One day for relaxation, and one for boating stuff

25th & 26th March

With no plans to move the boat yesterday, we were able to make a relaxed, not to say lazy, start. At around 10.30, Sheila went off to take part in the Willy Walk, and I stayed behind, as I had to be at the Surgery at 11.20 for a blood test.

I wasn't bored, though: first of all Graham and Beryl from Priscilla looked in – unfortunately it was not long before I was due to go out, so we had to settle for a chat on the towpath. Then, just as I was climbing into my going to the doctor clothes, Sheila's sister-in-law, Jennie, rang to say that they'd been able to get hold of a copy of the Shropshire Star in which Phil Hynds article about us had appeared.

When I got back from having a nurse stick needles in my arm, I found a comment on the canals list that led me to the web version of the same article – it's not at all bad, with only minor errors, which is a relief.

Then it was off to the pub for lunch – a merry session which went on until 3 o'clock, just about. A quiet remainder of the afternoon followed, while we ran the engine and did a washload.

Today was a complete contrast. We wanted to get down to Horninglow on the other side of Burton to pump out and water, and then come back to moor at Shobnall for the night, as we have optician's appointments tomorrow.

We woke early without having to set the heating to come on, and were away just after eight. It was a fairly uneventful trip, though the canal is noticeably busier than the last time we were down here less than a fortnight ago – the 'cruising season' has clearly started.

As we got to Horninglow, just after 11.30,a Canaltime was manoeuvring onto the service point, so I winded Sanity at the other end of the moorings, and we waited patiently on the towpath for them to finish.

However, whilst their water tank was filling, three of the crew went off across the road bridge in the direction of Burton town centre. Oh well, we thought, they've left two behind – no doubt they will move the boat off the service mooring when they've finished.

But oh no – they filled the tank, wound up the hose, and disappeared into the boat. Sheila trolled over there, and was told that the other three, the older members of the crew, had gone to the pub for lunch, and the two left behind, being younger (we're talking twenties here) weren't allowed to move the boat.

"Do you want me to fetch someone?" asked the young man.

"Well, yes" replied Sheila.

After a further wait, one of the others came back from the pub and rather grumpily moved the boat onto the towpath.

All in all, it was 12.30 before we could start operations ourselves. Let me be clear, I don't expect first time hirers to be skilled in boat handling or in the lore of the cut, but if you are tied at a place which says in big letters "Mooring for Services only", it's just discourteous to go off to the pub when you can see someone else waiting to use the facilities.

By 1.15, we had finished up, and pulled across onto the towpath ourselves to get a late lunch

After that we followed a couple of other boats back up Dallow Lane Lock and tied at Shobnall. I popped into the chandlery to pick up the light switches we ordered the other day, together with a replacement for the duff LED bulb we bought there last time. I also got a couple of bags of coal.

At this time of year, it's a bit of a gamble. We don't want to run out before the weather warms up properly, but on the other hand, we don't want to be left with bags and bags of coal on the roof all summer. All they had was Taybrite – not my favourite smokeless fuel, but a lot better than nothing.