Storm and Dentist bound at Alrewas

11th & 12th March

Yesterday dawned bright and breezy again, like so many mornings this month. Sheila went off to the dentist first thing, and duly returned repaired, scaled and polished (well, her teeth were). At 10.45 we were waiting in the car park of the William IV for the start of the Tuesday morning walk, which set off in good time.

We went down river to below Wychnor Lock, then followed a route along minor roads to a track which leads back to St Leonard's Church by the Wychnor moorings, and so back along the towpath to Alrewas.

On the way, Will Chapman and I spent much of the time discussing the Save Our Waterways campaign, and exchanging gossip about the other volunteer groups involved with the canals and rivers of the UK.

This continued to a degree during our pub lunch as well, partly as a result of which I agreed to become involved in the SOW committee – just hope it doesn't become too much of a boar (bore) (sorry).

Back at the boat, despite our best endeavours, Sheila and I dozed off for a while. Elanor dropped in on her way back from work – she's still feeling doped by her antihistamine meds, but had got through the day on caffeine.

It became progressively stormier during the evening, and as a result we both had a restless night. The wind was rocking the boat around even more than on Sunday, and although neither of us had much anxiety about the situation, just the noise was enough to keep us awake for a good bit of the time.

As a result, today was a quiet day. It was my turn to see the dentist, this time about the tooth I broke before Christmas. As I expected, it needs a crown, so I'll be going back on Monday, and then again in a fortnight's time.

Elanor looked in for lunch, and afterwards I went for yet another walk in the wind. It's very exhilarating to walk in such a storm – no rain, plenty of sun, and masses of gusty wind. I went round a cross country route from Alrewas to Fradley Junction, and so back along the towpath.

Tomorrow we're boating again, down towards Burton with the aim of pumping out at Horninglow on Friday, so I should have some more to write next time.