Made it up onto the Shroppie.

We were approaching the stop lock when we were pipped at the post by another boat coming from the opposite direction. Instructions from she who is to be obeyed was to follow in but there was a boat coming on the other side of the lock. This meant I had to back out and moor on the Staffs and Worcs Canal and wait our turn.

Once through the lock, Lin went shopping in the quayside chandlers for some provisions but came out empty handed, (Yes! Result), while I moored up for water.

Now we're looking for some visitor moorings, and tried to get in on the first one we came to but we couldn't get close to the edge due to the infamous Shroppie Shelf, an underwater obstruction preventing boats getting close to the edge. Why? Who knows, I don't think it's on any other waterway.

The Shroppie Shelf, keeping boats away from the bankside.

I put out a spring line to help prevent passing boats moving ours and hitting the shelf, that would be annoying.

Settled in for the night with a bowl of chilli and a beer.

Lucy?

Zeds after her bowl of chilli.

Four miles and four locks.

Not far today, we're trying to work out a strategy for overnight stopping as there are parts of the canal ahead where we didn't ought to stop for the night.

Rain is forecast for tomorrow afternoon so a morning push is on the cards.

I sealed the flue where it joins the top of the stove, packed in some fire cement and topped it off with some high temperature silicone.

Fire cement is in...

...followed by silicone sealant.
Just needs a coat of paint.

I've also fitted new locker tops all round, just need to black the cut edges, and fit a piece of wood underneath to retain them in place.

It's been a lovely day, wall to wall sunshine.

Lucy slept through it all...

Just dozzzzing off!

That was a long and very enjoyable day.

We started out at 08:00 this morning and finished at 17:40, stopping only briefly at Tesco in Kidderminster.

Lincomb Lock was the first of the day, followed by the two staircase locks at Stourport. We were lucky here as the CART boys were going to close one of the locks and drain it to repair a paddle linkage, and we managed to get through in the nick of time.

Waiting for a boat to exit the lock at Stourport.

Excess water outflow.

This happens when the upper lock capacity is greater than the lower lock.

Lin lock wheeling.

More lock wheeling. York Street Lock this time.

From Stourport to Kidderminster and three locks later:-

Lin took this one from the boat, it's my turn to do some locks.

And in complete contrast from portrait to full landscape, here is the view from tonight's mooring:-

No caption required.

Oh! And Lucy?

She's had a tough day...zzz!

And then I took this by accident:-

Lovely jubly!

More tomorrow.

Stopped for the day.

What a day, thirteen locks, don't know the mileage, but have arrived at the Lenchford Inn on the Severn. Never stopped on the Severn before, as the moorings are always a bit uninspiring. Often made from scaffolding and covered in silt as they are here, but the pub is really nice, well worth a visit, and the food and ale is excellent.

Nice pub, iffy moorings.

View across the river from TQ.

We lit old flamey tonight, as it chilled down a bit with the wind still blowing, and it was appreciated by you know who, of course.

More tomorrow.

Tranquility is moving base - the start of a new adventure.

We managed to get ourselves aboard yesterday afternoon after a good journey up the M5. Lin had to work until 2 o'clock so i came up first with Lucy and Lin arrived later in her car with the fish and chips. Today we've been up to Aqueduct Marina to introduce ourselves and leave our car there, and then coming back to Droitwich in our other car, all done and dusted by 11:00 am this morning.

This is probably the last photo of TQ at Droitwich.

Then it was time to service the engine, oil and filter change, good for another 250 hours.

We've not cruised anywhere yet, not until tomorrow morning when we hope to make an early start. We're planning to go up the Severn, taking the scenic route to Stourport on Severn and joining up with the Staffs and Worcs Canal.

It's been a lovely day today, hot and sunny; and Lucy?

Doing the usual!

More tomorrow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE.

It's Sunday, New Year's Day and it's raining. Start as you mean to go on, as they say!
Well that's the "grumpy old git" in me done with for now, today were packing up and going home 😯. But that's later, first I have a couple of minor jobs to attend to and then I have to winterise the water system.


We took our time doing all this and left TQ at around 2:15pm and with trailer hooked up and loaded with two and a half bags of coal, we wended our way into Droitwich and headed for the M5.

In case you're wondering, the coal in the trailer is weight to stop it bouncing from pillar to post every time we drive over a cat's eye.

The weather has been awful all day and only when we got home the rain stopped but not until we'd unloaded.

Been busy today so just one photo...

Home sweet home!

And we're back in the marina.

Looked out of the window this morning and yes there was ice on the cut but it looked fairly thin, almost slushy. I thought this'll be alright, huh! It was about 6 to 8mm thick in places. Once you've started you have to press on in the hope that it isn't going to get worse.

When we got back to base we strolled into Droitwich to do some very important shopping. Lucy will appreciate it later.

The ice on the cut past the marina is up to 16mm thick that's 5/8" and it looks like a boat has been through it!

While we were out we popped in to the Gardeners again for lunch, and again we were not disappointed.

The fog has come down thick again this afternoon, time to chill out by the fire.

Hardly any ice here in the marina.

More ice!

I've just taken a look, I SAID LOOK outside, and guess what; yeah, that's right, it's all iced up again. ARRRRRRGH!

It was really warm earlier, it just goes to show, you can't trust the weather.

Iced in!

We stayed put today, no other boats have passed to break the ice, so we decided to wait until tomorrow when temperatures have risen. Even as I write this the ice is melting so hopefully it'll be all systems go for tomorrow.

I went for a walk this afternoon, back to Oddingley via the road and then along the cut back to TQ. It took about an hour.

Lucy's feeling the cold...

She couldn't get any closer to the stove if she tried.

It's foggy, man.

It's going to be another lovely day.

Now you see it...

...Now you don't.

And ICE!

Aarrgghh!

Lucy's had her breakfast...

More zeds!

Good morning!

What a lovely sunrise, it's going to be a nice day.

Sunrise

Whoa! Ice on the cut!

Chilly, isn't it?

Just wanted to update:-

We have moved again, not far, to somewhere near Shernal Green. At least we can get a weak TV signal here and we managed to speak to Lin's parents in Spain via Skype after some faffing about.

Lucy?

Doing her other favourite pastime.

We have moved out of the marina.

Yes we have actually moved, but not far, three locks and about three miles to the winding hole at Tibberton then back to Oddingley.

...and here we are.

A cold frosty morning with no wind and a low hazy sun shining through the bare trees paints an atmospheric picture.

Wintry Sun.

We're well out in the sticks and there's been more people walking past here than we get in the centre of Birmingham.

And there's more!

Lucy's moved too, it's warm in front the fire.

Shooting the zeds again.

And she's just moved again...

...and yet more zeds!

One day I'll catch her awake with a bit of luck.

Ahh! Christmas Day.

We're still in the marina and not planning on going anywhere today.

Christmas lunch is on its way and it smells delicious.

Still in the marina, until tomorrow.

Smoke on.

After two breakfasts, Zedsville. 

Merry Christmas everyone.

It's been a lovely day today...

...walked into Droitwich again and after a bit of last minute shopping Lin fulfilled her promise to take me in the Old Cock Inn...   ...   ...for a pint. And a very nice pint it was too, Wychwood Bah Humbug, an unusually spiced ale of smooth characature.

Then we strolled over to The Gardeners Arms, another fine establishment, where we had lunch and another pint.
Lin had the Gardeners Wives Lunch (posh for ploughmans), and I had steak and ale pie chips and veg. I was disappointed with the pie, as it was one of those bowls of meat with a puff pastry topper, hate that, BUT, I have to say it was delicious, nice tender chunks of steak in a rich ale gravy.

Strolled (staggered) (no, strolled) back to the boat and cleared out the ash pan, disposed of the rubbish and loaded up the coal scuttle for the evening.

Lucy's had her tea...

Zzzzzzzz           Zzzzzzzz.

I might have a drop of this with my supper later...

A spot of last minute shopping.
Gota be dun annit.

...for medicinal purposes you understand.

Two good days.

Yesterday we walked up to the Eagle and Sun and met our friend of old Anne and we had a lovely carvery. A choice of meats, beef, turkey, pork and ham were on offer and we could mix and match, and a huge choice of vegetables, as much as we could eat plus a free sweet for the over sixties, at £8.95 each, can't be bad.

Today we strolled into Droitwich to do a bit of shopping and we had planned to go in the Old Cock for a pint but when we had finished the shopping it was still a bit too early so we have postponed it until tomorrow.

This afternoon I got stuck into changing the 12 volt socket and 13 amp socket...

The new TV is 12 volts DC and 240 volts AC so whilst in the marina and plugged into the shoreline we can use the 240v adaptor and when out on the cut we can use the 12v car adaptor - simples. Also there are two USB sockets for charging your whatever.

Lucy?

Zzzzzzzz!

She's actually snoring! Happy days.

Fully loaded

What a day, we loaded up the car and trailer with new stuff for TQ and hauled it all up the M5 to the marina.

The new fridge took up most space and as I couldn't get it in the car it had to go in the trailer along with three bags of logs and two bags of coal. It all arrived safely and now we have the new fridge installed and working.

There's also a new TV...

And a new deck board...

It fits a treat.

Other jobs to do are to change the 12 volt supply socket so the TV can be plugged in and fit a replacement 13 amp socket with twin USB charging sockets.

So far, TQ is looking good!

Oh! And Lucy? 

Doing the usual.

Busy morning, and a long journey home.

What a day, spent the morning polishing TQ and painting the port side gunwale and down to the waterline, filled the water tanks, pumped out and dieseled, then the journey home.

Left Droitwich at 3:30pm arrived home 7:50pm, should've taken two hours, the M5 was a car park.

Lucy?

Home again, Zzzzzzzz. 

And back to base

Just a short journey back to the marina, but before we got going an Anglo-Welsh hire boat went hooning past us and met a Canal Club boat head on in the nearby bridge 'ole. Unfortunately the CC boat came off worse and plunged into the hedge to avoid a collision.

A lovely quiet journey back, no wind but dull which is ok. TQ is now back on her moorings and polished up to the nines, and we're off to the pub.

We strolled along the canal to the Eagle and Sun, and ordered salmon fIllet and I had a 12oz steak cooked to perfection, washed down with a pint of Doom Bar.

On our way to the Eagle and Sun.

Back on board now, and we vacate the premises tomorrow, but not before some more work is done.

Lucy? I don't think she realised we've been out...

More zeds.

Shortest day. 80 feet, 0 locks.

Spent most of the morning replacing some fuel hoses which were seeping a little diesel. First I had to turn off the fuel supply from the tank, that was no problem, just turn off the valve, but the return doesn't have a valve on it and if you disconnect a hose the fuel will syphon out of the tank. Aarrgghh! That's what I bought the clamp for earlier in the week, so that I could squeeze the hose to shut off the fuel. Trouble is, I couldn't squeeze it tight enough so some assistance from a pair of water pump pliers and a cable tie came to the rescue. I was able to change three hoses altogether, but there are more that will need changing later in the year.

New hose conforming to ISO7840.

And another.

 Spent the rest of the day polishing the paintwork. Used my new machine for this and made much lighter work of it. The paint was bad, really bad. Even T Cut was hard pressed to remove the oxydisation from the surface. Once the whole side was T Cut and cleaned off, I went over it with some carnauba wax polish.

You can really see the difference in this photo.

 Some grass cutting contractors came by and said they would leave the grass uncut next to TQ, so I said I would move up to a freshly cut area so that they could cut the bit where TQ was moored later when they came back. Hence the 80 feet and 0 locks.

TQ looking shiny and with a freshly cut lawn.