Failed
Little wonder there are so many complaints from boaters unable to get in at the visitor moorings owing to the continuous cruisers/moorers—we are now amongst the complainers! Hold on a bit. Wasn't it the revered Sally Ash of British Waterways who decided that the towpaths be cleared of boats and accommodated in all the new marinas? You've failed lass—totally.
But back to Rugeley, what I just cannot understand is that just through the bridge there is a long stretch of seven days moorings, with not a boat in sight. And even rings at that.
On to the Staffs & Worcs Canal, and here too, and at long last, those overhanging trees, as on the Trent & Mersey had been cut back. It really needed it here with the many twists of this particular waterway. This was most noticeable on the stretch below Stafford Boat Club, where the former narrow channel has had its trees cut right back, giving back a normal width at last. And throughout the Staffs & Worcs it was the same, with numerous overhanging trees having disappeared. Perhaps the cynic in me would remark it was the result of the boat being crushed by a falling tree and a woman losing her life.
Health and safety into orbit
Certainly the case of a lost life of a young boy who was foolhardy enough to attempt to cycle across a very narrow boaters' bridge at Stourport on this very same canal, causing the health and safety bods to go into orbit with their resulting hand rails and very little sense. Take the one at Rodbaston Lock with the 'footbridge' well fenced off though it is part of a 12ft wide road!
These people obviously pronounce their decisions with no idea of the actual sites. Little wonder so many boaters point out that these bridges have served for 200 years without mishap, yet everything gets changed—and let's call a spade a spade here—because a silly lad decides to try such a crazy stunt on such a foot crossing instead of using the nearby bridge. As I have often pointed out, peoples' safety is their own responsibility, and others should surely not be penalised if some can't accept it.
Occupied
At last Deptmore Lock Cottage, after its renovation, was occupied. I well remember many years ago before the cottage had electricity, with the occupant fetching his fuel by boat. From what I was told in the past it seemed he had to get his provisions by boat too, as only the adjoining farm owner had access.
Moored for the night below Shutt Hill Lock, our dog Red needed to 'go' at 4am one morning, but alas, I am not allowed comment on the resulting contretemps.
Deserted towpaths
It was at Teddersley, five days into the cruise, that we eventually saw the first cyclist on the towpath. In an attempt to help British Waterways to get its sums right, up to then I had counted exactly 33 walkers, nearly all with dogs. It wasn't until the sixth—the next day—I saw an angler. So bearing in mind our long winters and the obvious un-attraction of cold dismal canals, at present in the rain, makes you wonder about the 300 million visitors?
It was at Penkridge we spotted Grey Nomad moored—which meant our old mate Ralph Freeman, so it was an unscheduled stop for us to put the waterways world to rights for half an hour. Ralph was one of those who warned us of the lack of boats moving. And for those of you who have noticed he is no longer listed, it is alas, as he is no longer writing for us, wanting to give more time to his photography. It was earlier in the cruise that of the many who recognise our boat, one asked if Ralph was on board. But the only contributor besides of course the best, who is occasionally with us is Alan Tilbury.
A box ticker
Then it was Gailey and spotting the now rarest of breeds—a British Waterways man. But alas not a useful lengthsman of old, but one of course with the invariable hand-held tablet, busily ticking the boxes. I wonder how he managed to record the amount of leakage on the Penkridge Lock shown? Perhaps you believe as I do—there's no box to tick.
On now, and waved past a very slow boat whose steerer told us his engine was overheating. Then a little later a boat in even worse state that we also followed, this time slowly being towed through Wolverhampton Narrows, and again we were waved past.
This one had had its engine 'cooked' our own Orph Mable told us—yes, it was being towed to Oxley Marine, and perhaps we may even be told the story. Something, from all accounts, tales that many of you are enjoying.
I noticed that diesel at Oxley was 86p a litre—a damn sight less than the 98p we paid (and self service at that) at Sawley.