Left at 09:00
arrived at 16:00
Its a bright day already
Derek is forecasting another hot one today.
Derek went to Tesco to get provisions, he was too early to purchase
beer, so he had to hang about till after
8 as the licence starts then, I hope they didn’t think he was an alchy but the
lady on the cash out shouted out loudly, bars open, when he was allowed to
pay.??!! Through Bridge 77, Fazeley
Junction, there were lots of moored boats and yes we had been here before? I
saw the turning to Birmingham we took over 2 months ago. Just before the bridge there had been a very
long NB with a large computer made laminate that covered the whole side of the
boat, it was of brightly coloured wools, it had a website address on it. I
guess it was going to the Festival. Lots
of NB ladies do knitting and crocheting, particularly when their home is the
boat, it keeps you busy in the long winter months. There was a large family of swans at the
junction, they were sailing in their lovely formation, Mum at the front five
babies, then Daddy bringing up the rear, they turned towards Birmingham. The water is very still today and despite
Derek’s forecast it had started to look dull.
The farmers were in their fields spreading something nasty now they have harvested the corn, the wild
fowl have been out in force, I ve been feeding lots of ducks and a few moorhens
and we have passed quite a few NBs, going the other way, possibly to the
Festival. Of course there are always dog walkers on the towpath who are usually
happy to give you a cheery ‘morning’ and a wave. The hedgerows are very verdant and the trees
are bursting with fruits and berries, I have noticed that there are lots of
people collecting blackberries along the way, as they are now just turning the
right colour to eat. Hopwas still has
properties and moorings as pretty as ever, Otters Holt a property I mentioned
before, has got better in the months we have been away and on the other side a
bungalows garden is bursting with colour, the Dhalias are particulary lovely,
some of the heads as big as dinner plates.
I’m getting fidgety so I made a coffee, took it to Derek down the
back(we are going particulary slow) He wondered if we had picked up a garden on
our bow, floating branches and reeds, I walked down the boat gunwhales to
check, no just a lack of depth in this bit of canal. I decided to do my planters, using my
wonderful new toy, a jug with a rope attached to it (its only taken D about 10
years to think of this one) it means I can water the plants and when the jug is
empty, dip it in the water and haul it back up with the rope, with no bending. It even works when we are on the move, easily
pleased you see??? Passing through
Whittington, there are lots of lovely houses and even lovlier gardens. 11:30 it’s warming up and we have met many
more NBs going the other way, its getting busier altogether now. I made lunch early after doing a bit of cross
stich, I thought I would get it over and done with before we hit Fradley and
the locks. There was a new Marina being built just before Streethay Whart, it
seems to be in a very good spot, its nice and open and has lovely fields across
from it, there were arealdy half a dozen boats in there on the moorings and
lots of building work was still going on, we both thought it would be a popular
mooring spot when its all done. At
Streethay Wharf lots and lots of boats of course, some on the way out were
three a breast. There was a site that
made me smile, a NB was up on chocks, obviously having its bottom seen to, at
the side of it was a very thin,grey haired, bespectacled and quite old lady?
She had her navy overalls on, boots and a welding mask and gloves, she gave us
a cheery wave, what a woman!!! Someone
told Derek there had been a lot of boats in front of us heading towards
Fradley, so we guess it could be busy when we get there. Another couple of Old Barges went by us, off
to Alvecote, one had a beer barrel contraption on the front, Derek didn’t know
what it was, A Still maybe?? Fradley was
getting closer, Derek asked on of the NBs that passed, if it was busy there,
they said yes, so no change there then.
I had a little steer of the boat, Derek is getting tired, it is a bit
like a muddy puddle up this part of the canal and we are going very slowly, I
think the engine lulls him in to a trancelike state, he’ll wake up at the
Junction thats for sure. Arrived at the
Junction, it was really quiet?? Talk about fishermens tales, got nothing on
boaters!!! I let Derek through the
little swing bridge to the entrance to the lock, it was empty so I filled it up
and then we went down, one came up and this continued with the others out of
Fradley. Common Lock No 4, someone had
gone down just in front of us, it worked really well, the ground paddles and
gate paddles worked very well and our little system also worked well, Derek
even managed to close the gate from the boat.
In Alrewas, probably my second favourite place (home comes 1st)
was heaving, lots and lots of boats, moored and coming towards us. The properties still looked as lovely as
ever, we filled up with water, the visitor moorings in front of the tap and
before the lock were also full up, its August Bank Holiday and I think they are
regulars who come for the Big Meet there.
I did the last lock out of Alrewas, the waters open up leading to a
weir, its crystal clear, you can see the reeds waving about at the bottom, the
weir is lovely too and there are a pair of swans sat at the top of it doing
their tea time preening, quite happy for everyone to admire them in their
splendour, they really are beautiful creatures.
Wynchnor lock, there were six or more teenagers in kayaks, traipsing wearily
from the top of the lock to the bottom with their cargo and vehicles. The even had an inflatable sofa? They picked
it up on the way apparently, we left them laid on the grass at the other side
of the lock, trying to get enough energy to go to their camping site, wherever that might
be. It was 3 29, Derek was deciding
whether we would try for a spot in Barton Marina or go on to Branston. We were back again were the two worlds of the
canals and roads ran side by side, the road appearing to be a very fast scary
place (Its the A38) and boy do those vehicle fly by. The decision was made, we turned left into
the Marina, went to the visitor moorings, tied up, Derek went to the office to
pay and we settled for the evening. I very
quickly got a wash, changed and went to the shops for a little look see, then
we met up and went out to the pub for tea. We have electricity and water on tap
and are both settled for the evening.
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