Saturday - We all met up at the Plough after Jake gave us a foretaste of his Navigating skills by leading two car loads of the guys on a guided tour of Etruria rather than going straight to the pub. Joe, Steve and Cat, having been delayed because they went by train and taxi, fell victim of the early closing policy and were locked out. Jake and Dude’s meal gave everyone a boost when they saw it, an even bigger one when they tasted it. They pointed out to their detractors that at least it came with an healthy option, frying pan fried sausages instead of the run of the mill uncooked sausages. As both options were served without gravy (the very healthy option) it became odds on favourite for worst meal of the week. Les decided to get some Academy points in by his continuous whinging about the bed arrangements in the non-cooking boat’s steerage class. The evening stop was in Milton, where the Millrace, a Burtonwood pub, had no real beer despite loads of people asking for it. We were directed down the road to the Miners Arms, which offered Bombardier and Bass. Les being a refugee asked if they had any old clothing for him or his family and ended up with a very smart Miners Arms sleeveless shirt.
Sunday. Very hot. More fried sausages for breakfast have Dude and Jake a secret agenda? Lunchtime’s stop is the Hollybush at Denford. We sat outside and our spirits improved even more when Steve was unable to order lunch because the kitchen was too busy and his frustration incites him to get the other table to drink Colin’s beer. We are served Lancashire Hotpot cooked by Iain and Colin. Evening at the Black Lion at Consall Forge where we had two quizzes, both tied. Iain makes statement “You might have heard me say it – but I didn’t mean it.” Dave Gee type barmaid in evidence
Monday - Another sunny day. Both boat crews miss the sign at the lock stating the all boats over 65 ft should turn here and cruise on towards the end of the canal. Cat, the two Johns, Ron climb a mountain to go shopping. The others find the pub closed lunchtimes, so then a debate starts on whether we should go through the tunnel to turn round or drive backwards to the lock to turn round. After taking the safer option Doc takes his post up as Pole Master and Ron does a similar job on the other boat by getting on his bunk for 40 winks, but not before hanging out his undies though his cabin window. (Was this the nautical signal for reversing)? When the boats stop and moor up JOC mistakenly thought it was a pub halt and woke Ron up, who sprang to life, grabbed his rucksack and was on the towpath in seconds only to find a Navigator First in progress, a mooring stop for a tea break suggested by Doc, due to his arduous duties. The first boat manages to get to the Black Lion for a couple of pints but Cat who was assisting the other boat missed out despite abandoning them near to the watering hole. Denford and a quiz in the evening.
Tuesday - Non-Cooking boat runs out of water. John Hines nearly steps on a snake. Drove ages to get to the lunchtime stop which because of the canal layouts was about 100 yards from the point we stopped the previous evening. Iain get complimented on his driving at the junction. Lunch Tom suggests a stroll to the reservoir to Les and RonB. They don’t make it, giving up after only 4½ miles. On the way to Leek Joe tries a 360-degree turn in a wide lagoon and runs aground. Evening in Leek for the best pub and beer (Whim ales at the Wilkes Head) and Dude saves the day when Jake and Cat were lost on the way home.a couple of pints but Cat who was assisting the other boat missed out despite abandoning them near to the watering hole. JOC and Tom served pies, which after Saturday’s effort received no complaints, just grateful thanks that the food was cooked. In the evening we go to the Hollybush again and later at night we are treated to the sight of a ‘blacked up’ refugee bringing in his bedding and trying to collect money from the drinkers. Colin sniffs out that there’s afters correctly
Wednesday -Cold, toilets blocked due to no water, Joe uses a bucket to use canal water to flush toilets, and then uses bin liner when he finds there was a hole in the bucket. The bin liner leaked as well. Steve repeated the process and got soaked as a result. Dead fox spotted on towpath. The lunchtime pub proudly boasts St Austell as a guest beer but the landlady prefers to serve Banks instead. Said lady another Dave Gee type, as was ‘Liz Taylor’ in the other bar. Later Bridge 13 gets a bashing from JOC. It’s since been renamed Bridge 12½. In the evening we stopped outside the boatyard. The Plough was packed out so into the town centre where we met Duncan in the Unicorn. This was crowded and the beer unexciting. So on to Wetherspoons where serving wench winds up Colin and Roger with her style of hospitality. So we move upstairs. Good news is there’s a beer festival on and a wide range of beers. Tom gets lost on the way home this time only with RonB, when will he learn. St Elmo’s fire around boat on return from pub.
Thursday -Two very poor 180-degree turns outside boatyard. by Tom and John H. Both blame each other the wind and anything else that comes to mind. Lunchtime locked in the pub and then on to Stone and the Swan. Oakham JHB and Bishops Farewell among a wide range of beers. Colin and Roger’s local friends Ken and Joy come along for a quiet chat – shame there’s a live rock band playing. Les adds to the din by banging on the table. Ken, a Hammers fan, has been unable to get a ticket for Saturday’s play off final.
Friday - We head back into the industrial wastelands of Stoke, through the temporary tunnel with a crane on top. Several plans for the days drinking are bandied about. In the end, after filling with water at the boatyard, we head further north to Longport and the Packhorse (karaoke on Thursday nights). This involves turning the boats round for the return journey. When his boat was lengthways across the canal, a thirsty Ron asked “why don’t we leave the boat here?” Academy awards voting and prize giving in the Packhorse (including Les’s bonus ‘flushing toilet’ award to Dude). Then Roger picked up his bags, said his farewells and buggered off to Cardiff, via Bow. A return visit to the Wetherspoons in Hanley for the evening. The big bad bouncers tried to move us downstairs at 10.40; Steve and the more cowardly members complied instantly. The rest stood their ground until the manager arrived and stood up for his best customers of the evening.
Saturday - Rain |
