What have we been up to in the last few days? Well Saturday was not a good day for me - after 2 nights with little sleep I was cold and miserable and the day wasn't much better! We set off from Handsacre (had fish and chips for tea - think that was why I felt so ill!) and made good time to the first lock at Woods End and then on down to Fradley Junction. There are 5 locks at Fradley and once again it appeared that most boats were going in our direction but we got through the first two without much incident and then while waiting for the third lock, which John had to fill so took a while, the heavens absolutely opened. John was out in his fleece, I was wearing my anorak that leaks (don't know why I keep it really) and Paddy was just forlorn!
Between locks 3 and 4 John got his anorak and the rain continued to pour - at one point it hailed on me but John said he didn't get any so make of that what you will! By lock 5 we both just wanted to call a halt but there's no-where to moor so we continued down through the lock into Alrewas, by which time it had stopped raining and the sun was vaguely out, and moored, ready for the next day.
Woods before the Woods End lock.
Moored at Alrewas - it was a good mooring as it was just before a bridge and where the canal became a bit narrower so boats HAD to slow down - it's etiquette to slow down past moored boats because the wash really rocks the boat and doesn't do it or the occupants any good at all.
Talking of good manners it's also correct procedure to close all the lock gates when leaving a lock and through all the rain at Fradley we were following a hire boat (from Mercia in fact - nb Juliet) which left ALL the down gates open so poor John had to shut them which means crossing to both sides before he was able to open the top paddles to fill the locks - not what you want in a downpour. I wanted to 'have a word' with them but when I found the boat moored there was no-one in it. Just as well I suppose.
On Saturday we went out to the National Memorial Arboretum - it was lovely and we will take the van next time so we can leave Paddy in it while we have a good look around, because I had to stay on the outskirts which is fair enough as you don't want dogs lifting their legs or worse on the memorials.
We left Alrewas after lunch and got to Branston where we spent the night before going on to Burton where we got some groceries and both of us treated ourselves to some new 'longs'. Mine are too baggy and John's have just about fallen apart - so we deserved them!
Then an easy journey in wonderful weather today to get back to Mercia.
Apologies to Norwyn and Sheila who have been our neighbours on the other side, in Shell Bell, they have been following the blog and have apparently left a message but it isn't here - if anyone else has left messages apart from Tom and Terry then we haven't got them. Not sure what you have to do but please try again. Shell Bell is leaving tomorrow until November which is a shame - have a great trip and stay in touch!
One thing that this trip has shown us it that we really do want a pram cover for the stern - we had thought about it during the build but been talked out of it - we have seen exactly what we want and so will get one made before the winter hopefully. If you don't know what I'm talking about then this is what I mean:
Don't do it it looks ugly,buy a brolley!
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