Catching up - more steps and more power!

We're fast forwarding 13 days from our last published location, to get the blog up to date. To be fair, we've not travelled far from Market Drayton during that period, for various of reasons.

Last week I spent a few days on land in London with my eldest sister - staying in a four-star hotel near Regents Park. A luxurious temporary contrast to living in a confined space! We even had a bath in the room. Bliss! Conversely, witnessing hoards of people speeding around in their everyday busyness, reminded me once more why we've chosen to live slowly on a narrowboat.

Piccadilly Circus at night - busy, busy

Then on Sunday I left Barry again - to join my three sisters for lunch, and spend 24 hours with my mum and dad for Mother's Day, and my father's 94th birthday. Wow! Parents still living, together, and mostly healthy and happy. Miraculous.

Family celebration of a Sunday carvery, at The Leaking Well, Dunhampton

Barry gives the impression he loves being left alone occasionally, and manages perfectly fine without me - well apart from the kitchen/cooking challenge! I believe it's healthy to spend time apart. Living  together 24/7, however much you love someone, has its frustrations and challenges. The theory is we'll appreciate each other more too.

We're currently in Penkridge, having spent time moored at Cheswardine, Norbury Junction, Wheaton Aston, Brewood, Coven and Acton Trussell.

Here's a pictorial representation of our journey, with accompanying captions from Barry (as most of these journeys I've been 'working' indoors, or locking) ...

The wharf at Market Drayton

The happiest fishermen we've seen for a while!

Tyrley Locks looking a bit bare without all the foliage

Sandra taking it in her stride

Interesting to see cut hay this early in the season

Tyrley Top Lock

Through Woodseaves Cutting and the first of the high bridges, No 58 'Holling's Bridge'

Then 'High Bridge' with a fallen tree across the cutting

The winds and storms have done some damage to the trees through here

CRT workers were busy clearing it up and offered us as much wood as we wanted

It's an impressive cutting considering it was all done by hand

'The Wharf' tavern at Cheswardine, our mooring for a night

The sun came out in the morning making for very pleasant cruising

An old stable at Fox Bridge near Little Soudley

Past Cadbury Wharf at Knighton

Across the almost mile-long Shebdon Embankment (I guess this is where all the spoil came to from the cuttings)

The Anchor at High Offley, where we were recommended to visit - sadly we were a bit early and they were closed, next time we'll time it better!

Through Grub Street Cutting ...

… and under the famous High Bridge (yes, there's more than one called 'High Bridge'!) ...

… and another mooring at Norbury Junction

They were about to lighten our bank account considerably here!

So close to you Sue and Vic - another time …

As you can see, I managed some more stepping-over the lock gates - but admittedly I've also found myself unable to on another day. So I'm just going to play it by ear and not be too hard on myself. I know I CAN, and I'm fine if at times I can't, for whatever reason.

We were sad not to meet up with Sue and Vic from No Problem whilst at Norbury Junction, as they'd left their boat for the weekend. We haven't seen them since 2010 - maybe this year sometime?

The remainder of the canal arm to Newport, though it's currently under restoration

A panorama shot as we left Norbury the next morning

Travelling through Gnosall Heath

The picturesque canal-side Boat Inn

A very slow passage through Gnosall as there was a fishing competition stretched from one end of town to the other

Under the short Cowley Tunnel (81yds)

More high bridges unique to the Shropshire Union Canal (though they're not all called 'High Bridge'!)

We had a few days of no internet signal - so took the opportunity to watch the remaining episodes of Homelands Series One on the DVDs Helen and Andy had lent us. Goodness, that's gripping drama isn't it? We're hoping they have series two waiting for us …

We're still on the 'Fast diet', though with me being away, and we've both had a bit of a cold, it's gone down to one day a week for a couple of weeks. But that's okay.

Daylight saving has been and gone, so the nights are increasingly lighter and longer. The weather is definitely milder, and there's a definite promise of sunshine and blue skies - mostly! The trees are sprouting their vibrant new growth, daffodils are blooming their yellowness all along the towpaths, and the birds are tweeting away merrily.

Sadly the midges are also waking up as the temperature increases, and pestering us from time-to-time!

More power

Whilst at Norbury Junction, we decided to bite the bullet and buy new batteries. When we purchased Areandare almost 12 months ago, the previous owner had purchased one new-ish battery out of five. But their power, on the cut, just wasn't lasting. It's likely the 'new' one wouldn't have enough power to support the others. We figure that having to have the engine on so much to boost the batteries, when we're not moving, costs in diesel. So new ones should pay for themselves over a period of time. At least that's the theory ...

Barry managed to work it out so we have six domestic batteries now, which is even better. Since then, we haven't heard the alarm going off in the evening to say the power's run out.

So now we're up to date - hurrah!

Happy April everyone - one quarter of the way through 2014 already - amazing.

Doing the Bunbury shuffle

The internet coverage is rather sporadic on the Shropshire Union, so we've got a little behind in our posts …

Back to Scott's Bar

Last Saturday we surprised everyone at Scott's Bar in Tattenhall Marina and turned up for the weekly entertainment. It was a quiz night organised by Jeff, and we teamed up with Mike and Jane. Fortunately we came second - it's more than our life's worth to win again!

Great to see you all again - if all goes to plan we'll be back in the autumn.

Right! Time to move south and leave our autumn/winter 'comfort zone'. There's work to be done …

Heading down the Shropshire Union, we spotted this guy guarding someone's boat - looks like a bit of face painting competition!

Beeston to Bunbury

A few wide locks still to do on the way. They take a bit of filling, and the gates certainly give you a good work-out!  We did Beeston Iron Lock with Tom and Jan last August, on our way to Tattenhall Marina before Barry had to return to NZ.

Who needs to go to a gym when you can pump iron at a lock?

Beeston Iron Lock - with some swanky new lock gates in-situ

During our lengthy stay at Tattenhall, Barry took the opportunity to make some top-boxes for extra storage, and he's had a number of people admiring them and asking where he got them from. Someone even suggested he could start a business making them! No thanks! The hours he put into it wouldn't be able to be reflected in the price. But they do look rather smart don't you think?

He's a clever kiwi ...

Three top-boxes sitting in a row

Passing Barbridge Junction, where we bought Northern pride in April 2009, we continued south on the Shropshire Union for the first time since that year.

Arriving at Bunbury late afternoon, we needed a few groceries but had no idea if there was any hope locally. So we had a walk to explore, just in case there was anything around (unlikely on a Sunday evening I know!).

Bunbury Staircase (only two steps though!) bottom lock

There was a pub in the village, advertised on the sign under the bridge above saying it was ¾ mile away. Slight understatement - more like one and a half miles! Unsurprisingly, it turned out to be one of those restaurant establishments, looking rather too lofty for the likes of us in our comfortable 'boaty' clothes, so we just had a stroll instead and admired the buildings.

Bunbury appeared to be a very well-to-do village 

Charming Alms Houses …

… and black and white cottages

Not a shop in sight though. Ah well, nothing urgent needed. It'll wait.

The Bunbury Shuffle

Monday began as a very wet and cool morning, not in the least enticing for lock-work. However, luckily for us by lunchtime it abated a little, so we set off.

In this staircase, unlike most others, it's possible for two boats to pass from the top to the bottom lock - or vice versa. In fact last August, we did it with two of us in the top lock and one in the bottom which was an interesting concept, but seemed to work just fine!

This time, we did the 'Bunbury shuffle' with one other boat - very smoothly.

Nantwich

Barry drove again. I got more exercise and simultaneously listened to a one and a half hour webinar on coaching ethics through my iPhone and headphones! What a great way to work - while you walk. The wonders of modern technology never cease to amaze me.

We travelled as far as Nantwich, mooring on the embankment there. Apparently the ground here, when it was first built (by hand of course), was unstable, delaying the opening. At that time, the canal from Nantwich to Autherley Junction was called the 'Liverpool and Birmingham Junction Canal'. Thomas Telford, who designed the new 'fast route' (hard to believe nowadays isn't it?), sadly died before its 1835 beginning.

The embankment

Still needing a few groceries, we took the opportunity for some more fresh air and exercise, and walked into the town. We'd not stopped here last time we passed by in 2009.

Crossing the river Weaver, it soon became apparent that this was a very fine town. Unfortunately, Barry had used all the battery up on his camera, so only had his phone on him to capture the black and white timbered buildings, many dating back to 1684. There was a great fire in Nantwich in December 1583, which sadly destroyed many structures. Being re-built, they've managed to remain extremely sturdy - or at least they appear to be.

Barry takes some shots on his phone - though he's not been able to get them off it yet! You'll have to make do with mine

Still standing - but a looking a tad wonky!

A short distance from the centre, we found a huge Morrisons store. I literally had only a few items on my shopping list, but decided to grasp the chance to fill the freezer and fridge while the opportunity presented itself. I ended up spending £85 - good job I took a few sturdy bags with us.

I'm off to London for a few days with my eldest sister, early next week, so I won't have to shop now before I leave Barry boat-alone - again!