White rabbit time

Oh my ears and whiskers, I'm late…

This is because we've just passed a very pleasant afternoon on board Eleventh Heaven, catching up with Chris and Les.

We'd had a quick run from Deptmore; Sanity Again is moving very nicely through the water here. Either this is because we've now got the right prop in the right place, or because CRT have been dredging along here or a bit of both. At one point Sheila was actually breaking the speed limit by doing 4.2 mph and had to ease back on the throttle.

All three locks, Shutt Hill, Park Gate and Longford were with us. We saw just a couple of boats coming the other way and had no trouble finding a mooring in our usual spot below Penkridge Lock. Not stopping for a coffee we nipped into the village and got the usual bread, paper and so on. There's now a Sainsbury's Local in Penkridge as well as the good sized Co-op, so lots of shopping choice. The best bread still comes from Jasper's, the really traditional baker – I had to queue for about ten minutes just to get into the shop, so busy were they.

After lunch and my post prandial doze we set out for a walk and to see if we could find Eleventh Heaven. They were tied above Filance Lock; the boat was all locked up when we passed, but her crew had returned as we came back from the limit of our stroll to Otherton Boat Haven.

As I said, we then spent the rest of the afternoon with them, scoffing Victoria sponge and quaffing cups of tea.

As soon as I've done this it'll be time to get the dinner sorted and some beers opened, so forgive me if I'm not spending loads of time here.

/wahaha

Tomorrow, onwards to Gailey. Or gaily onwards, I guess.

Sorry, couldn't resist it, must be the sponge.