Back on track

After our diversion up to Coventry, we're back on the well worn track that joins our two usual stamping grounds of Poynton and Alrewas/ Fradley to Crick. We needed to top up the water tank, so at half seven pulled out of the basin onto the water point just outside. It's a good pressure there, so we were soon on our way again. We stopped at Bridge 8 to visit the mammoth Tesco Extra; there is a bit of Armco piling on the Hawkesbury side of the bridge, and it's then a few minutes walk to get to the front of the store.

There is a walking route signed from some mooring rings further along, but if you use those, you end up having to walk all the way past the Ricoh Arena. We didn't feel altogether easy about leaving the boat unattended, so Sheila stayed on anchor watch whilst I raided the store. Fortunately, having done some shopping at Sainsbury's yesterday, one load was enough.

After that, it was just a superb day's boating in glorious sunshine at last. We paused at Sutton's Stop (aka Hawkesbury) to dump rubbish and recycling, then plodded steadily on down the North Oxford. There are lots of boats about on this stretch, so rather than hoping to find a mooring in Ansty as originally planned, we've stopped a bit short, on a chance found bit of piling a little way before the M69 crosses the canal.

Sheila had run a washload as we went, so that's drying on the whirligig now. It's a month since I last topped up the batteries, and of course the bank was now well charged, what with the solar panel charging it yesterday and the longish run today, plus more solar panel input as we ate lunch.

Once more, the process couldn't have been easier. It took a lot longer to get the pressure vessel out from its storage under the side berth and to lift the relevant engine boards than to top up 24 cells. They took a bit of water, just enough to suggest that a monthly top up would be a sensible routine, so I've set iCal on the Mac to remind me to do it.

I forgot to mention that we finally did the seasonal clothes swap yesterday; Sheila's been in shorts all day today, and after I've showered this afternoon, I might even leave my vest off.

/blush