From toptrees@email.msn.com Mon May 3 18:16:17 1999 Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 23:19:48 -0000 From: Peter Waite Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org To: canalnews Subject: TRIP REPORT (DAY 2) - Not so long but longish TRIP REPORT - THE FIRST (PROPER) VOYAGE OF JAMYJOSIPIPE (THE NEW ONE) Crew: Admiral Pippa Skipper Peter Able Seaman James - the Younger (when not asleep) Crew Amy - (when no parties at home) Muscle Power James - the Elder (cheered on by Sarah, when there is no work in the pub) Visitors Grandparents who can find a pub, but not a boat; Friends with CAR to find pub serving food! Dates: December 28th 1997 to 9 February 1998 (Long pause January 4th to February 8th ) Port of Embarkation: Stenson, Derbyshire Route: Trent & Mersey Canal to Fradley Junction; Coventry Canal to Hawkesbury Junction; Oxford Canal and River Thames. Day 2 Monday 29 December 1997 Awoke after 7 am. A very grey, dark morning. Left the bridge hole at Fradley Junction at 07:45 before we obstructed anyone! Definitely a very red sky in the East ^Ö is that a bad sign first thing in the morning? After sun-rise at 08:25 it seemed to get colder. Saw some kingfishers but it looked as though they were being chased by some form of hawk. Just after Streethay Wharf the sun was shining in my eyes and I was so dazzled I almost ran into another tree which had fallen across the cut. It was certainly a morning for mixed weather as after 10:00 I made a note that it was now misty. At Hopwas we encountered our first traffic of the day, we slowed down to let another boat past and we crossed with another boat coming the other way before we stopped at Fazeley Junction for water and shopping. The BW offices certainly look very smart. Opposite the water point was Berengaria whose owner was from Tilehurst, only two miles from our home. The first of many ^Óalmost neighbours^Ô we met on the trip. Loaded with much needed food and water we pressed on until we came to an abrupt halt under bridge 67. After some encouragement we persuaded the wheelie bin to cede right-of-way (I have no idea what the International Rules for the Prevention of Collision at Sea say about this!) fortunately wheelie bins are softer than the containers I have seen floating just below the surface at sea. Half an hour later I had the pleasure of opening up the weed hatch again for a plastic bag. Fortunately that was the last time I had to get wet and freezing cold on the whole trip. The rest of the afternoon I was probably too cold to record anything eventful, if anything significant happened. We made steady progress and reached Atherstone bottom lock at 16:00. We decided to use what little light was left to make some progress up the flight to at least be out of sight of the container park, main road and railway. We made it to between locks 5 and 6 and moored opposite the pub. I forget the name but it did not look terribly inviting, so went up to the top lock to investigate the pubs there. Nothing looked open or inviting, so I walked back through the town where the possibilities seemed to be wider. Came back with the teenagers and ended up in the Duke of Richmond ^Ö interesting and friendly but haute cuisine it aint! Continues^Å^Å. Tomorrow Nuneaton?? Peter Waite At home: At work: toptrees@email.msn.com waitp@entecuk.co.uk Caversham & Entec UK NB Jamyjosipipe Safety & Environment Those who make a big splash have probably gone overboard