Well, it was a reasonably early start into Birmingham - about 7.30 and we arrived just after 2 having met a few boats going in the opposite direction which helped matters. Found a mooring at Brindley Place, opposite Symphony Hall and popped in to the centre to post some mail and pick up provisions. A reasonably quite evening but it was a Monday so you wouldn't expect it to be too bad. Interesting to see that there's someone there doing pump-outs and selling gas and diesel etc. If you're moored in the area he will come to you which is handy.

Didn't start off too early on Tues as we didn't really get to sleep until about midnight, courtesy of late night drinkers but no problems apart from that. Uneventful cruise up to the Black Country Museum in glorious weather and we managed to find a spot close to the entrance to the museum and well away from the road.

So today we paid a visit to the museum which has changed considerably since the last time we visited. You can just walk in from the canal and they take it on trust that you'll make the effort to pay the entrance fee. Anyway, it was well worth it. Lots more buildings since the last time we came here and we enjoyed a pint in the Bottle and Glass followed, a little later, by  fish and chips from one of the two shops on site - cooked in beef dripping - the fish was wonderful and the best chips we've had for a long time. The dripping obviously gives them a different taste. Lots of groups of children wandering around in the morning but, strangely by about 2.45 the place was almost deserted. If you're coming to the museum and want a quiet time, check out when England are playing there next match!

 Black Country Museum at 3.30 today!

Left Hopwas mid-morning Saturday and made our way to Fazeley junction, using the facilities at the BW offices at Peels Wharf on the way - we noticed that the office is open to the public for a whole 4 hours every weekday - can't be bad. Moored up outside Marston Farm Hotel and walked back to the Dog & Doublet for a couple of pints of Abbot. A peaceful spot to moor - quite close to the M42 and then the wedding party disco at the hotel ran from 8 to midnight!

 Fortunately we didn't have to make an early on Sunday. Just cleared a few locks and then stopped at Curdworth ready for the assault on Aston and Farmers Bridge locks to take us in to Birmingham, so it's an early start tomorrow.

A beautifully warm day with barely a cloud in the sky - just the sort of day when you want to be boating. Travelled through Tamworth, fighting our way through the numerous willows overhanging the water. They may look very pleasant but in a few places they hadn't been kept under control and really were a hazard, obstructing the view ahead. We now have secateurs handy - if other boaters did the same we could all make a little contribution to controlling them as we go past!

Quite a queue at the locks but you don't mind waiting when the sun is shining. Travelled on just past Hopwas and moored up for the day. Will probbably stay here tomorrow and hopefully enjoy a barbecue 

At long last we've been able to get underway. Filled up with water, diesel and gas and set off for Atherstone where we stopped to stock up on a few essentials. Quite a few boats heading north so progress was a little slower than we might have hoped but is was a pleasant, warm afternoon and we moored up just south of Polesworth about 5pm.

Disappointed to see the weather forecast and all the other useful posters are no longer to be seen at the lock-keepers cottage by Atherstone top lock. Apparently there will no longer be a lock-keeper here - that's progress for you. 

Three long days at Crick Dog - sorry, Boat Show. Whilst we didn't sell as many books as we might have expected, we did make some useful contacts and we now have some follow up work to do before we set off again. Think we might change our plans to visit the K & A and will probably explore the BCN and surrounding waterways over the next few weeks.

A trip to Solihull for Pete's funeral which was very much a celebration of his life. Everyone commented on his off-the-wall sense of humour and quirky way of looking at life and we will all miss him. As is often the case with these occasions, it was an opportunity to catch up with old friends and share anecdotes about Pete. Unfortunately, we had to make an early exit as we needed to get to Crick to set up our stand at the boat show. Got it done fairly quickly and then made our way back to the boat early evening.

Called in at Pinstripe in Birmingham to pick up the last quantity of guides and then on to Halesowen to meet up with Marilyn and Dave who we hadn't seen for some time. We're hoping they will be able to join us on the boat for a few days later in the summer.

A lovely warm and sunny weekend at Moira, didn't sell as many books as we would have hoped - the show is aimed at the general public rather than boaters but we were made most welcome by Terry and Linda from the ACA and had an enjoyable weekend. Last Tuesday when we got back to the marina from Nuneaton who should we see moored up but Iron Butterfly. More problems with the electrics on their boat which Kevin sorted out but Pam and Dave decided to stay overnight to make sure everything was OK. We had a chat in the afternoon and then, early evening, popped in to the Wing Wah in Nuneaton to fill our boots at the buffet. Some sad news during the week though - an old friend from Post and Mail days, Pete Morris, has died after a short illness. Hope to be able to attend his funeral which will probably be next week.

Pam and Dave moved off yesterday and we made our way back to the marina today having been overtaken by a speeding cruiser who couldn't wait to get past us. Now we have the time to do a few jobs on the boat and get ready to go to Moira Canal Festival next weekend where we will be selling the guide on the Ashby Canal Trust stand.

Set off on our way back to the marina with the possibility of stopping at Ansty if we could get in near the Rose and Castle. As we approached the moorings who should we see but Pam & Dave and their new Iron Butterfly. Managed to find a spot to moor in front of them and had a good chat, hearing their tales of woe over their new boat.

Spent a few days on the outskirts of Braunston and paid a couple of visits to Daventry for provisions, paint etc and on Saturday popped in to the marina to see if Pam and Dave Polson were still there with their new boat. However they must have moved on Friday and we missed them. Today dawned brighter and we moved on to Clifton-on-Dunsmore. We needed to post some letters so walked up to the village only to find the post office had disappeared, a quick bus trip into Rugby solved the problem.

We moved on to Long Itchington on Monday April 26th and arrived there just after Noon on Tues - just in time to pop in to the Two Boats for lunch, washed down with a couple of pints of Abbott Ale. Downside of the location is the lack of an internet connection thus a large hole in the blog. We set off early on Wednesday with the intention of turning around so that we'd be facing in the right direction to move on after the weekend. Tried to wind below Bascote top lock but the water level was down and we ran aground. So it meant a 7 hour 20 lock journey to get "Sweet September" facing in the right direction - we were well ready for another visit to the Two Boats on our return!

Thursday was a visit to Leamington Spa and it highlighted a problem with BW notice boards - the one by the The Two Boats details an hourly bus service to Leamington - in actual fact it is two hourly and this seems to have been the case for a couple of years. The stated "flag down" service doesn't seem to apply any more either - best to walk to the us stop down the hill. The BW poster here and at Bascote top locks boasts "Welcome to South East Waterways" and shows a map that doesn't in fact cover this section of the GU. Still, could be worse - the notice board at Hawkesbury Junction has details of canal events for 2007!

Friday was a visit to Southam where I could pop into the library to use a computer and check emails and on our return another visit to the Two Boats to try the first of the beer festival ales - Rusty Dudley from the Church End Brewery which is virtually our "local" when we are in the marina.

 Our friends Linda and Maurice came to stay on board for the weekend and we had a fine time trailing around the six pubs in Long Itchington. Fortunately the weather was reasonable and the rain held off - there was a great atmosphere in the village and there certainly seemed to be more festival-goers than last year. Monday was a day to "dry-out" and a visit to the boot sale, pleasant during the day and then hail in the evening. Of course, the day after the bank holiday dawned bright and warm so although we had planned to stay until Wed, we decided to take advantage of the weather and start to retrace our journey. We teamed up with Irene and John on "Penny Lane" to tackle the locks, then at the first lock after the Blue Lias, poor Irene had the windlass fly off and hit her on the forehead. Fortunately, as we were trying to staunch the flow of blood, some walkers came by and it turned out that one of them was a paramedic. We continued on our way while the others waited for the ambulance and John and Irene caught up with us a little later and we were able to do Calcutt locks together yesterday before saying farewell to them at Napton Junction.  

And today, we passed through Braunston and moored just outside. A trip into Daventry to get some provisions and then a visit to Midland Chandlers which is always made more in hope than expectation. Is it just me or do other  boaters find that they can never get everything they need at MC - it always seems to be that one item that you need is out of stock but available at Penkridge or Preston Brook and when you call in at Penkridge it's only available at Braunston, etc etc. I suppose now, with their new branch, at Willington there's more choice of where you can't get something

Started Thursday morning by investigating the problem with the rear doors and found them all to be in a poor state so removed all the panels and decided just to do a repaint job on then. So we left about 11am and arrived at Clifton Cruisers about 1pm and were pleased to meet up with Gillian & Geoff Lovegrove on "Petroc" again. Spent a pleasant half-hour or so swapping stories and then continued on to a mooring spot we've used before just a few miles north of Braunston.  Found we couldn't get an internet connection so no blog yesterday. Decided to stay here today as we are awaiting post at Braunston and I discovered, during a bit of cleaning, that our external aerial for mobile broadband wasn't erect, put that right and voila! we have access to the outside world! Settled down to write this blog and "Nuneaton" and butty "Brighton" from the Narrowboat Trust went past at full tilt - no sign of slowing down for moored boats and not setting a very good example. So a swift email has been sent the chairman of the trust - you would think that such an organisation would depend on the goodwill of boaters  to some extent, so the crew are doing their cause no good at all. It will be interseting to see waht response, if any, we get from the trust.

Left at midday today and have just about recovered from the shock of the current price of diesel even allowing for our discount as moorers. Still, could have been worse, on our way we saw dutiable diesel advertised at £1.28 a litre. Will soon be cheaper to fill up at a Shell station.

Uneventful journey avoiding the televisions and cuddly toys floating in the canal in Nuneaton but had a "senior moment" at Hawkesbury Junction - couldn't think how to operate my first lock since October last year. Arrived at a mooring near bridge 35 about 6pm. Must start work on that rotten door before we set off tomorrow.

Heard on the radio today that the tourist information centre in Stratford-upon-Avon is closed, as is the one in Leamington Spa. However, Stratford does have a table in the local leisure centre! What a poor do for all the visitors from all over the world who go to Stratford - what must they think of us?

Slight change of plan as we had to stock up on provisions and there was a bitterly cold wind too. Forecast says it will be better tomorrow so a definite start on Wednesday. Having spent quite a bit of time cleaning and polishing the boat, disappointed to find is with a covering of volcanic ash! Just to add to the joys, I discovered that the wood on one of the outside doors is absolutely rotten  - just like a sponge and smells really musty so I'm going to have to cut it all out and replace it - bit much on a boat less than three years old. 

Getting ready to move off again tomorrow after spending the weekend "ashore" at a hotel near Leamington Spa. Nice to be able to have a bath!! We called in to see Chris and Michelle at the Two Boats at Long Itchington on our way - the pub's looking very smart after an outside paint job and now comes under the aegis of Charles Wells so the regular beers have changed. However, Chris is determined to keep the Abbot Ale on tap - if you're passing call in and sign the petition.  

We left Trinity Marina just before 10am in the teeth of a bitterly cold wind, well wrapped up to try to keep warm. By the time we got to Marston Junction (see pic), the sun was out and, when we got back to Springwood Haven, the wind had dropped and we enjoyed a pleasant afternoon. A little more "spring cleaning" - cleaning the cushions and cratch cover, then a trip to Jacksons of Old Arley tomorrow to get some Fabsil.

A short journey today to Trinity Marina where we decided we would moor overnight. Took a bus into Hinckley to post some mail and pick up some essentials. On our return, we decided to visit the Marina, a Brewers Fayre pub. Didn't get off to a very good start as the Pedigree was off and only "chemical" beers on offer. Sat outside in the sunshine for a while but a mouthy youth nearby was describing  to his companion in detail, with plenty of four-letter words, precisely what he and his mate intended to do to her later in the week. Seems like she agreed but she would have to be " s**t - faced". I am cultivating the image of being a grumpy old git and when you hear today's youngsters talking like this in public for all to hear you begin to wonder about modern society. So we gave up, went inside and had a "two for £9" meal deal and a bottle of Californian white and all was well with the world again!

A cooler day today with a fresh breeze. Did a little touching-up of the paintwork on Sweet September and set off about midday and then moored for the night near Daddlington

Out in the wilds of Leicestershire and no broadband signal until now. We continued to Market Bosworth on Friday, walked into the village on Saturday for provisions and then cruised to Snarestone where we turned round and moored up for the night just north of bridge 56 by a milestone. Little cooler today so we did a little "spring cleaning" on the boat and we'll probably head south tomorrow.

We've now got all the guides delivered to boat companies and decided that we should set off today. And, coincidentally we see the end to the poor weather and find our departure is accompanied by warm sunshine. Just a short cruise up the Ashby for the moment as we have to be back at Springwood Haven for next Thursday, then after the weekend we'll aim for the Two Boats at Long Itchington for the Bank Holiday Beer Festival. So we cruised for a few hours today to bridge 13 on the the Ashby, hope to clean the boat a little tomorrow

Back on board Sweet September now and the 2010 guide has gone to the printers and should be distributed to hire companies before Easter. This is the first time that the guide has been printed commercially and and thanks to Lee and Darren at Pinstripe for their help in getting to this stage. A chance to relax a liitle now, we've just had an engine service and can begin preparations to get on the move after the Easter Holiday

We're currently on dry land and I'm attempting to put the finishing touches to this year's guide. If all goes to plan it will all be finished before the end of the month and copies delivered to all the boat hire companies before the Easter Holiday.