tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126795052008-07-24T09:14:49.895ZJannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-19750392269070662392008-07-23T18:21:00.001Z2008-07-23T18:23:43.700Z<p class="MsoNormal">I was up and out of Jannock at 06:00 to do a car shuffle from Romiley and was back on board by 08:00. We moved off towards the Bosley flight. At Royal Oak swing bridge we first met ‘Miss Bossy Tiger’, she bounced like a Tigger and wore a stripy top. She held the bridge open and hurried a flotilla of 3 boats through before closing it again. A queue formed at the top lock as a hotel pair worked through. With boats going up and down Ms Bossy Tigger came up to Brenda and told her when she was to go down in the lock and where her boat must wait in the pound below. Brenda explained that she was not with the boat she was assisting so MBT proceeded to explain all again to the Euro-hirers on the ABC boat that Brenda was assisting. This quite perplexed them. Brenda told her how we WOULD be doing it all, based on her years of experience, MBT being all of 14 knowledgeable years. MBT then showed Brenda how to work a gate paddle but gave up after two turns as it was very stiff. “They are not as easy as they look!”<span style=""> </span>Erm, yes they are reply Brenda winding it up in one go.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It took us three and a half hours to descend the 12 locks with the benefit of a few boats ascending. It’s all that good advice that slows one down.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the flotilla ha pulled over at Congleton as we went past. Just as well that we slow for moored boats as they had forgotten to tie up the front end. Don’t panic Capt. Mainwaring!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We chose a nice quiet spot to moor for the night, so two tractors started collecting in the hay whilst the sheep called a riot, someone is out shooting in the field behind us and a RAF Hercules has just performed three low passes. Ssssssssshh!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Graham<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a><o:p></o:p></p>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-1205884720660811992008-07-23T17:54:00.000Z2008-07-23T17:57:22.479Z<p class="MsoPlainText">Tuesday 22nd July 2008-07-23</p> <p class="MsoPlainText">A late start today due to a domestic/engineering session first thing. I fitted the new bike rack to the stern rail and Brenda cleaned the inside of the boat.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText">We moved up to Marple where we went for a wander around the town - not a long walk then! I got some rubber bump strip from the car spares shop to try and stop Jannock's metal engine hatches from rattling. As we turn left at the Marple junction, Brenda was congratulated for going to the pointy end in order to see if anything was approaching through the bridgehole by the instructor at Top Lock Training.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText">Once out of Marple, I went for a shower during which Brenda encountered (cue Harry Hill musical accompaniment) "Boating Moron of the Week!" in a bridge hole - where else do you meet them?</p> <p class="MsoPlainText">We finally moored for the night between bridges 28 and 29 adjacent to the Kerridge dry dock - the quietest mooring spot we have found on our trip so far.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText">Graham</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-85958139679409483202008-07-23T17:52:00.000Z2008-07-23T17:54:29.467Z<p class="MsoNormal">Monday 21^st July 2008 </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The morning passed quickly as we completed the Marple lock flight in two hours and forty minutes. We met no-one coming down the flight and there was no sign of any-one ascending in front or behind us. This flight is very pretty with views extending out over the surrounding countryside. It was all the better because the sun came out today – no rain at all.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At the top of the flight we turned left towards Whaley Bridge and Bugs/x/worth.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Smell of the day – caramel, fruit sweets, liquorice, aniseed, parma violets and sherbert. We cruised past the Swizzels Matlow factory<span style=""> </span>- Yum!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We went to Whaley Bridge first to take on water and visit the excellent Tesco store by the junction there. After that we took the other arm and went into Bugsworth basin. We explored right to the end of the basin where we winded and mooring inside the original Limestone loading shed. What a superb mooring spot this basin is with the only disadvantage being the noise from the new by-pass that is close by.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our evening walk took us somewhat higher than the 158m above sea level of the basin. As we came back down we realised how high Jannock had risen as we met a mountain rescue team landrover. We rounded off the evening with a visit to the Navigation, an excellent free-house once owned by Pat Pheonix (if you are old enough to remember Corrie in back and white)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Graham</p> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a></span>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-18487195100356829652008-07-20T22:21:00.000Z2008-07-20T22:22:23.578Z<p class="MsoNormal">We awoke to a bright sunny morning which rapidly turned to showers as we cast off from Piccadilly basin. We turned onto the Ashton canal and started another long flight of locks. The 2 BW guys at the bottom lock reckoned we would do the flight in about 4 hours, 3 hours if we missed a few out. We took 3 ¼ hours. We passed the Man. City stadium part way up this flight – another Jannock first.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just before the top lock there were a group of kids canoeing. Brenda slowed to let their instructors get them all safely to the side. As she passed, kids of no more than 12 were shouting abuse at her, some declaring that as they had paid for their canoe session she should refund the money for their time she had wasted. Bleedin cheek. Their minders did now’t about their disgusting language at all. Brenda suggested that if they sent her their names and addresses she’d refund them .... only the canoe instructor twigged the sarcasm there and smiled when a child asked for Brenda’s address – just send it to the boat she replied. We turned onto the Peak Forest canal at Dukinfield junction and then moored at Romely so that Graham could return Matt to Salford for a long soak in Simon’s bath before returning to home. We’ve got the Marple flight to look forward to tomorrow morning.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Graham<o:p></o:p></p> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a></span>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-12324383488757503162008-07-20T21:58:00.001Z2008-07-20T22:01:00.219Z<p class="MsoNormal">Saturday arrived with a rare thing aboard Jannock – a lie in! Then Matt and I walked to Salford to commence a car shuffle, returning at 3pm.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At 3:30 we left Castlefield basin and headed up the Rochdale 9 – or at least we tried to – it took all 5 crew plus an onlooker and Jannock’s engine flat out to get the bottom gates open on the first lock. The cascade of water over the top of the top gates was more than the lower gate paddles would let out and so we could not shift the gates. Phaedra pushed so hard on the windlass at this lock that she broke a tooth. I know that Terry Streeter recently passed down this flight working solo, he has my admiration as our experienced crew of five struggled with wiering locks and bl@@dy awkward gates. Brenda could not even locate the pedestrian access to lock 7 and was offered a ‘bunk up’ over the wall by two gay gentlemen whilst trying to do so. As she was lock-wheeling up the flight she came across some dubious charachters under one of the bridges and so she waited for the rest of us to catch up before proceding. Whilst passing through lock 9 (Piccadilly) we were visited by two totally tooled up policemen (Tazars, pistols, batons, the works) but Brenda sent them packing after satisfying their concerns about a dad and his two boys who had been spotted in the area by a camera. She had managed to get their complete life stories in about 5 minutes and so could satisify the law that nothing untoward was going on.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Matt, Simon and Phaedra were stars today, I do not see how we would have managed the 9 without them – even if Terry could.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Graham<o:p></o:p></p> <span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:11;" ><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a></span>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-23230628092220910922008-07-20T21:33:00.000Z2008-07-20T21:34:13.567Z<p class="MsoNormal">The forecast for today (Friday 18^th) was dry to start turning to rain later. They lied!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It rained on and off all day. We started off from Crooke and immediately hit the first lock set against us. This was to become a theme for the day with 5 of the 6 locks we traversed being the same. I must admit that having Simon, Phaedra and Matt assisting me through these locks on father’s day meant I did not appreciate what hard work they are – especially the ones at Wigan that have been fitted with new gates.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the journey was un-eventful. We didn’t even have to wait at Plank Lane bridge as the keeper was just arriving as we did and he waved us straight through. We moored in Castlefield basin, in exactly the same place as we did in 2004, however the Vietnam War themed restaurant that we smoked out with the BBQ then appears to have been demolished. In the evening all 5 of us went out to Kosmos, a Greek Cypriot restaurant that we recommend highly. If you come across a Greek wine called Thisbe give it a go. We finished the evening in the Cresent, a well known CAMRA pub.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Smell of the day – Passing a bakery in Manchester that smelt of freshly baked Lardy cake and chocolate muffins. Mmmmmmmm Nice!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Graham<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a><o:p></o:p></p>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-433365548462726402008-07-20T21:31:00.000Z2008-07-20T21:32:48.505Z<p class="MsoNormal">I’m so glad that we had fine weather for Matt’s celebration. We woke to find a few new leaks in Jannock’s windows that we never knew we had. The morning was spent housekeeping in order to avoid going out in the rain. We were pleasantly surprised how little cleaning was required after Matt and a few friends had been using the boat as a bunk house. The nice shower at the Sani station was also used before we convinced ourselves that the weather was cheering up and so we set off at midday. We were wrong and 12:30 saw us tied up at Rufford sitting out more rain. Talking to a local boater moored here we found out that our BW nastygram we received a few weeks ago may have been instigated by a local resident who backs onto the canal at the moorings – obviously a resident that does not enjoy the proximity of boats. We walked up to Rufford Hall in a last attempt to visit but no joy, closed Thursdays and Fridays. At 2pm we gave in and set off regardless of the weather. Surrender was mutual and we didn’t get wet. We travelled up onto the L&amp;L and turned East back through Parbld and Appely bridge to moor for the night near Crooke. Scent of the day – fields full of Camomile doused with organic semi-solid fertiliser – smelt just like socks worn by rugby players for a month.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Graham<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a><o:p></o:p></p>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-1366862978961181822008-07-20T21:30:00.000Z2008-07-20T21:31:33.306Z<p class="MsoNormal">After a day in suits and best frocks for Matt’s graduation, we left him in Preston to paint the town red and returned to Jannock. We then decided that as it was a reasonable evening we would travel up to Tarleton in order to turn Jannock around ready for the return journey Sarf.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Having negotiated Fearn’s swing bridge we moved North towards our goal of the winding point at the boat yard at Tarleton lock. As we approached Bank bridge we happened across a very wide bit of canal, suitably wide enough to turn around in so our Tarleton journey was truncated somewhat. We returned to Sparks bridge where we moored once again and then drove into Burscough to visit the Tescos store there in order to restock. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Graham<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a><o:p></o:p></p>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-60253929527149406892008-07-06T13:49:00.001Z2008-07-06T13:49:09.454Z<p>We had to go and move Jannock last Friday. We had received a mooring warden notice whilst moored at Rufford.&#160; As we move around the country at weekends and holidays I am aware of mooring restrictions at 'honeypot locations' and I stick to them. I will only moor Jannock for a week or more where I am happy that I am not contravening rules or inconveniencing anyone else. At Rufford there is a very nice 24hr visitor mooring complete with concreted surface <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SHDNUELHXhI/AAAAAAAAAE0/jq8sVu9KtaQ/s1600-h/24hrmooring%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="24hrmooring" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SHDNUWZjqAI/AAAAAAAAAE4/IUeCxS2iAXo/24hrmooring_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="144" align="right" border="0" /></a>and mooring rings and so I did not moor Jannock there for a fortnight. Instead we moored at the end of the visitor moorings where the signs indicated they had ended.&#160; The picture (Right, taken from Jannock's rear deck) shows where we were in relation to the visitor moorings and associated signage.&#160; I was , however, perplexed by the reason given on the notice for the violation. The &quot; Overstaying at a designated visitor mooring location&quot; box had initially been ticked and then crossed out and &quot;Overstaying on the Rufford branch&quot; had been filled in the 'Other' section instead. I have included a scan of the notice here.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SHDNU6LxV1I/AAAAAAAAAE8/ayHFAScVxco/s1600-h/nastygram005%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="149" alt="nastygram005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SHDNVHxK1CI/AAAAAAAAAFA/b7LgrZDGA-M/nastygram005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>This left me wondering how long I was allowed to be on the Rufford Branch. I&#160; rang the name given on the form who said &quot;You were overstaying on a 24hr visitor mooring&quot; I explained that I had moored with my stern adjacent to the visitor moorings but I was not occupying one. She then suggested that I could remain there then. I explained that we had travelled up from Oxford and so we would be moving the boat to another mooring today as I still had another week and a half until my holiday started. She said that if we were going up the Ribble link we could moor on the 48hr visitor moorings in Tarleton and she would inform the mooring warden that it was agreed we could be there for a fortnight. I declined as I had another location in mind for Jannock's next mooring and so agreed the location with her and then moved Jannock there ready for Matt to move on.&#160; All in all I am still perplexed as to how long one is allowed to remain on the Rufford Arm as the notice indicates that the eleven days we have been here already is too long.</p> <p>Graham</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-50057887392237498952008-06-30T20:53:00.001Z2008-06-30T20:53:53.548Z<p>Tonight I found myself near the village (Best large village in Somerset 1997) of Ruishton in the need of an evening walk in the balmy sunny evening. I walked through the village and found the disused Chard canal on the eastern side. The aqueduct over the road is long gone and the abutments have been converted into pillboxes to defend the area during WW2. I found my way onto the towpath and walked west for about 1/4 mile where I happened upon BMX heaven. Someone has created lots of jumps and ramps in the dry canal bed using the clay so readily available there. Altogether there were about six sets of jumps that had been created although I wouldn't like to tackle them on Jannock's lock-wheeling bike. Sadly, I do not have a camera with me so no pictures for this blog. Having been turned back from my towpath exploration by abundant stinging nettles, I returned to the road and continued on until I came across the river Tone. This has a footpath along it's west bank that passes past the aqueduct where the canal crossed the river. I walked on past this and found my way back into the village along the river bank. A very enjoyable evening spent exploring waterways even though Jannock is about 200 miles away.</p> <p>Graham</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-75628401033562755422008-06-22T16:51:00.001Z2008-06-22T16:51:21.488Z<p>Yes, this weekend folk law was re-written. We arrived at Jannock at 9:15 Friday night and the sky above Appley Bridge was a blaze of red without any smoke visible or fire sirens to be heard.</p> <p>We awoke Saturday morning to persistent rain so when Matt (No. 2 son) and Adam (his pal) arrived we postponed setting off in the hope that the weather would clear. We finally gave in and set off in the rain. We passed through Appley lock (cor that's a deep one) and then on through Parbold towards the junction with the Rufford arm. We met no boats heading East until four all appeared together in a row, obviously like London buses then. We stopped at the Sani station at the junction but it was all padlocked up, due to vandalism the note said, but it is not suitable for self pumpouts anyway. The rainfall increased in amount and ferocity as we started down the first two locks so we abandoned Jannock, tied to some railings, and headed for the Ship Inn for a celebratory pint. Matt and Adam had just got their degree results yesterday so we felt a celebration was in order.</p> <p>After lunch, we heard another boat descending the lower of Latham locks and so we untied and shared with them all the way to Rufford.</p> <p>Today we awoke to strong winds and occasional rain so we vacated Jannock bringing away most of our personal rubbish so that she is ready for Matt to occupy for a couple of weeks.</p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-7301673791485202762008-06-16T19:43:00.002Z2008-06-16T19:57:58.129ZI arrived at Jannock at 8:30 in the morning and had unloaded all the stuff from the car when Simon, Matt and Phaedra arrived at 9. Matt and I did a car shuffle and Jannock set off from Boothstown at 10:15. Bacon and Egg sarnies were taken on the move as we passed through Leigh. On our arrival at the liftbridge, Simon went ahead and returned saying the bridge operator had just started his 12 till 12:45 lunch break and so we moored up and watered up whilst waiting. As we finished with the tap another boat arrived behind us and did the same. 12:45 passed and no sign of the bridge keeper so I went to the office and saw that the fixed lunch time was winter only and it should be 08:00 to 20:00 in summer. I rang the mobile number on the door and it was answered with a cheery "I'll be there in 5 minutes" Whilst waiting, the boat behind presented us with half of a large chocolate &amp; cream cake asking if we could help them consume it as it had been left by a guest the day before and was more than the two of them could manage. The Jannock gannets quickly devoured it once we had worked a few locks. Once through the lift bridge we continued on through the two locks, with their novel gate opening mechanisms, before Wigan and then turned left at the junction. Whilst Jannock has never been north of waters meet since we owned her, I have never ever been up the L&amp;L towards Liverpool before. We marvelled at the rural scenes as we approached the M6 overpass. We followed a wide beam trip boat through the lock immediately below the motorway and then they allowed us to pass as their crew held a swing bridge open for us. We moored for the night and then I was taken to Manchester and made to walk for miles to attend a fathers day meal in a town centre restaurant. A wonderful day with nice sunny weather only marred by the biting wind accompanying it.Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-16573241063668988792008-06-09T20:43:00.001Z2008-06-09T20:43:51.330Z<p>This weekend, the lack of locks has left us playing the &quot; Wilson, Keppel and ? &quot; game.</p> <p>Having passed nb Wilson and then moored opposite nb Keppel whilst awaiting transit through Preston Brook tunnel we then spent the rest of the weekend trying to find a boat name that created a reasonable third partner for the dancing trio.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>That'll be Wilson, Keppel and Brittania - No!</p> <p>Wilson, Keppel and Lady Margaret - No!</p> <p>Wilson, Keppel and Sultan - No!</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>We finally decided the best match we could find was Wilson, Keppel and Thingummybob.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Graham</p> <p>(gradually going mad)</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-39495367854023376502008-06-09T16:36:00.001Z2008-06-09T16:36:57.466Z<p>I set off early as there was no need for Brenda to be in attendance as there were to be no locks at all today. As we were passing through Sale, Simon rang to enquire whether he and P. could join us for the day. We stopped by Town bridge and waited for them to park their car and hop aboard. On past waters meet and Jannock was now into new territory as we have not cruised this area with her before. We continued past the Trafford centre and then arrived <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SE1cH-AuGNI/AAAAAAAAAEk/-m-HUoe7NFE/s1600-h/BSARB%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="122" alt="The Barton Road bridge" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SE1cIm5LPGI/AAAAAAAAAEo/n6QTVHAO-EE/BSARB_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" align="left" border="0" /></a> at the Barton swing aqueduct just as it had re-opened after letting a ferry through on the ship canal. We were the only Northbound traffic whilst there must have been 8 - 10 boats waiting for Southbound passage. After 4 had come through I decided it was big enough for two to pass so we set off against the flow. The previously clear water through which we had been observing the rubbish on the canal bed was now rapidly turning red. Just before Worsley we passed a day boat full of 'merry makers' who, when we looked back, were doing their best to keep the boat upright. It appears that the skipper had turned tightly with all the crew on one gunnel or the roof. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SE1cJrYJuXI/AAAAAAAAAEs/GBdR3DcZQv4/s1600-h/LiteHouse%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="184" alt="Worsley Lighthouse" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SE1cKCp_nsI/AAAAAAAAAEw/uMGN9PnYGyo/LiteHouse_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="144" align="right" border="0" /></a> How it didn't capsize we'll never know. A few hundred metres after Worsley we found the site of their lunchtime BBQ. The ambers had just been thrown into the long grass and so we stopped and poured 8 buckets of water over the area of rapidly burning grass. Boating and Booze, not a good combination.&#160; We moored up and I fetched the car before returning Simon and Phaedra to Sale for theirs. A good run home with no motorway problems ended a pleasant sunny day.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Graham</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-61680852042630250112008-06-09T16:19:00.001Z2008-06-09T16:19:56.000Z<p>After a peaceful night I arose early to a day that was so uneventful that even the sun didn't bother to show up. I decided to put my spare 40l of diesel into Jannock's tank before we set off so that I could get the cans refilled later. We set off when that job was finished only to find that the boatyard at Barton Wharf no longer sells diesel. A good job that I decided to add my spare stock then. Straight through Barnton tunnel and then we had to wait 30 mins for Saltersford tunnel as we had missed the northbound slot.&#160; <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SE1YH5tkg8I/AAAAAAAAAEU/MvBURgJ42dU/s1600-h/JanBowsKepple%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="156" alt="JanBowsKepple" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SE1YJqCjBAI/AAAAAAAAAEY/tmLiCyBdzG0/JanBowsKepple_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" align="right" border="0" /></a>Up past&#160; Acton Bridge to another wait for the Northbound Preston Brook time. We met a freshly hired boat just North of this tunnel who obviously thought he needed to pass us between our starboard side and the bank that was not 1 metre away. I indicated that the other side of Jannock would provide a better passing spot and so he lurched round, still at great speed, just missing our bows. Considering he had only started from the other side of the road bridge, and had passed now't but moored boats between there and us, he was going at one hell of a speed. We passed under the M6 and up through Lymm <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SE1YKOG_ocI/AAAAAAAAAEc/CgFHHUVfhmw/s1600-h/Sunset%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="143" alt="Sunset" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SE1YKzN_JsI/AAAAAAAAAEg/5yzLZaGx52Q/Sunset_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a>before mooring for the night at the top of the LCC moorings.&#160; I did a Di Blasi shuffle whilst Brenda prepared dinner. Simon joined us for dinner as he was on his way to collect Phaedra from Manchester airport.</p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-70311007613364263062008-06-02T19:26:00.003Z2008-06-02T19:30:19.922Z<p>Simon arrived from Salford for a day of R&amp;R and so I took the opportunity to do a Di Blasi-less car shuffle before we set off. Through Big Lock we then pulled onto the waterpoint for a fill and were overtaken by two other boats who followed us down through the lock. As an Alvechurch craft arrived to use the lock, the crew got a bow line ashore but were drifting across the cut. I asked the steerer to throw me a line and he did just that! I then had to throw the looped end back to him so he could put it over the dolly and then I pulled them in. Once the watertank was full, we set off and the rain started. Only light drizzle at first but it became heavier and heavier as the day continued. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SERJVjn48DI/AAAAAAAAAEE/Ya7thHXozcs/s1600-h/MattStotty2%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="Matt and Stotty in the rain" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SERJWTYUC7I/AAAAAAAAAEM/r0C0dRLIrhE/MattStotty2_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" height="174" width="244" /></a>The two boats in front were going at a slower pace than Jannock is comfortable with but there was not enough difference to try and overtake so we settled to a steady speed. Before Northwich, the first boat pulled over and then we were un-ceremoniously rammed by a Black Prince hireboat panicking as he'd just met the boat in front of us on a bend. This boat then stopped as they had lost a painted can off their roof into a tree and so we continued on at a slightly better rate after that. I was disappointed to find all of the visitor moorings at Anderton are now either 24 or 48 hour only so we had to continue on before finally mooring up.</p> <p> </p> <p>Graham</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-19522375350975001442008-06-02T19:12:00.001Z2008-06-02T19:12:30.392Z<p>We met son Matt and his pal Stotty in Middlewich on Friday night. Whilst safely stowing Matt's car at Chateau Watson, we also had a chat with Benny, Brenda and Wendy (as well as John and Gillian). Once back at Jannock, bedding was sorted and we retired ready for a hard day on Saturday.</p> <p>Up and into the first lock at 8:45, the new locking bike came into it's own with me working ahead and Brenda, Matt and Stotty bringing Jannock through behind. It was not long before we caught up the boat in front who was following Ivor and Mel B. working their pair down the locks. The smooth movement was halted at Hassell Green when the boat in front of Ivor dropped it's rudder in a lock.&#160; After a fifteen minute wait we all got moving again although we never identified which boat had experienced the rudder misfortune.</p> <p>Stotty has written in the log :- &quot;First outing on a canal, can't have hoped for better weather, it's been great. Lots of locks to get used to, just about able to remember what order to do everything but then again that is only going down a lock, not up. Seems to work up an appetite which has been well and truly filled with a great sausage sandwich. Hope the weather holds out for tomorrow, been a great day today.</p> <p>P.S. At night, Matt took a swing in the dark with the bug-zapping racquet, must have hit a big one, what a pop. Bet it had just finished snacking on me.&quot;</p> <p><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="103" alt="Mini Jannock herding Ducks" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SERGGZMlcJI/AAAAAAAAAD8/VVlIn23Feq4/MiniJDucksS%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" border="0" />&#160; At Wheelock, Ivor and Mel had pulled onto the waterpoint for lunch so we continued on without stopping. Once we arrived at Middlewich we moored below the three locks and had a go at duck herding using mini-Jannock. They soon get fed up with being chased around and went up on the opposite bank to rest. John and Gill visited us for a drink and social evening before returning home ready for an early start in the morning.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Graham</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-69741870456036833672008-05-29T16:36:00.002Z2008-05-29T16:47:05.212Z<p>The questions are :</p> <ol> <li>What's your favourite canal? Not completed the whole system yet but the Southern Oxford ticks all the boxes.</li> <li>And your least-favourite? GU Paddington Arm</li> <li>Who would be your ideal cruising companion? Megapixie is!</li> <li>What was the last book you read? Me - Way to go Geoff Hill MegaP - I was a teenage worrier Ros Asquith<br /></li><li>What's your favourite time of day on the waterways? Early morning for me, anytime after 10 for her.</li> <li>What irritates you most on the waterways? Boats that moor on waterpoints and people who use the waterways but don't pay their way.</li> <li>When would you most like to have lived? I like now (ish)</li> <li>When did you last fall in? I have never fallen in, Brenda fell in at Cropredy in 1981. </li> <li>What did you want to be at 12? In the RAF.</li> <li>If I didn't have narrowboating I'd ... ? be bored witless.</li> <li>Narrowboaters are ... ? mostly good friends.</li> <li>After a day's cruising I most look forward to ... a beer.</li> <li>The waterways need ... ? more practical maintenance.</li> <li>If you met the Waterways Minister on the towpath, what would you say to him? We've practiced on the BW Finance Director. This is a national heritage like no other, fund it appropriately.</li> <li>Windows or portholes? Windows</li> <li>Pumpout or cassette? Pumpout</li> <li>Canals or rivers? Canals</li> <li>Where will you be when you are 70? Who knows?</li> <li>What do you think is your greatest achievement in life? Bringing two sons safely to adulthood.</li> <li>What would your superpower be? Fixitman and Sewitgirl.</li> </ol> <p>Graham &amp; Brenda</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk/">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p>Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-56945329759730256032008-05-26T16:13:00.001Z2008-05-26T16:13:51.762Z<p>This character <strike>description</strike> assassination was supplied by Brenda :-</p> <p>Today I shall tell you about &quot;Nutty Noah&quot; and &quot;Half Nelson&quot;. NN turned up at Stone lock as I prepared it once we had filled Jannock's water tank below the lock. He watched me prep the lock and acknowledged G onboard and then asked me if we were going his way and did we want the lock.&#160; -?-</p> <p>I was given the full shipping forecast when I asked if he thought it was likely to rain. We ascended the lock with his help, then he spotted another boat approaching from above so he ran along the towpath to inform them that it was quite OK for them to &quot;proceed into the lock that was ready for them and he'd hold his crew back&quot; - that's alright then.&#160; Before the next lock he was called back onto the boat for breakfast. A lock or two later he returned, the soubriquet was confirmed as he was now wearing a pair of ancient flappy wellies, a full length oilskin type coat and was now astride a bicycle. He then proceeded to regale us with tales of his breakfast that included poached smoke cod, bacon, egg and sauteed mushrooms.&#160; Cornflakes anyone? </p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>We first met Half Nelson yesterday. He's a newbie with 3 weeks of a months hire under his belt and a sweet man. He has a gammy eye, knackered knees, walks with an odd gait and admits to 78 years. Onboard his Black Prince hireboat he had a severely disabled wife. He is considering buying a boat. I hope he doesn't. He's a danger to himself, let alone his wife and other boaters. He'd invited hints and tips from us yesterday, so when I saw him pull out in front of us as I prepared to check/empty the lock, I carried on with a mind to help him anyway. He jumped aboard, neither of the gates were open and there was no chance of me getting there first unless I ran. I ran and just got to the second gate open as he charged into the lock. I suggested that running at shut gates like that was a risky strategy. He advised me that the hire base had said he could do it. I asked if he'd been sure it was properly empty and he said he had seen a boat come down it some 10 minutes ago. He's obviously not come across a leaky lock gate then. I pointed out that he'd been unable to see if anybody was lockside. That puzzled him! He said that people were kind and helpful if they were there. What about any children playing/sitting/standing near the balance beam as he rammed the gate I asked? Another puzzled look. So I suggested that they might get pushed or bumped into the canal. Quite a fall, a shock even for a swimmer. He simply said that the boatyard had suggested he go into locks that way. I asked if he were rich as I could imagine the law suit. He said he only had his pension - so don't let him drown your nearest or dearest, you can't even sue!</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>I also wonder how the pair of them would cope if he fell in or got injured - his wife seemed boat bound. In a lock accident she'd have no chance. <strong>Please don't sell this man a boat!</strong></p> <p>We did a solo trip through Harecastle during the last slot of the day and felt like I was in a fridge due to the bitterly cold wind being dragged through the tunnel by the fans.</p> <p>Fashion tips for late May bank holidays in England - match your thermal vest with thermal gloves.</p> <p>Graham (for Brenda)</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-18139754128128842932008-05-26T15:23:00.001Z2008-05-26T15:23:11.944Z<p>Our early start was prompted by Brenda being a light sleeper! At 7am she heard a strange noise on the boat and quickly realised that Jannock's new lock wheeling bicycle was being liberated from on the roof. She yelled through the window at the thief and sent me out the back door to deal with him whilst she took photos of him through the window.&#160; The perpetrator of&#160; the crime (p<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SDrV3P7y90I/AAAAAAAAADs/pXceyQU-whc/s1600-h/Thief%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Rugely Cycle Thief" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SDrV3_7y91I/AAAAAAAAAD0/GbDXCSPgpl8/Thief_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="138" align="right" border="0" /></a>ictured here) had obviously had a chemical breakfast and claimed that he had found the bike laying in the hedge, and look! - there are the marks in the grass where he'd found it. I explained that we had just heard him remove it from on top of the roof and even if it had been in the hedge, theft by finding is also a crime. He lost the will to argue and quickly ambled off along the towpath towards Rugely.&#160; In someways it was a shame he didn't try and ride it as the stem bolt had been loosened in order to allow the handlebars to be turned to lay flat on the roof. It would have been quite funny watching him try to cope with that on a bumpy grass towpath. We will send a report and his photo to Rugely Police just in-case they meet him again. The previous rooftop bike security has now been beefed up .</p> <p>Once the adrenalin had subsided we set off North and passed through Colwich lock following another boat. As the day progressed the Easterly wind became stronger and stronger causing Jannock to crab along the exposed bits of canal. We moored for the night on the new visitor moorings below Stone lock, only two boats away from nb Raven, ex Dave H. and star of many old Hudson adverts. Raven now sports a full sized motorcycle parked under a tarpaulin on the tug deck and the brasswork&#160; is starting to tarnish.</p> <p>The strong headwinds experienced during the car shuffle back to Alvecote sometimes knocked up to 6 MPH off the Di Blasi's normal speed.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Graham</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-66784624241631974732008-05-26T15:04:00.001Z2008-05-26T15:04:20.128Z<p>We set off from Alvecote at 9am on Friday and were through Glascote locks in just over one hour. At the top lock, a couple from a Canaltime craft, that was moored just before the lock, were observing the passing of Jannock and the boat preceding us before attempting to try it themselves. They stated that they had viewed the on-board video twice and were still unsure what to do. At the main road bridge north of Fazely, we saw a mink that passed under the bridge on the offside, in front of us, and then dived into the canal and dissappeared from sight. No tell tale air bubbles on that one!</p> <p>We turned left at Fradley and followed another boat up the locks without having to wait at all. I did have to turn all of the locks due to no south bound craft in evidence.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SDrRbv7y9yI/AAAAAAAAADc/ueq9dIieu5c/s1600-h/cameramiss%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="164" alt="cameramiss" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SDrRc_7y9zI/AAAAAAAAADk/9sHz0DY0WXM/cameramiss_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="211" align="left" border="0" /></a> At Shadehouse lock a young lass was taking lots of photographs and she got very upset with Brenda who not only took a photo of her taking pictures but also kept looking at her as she was doing her picture taking. After she had protested about Brenda messing up her photos, Brenda replied with &quot;well, it's my planet too!&quot; She became very apologetic after that. Did anyone see any nice pictures of the Fradley area in Sundays Telegraph?</p> <p>We travelled on through Handacre where we passed Granny Buttons moored outside the Plum Pudding. I hope Andrew got their permission to stay on the short term moorings there.</p> <p>We finally moored for the night out in the countryside, north of Rugely, just before Taft bridge. </p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Graham</p> <p>www.jannock.org.uk</p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-255495360344601492008-05-13T15:46:00.001Z2008-05-13T15:46:46.286Z<p>When I last logged into Blogger, there was a load of spam mail in the 'waiting to be published' queue. I decided to clean it up ready for&#160; ...&#160; wait for it&#160; ...&#160; me starting to blog with a blackberry again - Yes, my new employer have given me one to use for work which will allow me to post again whilst mobile.</p> <p>However, I managed to delete several entries in the process and that is why you will have received them again, Sorry but I wanted to keep the displayed entries intact so I had to replace them.</p> <p>Regards</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Graham</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-25903287110706036172008-05-11T19:06:00.001Z2008-05-13T15:41:49.968Z<p>As we moved off we became quickly aware of some heavy duty vegetation management that has been going on along here on the off-side. What a luxury to be able to see around corners without peering through willow curtains. How nice to be able to see approaching hazards and to not have to hang onto your hat or avoid getting your eyes poked out by low branches. Well done BW!</p> <p>Around Atherstone the heavy scents of Oilseed rape and Hawthorne are replaced by Lilac blossom. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SCdDzVYluYI/AAAAAAAAADM/pPUx0_swNmA/s1600-h/DSCF0023%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="167" alt="Portage around Atherstone flight" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/keensfamily/SCdD0FYluZI/AAAAAAAAADU/8X7gU3mryEk/DSCF0023_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" align="left" border="0" /></a> On the Atherstone flight we met a couple of ladies - Brenda named them Dotty and Lettuce, it suited them. They were in Portage mode having to stop at every lock for something. Two ladies, two cameras, so every combination of photo had to be posed for. They even had to stop for their second breakfast. Maps had to be consulted as well. We presume they finally got water-bourne as we never saw them again after lock 6.</p> <p>Today's weather and countryside was all the ad-man at the English Tourist Board could wish for, mind you they never show traditional English sunburn, do they. We've seen enough of that today.</p> <p>Brenda</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-52607782217772296872008-05-11T18:48:00.001Z2008-05-13T15:41:15.623Z<p>Having arrived and opened Jannock on Friday night, we were up and away before 9 am ready for a long hot day. We arrived at Hillmorton top lock just as the rush started and found ourselves 3rd in the queue. Once through the 3 locks we had a quiet clear run to just before Stretton Stop where we met Quidditch, amongst the land slides, heading South towards Ricky. We paused and had a quick chat with Will and then continued on passing through the swingbridge and onto a weed-free section up to Sutton Stop. A sharp starboard turn brought us onto the northbound Coventry canal through Bedworth and Nuneaton to moor for the night in the woods adjacent to Springwood Haven.</p> <p>Between bridges 24 and 27, we were following a tug from Atherstone which was pushing an empty barge. In order to avoid this pair on a sharp bend, a southbound boat went aground on the inside of the corner. We towed him off backwards much to the concern of the newly hired Springwood craft following him.</p> <p>At Springwood Brenda heard her first Cuckoo for the year, found wild garlic and bluebells in the woods and heard a nightingale sing. After dinner we sat and watched the bats skimming the water catching insects and waited for the Rooks to quieten down before retiring to bed. What a wonderful place to moor.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Graham</p> <p><a href="http://www.jannock.org.uk">www.jannock.org.uk</a></p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12679505.post-39578499189607078412008-05-11T18:33:00.001Z2008-05-13T15:40:35.609Z<p>... and your eyesight is getting poor when at the end of a hot day, you are enjoying the cool evening air sat on the towpath and you don't notice that the person cycling past you is:-</p> <p>a) a man!</p> <p>b) completely starkers!</p> <p>He did not even have any luggage with him.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Brenda</p> <p>www.jannock.org.uk</p> Jannockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10131547112413066808noreply@blogger.com