storm warning

Well, here I am at 2.45pm on the day the 'big storm' is due to arrive. The forecast for the Midlands is currently for heavy rain and up to 80mph winds. I have used an extra rope to tie up the boat, moved my planters out of harms way and have dropped my solar panel flat onto my roof. There isn't much else I can do.

I am a little anxious as I experience the sharp end of the last big one in 1987 (and the slighter lighter one of 1989) as I was a police officer on duty during both. In 1987 I was stationed in the New Forest and got trapped when a tree fell in front of my panda car and as I braked sharply, another large oak fell behind me, trapping my car with nowhere to go. Trees were coming down all around and I have to admit to being fairly terrified. Being that it was during the night made it worse as we could hear the creaks, groans and crashes but couldn't see where the trees were falling until they were almost on top of us!

Fortunately I was rescued by an army unit with a chainsaw. Others were not so lucky and several people were killed in the Southampton area that night.

There are a couple of large Silver Birch trees alongside my boat but I am hoping they will remain upright. At present it is sunny with a stiff breeze - a lovely day really. Let's hope tomorrow will see us all floating serenely on the mooring! I'll let you know - if I'm spared!! Good luck to all my readers.

Snowdonia

Well done Nev and Roger and Marion, yes, I was in Wales - in Snowdonia to be precise. And no, I didn't take the boat. I had a couple of weeks off so for the first week Bon and I went with my mate Stan to a spectacularly beautiful place called Capel Curig and stayed in the very reasonably priced and comfortable Cobdens Hotel.

 

Opposite the hotel was a fast flowing river with a little footbridge. Beyond that was a forest with tracks leading in all directions so Bonny and I were spoilt for choice for our morning walks. After walk and breakfast the three of us went out each day. We spent the first full day on Anglesea - beautiful! On other days we took a ride round Llanberis Lake on a steam train. This is Bonny enjoying it...

We also visited Harlech, Porthmagog and of course Snowdon. We had great weather considering it is October and only got seriously rained on once - on our final day.

I returned home on Friday and rushed around doing shopping, laundry etc. so that Bon and I could go out on a mini cruise for the second week of our holiday. We left this morning in glorious sunshine which lasted all day. We are heading to Great Haywood where I am due to meet up with a couple of friends in the pub. Someone's got to do it!

Guess where I am…?

???

Hopwas Heaven… mostly

I have finally managed a whole week out on the boat. I returned to Hopwas, which is a small village with a large and beautiful woodland about 7 miles away. I was so relieved to get there and back without the assistance of the air ambulance this time!

Our trip was a mixture of cruising, walking and painting the gunwales of the boat. The weather was mostly lovely and the walking spectacular with squirrels throwing themselves out of trees in front of a delighted Bonny.

This was where we moored.

We spent a couple of days here before moving down to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. As I passed under the first bridge after leaving our mooring I heard a tremendous rattling noise, as if the propeller had just dropped off. I immediately put the engine into neutral and drifted to the bank. When I investigated, I found that a helpful fisherman had left his metal rimmed keep net in the canal and the whole thing had wrapped itself tightly round my prop. It took ages hanging upside down over my weedhatch to remove it. Here are the remains…

The white parts are all twisted metal!

I got to the B and F without further incident and with my propeller fortunately intact. I had planned to moor at Fisher’s Mill Bridge which is smack bang in the middle of a beautiful water park with fantastic walks. Unfortunately when we got there we found a major flood defence scheme under way…

No walking here!

Shame – it would have been lovely.

There were bulldozers and lots of men in hard hats at my proposed mooring site so I went on as far as the first lock flight to turn at the winding hole. That was a major feat as the canal became very narrow and the winding hole not much wider than my boat!

Turning here was a challenge!

I spent the night on the B and F – very quiet despite it being August and then returned to Hopwas for a couple of days to do some much needed boat painting.

All in all it was a lovely trip and it was particularly good to have some time alone as I haven’t managed much of that lately. As I was explaining to a friend only yesterday – most people are basically social creatures who can quite easily cope with periods of solitude – even enjoying it perhaps, but they get their energy from being with family or friends. I am one of the more unusual types who reverse that. I can quite happily be sociable for periods of time but I am most content and get my energy from being alone. Ah well, it takes all sorts!

mini cruise opportunity

I am not needed at work next week which may not be good news for my pocket but it's excellent news for a cruise hungry pair of boaters ( Bonny and I). So next Monday (or Tuesday depending on work) we are setting sail (figuratively) down the Coventry Canal. Our first stop will be Hopwas. The last time Bonny and I were there was September 2012, when we had some fantastic walks in the woods but it was on our return from that trip on 1st October. that I broke my leg, so it will be good to return this time in one piece - hopefully!

If I am feeling energetic I will cruise longer days and go up the Ashby Canal - famous for skirting the field where the Battle of Bosworth took place. If I don't feel that fit I shall visit the bottom of the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal where there is a large water park that I have not visited yet. I heard this canal has suffered a breach so I shall have to check that it is navigable. I don't really mind where I go; just being out is fantastic.

I am still enjoying work, although the hours aren't quite enough to keep the wolf from the door so I may have to look for an additional few hours somewhere. When not working or doing all the chores of a boating life, I go out exploring with Stan. A couple of weeks ago we had a picnic on top of Cannock Chase with his two dogs Bess and Sam and Bonny. I was going to post a picture of us all but for some reason I can't at present - the mysteries of computing, all very easy until it's not!

cruise reminder

I know it has been a ridiculously long time since I updated this blog, but without cruising I find I have a lot less to say! Yesterday I thought I would tottle up to Kings Bromley and hide from the sun in the woods, before popping into the marina to pump out and diesel up. The first part of the plan worked a treat. I started up the flight at around 7.30 and had it all to myself. I arrived in a lovely shady spot to moor within 2 hours and spent the rest of the increasingly hot day on my lounger under the trees. Bonny had the day off her lead and was very well behaved.

By evening the temperature had risen to 30 degrees (or for us oldies, around 90f) and the humidity was very high. I struggle a bit in hot weather anyway and these last couple of weeks having been rather trying - especially at night when the temperature in my cabin has reached 100f. So I went to bed with every window and hatch open, only to be woken abruptly at 5.30 with the rain hammering down. Cue leaping around my boat in the altogether shutting everything up and mopping up rainwater.

I went back to bed but once the thunder and lightning started I had no chance to sleep, as Bonny let me know in no uncertain terms that she doesn't enjoy storms. It has rained non stop since then (writing this at 10.30). Bon and I have been out briefly but I am not planning to visit the marina until it calms down a bit. Sitting here with the towpath turning into a river and the only boats going past being hire boats brings back fond memories of last year's cruise. I spent many a happy day watching the rain and waiting in vain for summer. This year we have actually had a taste of summer and I didn't much like it. Hard to please or what?

I will need to return tomorrow as I'm at work on Thursday so I rather hope it dries up a little. Meanwhile I'll leave you with a picture of the field I am moored by - taken before the deluge...

Boater turned gardener

What can I do when, due to being a working girl again, I can’t go cruising? Here’s the answer…

Turn to gardening and save some of my hard earned dosh by growing my own veggies! This picture shows my salad leaves (slow due to little sun), carrots, sugar snap peas, radishes (had one harvest of radishes already, more seeds planted) and spring onions. I also have tomatoes growing in a hanging basket and some chives. For colour I have these…

And these…

Bonny is adjusting very well to being left while I work. This is mostly how she spends her time…

I too am adjusting to work. I love the work itself but trying to fit my life in as well is proving a challenge! Poor Stan is being neglected and has to do with an occasional meal out rather than a weekly one. I see Jan more as she is doing me huge favours like taking Bonny out if I’m away for more than 4 hours and even ironing my uniform – bless her.

This is a very different year, as this time last year I had embarked on my 3 month cruise in almost constant rain. Now I am tethered to the bank and the last week has brought almost constant sun. Hey ho!