It's nearly three weeks since we left here to head slowly for Norbury Junction and it's taken us just two days to get back. Mind you, we're both looking forward to a couple of days not going anywhere…
/blur
With Rodbaston Lock to work almost straight away, we couldn't do our usual routine for an early start; instead we both hopped out of bed at ten to six, washed, dressed and breakfasted and by 6.15 were on our way, Sheila steering and your correspondent lockwheeling.
Incidentally, the pound came up of its own accord last night; examination of Rodbaston after we'd emptied it showed that the top cill is leaking like fury, resulting in the lock filling itself up even if left empty. No wonder the water levels were fluctuating.
Rodbaston, Otherton and Filance went by, after which we stopped on the water point in Penkridge to fill up. I even managed to get the one Independent that the nearby newsagent had. Tank full, off we went again down Penkridge, Longford, Park Gate, Shutt Hill and Deptmore. I started a washload after Longford and pottered about doing other chores during the rest of the time.
As we worked round Stafford it was getting near lunchtime, so I took an early one before we reached the last lock of the day, Tixall. We tied on Tixall Wide at half twelve; Sheila got her lunch whilst I rigged the whirligig to dry the wash load.
Since then we've walked on to the junction, dumped some recycling and made a first raid on the Farm Shop and Garden Centre. Sheila has got some plants to fill three of her troughs on the roof – she had nearly enough compost to do them – more will be bought tomorrow, I suspect.
We need to go in there again to get meat and bread in the morning anyway.
The forecast still looks pretty dire for Wednesday and Thursday, and not good for Friday, so it's likely to be the weekend before we move on. It's been a great couple of days boating in beautiful weather; it's just a shame it's not going to last.
2 comments:
Shut Hill was a little less challenging to the new paintwork as a fellow blogger went back to reopen the top gate for you..... you did not recognise either Rachel or myself ;-) What was amazing was Rachel recognised you and your boat, she never does that !
Take care and enjoy Great Haywood,
Nev NB Percyr
Oh whoops, sorry Nev! See what happens when you change your boat? Percy looks lovely, just sorry we didn't get a chance to visit.
If it's any consolation I spent some time after Shutt Hill thinking "who was that? I should know that bloke."
Many thanks for the reopening, as you say, it made life much easier, especially with those CMers tied where they were.
if I'd been less cream crackered yesterday, I'd have given more time to the details of the cruise and would have described your kindness, hopefully.
Sheila sends her apols too – she doesn't take much notice of other folk when she's steering, she says.
Have a good run up to Norbury and give our regards to Simon, David, Lee and Fred.
All the best
Bruce
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