Oh look, it's Fradley!

Thinking about it last night, we reckoned that arriving at Fradley between half ten and half eleven would maximise our chances of getting a mooring, and that it would take us around 90 minutes to get there. Accordingly, we decided to set out at nine this morning.

This all worked out, but only just. As we got ready to go, a small convoy of two Anglo Welsh boats came past, and I was just about to let go of the stern line after they'd gone when Sheila pointed out another boat approaching in the distance. I decided to let this one go by as well – I hate jumping out in front of another boat, even if it's quite a way away.

In the event, by the time we got to Woodend, there were five boats waiting to go down, so we had to hang about a bit. Sheila, whose day it was to lockwheel, found herself getting plenty of exercise assisting the other boats before it was our turn.

No matter, it was a glorious day, sunny and calm if a bit chilly, so we weren't too bothered. As may be imagined, we had a bit of a procession down the Fradley locks as well, though the Anglo Welsh flotilla and the privateer, Everso, turned onto the Coventry when they got to the junction.

A Shakespeare hire boat came out of Junction Lock as we approached and left it open for us; it proved to be crewed by a couple we'd met during the Braidbar Open Day.

It was now a bit after eleven, and there was just one 70 foot space on the moorings into which we popped. A few boats left after we'd arrived, so there continued to be spaces until after lunch, though they've all filled up now.

Having eaten, I walked down to Alrewas, partly to get some exercise and partly to get a paper (this is especially important on a Saturday because of the giant general knowledge crossword). I took the chance to look at the river (well down in the green) and the state of the moorings. There was a lot of space, especially above Bagnall and on the 14 day mooring between Kent's and Gallows bridges, so we should be OK tomorrow. We'll set out at about half nine, to allow any hire boats that have stopped for the night to get away.

Elanor will be meeting up with us, hopefully with our mega Ocado order. We'll stay there until Thursday (I have a blood test on Tuesday and Sheila has an appointment on Wednesday), then head on to Mercia; there's an end of season party on Friday night in the marina that we'd like to get to.

/wahaha