Lenny's Lost his Wheels.

[Lenny HB]

What no wheels! Transport for the next few days it's not even got any sails.

Maintaining my FLT status, my mate JonP hired the boat and invited me and the boss along for free.
Keeping up my FLT image used my Priority Club points for a free night in a hotel to start the week.

 

[Lenny HB]

A bit of a change from a Motorhome, Mrs B doing some work.

JonP trying hard to make it look like he knows what he is doing.
Edit:
Too much wine that's me at the helm.

 

[Podney]

Fantastic!
Enjoy!
Had a share in a narrow boat once,found it very very relaxing.............when it wasn’t hissing down with rain.

 

[Lenny HB]

Enjoy! Knackered done 24 locks today and we didn't start untill 11:30.
Moored up now done 2 locks of a flight of 30.

 

[Stealaway]

Enjoy! Knackered done 24 locks today and we didn't start untill 11:30.
Moored up now done 2 locks of a flight of 30.

Where are you Lenny? We had a narrow boat before the MoHo for 12+ years, we traveled almost the all system. We still miss it but Hilary found it harder to do the locks.

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[Taran_Las]

"Lenny's Lost his Wheels."

Sorry misread it - thought it said Lenny's lost his marbles

​

 

[Lenny HB]

Where are you Lenny? We had a narrow boat before the MoHo for 12+ years, we traveled almost the all system. We still miss it but Hilary found it harder to do the locks.

Started at Droitwich Spa heading up the Wostester & Birmingham canal, heading for Birmingham. Before we finished last night did the first two locks of the Tardebigge flight. Had a bit of a problem one of the basins was empty so I opened the paddles on the next lock up and the basin filled but the next one emptied so we moored up. Water level has come up a bit more overnight so hopefully won't have too much hassle today.

 

[Lenny HB]

"Lenny's Lost his Wheels."

Sorry misread it - thought it said Lenny's lost his marbles

​

Stick to riding sheep you daft old Welsh man.

 

[rb62]

There was only two of us when we did Tardebigge in 2009! but we did it downhill got a good system going Wast Hill,tunnel is quite an experience if you go that far!

 

[nicholsong]

This adds a new dimension to the word 'Lockdown'

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[Sundowners]

No wonder your mate gave you a free trip. ??

 

[Theonlysue]

Needed someone to do the gates ??

 

[Stealaway]

I remember doing that flight one sunny Saturday afternoon surrounded by kids wanting a ride on the boat. Great at the top and onto the BNC. Stop over next to the Arena, its lovely now and an easy walk into Birmingham centre.

 

[DBK]

...heading for Birmingham.

I read a tongue in cheek article over the weekend that was offering up alternative destinations as so many of
the popular places were closed. Birmingham was suggested as an alternative to Venice as both have canals.

Alternatively, Bromely, in London, has a St Mark's Square where I guess the coffee and ice cream is cheaper than Vernice.

 

[Lenny HB]

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[Lenny HB]

Late yesterday afternoon we had a little bit of an accident. Caught the tiller on a tunnel wall and it snagged. The tiller broke at the bottom bend, you could see it was had already been split ½ way as there was rust ½ way round.

Guy from the marina came out to us took the tiller back to the workshop and was back with it at 8am, so not much time lost.
Only problem the shaft is a bit bend making helming really hard work.

 

[Lenny HB]

 

[emjaiuk]

I seem to recall many moons ago, that in the States you could hire outboard powered pontoons that you could put your RV on. Might be a problem in the tunnels though

 

[Shrimp]

Lovely photos Lenny!

 

[nicholsong]

The object of Lenny's photos whilst interesting are not a patch on transitting the French canals through rural France with not one lock in 168 for DIY operation. (1987)

Geoff

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[Lenny HB]

I seem to recall many moons ago, that in the States you could hire outboard powered pontoons that you could put your RV on. Might be a problem in the tunnels though

You can do that in Germany on the lakes.

 

[Box Boy]

Lovely photos Lenny. Great reminder of our days touring the network. "Back door Britain" - you can't beat it.
Brian

 

[Eggs]

Another ex liveaboard here, I do miss those days, and the ex missus, we did have some laughs.

 

[namwaldog]

Started at Droitwich Spa heading up the Wostester & Birmingham canal, heading for Birmingham

Steady now Lenny, you are getting towards "Oop North" you'll be looking on eBay for a cheap flat cap & whippet.
You may even start flattening your vowels

Looks like you are enjoying it and at least the satnag won't take you down one way canals

Barry

 

[Lenny HB]

Crikey it was a hell of a long walk to the pub tonight and then they threw us out at 9:30. Stupid time to close a pub.

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[Lenny HB]

Looks like you are enjoying it and at least the satnag won't take you down one way canals

Enjoying it !
11 hour day today brekies and lunch on the go, not my idea of a holiday bleeding punishment. What with all these stupid locks on cananls must be a masochism northern thing.

P.S. got a flat cap wear it when we go dancing.

 

[Lenny HB]

Finish the trip on Friday morning. We were originally picking up the boat in Stourport-on-Seven but due to the flooding on the Seven they moved their fleet up to Droitwich Spa, as if left at Stourport their customers couldn't have gone far.
We could have done a short trip up and down a canal but offered us the choice of doing the loop around Birmingham and back to Stourport as this would help them get the boat back to base. They said we could have the boat early, as soon as it was cleaned and ready to go. Also if we didn't make it they would pick up and bring the next hirers out to where we got to & gave us a few extra hours on the last day. Also both having sailed they only gave us a 5 min induction instead of an hour which got us away quicker.

We made it, when we got back they said that trip would normally take 10 days or if you rush it 7 days we did it in 4 days. Left at 11:30 on Monday back at 10:00 on Friday, 86 locks later.

My mate said you will enjoy it pottering along the canals a walking speed, I will never believe anything he says again.

 

[hilldweller]

Crikey it was a hell of a long walk to the pub tonight and then they threw us out at 9:30. Stupid time to close a pub.
View attachment 370414

The poor soul was saying to himself "How long can this guy make a half of shandy last ? It'll be midnight if he orders another one".

 

[Lenny HB]

The poor soul was saying to himself "How long can this guy make a half of shandy last ? It'll be midnight if he orders another one".

How wrong Brian, I had a beer and a bottle of red.

 

[Stealaway]

Enjoying it !
11 hour day today brekies and lunch on the go, not my idea of a holiday bleeding punishment. What with all these stupid locks on cananls must be a masochism northern thing.

P.S. got a flat cap wear it when we go dancing.

Unfortunetly and you probably didn't realise it but Birmingham is on the top of a plateau You would have to climb many lock to get there which ever way you went. You will remember that trip with fondness ---- eventually

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