3rd August '13

This is several days late, I realise, but things have been somewhat busy!

We are home! We arrived back on Thursday evening just after 5.00pm after leaving at 9 that morning and planning to go to Alrewas. We were there by midday and the Indian restaurant doesn't open until 5,30 so we thought we'd get to Branston and go to the Italian there. It was only about 3 when we got there so we decided to go for broke and get home, and here we are!

 

 Our first sighting of Fradley Junction - you can just see the swingbridge in the distance. Naturally when we got there a boat was filling with water so we couldn't moor and then as soon as John opened the gate two boats came around the corner so we had to let them through. Finally we got to the Junction Lock and all went well for us again. More boats coming up than going down and someone at just about every lock.

A last look back at the Coventry Canal - see you again next year!

Fradley Junction in the sun. Busy as ever but boats waiting to come up so we were happy! Surprisingly there were moorings available both here and at Alrewas. Amazing considering it is now school holidays and the hire boats are out in force.

Bridge 36. Always fascinates me. From a distance it just doesn't look as if a boat will go through it but they always do! (mind you some appear to hit the sides judging by the edges of the stonework)

We know that home is close when we see the Marston's sign at Burton. For those Wind in the Willows fans out there (of which I am up near the top) Rat complements Mole on having some 'Old Burton' in his cupboard when they pay an unexpected visit to his hole. So there you go!

When we last passed these railings they had bits of old branches of trees left in them and the ground was being cleared. Now not 4 months later, there's a new fence up inside and houses are completed and drying out. Incredible!

When we got back to the marina, I have to say that there was no band waiting, no flags flying, just Keith and Karen waving us back and Ange hurling abuse. Nice to know that some things never change! The marina is barely recognisable though. The trees and shrubs have all grown so much during the summer that we can barely see the road from the boat and it's hard to see the boats in places when walking around the marina.

Paddy is pleased to be back to his old haunts, although he's struggling coming to terms with having neighbours again, walking up and down HIS jetty. He's going to have to live with it though.

Yesterday passed in a flurry of cleaning, washing and shopping for me and getting the motorhome sorted out for John. Then a visit to Tom, Francesca and Nellie last night. Back over there today for Francesca to come into Derby with me for a very successful hunt for a dress to wear to our nieces wedding in a fortnight and John and Tom took Nellie off to Hardwick Hall.

Blog will probably be a bit quiet for a bit but I'll try to put bits on as and when.