Summery boating

It’s been another genuinely summery day; a bit cool when the breeze blows, but very warm in the sun when it doesn’t. We really set off too early by leaving at ten past seven. We’d originally planned to wait until half seven, but thought that if there were a lot of boats moving we might get held up a bit at the locks.

It’s normally three hours from Branston to Alrewas, but as luck would have it, all the locks were with us and it was a good hour before we saw any other boats on the move. It being my turn to steer, Sheila made short work of the locking.

(Note to Tom Jones on Waiourou: it’s lock wheeling, not wheel locking. Wheelock’s a place on the Cheshire Locks).

As we approached Wychnor more boats started appearing, and by the time we were passing the Wychnor moorings there was a steady stream of them coming the other way. Clearly a queue had built up above Alrewas lock. I had a tricky encounter with one on the river section, just as I rounded the corner by the weir. The reeds are well grown out into the river, so I was swinging wide round them when Sheila called from the bow to say that a boat was coming downstream.

With the current pushing it the wrong way, the bow was very reluctant to come round quickly, even under hard helm and lots of engine. We made it eventually, but it really would help if CRT would cut those reeds back to make more room on the bend.

We had to wait below the river lock for Thistle to work down, but then found a mooring immediately above, by what used to be Rebel’s field. We’ve shopped and loafed to some effect, taking the opportunity to chat to Andy and Lyra the pooch of old acquaintance; they’re moored above Bagnall.

Later in the afternoon our mooring neighbour from Mercia, Geoff, came by on Black Pearl; we worked him down the lock and then stayed there to help a couple of other boats through.

All in all, a very good day’s boating. I just hope that the gardening goes as well tomorrow, though the forecast for the afternoon looks a bit wet…

/no