BOATS AND CANALS

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Laurie Booth
http://www.pamelasalem.net

Great photos,

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Maurice

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We are on the boat for two nights. We decided to take a short trip to Braunston and back. It was very pleasant but getting off the mooring and getting back in was hard. The mud from the back pumps has built up around the hull probably because we haven't been out and about enough.



Cheers Graham

Most places have low water, could that also be playing its part?

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Maurice

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The reservoir is extremely low but the canal seems ok
Not at its highest but not too bad. The back pumps are running all the time. I will have a go at clearing the mud my using my rake with the engine running in reverse.

Cheers Graham

The canal was definitely low this morning and the boat is sitting on the bottom. About an inch of hull normally underwater is not underwater!

Cheers Graham

It floats!!!! Well, just, we turned her round this week and it was very difficult to get off and on the mooring. However the process of moving her seems to have cleared a lot of mud. We had a pleasant two days up at Calcutt.

The stern gland was leaking a bit too much so I have tightened it.

Apparently most of the boatyard staff had COVID last week. What joy. They seem ok now.

Cheers Graham

So the boat actual moves now and great that you have had a pleasant time away.

I don't know what all the fuss about no water was all about. We've had plenty of rain, and just in case of an emergency I have 1345.50 gallons (6500.00 litres) in my pond.

Seriously I hope all the areas that are experiencing lack of water will soon start to recover now.

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Maurice

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There have been a variety of personal reasons why Dotterel has been, effectively, a houseboat this year. She is due to go out on the 14th October though.

Next year will be different. We are planning a trip to Llangollen. It is, of course, just past the start point of the Flower of Gloster TV series with my childhood crush Annette Robertson on board. Naturally I will take a framed photo of her with me.

The plan is to go out via Brum, down the Wolverhampton 21 then the Shropshire union and turn left onto the Llangollen. On the way back we will use the Middlewich branch then down the Trent and Mersey to the Coventry, Northern Oxford and home. It will take 61 gallons of Diesel so a refuel will be necessary.

Three weeks is the plan with fast transits to and from the Llangollen but a casual cruise up it.

Cheers Graham

A great route that you have planned I have done the canals from Birmingham to Llangollen and many more during my trips. Llangollen branch of the Shroppie (Shropshire Union) is well worth a visit, not least to cross the Chirk and the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueducts. Just enjoy.

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Maurice

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We hope next year to go from our moorings in Fazeley to Stourport. Fingers crossed

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Laurie Booth
http://www.pamelasalem.net

Laurie, I hope that trip works out for you. I want to go down Delph sometime.

I was going to message you as last time we passed on the canal you were moored somewhere near Tipton (2019 BCN challenge I think). I am thinking of stopping overnight in that area on the way North. Where was it?

Cheers Graham

Hi Graham, I always used to moor at "John The Lock Moorings" Tipton.
Delph locks are/were no problem the last time we went down them.

It was 1968 I last did Llangollen

We saw one boat !!

Cheers

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Laurie Booth
http://www.pamelasalem.net

Thanks Laurie, my first canal trip was up the Llangollen in 1972, there were a ridiculous number of boats moored at the end.
Cheers Graham

Niece and I left Calcutt yesterday and moored on the Oxford canal.



A friend was due to join us so we headed for the nearest winding hole this morning and got back to the mooring. Another turn around and friend (Sue) was picked up and we set off again. We are now at Braunston.

Cheers Graham