Back on the usual beat

Although as continuous cruisers we don't have a permanent base, the area around Fazeley/Fradley/Alrewas is the centre of our cruising as it's where we have our doctor and dentist, and is close to Elanor's home in Burton. Thus it was with the nearest we get to a feeling of heading for home that we find ourselves back on the Sutton Road Bridge moorings.

Mind you, there are a lot of boats here at the moment; the gaggle of lurkers and continuous moorers who drift about this area all seem to have parked themselves here for the time being. A lot of them used to hang about the Fazeley moorings right outside the BW offices in Peel's Wharf, but more vigorous enforcement action has persuaded them to move away. Possibly as a result, there have recently been reports of problems with petty vandalism and the like on the Fazeley moorings, as there are now fewer occupied boats there.

We've done a bit of Sainsbury's shopping, and Elanor and Sally came to visit this afternoon, bearing supplies of drugs for me and the new PMR radios. I went for a decent walk with them along the towpath whilst Sheila stayed on board dealing with the post. Sally was in cheerful mood, though the present weather is a bit of a trial for a large black dog. There was much drinking of canal water as we went along, interspersed with frog chasing and the like.

Elanor plans to join us for a few days boating later on, which will be good.

Tomorrow, we'll head off gently towards Fradley, probably stopping near the Whittington ranges for the night.