I love this inscription, it really says it all
So, we had set off from Alrewas after a few days and made our way slowly up the locks, to stay at Fradley Junction for another couple of days. The afternoons, then, we are free to get projects done or go shopping etc.
Being towed on a long line by the motor
With the butty being 60 feet long now (recently stretched to be the same length as the 'big' boat) I have found that long lining rather than cross-strapping the butty, is more enjoyable than before. The butty behaves better, but you have to keep concentrating like you are steering a powered boat, as it all goes wrong very quickly!
Moored up in Whittington - butty in front, so the wooden rudder is protected from boats without brakes!
We have gradually made our way along the Coventry Canal, stopping along the way for a night or so, as the weather has allowed. There is no particular rush as our first festival booking isn't until mid April Chamberlain Carrying Co calendar-2014
Outskirts of Hopwas
Being the time of year that it is, all the bills are typically due at the same time, including the boat licences. What a fiasco we have had again with the Canal and River Trust. We had gone into the office at Fazeley junction a few weeks ago, when we still had the car, and paid for the big boat and butty up front, but because the butty is longer, we had to pay a different amount than was on their invoice. Oh dear, confusion raineth.
Fazeley - with the Canal and River Trust office to the left at the facilities point
We hadn't heard anything about our payments for weeks, so after several phonecalls to CRT, eventually I managed to pay someone the £19 difference from what we had estimated in the office and the documents would be in the post.....
Murals on the wall at Fazeley Junction
We dropped into the office the other day on our way through Fazeley on the boats to pick the licences up, but they still hadn't arrived! Luckily later on they appeared miraculously in the post. This is all well and good, but boaters form a big part of CRT's revenue and to treat us with the contempt that they can do, just is not good enough. But what choice do we have. I was going to write a letter to complain about staff members being permanently in meetings, especially as it had pushed us over the expiry date. I may give them another opportunity to redeam themselves....
Scoob on the big boat at Glascote locks
Fully paid up with glistening new licences in the windows, we carried on up through the 2 locks at Glascote. I took the big boat up the second lock as Richard bow hauled the butty up the first, then boats arrived in front of me in quick succession, when we had not seen any moving around all morning.
Looking back down to Richard at the first lock
It was nice because the timing was excellent for the first boat to drop down, as I left the top lock. And the sun was out!
New 'proper' stove in Echoes and Lister on the 'big' boat, thinking about jumping over
We have been looking for a reasonably priced stove for the Boatman's Cabin in Echoes for a while now and suddenly discovered one the other day on the internet. We bagged a bargain, as it needed a lot of attention. Spending a day getting the chimney to fit correctly and seal it all in, we have now installed it in the butty and it works beautifully.
Fuelling up with Rick from fuel boat Auriga supporting our fellow traders. These guys are moving in all weathers just to keep people supplied. Use them or lose them!
Whilst mooring outside Alvecote the other day, I nipped off the butty onto the wet mud and slipped clean over onto my back and banged my head on the ground. Wow, what a shocker! Richard came out of the butty and picked me up, but I was covered in mud and a bit embarrassed for my lack of care.
Towpaths in places are total quagmires
Where we were moored wasn't too bad, but in the picture above, you can see what it can be like!
The bows looking good with the ropework
I have been busy setting up my counter space in the shop, for the weekend, if the sun comes out and the wind drops!
Scooby and Lister on a dry bit of grass in the sun yesterday
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