Gas Street Basin, BCN

No CRT registration number and no licence?  The big trip boats were having great fun trying to miss this lot.

It's funny how you seem to see some boats only once and others all the time, and some you see every now and again. 

We showed Mr David at the IWA Festival in Worcester in 1999 and one of the other boats was Raggle Taggle.  We never saw David and Jean again for many years when we were traveling in opposite directions on the Lancaster Canal.  Several years later with leap-frogged with them on the Leeds end of the L&L.  And today they were moored up near the Mailbox.  Three times in 15 years!

Missed the orchids on the Bridgewater Canal this year, so will have to do with a photograph.  I matted it onto white card and cut the edges with deckle scissors (you can tell how long ago I made this one, no one uses deckle scissors any more!).  It was then matted again onto dark lilac card and then light lilac card.  I wrapped some green ribbon around the panel and then two strands of organza ribbon on top.  The panel was then fixed to a light lilac card blank and the photograph fixed over the ribbon.  three green gems were stuck down the bottom left hand corner to finish off.

Gas Street Basin, BCN

That sick feeling when you get to the bridge and your home has gone!!!

 Only round to Sherborn Wharf for a few jobs.  But it still makes your heart sink seeing the empty mooring.

Soon be Fathers' Day.  So here's one for the fishermen.  A maroon panel was fixed to the front of a white card blank and a smaller maroon and green matted panel was stuck across the bottom.  I matted the picture onto maroon and green card and stuck this on with sticky fixers to give it some depth.  Then three green candi buttons were added to the bottom.

Gas Street Basin, BCN

Playing with the big boys!

One of the 200 cards I made for a customer.  The girl is coloured in with pencils and decoupaged and stuck to a black oval frame. 

I covered the right hand side of the card with paper and covered the join with pink polka-dot ribbon.  Then two pink flowers and a green feather were added for decoration.

Gas Street Basin - BCN

 It's very busy tonight.  Must be half-term!

Made several baby cards today.  This is one.  I Cuttlebugged a white panel and edged it with blue ink and wrapped some blue polka-dot ribbon around it, tying the ends in a knot.

Actually, I don't usually wrap the ribbon around the panel, I tie the knot with the two ends of the ribbon and then measure it against the panel and cut the ribbon leaving a flap to go around the back; and then I glue the ends to the back of the panel to keep it secure.  This saves up to 4" ribbon for another project.

Anyway,  I stuck the peel-off baby hedgehog onto a white die-cut oval and then stuck that onto a blue scalloped oval and fixed it to the card with sticky fixers.  Then added the sentiment and three blue gems.

Gas Street Basin, BCN

Set off at 0700 (didn't want to go any earlier as we had two boats tied to us).





 This photo was taken last night.  When we went past this morning the boats were three abreast - all on the 1 hour service mooring - the visitor moorings on the other side were empty!









We soon caught up with another boat and followed it to Factory Locks.  The bottom pound was empty, the middle lock had the bottom gate wide open and the bottom lock had to top gate wide open.  So we set about sending water down so we could traverse the locks.  By the time we were in the middle lock there was another boat behind us.


The rest of the journey was uneventful and we arrived back at the moorings to discover that our lovely big, black glass table had been smashed.  It had been used and the umbrella had not been removed and when the wind caught it it broke the glass.  No one is taking responsibility.  In fact they all deny being there.  Be we know who they are!

A lovely trip and hope to repeat most of it next year.  We are now off to get a new table.

We are the cheeky girls....  Aren't they glam?
I matted the picture onto gold card and then onto patterned paper and more gold card.  This was then fixed to a white card blank and a gold bow added to the top left hand corner.

Wolverhampton, BCN

 Either it's a big dog or a horse has been this way - don't they know that towpaths are unsuitable for horses?

There was a smaller pile a bit further up, but we never saw a horse, or a big dog!

It took us 3 hours to do the 21.  All locks for us!  And the two that weren't had a boat coming down.  We were too early for bacon butties at lock 10.  Frustrating, as he was there and you could smell the bacon cooking, but the canopy was firmly shut!

We moored up at the top and I took the opportunity for a rest and some retail therapy.  Never miss the chance, though I was rather nackered and so treated myself to a lovely chocolate, cream and fruit torte in Patisserie Valerie in the town centre.  It was so good I bought two more for us to have for tea.

Later we were joined by members of the BCN Explorer Cruise.  There were boats everywhere.  Two rafted up to us and goodness knows how many on the waterpoint!!!

This card blank had a square cut out of it and a sentiment printed above it.  I just added the silk flower and a pink gem

Hunters Bridge 7, Shropshire Union

We were moored up under the Bridge pub by 0930, on moorings with a large ledge under the water.  Too deep for the fenders to work and too wide for the "wheel" fenders to be of any use and a long way from the bank.  So every time a boat went past or we walked along the boat we got a bump and getting on and off the boat (with short fat legs) was a chore. But we didn't intend spending the night there.

Caroline arrived with Ethan at lunchtime and it was another pub lunch.  Lucky me. In the month since we last saw him he has learned to crawl and got 3 teeth! 

The village was a picture in the sunshine and I fell in love with this building.  Almost makes me want to move on land if I could have a place like this.

After the guests left we moved on to here where we are within a stone's throw of the Wolverhampton 21 tomorrow.

An atmospheric picture of the lock onto the River Douglas at Tarleton.  The colours really matched the paper which I tore into shape and stuck onto the left hand side of a white card blank.

The picture was then matted onto white card, edged with deckle scissors and then matted onto lilac and gold card.  A photo corner was fixed to the top right and corner and a photo hinge to the bottom left hand corner.

I have fond memories of the Lancaster Canal.  We must do it again some time.

Stretton Aqueduct. Shropshire Union

 Another picture from just below Tyrley Locks.  Two "fishermen" made from the trunk of a tree.  Someone around here as a sense of humour.

We didn't go far today.  We are meeting up with Caroline and Ethan tomorrow in Brewood.

We moored up next to the boatyard and noticed a little butty called Montgomery but didn't twig it was the Jam Butty and we missed Andy where he came to pick it up.

The weather has been lovely, really hot and sunny.  Long may it last.

Another blokey card.  This one, maybe for the boy who has just passed his test, got a new car, or just started driving lessons.

I made a panel with yellow, corrugated card and wrapped some blue string around it and stuck it across a white card blank.  Then the boy panel was die cut and matted onto blue card (the right had side was cut off as the car finished there) and it was stuck onto the edge of the card.

Norbury Junction, Shropshire Union

We were taking on water in Middlewich at 0645, and I walked into town to Asda (which should open at 0700, but we were still waiting outside at 0715!) 

Coming down the Tyrley Flight we noticed lots of little shrine type things with toys in clefts of rock.  Whoever is doing it seems to be having fun, because the toys were all in different places on the way back.

We got to Norbury Junction for luchtime and had a pie in the Junction pub.

A card for Fathers' Day?  I matted the camera lense cover paper onto gold card and stuck it onto a white card blank.

The toppers were then added on top.

Bridge 66, Shropshire Union

 My we are flying.  Can't wait to get back to see the grandson!!

It was up and through Audlum before 0900, with a rude gesture when going past the wharf and a then a rest at the bottom of Adderley locks, before coming on to here.

Twenty locks today.  I'll sleep for a week.

Playing with embossing folders and ink and I came up with this.  I still can't get the colours completely even, but I'm not sure it matters too much.

The bottom white panel was edged using a Martha Stewart punch and the sentiment was done on the computer.  This was all then matted onto some dark blue card nad  blue ribbon wrapped around the join and tied in a knot.  Two pearls decorate the sentiment to finish it off.

Hack Green, Shropshire Union

 Don't know when or where we saw this boat, but I have no photo taken today.

We planned to stop at Barbridge.  Well, we did, but we didn't stop there for the night.  David moored on the junction so that I could catch the bus into Chester, but while I was away he decided it was too noisy.  So when I got back we set off again and reached Hack Green at 6pm.  It is so quiet there that you can't even get a signal for the internet!

I have been experimenting.  These pop up card boxes have been published everywhere.  So I had to have a go.

It's ingenious mechanism means the box can be pushed flat so it can be sent in the post.

I punched out lots of butterflies and attached them to thin strips of acetate and then stuck then into the panels in the box so they look like they are flying out of the box.

Hughes Bridge, Middlewich Branch, Shropshire Union

The middle lock in the Middlewich flight of 3.  Serious brickwork!

 Yet another early start, but no locks, so not for me.

We were at the Middlewich Junct by 0930 and managed all the locks with no moving boats in sight.  That ended after Maureen's Lock and it got busy.  So we moored up as soon as we could find some piling.

A cheeky girl!  The backing paper was matted onto gold card and stuck onto a white card blank.

A panel of contrasting paper was matted onto gold card and some ribbon wrapped around it and stuck down towards the bottom of the card.

The main panel was then matted onto gold card and added to the card.

Two feathers were then wrapped in a gold bow and stuck down with a pearl brad covering the bottom of them.

Anderton, Trent and Mersey Canal

Another early start, with David steering and me still in bed with a cup of tea! We stopped off at Midland Chandlers for stuff for the boat and were ready for Preston Brook Tunnel at 1030.  We stopped off at The Breach moorings - the seat is made from a large log.  Met a lovely Dutch lady who was single handing, and she bought 4 of my cards.

We then set off again to get through the two crooked tunnels and moored up round the corner from the boat lift for the rest of the day.

This card was made using papers.  I just cut the back to fit the card blank, leaving a narrow border all around.  Matted another piece of paper onto white card leaving a white border.

The tag was matted onto more white card and stuck onto the front of the card with a red polka dot bow.

 

Dunham Woodhouses, Bridgewater Canal

 What a beauty.

David was up and off by 0545.  I said in bed for a bit - No locks - not needed.

We moored up by the Trafford Centre (seems it is now called The Capital Centre - don't think that will stick).  Then we moved off to the Stretford Marina for a pumpout and diesel when it opened.

We reached Dunham at 1130 and spent the rest of the day there.

I think this flower arrangement was recycled from a card I received years ago.  I matted it onto white, silver and blue card and stuck it to the front of a white card blank.

Marsland Green Bridge, Bridgewater Canal

 We had to hang around for the guests on Periwinkle to have their breakfasts, and the weather was lovely.  Then on the dot at 0930 (leaving time) it started to rain!

Gill, John (a guest) and I did the locks between us and we were soon through Wigan and on the start of the long flat run to Middlewich.  

There was a hold up at Plank Lane, a previous boater had got his key stuck in the mechanism and so we had to wait until a couple of CRT men came to remove it and see us through the bridge.  Of course, they just took they key out of the lock!

Stopped off in Leigh for Aldi shopping and then with the heavens opened we stopped at the first available bit of green towpath with no houses.

This boat was moored on the landing for the swing bridge.  I'm not saying she is living there, but she has certainly made herself at home...

Doing the Henhurst Lock coming up stream:  (see blog for 24th April for pictures).

Walk along the towpath, under the road bridge and up the ramp until halfway along the lock, walk back to the bottom gate and unlock the vandal protection.  Wind the paddle up approx. 40 turns.

Walk back half way along the lock and turn to take the ramp to the top of the road bridge, walk away from the canal about 20 ft and onto the bridge.  Walk over the bridge and down the ramp the full length of the lock.  Walk back to the second bottom gate.  Unlock the vandal button, turn the handle 40 odd times and open the paddle.

Wait for the lock the empty.

Open the gate (using the large windlass!)  Lower the paddle (40 turns).  Walk to the end of the lock and back up the ramp, over the bridge, past the lock, back down the ramp half way along the lock and then back to the gate.  Open gate (using the large windlass!) and lower the paddle (40 turns).

Meanwhile the “man” has been doing the really hard work keeping the boat steady and then bringing it into the lock.

Close gate (using the large windlass), walk half way down the lock then back up the ramp, lover the bridge, down the ramp along the lock, back along the lock to the bottom gate and close the gate (using the large windlass).

Open ground paddle, walk back up the ramp, over the bridge, past the lock, back down the ramp along the lock and open the ground paddle.  Walk half way down the lock, up the ramp, over the bridge, down the ramp and open the gate paddle.  Wind the gate and ground paddles down.

Walk back up the ramp, over the bridge, back down the ramp and open the other gate paddle.

When the lock is full, open the gate.  Walk half way back down the lock, up the ramp, over the bridge, down the ramp and open the gate and wind the gate and ground paddles down.

Boat goes out.

Close the gate.  Walk up the ramp to the bridge, walk over the bridge, way past the lock, walk back and down the ramp to the top gate.  Close the gate.  Get on the boat.

Simples!!!!!

Actually, if we are on our own we only use one side of the lock (1 gate and 1  or 2 paddles), and if there are two crew with two boats then it’s not quite so bad.  But if your luck is out and you get a single hander who is backward in coming forward….

Three cards, one theme.  Weddings.  The hearts are die cut and the dresses Cuttlebugged.  They are then stuck to a white panel which is matted onto coloured card.  The grooms have bow ties and some have buttonholes and the brides beads.

Apperly Bridge, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

 We set off at 0545 and stopped in Burscough to drop off the rubbish and pick up some lovely bread and cakes from the bread shop by the moorings (it opened at 0730! And the smell of bread was intoxicating.)

The day boat on the mooring opposite has had an accident since we last came through.  Careless day boater, vandal or what?

 

We were in Parbold for 0945 and I took the opportunity to take a train into Bolton for the afternoon.  When I got back we left to catch up with Periwinkle so that we could do the rest of the double locks together.  We were too late for the first one, but moored up next to them in Apperly Bridge.

A sort of decopage type card.  I had to cut out all the clothese and stuff and then arrange them in the wardrobe and drawers.

This is the card with the doors closed...

... and this one with the doors open.

Coxhead Swing Bridge, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Noticed this boat on the way down.  Not too clear from the picture but it is called Koi Carpe Diem!

We had planned to share the locks with Periwinkle and set off with them behind, when a boat shot off like a cork out of a bottle and got to the lock first.

Of course, he was a single hander!  And one who was backward in coming forwards when helping out.  So, guess who did most of the work.

There were 5 boats coming out and we lost the last one after the Holmes Swing Bridge (the last one manned by CTR) then the 4^th one stopped for lunch, so it was just the three boats going through the swing bridges of Maghull.  You guessed it, Gill and I did all the swing bridges – even those with the mechanisms on the towpath side.

David mutinied after 8 hours so we tied up on the off side bridge mooring of Coxhead’s Swing Bridge as it is permanently kept open now and waived the other two boats on in the rain.

I found a whole lot of injured animals somewhere when I first started making cards, but can I find them now.  They would be really useful, if I could find them.

I just cut out the dog and used sticky fixers to glue him to some red card and printed card with "get well soon" printed on it.  Then it was matted onto some blue card and stuck to a white card blank.