Johnners, Colin's friend asked him to move his narrow boat from Rugby to Macclesfield. Jake and John where quickly recruited and the "crack" crew was finally completed with Tom, following refusals from Julian Clarey and the Michaels Winner and Howard. Jake unselfishly took a top bunk which was rather cramped to say the least, but after two uncomfortable nights ended up in Tom's rear cabin on the floor. Over the week we only had breakfast on the boat with the occasional snack of bacon butties
We started at Willow Wren boatyard in Rugby April 21st. Weather was Sunny. First stop Newbold, 2 pubs two crap beers BrewXI and Ruddles County. Evening stopped at Ansty, a food pub with no seats, had pint of Old Hooky outside and then went back to boat at 7pm for another hours drive to the Elephant & Castle, a noisy, smoky, Brew XI and Disco in other bar plus interesting drinking fraternity buying rounds of nearly £70 a time extremely regularly..
(Tom was told they were Pikees) Sunday. Another sunny day, passed the Greyhound just 400m walking away which had a beer festival with 25 guest beers. Nuneaton lunch time at the Crown, excellent pub with 8 beers and 2 ciders on draught. Evening at Atherstone. The Market Tavern giving discounts for Camra members. Tom becomes a part time Camra member. Beer not so good, left looking for the Red Lion. Roger said we passed it on the way in, the rest of us say it is across the road, where the sign proudly displayed the name Red Lion Hotel. Roger pointed out that it wasn’t that Red Lion, but one of the others in the town, despite John pointing out the forest of hand pumps on the bar. Church End beer and excellent food served till 9-30.
Monday early start, locking before 7-30. Drizzle. Lunch at Hopwas and again reasonable food. Tom took wrong turning at Fradley Junction, was it because he didn’t believe Roger and Colin telling him to turn left and they turned right (to cross canal to go back left) or because John wound him up?. Evening at the Olde Peculiar at Handsacre, Theakstons, Tower Gone for a Burton bitter and more nice food, Thai this time. On the way home John took a tumble. Tom had been walking behind him. Was it the beer, senility or just evil Tom.
Tuesday. Another early start, more drizzle. Lunch in the Holly Bush, Salt. Evening at Stone. Quiz in the Swan won a bottle of wine.
Wednesday. Sunny and windy. Cab at lunchtime to Malt ‘n’ Hops Fenton after some time trying to explain to cab firm where we were. John told the inquisitive cab driver, who was interested in where we had parked the boat, that we were on a walking holiday, to avoid a repeat of another Bill Wadley inspired break in. Going through Stoke locks encountered the local police mounted towpath patrol. First 5 coppers doing a “Starlight express impression” shot past Tom nearly knocking him over. Then there followed a further 3, John said to them “8 coppers must be the whole of Stafford’s bike patrol ”, only to be told there were a further 2 behind. These laggards eventually turned up and asked Tom the way (along a canal!). We were told the reason for this show of strength was because there had been a lot of incidents around the locks. (not at 4pm though) Evening another Cab to Bull’s Head, Burslem, the Titanic Pub and then bus to the Blue Bell.
Thursday. Sunny. Pump out and fill with diesel. Tom and Roger take the boat via the Harecastle tunnel, breaking a record according to Tom to moor at Congleton (stopped at Rising Sun, Scholar Green for lunch). Colin took John in his car to Rugby to pick up John’s car then both to Macclesfield to park cars. Then via Waters Green Tavern and Macclesfield railway station to Congleton and the Queens Head to meet up with speedy and “right hand down a bit” Tom. In the evening Beartown Tap. Tom showing his formidable Ann Robinson skills as Quiz master.
Friday, rain then sunshine, Bosley locks and stopped at Old Kings Head at Gurnett Aqueduct (Banks and 6X). Evening at the Waters Green Tavern. Stagger out at 12.30 after hellish sampling of excellent beer range. Landlady recognises us from previous visits and asks ‘what happened to that old chap?’
The week's journey of 102 miles, (101.5 was planned, but Tom had other ideas), 47 locks, 297 bridges and 20 pubs took a whole week by canal and just over two hours by car on the way home. |