Kingswood Junction (Mon 12th Aug)

A lazy day today, the weather is bright but breezy, similar to yesterday really.  We had breakfast and then set about tidying the boat ready for Niamh to arrive.  Derek did the hovering I cleaned the bathroom and generally cleared the saloon round.  We got changed into tidy clothes by about 10 and went with the dogs to walk to the canal shop.  There had been a few boats through this morning, going up through the narrow channel to go to either Stratford or Birmingham.  At the bottom of the long flight, the two Hotel NBs that had been moored up just before the junction last night, were in the lock.  The first one was up above the butty (this doesn’t have an engine) the butty tiller arm was fastened to the back of the boat so it didn’t stick out in the lock and a young man was pulling it into the lock, muscle is needed to do this job obviously.  Its a good job we don’t have to do this, we are glad we aren’t behind them because it does take a bit longer to get  them both up.  We had a cuppa, the dogs were getting a lot of attention from 3 old guys who were waiting for their drinks to be delivered, they were obviously locals and this was a regular stop over for them.  They were chatting animatedly about all sorts of things, not boats, the universe and all  that, Steven Hawkings came into it as well!!!!  Paying no attention to what was happening right next to them, on the canal.  I bought some bits and bobs from the little shop, unfortunately the garden centre bit was in need of someone to sort it, the plants were pretty tatty.  Walking back down the locks there were a few boat heading up, we passed the time of day with the couples on them and then met a man walking by, very sunbronzed and in shorts, walking boots and long socks, his long grey hair flowing behind him.  He stopped to  pat the dogs, Jess mainly, he has 2 boarder collies, one an older bitch and a 10 week old puppy.  The older one is a Blue Merle and the pup a Red Merle, sound great, he says the pup has given the older one a new lease of life, him and his wife too.  We said our goodbyes and wished him a good walk, he only had another 5and a half miles left to go???   Decided to call in the village, got some more bread, crusty bread buns actually and went back to the boat, where we  had cheese and pickle on our crusty bread.  Derek snoozed, I did some stitching, fed the wild fowl families, then Derek did the red trim round the picture and flower plaques on the back doors.  Niamh arrived at 6, we were at the pub by 6 30, wouldn’t say we were hungry, but!!!!    We all had a lovely meal, Derek and Niamh had puds too, then back to the boat to watch TV and slob about to rest for tomorrows trial of 21 locks (The Hatton Flight).