Cheviot Original Mountain Marathon Oct 2014 - Day 1

Cheviot Original Mountain Marathon Oct 2014

Daniel and I ventured up to the north east on the last weekend of October to have our annual challenge on the Mountain Marathon. As in the last couple of years we entered the Medium Score Event which takes 2 days to complete - 6 hours on the Saturday and 5 hours on Day 2 on Sunday.

This year we had a very early start at 8.09am, so having packed away our overnight camping gear, we kitted up and headed up the valley to the start.

Day 1

At the start - the weather was gentle at this point!

Reaching the hill top of Sneer Hill 1450ft - the wind was strong on the exposed tops

A view looking east across Kidland Forest

Dan wrapped up in the wind!

Another view across the forest

This middle section on Day 1 went through the centre of the forest on tracks - we made good time here

We're heading down there

Out onto the open moor - at 1640 feet and climbing

Here I get ahead as we drop to a check point - see the sun on the hills in the distance!

Inside the tent at the halfway camp - happily getting out of the very strong winds. Here is my kit laid out with our food in the plastic bags.

Time for a brew!

Dan seems cosy in his sleeping bag!

 

A photo of the overnight camp taken from high up the hill - we used a sheep hill farm as a base for the night

 

Results for Day 1: 320 points 14.2 miles and 3450ft climb - 97th out of 170

 

 

Our Summer 2014 Cruise - Summary

Our Summer Cruise 2014

This has been our longest and furthest cruise in nb 'Song of the Waterways' - and reflects our ambition to travel on the waterways since we retired 3 years ago.
There were a number of 'firsts'!

On the southern Oxford Canal - heading north at Aynho Weir Lock

 

It was our first time stopping at the Saltisford Arm Trust in Warwick (to be recommended); our first at the Stratford River Festival (although our 5th time by boat to Stratford itself); our first excursion along the Southern Oxford Canal and the first time we have gone onto the River Thames - cruising the Upper Reaches to Lechlade.

All-in-all, things went well although we did have an alternator problem in the intitial week and needed to change to our spare - after that and some 'tinkering' we were charging OK.
Having said that, there are some 'running repairs' that will be completed during the winter, including an oil change.

For those with an interest in these things, here are the summaries form from my cruising log:

Numbers of Nights out Cruising:      103

430 miles  361 locks  803 lock/lift/swing bridge miles
264 Engine Propulsion Hours
  57 Engine Domestic Battery Charging    

Overall Average Lock/Bridge Miles per Hour - 3.0

We cruised along 9 different Canal systems and 2 Rivers  

Looking her best! - Song of the Waterways at Norbury Junction

Audlem Awaits - Last Days of Summer Cruise 2014

Our Summer Cruise 2014

Day 101 North to Market Drayton - 11.5 miles and 5 locks
Day 102 Adderley Locks to Audlem Lock No.2 - 5 miles and 7 locks
Day 103 Audlem flight and back to our berth at Overwater Marina - 2.5 miles and 13 locks

We continued our relaxed pace that has been the 'hall mark' of this year's summer cruise - taking 3 days to head back north. We reflected on the summer of waterway cruising both agreeing that our stop in Birmingham, the Stratford River Festival and time on the Oxford Canal and the Upper Thames were extremely enjoyable.

For now, the last set of photographs on what has become a familiar stretch of canal.
It felt like coming home?!!

Yet another photo of the famous bridge!

Newly hung embankment safety gates - here at Knighton

Looking back as we enter the Woodseaves Cutting

Looking back up the Tyrley locks with the sandstone edge showing

Always makes me laugh!

I spotted this - we met Ike Argent at Ellesmere Port Boat Festival many years ago!

A very likeable man, born on an boat and passed away on his boat - an inspiration

Chris pausing as we lock down at Audlem

A photo of one of the fierce byweirs on the Audlem Flight - easier going down!

The Captain smiling - it's been a great summer cruise!

 

The last day's boating - looking down the flight towards Audlem

Although it's quite warm, autumn is here

Arriving back at the Marina - bringing the rain!

Pointing out where we got to on the Upper Thames.

Sam and David from the office are so pleased to see us again!

 

Turning the corner - North to Norbury 2014

Our Summer Cruise 2014

Day 97 Coven to Autherley Junction, onto Little Onn - 13 miles 2 locks
Day 98 To Norbury Junction - 5.5 miles
Days 99 and 100 at Norbury Junction

We continued our cruise south along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire towards Autherley Junction. Here the original Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal joined from Nantwich in 1835. Both canals are now in the Canal and River Trust's hydrology unit for water supplies - both being fed by the BCN down from Wolverhampton and significantly by the sewerage works at Autherley Junction.
The weather stays kind though fleeces are needed at times. We stopped in the country at Little Onn on a rare deep edge and had our last bbq and a wood brazier to enjoy dusk.

On the Staffs and Worcs at Pendenford Narrows - having just entered we passed this boat that had waited

Looking back at the single width cut through the sandstone outcrop

Chris steers the boat clear of 'the narrows'!

Having turned north onto the Shroppie. Sitting in the Stop Lock No.1, looking back at the junction, bridge and finger post

Completed in 1835, the B'ham and Liverpool Junction Canal was engineered by Thomas Telford with 'modern' design principles of straight, wide sections - as seen here

Crossing the A5, the ornate Stretton Aqueduct - it could do with a paint!

BBQ and wood brazier

 

Encountering one of the familiar solid, high road bridges

 

Into Cowley Tunnel, through the sandstone ridge - 74m long

Looking back through Cowley Tunnel

The CRT Yard at Norbury Jnc - with work boats and materials ready for winter maintenance

nb Song of the Waterways - looking good!

Southwards on the Staffs and Worcester from Tixall Wide Sept 2014

Our Summer Cruise 2014

Day 94 Tixall Wide to Penkridge - 9 miles and 5 locks
Day 95 Penkridge to Bogg's Lock, before Gailey - 2.5 miles and 5 locks
Day 96 Gailey Locks to Coven - 5 miles and 2 locks

We are continuing our, everso leisurely, homeward cruise along the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal. This is part of the popular Four Counties Ring - so at times quite busy, especially midmorning as boaters set off!
We last did this section as long ago as August 2005 - not a lot has changed?!

The weather has been quite gentle though Autumn has definitely arrived with colder nights and some night rain and a colder wind - interspersed with a warming sun.
Photos of the 3 days for interest.

Looking across Tixall Wide at Tixall Gate House - built in 1580. The House was built by Sir Edward Aston as his family home - though used to imprison Mary, Queen of Scots for 2 weeks in 1586. The House was demolished in 1927?

First weedhatch visit of the day - a long length of bramble from recent lockside strimming!

Although it cannot be seen - on this section after Milford, the bottom is close to the top!

Severe pruning?!

Reeds encroach - fortunately nothing coming the other way

Chris discussing matters at the Deptmore Lock - another deep one at 10' 3"

2nd visit down the weedhatch - more brambles and a thistle! Just not my day!

Mind your head! Limited room up the boaters steps at Park Gate Lock No.40

Longford Lock - looking at the traffic jam on the M6

Evening shadow - in the warm sun at Penkridge

The following day, we enter Penkridge Lock

Another one of Brindley's deep locks at 10'3"

Waiting for Chris to set the lock at Robaston Lock No.35 - less deep at 8'6"

Instructions from the Tories - here at Gailey Wharf

Gailey Round House - actually the Lock Keepers house, built around 1771. The bottom floor was the old office - now a delightful shop, where I managed to get a horse brass of the Shropshire Union Canal. The unique round structure gives good views of the canal in both directions

Petrol chemical works at Calf Heath

Looking up the derelict Hatherton Canal which rises through 17 locks to the northern BCN. Plans are in place for it's restoration which must involve new routes being taken - a major undertaken - see this interesting link

 

Evidence of a transhipment wharf, next to the railway approaching Slade Heath