Granny is on the move again - Stone to Streethay

After six weeks at Stone - four of them stuck fast in ice -  Granny was finally on the move again last weekend.

I left Star Lock at 5pm on Friday, arriving near Sandon Lock three hours later when I came across blogging boaters No Problem and Moore 2 Life.

I tied up alongside and had a long chat with Sue of No Problem, which she summarised as: "It amazes me how in such a short time we can get through so many words between us both!"

I'm sure she didn't mean it as a hint, but it does remind me that I talk far too much.  When anyone else is silent in my presence I feel threatened, and fill in the space between us with words.

After a chat with Sue I walked to the nearby Greyhound Inn, where I managed to confuse and annoy the rather old-fashioned publicans by asking why don't they have wifi?, and why don't they appear on Google Maps?, two question they clearly didn't understand.

No Problem and Moore 2 Life are a cute pair; although unrelated they seem to travel as a caravan (in the traditional sense, of a group of people journeying together), and often even share dinners - especially Sunday roasts - together.  

I still claim I was the first canal blogger nearly 7 years ago, Sue certainly began writing within days of me, and Chas of Moore 2 Life started not long after.  They are not the longest running of genuine continuous cruisers, but they surely hold a record for the longest running cruising blogs. 

Saturday afternoon saw me travelling past Great Haywood to Rugeley for shopping, and after dark to Handsacre, where I retired to the nearby Crown Inn.  There, I managed to confuse and annoy the two ladies who appeared to be the licencees, who declared the pub had wifi, although my phone couldn't pick it up and they didn't really seem to understand what I was talking about.   I make friends wherever I go!

Sunday afternoon I cruised via Fradley Junction to Streethay Wharf, returning there for the first time since last June.  It's good to be back in this boatyard, where I've spent most springs since I bought my boat exactly eleven years ago. 

I've returned just in time, too, because Granny's calorifier has sprung a leak, as has the roof hatch above my bed.  There's assorted other work to do on my boat, and I'm sure none of it cheap.  But I can leave Granny there with boatmeister Ray Bowern and know it will be looked after.

Oh dear, I find cruising logs so insufferably dull to write, and I'm sure you aren't much more excited to read this.  I'll go back to commenting on

One nice encounter:  At Shade House Lock, the top lock at Fradley, I met a smiling fellow called Reg ............... who seems genuinely delighted to meet me and spoke in natural exclamation marks.  "I've always wondered if I'd ever come across Granny Buttons!!!" he exclaimed. "You're an institution!!!" 

I could only pshaw and blush, but because I'm somewhat lonely and depressed these days I couldn't resist taking a hot bath in his goodwill.   So here he is.  Thanks for cheering me up, Reg!!! 

Because I was a bit preoccupied with going through the lock I failed to note down his surname or find out more about him.  But Reg, if you read this, perhaps you can fill out the blanks.  Thanks for your goodwill, I appreciated it.

Comments

[Andrew Tidy]

The trouble with your aversion to cruising blogposts is that I sometimes forget where you are!
Andy

[Reg Thompson]

Hi Andrew,
It was really good to finally meet you...
I'll drop you a PM to fill you in with some more details.....

Cheers,Reg

[Jaqueline Almdale]

I wish to commmend you on the interesting mix of personal details of your life on the cut with local history, geography, geology, and commentary. Your blog is a satisfying mix of information. It provides someone like myself one perspective on narrow boat life, amongst many. Thank you for taking the time Andrew.