Not stopping to wait for the supermarkets to open on a Sunday morning we set off in good time yesterday and Sheila boated under the A5 and on to the winding hole just before Bonehill Bridge. We'd had some concern that the area might be occupied by fishing persons, but in the event the only (minor) problem was that a privateer (who shall be nameless for two reasons, a) charity and b) I've forgotten it) had moored on the towpath opposite the hole.
Despite this, Sheila performed a master class standard winding, and was returning in the opposite direction before the boat which had set off immediately after us was anywhere near.
There followed an unexceptional but very pleasant morning boating back through Hopwas and Whittington to tie on the visitor moorings on the Fradley side of Huddlesford Junction. On the way we crossed with Peter and Gill on Cala and stopped with the two boats drifting side by side for a hasty exchange of news. This was terminated by the appearance of boats coming in both directions and there was a brief period of mild chaos whilst we all got ourselves sorted out.
After lunch we set off to find a geocache which Sheila had identified from the web site. The cunning plan was to do this before the rain set in, but in the event we spent about as much time sheltering under bridges from seriously heavy showers as we did walking or hunting for the cache.
A micro cache hidden in the middle of a hawthorn hedge, it was quite a challenge to find even though we were very sure we were in the right location. Our combined effort turned it up just as we were about to give it up, so we walked back, still dodging showers, with a great sense of achievement.
The weather now continued wet for most of the rest of the day, which we spent sorting out our nearly final ideas about Sanity Again, and e-mailing them to Peter Mason. I'll do a post on the Building Sanity Again blog just to summarise where we've got to.
Today was one of those when it seemed likely that timing would be moderately critical in whether we found a mooring in Alrewas. The peak holiday season has definitely started, so arriving at popular spots between ten and half eleven is the way to maximise your chances of getting a choice of mooring space.
Fortunately we woke in good time (i.e. before half six) and were under way by half seven. It was a gloriously sunny morning, summer on the cut at its best, and we made steady progress through Streethay to Fradley Junction. There we stopped to water before the swing bridge and did our good turn for the day by lending a tap connector to another boat crew who had just thrown theirs into the water.
Speaking of the swing bridge, it now sports on both sides of the bridge a notice which is either the apogee or the nadir of BW's obsession with signage. It says :
Bridge Operating Instructions
- Open bridge fully
- Move boat through
- Close bridge securely
presumably in case the boater has not worked this out for him or herself. I am tempted to suggest that if this is their estimate of boater intelligence they should start putting lock operating instructions at every lock, but will not do so in case they take me seriously, BW senior management not having a good grasp of the concept of irony.
Water tank full and rubbish disposed of, we joined the merry mêlée descending Junction, Keeper's and Hunt's locks, crossing with boats coming up at each one. Similar conditions obtained at Common and Bagnall locks and we got into Alrewas just after half ten to find that there was indeed a good choice of moorings.
We've had a relaxed afternoon. Sheila has progressed the production of eight 15" porthole doilies by one further doily (two down, six to go) and I did some shopping and visited the post office.
We've had a chat with the current owner of Colne, Braidbar 14, which he tells us is now up for sale for family reasons. It's being sold through King's Bromley Marina if anyone is interested.
Tomorrow we stay at Alrewas to partake in the village walk and to celebrate our thirty-eighth wedding anniversary.
1 comment:
Congratulations!
Mike
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