Goldstone wharf to Market Drayton

Got down the Tyrley flight very easily. Wanted to shop in Market Drayton. In the event stayed there, on the 48 hour mooring just before the water point. Got gas for £29 from the chandlery opposite.

3.5 miles, 5 locks, 2.3 engine hours

High Onn Wharf to Goldstone wharf

Called in at Norbury for water. Their gas price was about £31, so we didn't buy. Then it was the long haul across the Shebdon embankment. Goldstone wharf comes at just the right time. Put the first coat of Goldspar varnish on the window frame. Worked nicely over the coats of marine varnish to give a satin finish.

15.3 miles, 0 locks, 5.2 engine hours

Wheaton Aston to High Onn Wharf

Wanted gas from Turner's, but it proved really hard to reverse to their wharf from our mooring without hitting someone. So we pushed on, thinking we could always get it on the return journey. Main item today was fitting the window, which meant having the towpath on the right-hand side. Moored at High Onn, just before the towpath switches sides – new to us but a very mice mooring.

Spent the afternoon fitting the window, with all the nervousness that entailed. Thought it was a good idea to put a bead of Sikaflex along the top edge before tightening, but in the event that used far too much, and resulted in a lot of mess. Next time, probably put on a bead before fitting.

2.8 miles, 0 locks, 1.1 engine hours

Shroppie Bridge 7/8 to Wheaton Aston

Cloudy day, no rain. Came to Wheaton Aston for fuel and water, and hopefully to fit the window. Stopped off for shopping in Brewood, had a coffee in the Bistro (don't ever order a flat white there again) and bought two ham salad subs from the bakery. At WA we queued for an hour for the lock, and then got dog dirt on trainers while re-fuelling, which necessitated a walk back to the water-point for cleaning. By the time we'd tied up on the 48 hour moorings opposite Turner's, we didn't feel like working.

56.3 litres of diesel.

5 miles, 1 lock, 4.3 engine hours

Shroppie Bridge 7/8

Occasional very light shower, but generally dry enough to work on the window. Enlarged the screw holes on the right-hand side of the frame to match the holes in the cabin-side. Re-tapped the hole for one of the screws holding the top-right mitre together. Fitted an M4 machine screw and assembled the mitre with epoxy glue to seal and support. Leaving overnight. Will need to do a final test for fit tomorrow, but not expecting any problem.

SG reading 77% late afternoon so no need to run the engine.

Shroppie Bridge 7/8

Rain and wind made outside work on the window impossible. Attempted to clean off old silicone from the frame.

Used the Webasto a fair bit, so ran the engine in the evening to cover the battery drain, since the solar panel had been giving very little.

2 hours engine.

Shroppie Bridge 7/8

Sunshine and showers, making it tricky to do further work on the window. Took it out, to see how much I could repair. Tapped two angle screw-holes to replace two loose self-tapping screws with M4 machine screws. Also tried to glue the two top corners. The one with the new screws seems OK, but the other is probably not.

Didn't need to run the engine at all.

Pendeford to Shroppie Bridge 7/8

Went down to Oxley Marine at 9 a.m. to get them to sort the window machine screw hole which had been drilled out too far. They said it was now ready for tapping with M5 tap, and that this was the best solution, so we went ahead. Then they went around the window inserting all the other screws, with difficulty because of the alignment issues. Orph talked about fixing the window in place there and then with the sealant they use, but that felt rushed to me. I'll run the risk of fixing it myself.

Tied up at our normal mooring between Bridges 7 and 8 on the Shroppie. Had to cope with some really heavy showers and strong winds. It blew me on to the bows of a small boat as we were coming in. I apologised but she wasn't very receptive.

New batteries seem to be working really well.

4.5 miles, 0 locks, 2 engine hours

Penkridge to Pendeford

Found a lot of bird dirt on the roof in the morning. Nice timing on a lot of the locks with boats coming the other way. Were fortunate to get away just ahead of a rather fussy boat coming up Filance Lock. Got a pump out from JD at Gailey. No rinse, but blue was included in the £18. Then filled the water tank and cleaned the roof with the hose. Uneventful run through to Pendeford, though had to pass an oncoming boat in the narrows. Tied up just after Marsh Lane Bridge as usual – no company.

9.3 miles, 5 locks, 5 engine hours.

Tixall Bridge to Penkridge

Straightforward journey, though rather long. Tied up above Filance lock.

8.6 miles, 6 locks, 4.5 engine hours

GH marina to Tixall Bridge

Picked up contact lenses from the PO late morning, so set out after lunch. Mooring just before Tixall Bridge turned out to be a bit noisy, especially with goods trains in addition to the car horns on the bridge.

2.2 miles, 1 lock, 0.9 engine hours

Roseford Lock to GH marina

Stopped for lunch at Tixall Wide on the way home.

6.5 miles, 2 locks, 3.5 engine hours

Roseford Bridge to Penkridge and back

Iain took the helm most of the time. Winded above the first lock in Penkridge. Local lady did not like Iain coming along to hold the bows while I winded, but necessary because of the wind.

8 mile, 8 locks, 5 engine hours

GH marina to Roseford Bridge

Iain and Glenys White joined us for a couple of nights. Picked them up at Stafford and set out in the afternoon.

6.5 miles, 2 locks, 3 engine hours

Early summer 2018

4th May: De-winterised and fitted new XD31 engine battery

17th May:  Fitted 4 XD31 domestic batteries

28th June:  Keith Wilson mended the velcro on the canopy

July and early August: Started painting, using Tixall Wide for anything exterior: Front paint locker, framework under cruiser stern boards, well-deck surround; gunwale