Gloucester Docks

Yesterday was a bit grey and dull, but there was some local colour.

It brightened up in the afternoon and as the lock keeper is redundant these days with all the locks being manned he put his feet up when we got to our moorings at Upton upon Severn.



We wondered why all the moorings had such huge poles holding the jetties????



Then we looked up.



YIPES !!!

Today we headed further south, passing Tewkesbury on the way,




and being passed by four girls rowing with one arm behind their backs, oh the shame of it.



We were weighed down by a racing pigeon who landed on deck for a quick breather. Eventually he got back in the race and carried on his way.



Then we donned our life jackets ready for the infamous Gloucester lock.




It's a big one and treacherous on its approach. We drew quite a crowd once inside.





It seemed to take an age to fill but once through the docks are spectacular.





Tomorrow we plan to visit the museum and do a spot of shopping.

Big Waters

We left our mooring at the foot of the locks this morning, or we tried to. Soon as we started up the oil warning buzzer sounded. Stopping the engine quick sharp I went below. The sump pump for draining the engine oil was playing up again. Draining most of the oil into the bilge.

Time to get serious!

There's nothing like the taste of sump oil in the morning.

I stripped it, drained it and rebuilt it. The plate that held the one way valve in place was loose and the engine had been pumping and draining its own oil out. Think I got it this time.

With everything back in good order we made a second attempt to head down stream. It's quite a change from the confines of a canal to be out on big, wide waters. What a great way to travel.



The only problem is that moorings are few and far between, and everybody else wants to use them too. Unlike the cut where you just pull in and moor up.

Then we encountered our first weir ! this one was well marked, but we have passed one that if you weren't paying attention you could easily sail right over it.





The weir also signaled our first lock. Manned and fully automatic. The lock keeper sees you coming, sets the lock and on the green light you are clear to sail in.





All very civilised, until we met our first big fast boat. Wow riding his wake was errrm, interesting.




We made Worcester in good time and have moored up next to the race course for the night. In the morning we head for Upton upon Severn.

Land of the big boats

We headed out into another wet morning, happily it wasn't too long before the sun came out.

We pottered into Kidderminster and pottered out again after a spot of shopping. Then before we quite realised where we were, we dropped down into Stourport basin. Where we found an excellent chandlers. We are now flying the flag.



We actually managed to get a BW washing machine to work but decided its worth the extra couple of pounds for a service wash. We passed the time while we waited by showering and I made a flag pole for the ensign.

Then we entered the land of the big boats.



The lock keeper wasn't too sure about it.



We reached the point of no return and headed into the last lock that would take us down to the river Severn.




The captain surveyed the conditions,





With everything OK we hit the big water!





Tomorrow we sail to Worcester.

Stone Me!

Today has been a day of sandstone.

The canal follows the base of a ridge of sandstone for almost 15 miles and at some points you get really close

The day started out very wet. There is an old farmers saying

"Rain before seven, dry by eleven"

luckily it held true for today. There are no pictures of this mornings antics, such as hearing a ringy tingly noise in the engine bay. further investigation found the sump drain pump had rattled itself to bits and was happily draining the engine oil into the bilge.

We passed under the village of Cookley,



Through a tunnel carved from the living rock.



Then on to another lock right up against the sandstone.




This one is a bit special because cut into the cliff is a stable for the towing horses of old.



Though these days its used by a scary fella with a windlass and a fresh hair cut.




The good captain told me to stop messing about and get on with the lock.

We have found another of our isolated mooring spots again. Ready for getting through Kidderminster and onto the river Severn tomorrow.

What a nice surprise!

We set of early this morning, after our very early alarm call from this cheeky little chappie clattering up and down the roof.

Setting off to get through the urban sprawl of Wolverhampton. That meant the end of the Shropshire Union.

Joining the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal. Its deep clear waters and heavily wooded banks meant it looked and felt more like a river out in the countryside than a canal passing through a large town. After worrying about being hemmed in by factories and housing it came as quite a surprise.

The Staffs and Worcester is a beautiful canal very green and quiet and full of interesting features and silly names.

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Here's one for all you Family Guy fans.

Shortly after this bridge we engaged stealth mode and went off to do some shopping, deploying the footpath rover to carry home the supplies.

We carried on through the countryside and locks planning to stop early before the forecasted rain arrived. Which it did just as we entered the last lock of the day. Mooring up quick sharp we got below decks while the thunder storm raged above. After a couple of hours we moved on to a beautiful spot and decided it was so nice we would stop here and have a rest day.



The new neighbours took little interest in us.

Birthdays and bilges

Hello from sunny Wolverhampton,

Yesterday new crew were enlisted for a very special birthday voyage. Replete with picnic and birthday cake.




The new cabin boy tried to abandon ship,




The rest of the crew seemed to enjoy themselves.





We said goodbye to them at Wheaton Aston and settled in for a thunder storm that never arrived.

In the morning we gave the engine a service. Topped up the gearbox oil, thanks support crew, then changed the oil and filter. Then the good captain donned her trusty boiler suit and went below to clear the bilges.



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There was a bit of background action too, Mabel was pushed into the cut by Daisy.



The fire brigade came along and fished her out.



It all ended happily and the farmer got shouted at by the firemen to take more care of his cows.


We couldn't take much more excitement so headed for Wolverhampton. If you have ever gone to Telford on the A5 you'll have passed under this rather fine Thomas Telford bridge. Here's what it looks like from the top.




We are now moored up just outside Wolverhampton ready for an early morning dash through the town.

Service day

Hi gongoozlers,

Not many miles done today but plenty of jobs done.

We set off from our over night moorings and passed through even more cuttings. One bridge is rather interesting as it has a telegraph pole in the middle of it.



Which led us to Norbury junction. Not a junction anymore as the branch that used to run to Telford has long since closed.



Though there is still lots going on there. We had a shower and dropped our laundry off for a service wash, and had an ice cream in the sun. There was also a very good chandlers where I got some ropes and grease.

We then sat on the boat and waited for the washing while we watched the boats go by. A couple of hours later we collected the washing, filled up with diesel, cheapest we've seen so far and headed off in search of solitude.

We moored up just outside of Gnosall, where I put my new rope, chain and anchor together.


The good captain resisted the temptation to push me over the edge and send me to Davey Jones locker. Just hope my splicing is up to the job or when we get to a river this blog may end.