Enjoying life south of Gnosall

Weekend – Oscote Barn Bridge to Cowley Double Bridge, 3/4 mile 0 locks

I feel we are frauds!  Just 3/4 mile in 4 days on one of the busiest ‘rings’ on the waterway system.  Narrowboats are coming past one after the other on this, perhaps the busiest week of the year.

Still though we enjoy just pottering this very rural and remote area.  The bridge behind us, for instance is called Cowley Double Bridge.. and no boats are stopping to find out why.. but take a look at this on the top of the bridge..

Now it becomes obvious why it is called a double bridge!  In fact it is a dual carriageway for cows.  Well a one way dual carriageway anyway.  The idea is that the two ‘lanes’, which are separated by a lovely stone wall, are there so the farmer can either put the cows in the left hand field or the right hand field on the other side, using the gates to direct the cows.

It was lovely to meet bloggers Eric and Elsie with their narrowboat Bendigedig over the weekend, and they came aboard for coffee and a good long chat after an invitation from them to have a walk through of their new boat from Northwich Boat Company.  Continuous cruisers like ourselves are the two E’s, so we had plenty to chat about.. I really enjoyed meeting you both, and hope it is not too long ‘till we meet up again.

Blog readers too giving us beep as they went past.. Sue and David (Hope I am right David) with their narrowboat Doinmein and narrowboat Andante who’s crew I did not get the names of.. but blog readers from Cornwall.  Hopefully comments will be left when they get home so I know your name!..

The tally of dogs going ‘walkies’ has now gone to 4 dogs, as our friends Chas and Ann with their narrowboat Moore2Life have now caught up with us after having to wait at Braunston for appointments.  The locals round here are getting used to seeing 4 dogs along the lanes, everyone is so friendly in the hamlets, and we have really enjoyed the many walks in the area.

We are still doing some odd bits and bobs on No Problem.. well I say”we”, I guess I have opted out of my share at the moment with my responsibilities focused on the dogs (for those who do not read my blog regularly, I have daughter Wendie’s 2 large labs while she holidays).  Vic is doing a ‘job a day’ at the moment, and so far over the last week the flooring strips that need putting down that go between the different types of flooring have been done.. the brass step, so that I can get on the roof from the side of No Problem has been put on.. the curtains on the two windows at the front have been put up… actually that was my job.. etc etc.. Oh and we now have a hand made chimney hat!.. I must take a photo of that for you to see!

Off to do a massive one mile tomorrow to Gnosall itself.. might have lunch in the Boat Inn before moving on to Norbury Junction.. well maybe we will do that..