On to Wheaton Aston

It's been another day that went reasonably to plan. Last night we slept with the bedroom Houdini open on the cork for the first time this year, and were glad that we'd done so as it got very stuffy in the middle of the night. We opened the doors right through the boat to create a bit of a through draught and that worked well enough to let us get back to sleep.

This morning, with not far to go and a pump out to get at Countrywide Cruisers, we made a leisurely start. I ambled into the village for the usual reason and got back to the boat to find Sheila setting it up ready to go. It was her turn to steer, so she took us down to the yard where we tied on a vacant bit of wharf.

No one seemed to be about, so I rang the office number again and said we'd arrived. They're friendly folk there; the place hasn't changed hands but there are no signs or anything to say that they're trading. No matter, we had a reasonable pump out for £15 and were on our way just after ten.

I got a washload started and by eleven we'd reached Wheaton Aston lock. We'd been following Margarita; I helped lock her down and then worked Sanity Again down. With the washing machine still chugging away we went onto the water point and sat there filling the tank whilst the load finished.

Then we pulled forward onto the visitor moorings. We've taken about the last one in the open before the bridge, opposite the winding hole. It feels very odd to be tied in that position, but it's clearly marked as 48 hour moorings. The hole is very deep, so presumably boats can get round even with one tied on the towpath opposite.

After lunch we took a walk along the towpath to see what the situation was through the bridge. We noted that Turner's garage is presently selling red diesel at 73.9 ppl. There were several spaces along there, as well as both Margarita and Dances with Dragons. It's still limited to 48 hours though. This is a shame as we'd really have liked to put in an extra couple of days here. Instead we'll probably stop out in the country somewhere on Saturday and go on to Gnosall Heath for Sunday and Monday.