The Elephant in the Room

We all know it's there but we choose not to talk about it. Cancer.
As Pretty Officer Sue and I return to our aquatic adventure it is with the sad knowledge that a good friend, and avid reader of this blog, has succumbed to the dreaded big 'C'.
Chris Pickering died last Monday at 4.00 pm.
Chris was a kind genourous man, loving husband to Ann and father to Charlotte and James,and a very dear friend to many, of which I am honoured to include myself.
Chris's conduct throughout was a great lesson to us all. Up to the very end he showed dignity and fortitude, never complaining about the unfairness of it all, but accepting it and making the very best out of an awful situation.
Along with his wicked sense of humour we will never forget Chris's love of rugby nor his dislike of soccer. I am sure it is no coincedence that the funeral clashes with the opening match in South Africa. Looks like he has the last laugh!
Chris, it was a real pleasure knowing you and may you rest in peace in that great marina in the sky.

Interlude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ4-hDKorQE&feature=related

There will now be a short Interlude whilst we visit our family and friends at home. The boat is nicely tucked up in a marina somewhere near Wales. I cannot be more specific in case there is some ne'er-do-well who might, useing the oppurtunity of a unattended boat, break in  and consume my last bottle of Champagne.

Canal Signs No 31

Maybe later

Cap'n Ed and Pretty Officer Sue go on the Steam Train (with apologies to the TOGS)

Today Cap'n Ed and Pretty Officer Sue go on the Llangollen Steam railway.
Do you like steam trains? Cap'n Ed does. See him skip down the road in his Armani overalls, Hermes red scarf and leather cap.
"I am going to do some last minute shopping " says PSO "You can stay here and look at the steam engine. Don't go wandering off. I won't be long"
Cap'n Ed is wandering around the station picking up old train tickets when he bumps into Mrs Bigadyke, the volunteer helper and footplate woman for the Llangollen Steam Railway.
"Hello Mrs Bigadyke" says Cap'n Ed
"Hello Cap'n Ed" says Mrs Bigadyke "are you going for a steam train ride today?"
"Yeth" says Cap'n Ed
"I am chief stoker today.Would you like to ride in the front engine with me. You could help me" says Mrs Bigadyke
"Oooh yeth please" says Cap'n Ed
"Well it's very hot work and I am going to buy an ice cream from the buffet before the signal changes and we have to go." says Mrs Bigadyke "would you like one"
"Oh no thank you Mrs Bigadyke. PSO says I am not allowed ice cream" says Cap'n Ed
"Well you can share some of mine if you are good and I'll not tell her" says Mrs Bigadyke

POS returns from the shops and Cap'n Ed can't wait to tell her he is going to travel in the front of the train.

"Well if that's the case I shall carry on with my shopping and see you when the train gets back" says POS

Cap'n ED joins Mrs Bigadyke on the foot plate.

"When the signal arm goes down we will sound both whistles and be on our way" says Mrs Bigadyke, "I might let you do that if, when we are short of steam, you help me put some coal into the boiler."
"Oh yeth Mrs Bigadyke, I will help with coal, that will be great fun, especially if I get to blow the whistles" says Cap'n Ed.
They had a wonderful time.

When they got back POS asked Cap'n Ed whether he had enjoyed himself.
"Oh yeth Pretty Officer Sue, I had a splendid time. Once Mrs Bigadyke gave me the all clear  I helped her get a good head up by putting a knob or two into her furnace. After that, as I had done so well, she let me play with her hooters and then, as a special extra treat, gave me a lick of her raspberry ripple.

Have you ever been hit with a coalman's shovel? Cap'n Ed has. Ouch! Poor Cap'n Ed

Wales

Tonight we are moored at Trevor or Trevzie as I expect it is known locally. In itself not a particularily famous place but it is the basin you land up in if you don't turn left at the end of the aquaduct. Which nicely links to the Aquaduct itself Anything about it's wonderment you may have heard is true and then some. It is not possible to tip the boat over the edge but neverless I clung to that tiller like it was a matter of life and death. I have to say I probably wouldn't do it again other than I have got to ( unless I want to leave the boat in Wales). I think not. I did see a couple of people wearing lifejackets. Why? Parachutes maybe.

Tilly gets her sea legs

After mooring up yesterday at the Jack Mytton near Ellesmere we put Tilly ashore as we usually do. Only this to
time she decided to charge up and down the towpath with the spirit of a racing greyhound. Then she did something she had never done before and that was to jump back on to the boat. The only problem was, much to the delight family on board, it was the wrong boat! She rushed below like some pirate raiding party and reemerged with the trophy of a pink bunny slipper in her mouth and shrieks of laughter from a six year old girl The girl was convinced Daddy had bought her a surprise puppy. Anyway one word from me and Tilly does exactly what she wants so attempts to catch her were futile. It required the authorative voice of POS to bring the situation under control. Nobody disobeys POS!

The Llangollen Canal

The Llangollen Canal or more technically the Shropshire Union Llangollen Branch is quite the most enchanting canal we've seen so far. It has already been full of delightful surprises and we haven't got to the "Big One" yet. Bring it on!!

Staircase Locks - I shall say zis only once!

When going down a staircase of 3 locks assuming they are all empty, fill the top lock by opening the paddles on the top gates. While the top lock is filling open the top gates of the middle lock or the bottom gates of the top lock and start to fill the middle lock to the marker. When the middle lock is half full or half empty depending on what sort of person you are, close the top paddles of middle lock or the bottom paddles of the top lock. Continue to fill top lock. When full, open gates and bring boat into top lock. Close gates. Open bottom top paddles or top middle paddles until levels in top and middle locks are the same. Open top bottom gates or middle top gates and move boat into middle lock. Close middle top gates or bottom top gates. Close top middle or top bottom paddles. Open bottom middle or top bottom paddles and fill bottom lock. When levels are the same in both the middle and bottom locks open the bottom middle gates or the bottom top gates and move boat into bottom lock. Close bottom middle or top bottom gates. Open bottom paddles and empty bottom lock. When level is th same as the external canal open bottom bottom gates and leave lock remembering to close bottom bottom gates after you have left. Got that?
Going up is even easier. make sure the top lock is full, the middle lock is full and the bottom lock is empty. Then go and find the very amiable lock- keeper!

The Anderton Lift - Answer

The clue was in the shape of the gear teeth. They were made by Monsieur Citroen (before his company later went on to build that car with the power of two horses and was capable of transporting farmers around their farms whilst still wearing a top hat. Although why or should I say " pourquoi" they would want to wear a top hat when farming has always confused me. The teeth design went on to become the Citroen motif

The Anderton Lift - interesting fact No 537

The cassions, the fancy french word for the thing I called the bath tubs, are raised and lowered by means of two £2 million pound Teflon coated rams. Using hydrolics, they can be operated independantly, but more economically they can be operated together each using the other as a cointerbalance. Originally before the use of hyrdolics, the lift worked by using large weights, gears and again counterbalance. I have attached a picture of one of the original gears. The year was the late 1800s. Can you guess who designed the gears? Answers tomorrow. Clue: the answer is in the picture.

Anderton Boat Lift ( or in our case lower)

GeoTagged, [N53.38184, E2.47741]

Yesterday we were promised rain in bucket loads by lunchtime so as it was sunny at 10 we decided to make an early start. I know what you're thinkng, 10 an early start? Well it is if you have dogs to walk and food shopping in the Spa to do. Man cannot live on love alone. Love Hearts maybe.

Anyway, we cautiosly left our Cheshire restaurant extravaganza food village in glorious sunshine wondering how long before the forecasted deluge would arrive. It stayed sunny ALL day. At one point we were a drive and a seven iron ( or, in my case at my standard of golf, four drivers (and maybe even an accidental kick if no one is watching) from the Manchester Ship Canal although we couldn't quite see it. We did 3 kinky tunnels (i.e.a tunnel with at least one bend sometimes more, in it so you cannot see the other end) of between a third and three quaters of a mile each and one lock. Quite an exciting day but not as exciting as today I hope.

Today we put Weyward Lady into a 70ft by 7ft steel bath and lower her 50ft down into the River Weaver. Why? Because we can.