before the M25 was built. In 1926 Sunbeam was the first car to exceed 150mph and the following year held the world land speed record at 203.44mph.
In later years many Rootes models were remembered for achieving an unprecedented speed of rusting.
Ladbroke Hall is still standing and belongs to the Workspace Group who renovate old industrial and commercial buildings and then let them as office or light industrial units on
terms of one month upwards.
The Pall Mall Deposit on the opposite side of Barlby Road us a Workspace building.
On my way back to the canal I passed a piece of ground displaying this sign. I was not aware that the Channel Tunnel extended as far as North Kensington.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Gotcha !
Of all the wildlife we see on our perambulations the most elusive to photography is the Kingfisher.
Today we got one.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Enemy Action ?
Four days ago I mentioned a boat named Thalia(Name Check - 15th Sept)
This boat moored opposite us and then behind us in Paddington Basin at the beginning of May. We then sighted it repeatedly as we travelled up the GU, round to Aylesbury and on to Braunston. We leap-frogged each other all the way down the Oxford Canal and back to Braunston. At Banbury we spoke to the gentleman for the first time and30 mins later he moved 100 yards up the canal away from us. We saw him around Rugby and in Coventry Basin and then on the Ashby Canal. back on the Coventry Canal we lost him for a while but found him at Curdworth as we joined the BCN Explorer cruise. This was in August. Yesterday we passed Thalia moored near bridge 139 on the Trent & Mersey Canal. To quote James Bond -
Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence and three times is enemy action.
Should we be taking evasive action of some kind?
Four days ago I mentioned a boat named Thalia(Name Check - 15th Sept)
This boat moored opposite us and then behind us in Paddington Basin at the beginning of May. We then sighted it repeatedly as we travelled up the GU, round to Aylesbury and on to Braunston. We leap-frogged each other all the way down the Oxford Canal and back to Braunston. At Banbury we spoke to the gentleman for the first time and30 mins later he moved 100 yards up the canal away from us. We saw him around Rugby and in Coventry Basin and then on the Ashby Canal. back on the Coventry Canal we lost him for a while but found him at Curdworth as we joined the BCN Explorer cruise. This was in August. Yesterday we passed Thalia moored near bridge 139 on the Trent & Mersey Canal. To quote James Bond -
Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence and three times is enemy action.
Should we be taking evasive action of some kind?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Where are the Welsh?Apparently some of them are on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Westport Lake. My meagre attempts at research, however,h have come to nothing. I have been unable to discover how many Welsh speakers there are using the canals in Stoke-on-Trent. There must be more than I had thought otherwise BW would not have gone to the trouble of producing these signs in Welsh. I have spoken to everyone moored here tonight and not one of them responded in Welsh.
Teacher, teach thyself
As we left Stone this morning she who must be obeyed spied this all time bloomer.
Being a law-abiding soul it was not she who made the corrections.
As we left Stone this morning she who must be obeyed spied this all time bloomer.
Being a law-abiding soul it was not she who made the corrections.
Pass the Bottle
I don't usually do requests but after providing the definitive gen on the Floosie in the Jacuzzi I feel obliged to demonstrate to Jane that we have seen some bottle kilns in Stock-on-Trent today.
We saw fat ones (this is at Middleport Pottery in Burslem)
We saw thin ones
And we saw what I believe are fake ones built to enhance a housing estate.
I don't usually do requests but after providing the definitive gen on the Floosie in the Jacuzzi I feel obliged to demonstrate to Jane that we have seen some bottle kilns in Stock-on-Trent today.
We saw fat ones (this is at Middleport Pottery in Burslem)
We saw thin ones
And we saw what I believe are fake ones built to enhance a housing estate.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Name Check
Over the last few days we have met a few old friends:
Days of Elijah who winter in Aylesbury, moved off the water point at Great Haywood for us yesterday
After we moored at Ingestre Nutshell joined us. We first met Ken at the IWA AGM in Lichfield five years ago and the last time we saw him was at Kinver in Feb 2006. He has now re-married Christine and sold the launch which he used to tow around full of timber.
As we approached Stone around lunchtime we met Hadar - the replica Star Class boat which was at the Canalway Cavalcade, Ricky Festival and Wendover Arm Festival with us. They are now selling fuel on the Leicester arm.
Of course once we arrived at Stone and encountered the BCF squad we soon found Trinity who we also saw at Ricky and later on the Coventry Canal.
One boat we have not seen for a few weeks is Thalia. They stalked us from London in April to Curdworth in August via Oxford, Coventry, Ashby Canal, Fazeley. Where are you lurking now?
Over the last few days we have met a few old friends:
Days of Elijah who winter in Aylesbury, moved off the water point at Great Haywood for us yesterday
After we moored at Ingestre Nutshell joined us. We first met Ken at the IWA AGM in Lichfield five years ago and the last time we saw him was at Kinver in Feb 2006. He has now re-married Christine and sold the launch which he used to tow around full of timber.
As we approached Stone around lunchtime we met Hadar - the replica Star Class boat which was at the Canalway Cavalcade, Ricky Festival and Wendover Arm Festival with us. They are now selling fuel on the Leicester arm.
Of course once we arrived at Stone and encountered the BCF squad we soon found Trinity who we also saw at Ricky and later on the Coventry Canal.
One boat we have not seen for a few weeks is Thalia. They stalked us from London in April to Curdworth in August via Oxford, Coventry, Ashby Canal, Fazeley. Where are you lurking now?
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