To the Fox and Anchor

It's been another decent day's boating, though it got quite chilly towards the end of the cruise. Never mind, tomorrow looks better. We've come on to the Fox and Anchor at Coven. When we were nattering to them yesterday, Dave and Sandy commented on the narrow channel left by a boat tied on the No Mooring section above the lock at Gailey. It's always a bit of a scrum here, what with loads of Viking ABC UK Boat Hire boats, the water point, the winding hole with a service wharf in it and boats coming into and out of the lock, so putting another boat there makes it even trickier:

Ho hum. Sheila hovered Sanity Again whilst two hire boats came through, then off we went.

It was a steady chug round the chemical works at Four Ashes, then past several boats at one of our other favourite moorings at Long Moll's Bridge. The pub at Hatherton Junction is now closed until further notice, which is a shame; last time through they were still promising that it was going to be done up.

There's loads of room here at the Fox and Anchor. After lunch we walked into Coven village for some more topping up type supplies. The Co-op here is much smaller than the one at Penkridge, though the walk to it is a little shorter and on the level. Mind you, you have to cross a busy road to get there.

We got just some of the stuff we wanted, posted the contracts for Walnut Lodge back to Mercia and got some greengroceries at the sort of farm shop come deli that is The Allotment.

It's been a quiet afternoon otherwise. Internet access seems a bit dodgy here; loads of signal strength but from time to time the connection just stops responding, both on T-mobile and on 3.

Tomorrow, onward to Autherley and onto the Shroppie, aiming for Brewood, where we might well stop for a couple of days.