Saturday

A partial crew change day and a weekend off for George who had already driven the boats from Burton. Early morning cleaning of the boats and then a pleasant day ensued with 'President’ gently in steam surrounded by lots of working boats – it looked like Hawkesbury on a Bank Holiday - and lots of interest from the large numbers of people attending the festival.

We were blessed with perfect weather for the whole day and entertained with a variety of acrobatic flights including a pair of aircraft with people strapped to the wings!. We considered something similar for 'President’ to raise money but decided that being strapped to the chimney wasn't quite the same!. The day was concluded with a meal for all at the Rising Sun in the village.

Sunday

Once again a perfect day dawned and again lots of visitors from the now huge crowd – rumour has it that there were 4 mile queues on all approaches to the site during the day.

We all had plenty of time to make staggered visits to the showground and railway. Lots of tea was drunk together with cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off – yeah right!.

One thing we had to do today was keep moving the chairs under the shade as the sun was so strong!. After the show Nigel, Maurice and Ann left, and as Ron and Judy and John weren't arriving until Monday there were only 3 on board that night, so for a change we went for a meal at the Rising Sun!.

Monday

The morning was passed with a leisurely breakfast and cleaning the boats ready for an early afternoon start back and an urgent appointment with a 13amp socket as we were on our last battery in 'Kildare’ and an even more urgent appointment with the sanitary station - more of that later - at Ashby Boat Co. at Stoke Golding. We had also used up a gas cylinder and needed a new one, George also needed some more cylinder or steam oil – the debate over which it should be called had raged all weekend!. Dave Stott was going to meet Judy at the museum after shunting cars and bring both her and the oil to Stoke Golding.

Ron and Judy duly arrived at about lunchtime with a car full of goodies and the news that John Logie wouldn't be joining us as he had hurt his back – never mind, we chortled, we can still have an easy week with 5 crew even though we really need to be back at the museum by Friday night as there were hardly any trains running that weekend!. We unloaded the car and borrowed a shopping trolley from someone's boat who we didn't know too well to assist in the operation – returning the trolley afterwards needless to say.

All was ready and after collecting some coal we had had bequeathed to us from the aqueduct we gently slipped away at 2 o clock for a gentle afternoons cruise to Stoke Golding - about 3 – 4 hours or so we thought – 'President’ had other ideas!. She seemed to have developed an affinity to mud and at the slightest provocation such as swimming round any bend on the outside just where the channel – what channel!. – should be she hurled herself securely on the mud. Not to be left out 'Kildare’ then promptly used her cross straps to lift 'President’s’ rudder and drop it with a resounding clang. It eventually went back in and forward progress was again achieved until the next corner!.

Eventually Dave and Judy arrived after having walked some distance to meet us and oil and crew were delivered followed by yet another mud break. It was approaching dusk when Nigel and Stoke Golding hove into view and the boats were snugged down on the wharf at about 7.30. A flurry of activity ensued in the failing daylight and I was passing the very full loo bottom up through 'Kildare’s’ front hatch when that nice man Mr. Hopkins offered to take it from me and promptly pulled the emptying spout off causing a multicoloured cascade to descend through the hatch and liberally cover yours truly!. Ah well the joys of boating – at least I got first use of the shower!.

Tuesday

A cloudy start saw us leaving at 8.10 with the aim of reaching Atherstone for this evening – boats permitting. It was a good mornings cruise with only a couple of mud excursions and fortified with Judy's egg and bacon Pitta Breads. It was marred only by one incident again caused by that nice Mr. Hopkins who was making steam so freely that 'President’ blew off – primed somewhat and then covered yours truly who was steering at the time with large quantities of somewhat dubious coloured very hot boiler water!. – At least the perfume was an improvement on last night!.

That apart we made good time and turned onto the Coventry in fine style needing only a touch of reverse to get both boats round – unlike the following boat who didn't bother to turn at all and just ran up the bank opposite the Junction!. 'Kildare’s’ cross straps were giving grief all morning as the one thing they refused to do was to stay crossed!. Eventually Ron shortened the long one by tying a knot in it which then prompted a debate which rumbled on an off all week about whether it was possible to calculate easily how much a rope was shortened by tying a knot in it or not if you see – anyway we decided that the short strap needed shortening by half a knot and as we didn't know how to tie half a knot we didn't bother so the net result was that the damn straps still won't stay crossed!.

It was at this point that 'President’ gave one especially loud chuff and promptly stopped – we had a bladeful. Fortunately there was a good edge and we could actually get on and off 'President’ without resorting to long jump heats. A good furtle around with the hook revealed something soft but solid where the prop should be. Eventually Ron got a good purchase and together we won a complete undamaged car tyre but it didn't fit our cars so we hid it in the hedge!. Lunch was had on the move and Atherstone top lock hove into view at about 16.30. Originally we were going to stop there but it was a good job we had changed our plans as the moorings were full.

After a brief wait and coffee break we set of down with George and Keith taking 'President’ and Ron, Judy and myself working the butty. It was at this point that we realized that 5 crew is one too few and myself and Ron alternated in being a horse and charging up and down the locks like a demented bumble bee. We did the first five locks in this fashion and then decided that 'President’ could tow between the locks as they were becoming more spread out and anyway we were knackered!. Whilst stopped at the A5 crossing to hook the butty up a boat passed going the other way riding a huge wave, when asked to slow down a little by Judy we were told that you should tie up boats when stopped not hold them!.

We then worked down a further four before mooring up near Whitely Bridge at 7 ish only to walk back up 4 to get to the Kings Head for a pleasant meal and some well deserved ale and be entertained by many of Keith's outrageous tales.

Wednesday

Again the day started fine dry and warm and continued in this fashion all day – pleasure boating weather at its best – all we need are pleasure boats. Going down the last 2 locks the resident keeper, whilst busily cutting grass was telling us about the boat rage incident from the previous day at Polesworth when a boater had had a shotgun pulled on him after asking a passing boat to slow down!.!. – Judy take note.

A pleasant mornings cruise further sustained with egg and bacon Pitta Breads brought us to Glascote 2 at Tamworth and a shortish delay at the top due to traffic, having had to explain to a supposed passing boater that queues at locks actually included him. Once clear of the locks lunch was declared alfresco and it was while this was being prepared that our next disaster befell us or more precisely Keith who had a call informing him that his cottage had been vandalized which left him no choice but to leave us at Fazeley.

Somewhat subdued we left and said our farewells once arriving at Fazeley which took some time as the boats didn't want to make the turn onto the Birmingham and Fazeley – now we know why!. Once we made a deal with the boats and got them round the turn we set off like a train – good deep water nice clean wash and confident exhaust beat. Curdworth bottom lock appeared after what seemed like no time - 4 handed boating is easy!. It is until you actually need to do something like work through locks. The idea was to do 2 then moor up at the Dog and Doublet because that's where the pub is says me confidently – no its not!. It's above the third lock, a further third of a mile and the very first signs of resistance to our passage appear, the bottom gate won't open fully and 'President’ gets stuck half way in eventually getting in six inches at a time. Plenty of moorings however so George tootles off to moor up while we bring the butty through.

Refilling the lock of course drops the pound a bit so 'President’ gets stuck. We run water down and she refloats then another boat comes up and it all happens again. All in all it took an hour to moor up then Judy got the first degree in the pub for having the temerity to actually order some beer!. Despite this further ale was consumed later on.

Thursday

"Today should be an easier day" Ron said "because we've got help up the locks this morning and possibly again this afternoon for Aston". Armed with this we set off at the somewhat late time of 08.45 and sure enough lots of help appeared by lock 7 in the form of Pat and Brian Empsall with two friends and Harry the dog and we fairly flew up the remainder of the flight, mooring after the tunnel for a quick lunch stop and Judy needed to stock up with a few bits. New deep moorings have been made here but they seem to have moved the village as Judy came back empty handed after wandering around a variety of scrapyards and derelict factories!.

Onwards after lunch with crew bristling from all openings and Harry the dog trying to drown out 'President’s’ exhaust beat!. Minworth bottom lock passes and then the fun starts!. We come to a fairly gentle stop under Forge Lane Bridge after a couple of bumps on the bottom. After about an hours pushing and shoving and pulling and cursing and shunting 'President’ finally emerges and approaches Minworth middle lock and stops dead with the bows just in the lock. We try the six inch at a time technique combined with judicial flushes at the appropriate time and about 45mins later we get the gate closed and are able to fill the lock. By now it is about 3.30pm and all thoughts of Aston tonight have faded. Ron's original plan was to reach Tyburn tonight so that will be OK won't it?. No it ruddy won't be as Hansons Bridge decided to have a say in the matter and by 4 pm we were well and truly stuck. There wasn't anything our helpers could sensibly do so they went off to rescue their car.

A call to BW ensued and by 6.30pm assistance had arrived and much various rubbish was removed from the bridge hole and passage was eventually achieved. The BW lads stayed with us through the top lock and ensured we finally got moored up safely just above the flight at 8.30pm. Needless to say we stayed in!.

Friday - The Day from Hell

It started well enough, it wasn't raining yet, we got the loo emptied without drowning anyone in effluent and got rid of the rubbish, and 'President’ had come into steam easily and was raring to go. It was only when we had the audacity to actually move that it all fell apart!. Leaving the mooring at 8.10 we got under Tyburn Bridge OK and headed confidently towards Birmingham - twenty minutes later at 8.30 we came to a shuddering stop not quite under a little insignificant accommodation bridge called Berwood Bridge. The butty was dropped off and moored up - it would be six hours before the boats were reunited!. Shunting and rocking came to no avail and it had started raining!. Neil Ratcliffe was coming to assist us up Aston and Farmers Bridge and he had parked at the top - it is 5 miles and 24 locks to the Birmingham level from Berwood and Neil walked down to us.

Meanwhile it had got serious as the Tirfor was out which had managed to drag 'President’ into the bridge hole but not through it – it wouldn't come out either. Various passing boats were used to pull, persuade and cajole 'President’ out eventually – we could tell she wasn't happy – she got stuck alongside 'Kildare’ now and didn't want to move at all. Once again BW were summoned and after a short delay three lads had arrived and we all began heaving rubbish out in earnest which went on for several hours – see website pics. Judy went to KFC for lunch and as she reappeared we had another go at the bridge – success!.!. – The butty was pulled through and we were off, leaving Neil with a lift with the BW lads back to his car.

Each bridge hole was approached with trepidation but all was O.K. The KFC was good and it had stopped raining and finally Salford Junction hove into sight. Aston bottom lock finally appeared at about 4pm and we dropped 'Kildare’ off and 'President’ came to a complete stop about 100yds from the lock in the channel unshipping her rudder as a little extra!. – again the six inch at a time technique was used and about an hour later the bows were in the lock tail and that was it!.

Flush and push didn't really do much so it was out with the Tirfor again and we had to drag 'President’ all the way in pulling from the mast as a bow pull just sat the back on the rubbish. Eventually she was in - 6.30 – hurrah!. Not quite because now the ****** gate wouldn't close past half way and then it wouldn't open again either!.!.!. Time to call out BW again. Whilst waiting we got out a large shopping trolley and a go cart just for fun.

BW turned up in record time and together we won lots of bits and pieces including half a radio – a big radio. Finally the gate shut and we could fill the lock - 7.30. Now we could put the rudder back in!. Trouble was the next pound had come down by a foot due to the flushing and 'President’ wouldn't come out – she also seemed to have lots of rubbish stuck to her bottom. Run water down!. was the cry so we did and emptied the next pound nearly – BW to the rescue - they had the pumps put on somewhere and slowly water appeared. 'President’ finally came out and proceeded up the next pound in a manner similar to being on the Big One at Blackpool. Lock 10 was reached by 8.30pm and it was dark and the game starts as before – wouldn't go in and then wouldn't come out. Eventually we get both boats past lock 9 where the BW lads said it was safe to moor and navigating by torchlight we finally tied up at 10pm and guess what?. It threw it down at quarter to ten – a perfect end to a wonderful day. Just before passing out that evening we wondered is this a record for a ‘ President’ day – 4 miles, 3 locks 14 hours??.

Saturday

Nowt can go wrong today can it not?. We've got lots of help up the flight with Pat and Brian and friends and Harry the dog as well as Neil and Bob Jervis and true enough we flew up the locks only taking 4 hours to get to the top of Farmers Bridge where an extended lunch was taken and a fill it up and empty it out procedure was undertaken during which time Ron managed to make the sanitary station explode and regurgitate the contents of the porta potti all over the floor!. What is it with us and toilets?. That nice Mr. Hopkins set my hat on fire after it blew off into the canal. Just a normal lunch really. The last leg back to the museum started soon after 2.30pm – should be back by 8 easily we said. The main line was a bit down but we were going well until the first narrows appeared – we stopped – you know the routine by now – it took 45 mins. Under the railway bridge – 30 mins and so it went on, the worst being Bromford Junction narrows where even the butty got stuck briefly. Factory locks (8pm) for a change were fine and we went round the turn into the old main just a treat but then got stuck twice before the museum turn – my fault – it was dark and I couldn't see where I was going. Arrived outside the museum at 9 by torchlight and the heavens opened and it was WET. After an hour hauling the boats about and winding the bridge up and then back down and getting ratty we gave up and moored outside

Sunday

We managed fine today!. Poled the boats into the arm and spent a couple of hours cleaning them up and then we went home after fish and chips of course!.

Dave Speer