Gas Street Moorings, Worcester and Birmingham Canal

Sorry for going quiet for so long. When we got back to our moorings in Birmingham we had some disturbing news that another company wants our mooring for themselves so we were pretty much on a downer.

But things seem to be looking up now so I will fill in some of the gaps since last posting.





Hatton Flight was fairly smooth, we did not meet a boat coming down until the 5th lock from the top, and then there was a boat in each lock coming down. We spent the night at the visitor moorings at Weston Hall. Couldn't get the boat parallel to the mooring as the water was so low.












Then it was on the the Stratford Canal, a pumpout at the junction and then up the Lapworth Flight. I know I keep going on about it, but the owners of this ex-lock cottage really do not want you to use their side of the canal do they.

Just around the corner we passed Granny Buttons, so I knocked on the door to say hello.

We spent the night just past Hockley Heath when Graham went past with two boat loads of Girl Guides. He managed to hit us again!



On the last day we stopped at Lyons Boatyard for diesel and I also bought some new mooring ropes, nice silky black ones to replace the hard blue ones we are using now.

Sarah was back at work and bought another batch of canal cards from me.

And then it was up to Kings Norton Junction. The damage to the bridge shows how difficult this turn seems to be.



At Selley Oak we had to wait while the man working the lift bridge went to the toilet.

And so we we back on our mooring by mid-day and the big adventure for 2010 was over.








Since we have been back I have joined the gym in the Hyatt Hotel and been swimming every day. Started a diet (and kept to it for 4 weeks so far!) and been on a Crafting Retreat to learn how to use by Black Cat Cougar Cutter.

We have had lots of traumas and setbacks. David's expensive Stressless chair broke again and we had to buy a new one (not a Stressless this time). The condenser in the washing machine/drier packed up and we are waiting for that to be fixed. The rug we took to the cleaners is suddenly not coloursafe and may run and the chimney has started leaking. Still, the boat is gradually getting put right.




Three cards to show you today.

This one is a bear topper which was free with a magazine. I stuck it onto a piece of card with sticky fixers and matted it onto white card which had been cut with deckle edged scisssors.

A green velvet ribbon was tied around the bottom of the yellow card blank to finish it off.
















On this one I used some clipart which I mated onto white, light blue and black card. I printed out the sentiment on the computer and matted that in the same way as the picture.












And finally, a Haloween Card (well it's not thar far off). A black base card with a strip of orange deckle edged card across the bottom half of the card and a very narrow strip of orange card along the bottom.

A yellow wooden star is stuck to the top right hand corner and a decopaged pumpkin is stuck to the bottom of the card between the orange strips.

Warwick, Grand Union Canal

Picture to be uploaded later

A long run today and 20 odd locks. I seem to be living in a constant haze. Up at 5, lots of locks, sleep all afternoon.

Today we passed Sara from Lyons Boatyard on her way down to a music festival and then Mike who used to moor in Sherborne Wharf when we did. We really are getting near to home.



A pretty photo of boats in the early morning on the Bridgewater Canal. I matted it onto silver card.

Then I Cuttlebugged some white card and matted that onto silver card and stuck it down onto a blue card blank over the bottom 2/3 of the card. The photo was then stuck down over it on the top half of the card. A white silk flower with a blue brad centre was then stuck to the bottom right hand corner of the photograph.

Tomlow Bridge, Grand Union Canal

We were off again before 5am, passing a really low pound, and thenWanderin' Bark in the next full pound.

New balance beams on one of the gates on the Napton flight.

Then it was on to Napton Junction and onto the Grand Union and through the three Calcutt locks.

Just before we moored up Wendy and Peter Hook passed us by going in the opposite direction. The Graham from Gas Street went past with two of his boats full of Girl Guides. Must be getting near home.

A simple card using a peeloff which I matted onto some blue card and cut around leaving a wide-ish border. Two strips of blue and white spotted ribbon were wrapped around the card and the bottom one tied in a knot.

Knotts Bridge, Oxford Canal

I know the "Veg Pledge" has gone to the dogs. But how are BW's walking and cycling customers going to traverse the towpath?

Sunrise on the Oxford. An early start to get through Cropredy before everyone got up. Heard there was a 3 hour wait for the lock yesterday.

David managed to drop his windlass in a lock but managed to retrieve it with the Seasearcher.

A face we knew went past, going south, Vic who is now working for Land and Water was on his way to Oxford with his push-me-pull-you and a skip.

Then we were moored up in the sunshine by 1030 and I went back to bed for a sleep.

Here is a pretty green card. I stuck some ribbon down the right hand side and added the bought topper which I matted onto some silver, green and lime green card. An "Anitas" butterfly (with wings that flutter) was stuck to the top of the panel and a flower to the bottom right hand corner.

Bourton Lock, Oxford Canal

Starting them young.

Up and off early and waiting outside Morrisons at Banbury for them to open at 0800. The up through Banbury (there were actually moorings free!).

Then the rain started, so we moored up at the end of the lock landing.

Lots and lots of boats and reports of waiting 3 hours for the lock at Cropredey and chaos in Banbury. Thought this was supposed to be a tranquil life.

Started with a green base card. I stuck the sticker onto some white card and cut it out leaving a border. I then matted it onto blue, orange, red, blue and gold card before fixing it to the card.

Haddons Lift Bridge, Oxford Canal

River on the right and weir on the left. Safe moorings before the bridge.



Well, they were Australian!

The plan was to stop when we got to NB Acres and the pig farm. But when we got there there were no moorings left. So we backed up and moored on the pilings.

The canal is really busy. Lots of boats and a long wait to get through Nell Bridge Lock - three boats in front and 4 coming down.

Another photograph of boats. I love being able to chose the colours of the card from the boat liveries.

This one began with a green base card. I matted the photo with silver, blue and more silver card and stuck some blue twill tape across the bottom quarter of the card, stick the photo over with sticky fixers. The three blue gems were then added to the top right hand corner. They don't look wonky in real life!

Lower Heyford, Oxford Canal

Found yet another loose boat. It was an old one with a big high bow and the bank was horrid, so sorry, but we left it hanging by a thread from the stern rope. I'm not falling in the cut because someone can't secure their boat properly before they leave it.

Thrupp, as usual was very busy. We have not tried to moor up here overnight for several years. The good news is that the bridge is now electrified and it was working. Having been reading Maffy's blog recently it seems to be very hit and miss.

We came across the usual problems today, low pound, tree stuck through lock gate needing to be sawn off, idiot boaters. It was with relief that we moored up in Lower Heyford for the rest of the day.

Boats on the Oxford canal. The picture was matted onto silver, yellow and blue card.

I Cuttlebugged the red card and matted that onto blue card then wrapped some blue and white stripy ribbon around the bottom before sticking it onto a white base card. The photograph was then added with sticky fixers.