Arrived, packed the boat and departed for Stourport on Wednesday. A cold uneventful cruise up the Severn and an easy passage through the locks to the basin. Pump out and fuel at Limekiln Chandlery and a new rear button fender. Also wanted a new bow fender but apparently an urgent order from a Liverpool boat builder had cleared their stock. Moored above York Street lock for the night.
Away to Sainsbury Kidderminster to top up supplies and on to moor just short of the 24 hour moorings at Kinver. The morning gave a clear view of the Astra satellites back down the canal.
Friday, cruised to above Bratch. Straight in and through. The lock keeper confirmed our impression that the canal was very quiet. We were the 7th boat through all day. Mooring provided neither digital nor satellite TV, as I miss read the app. Apart from this Dish Align is a useful aid to finding the Astra satellite. Rain early evening and heavy rain overnight.
Woke to rain but set off after a late breakfast when it eased. Uneventful cruise to Compton Lock for a lunch stop and milk. Noticed the new closer Sainsburys Local only on the way back from the Spar. Rain increased over lunch and decided to stay. Limited TV reception on the stick ariel.
Sunday, a fine sunny day and a quiet cruise until the engine cut out after lunch. Obvious symptoms of a blocked fuel filter. Checking my records I changed the filter 100 hour and 9 months previously! I thought I had changed it since then otherwise would have done it earlier. After a 30 minute emergency stop set off with a replacement filter. With J wanting to see the last episode of Home Fires, moored about 1.5 miles past Gnosall at a location that promised a clear view of the Astra satellite. On the bank with my iPad, for the first time that day, I had a 3G signal enabling the app to indicate the direction of the satellite. It was a poor mooring with the boat away from the bank. However, the stick ariel detected 202 TV stations, so no need for the satellite, but no 3G signal. Eventually discovered that if I stood by the canal mile post there was a 3G signal. 10m either way no signal.
Monday, a quiet cruise in cool sunshine to the top of Adderley Locks. Stopped for lunch and passed by 2 boats. A very slow passage through the 5 locks behind a single handler and a bad decision by the boat immediately ahead to open the gates of the last lock to allow a distant approaching boat to enter before the single handed. Delayed by being caught on the side before the last lock. One foot in the canal a a scrapped shin getting off it. Moored at the closest Market Drayton moorings. No reception on the stick ariel but a clear view of the satellite down the canal.
A very normal start to our cruise to Liverpool.
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