Moving along

We've done a regular day's boating today, setting off from Taft Wharf at eight and getting to the shopping mooring in Rugeley 45 minutes later. We had to go through the bridge to moor as there was an old, unconverted Josher occupying most of the straighter mooring on the north side. It was only tied by its centreline, which made getting past from the narrows before it interesting, but I managed without disgracing myself.

We got a serious shop done at Tesco, went back to the boat to offload, then had another trip into town. Main stuff was done in Wilko's and Morrisons, the latter for their new wheat, spelt and rye loaf and two of their delicious pasties.

Off we went again, Sheila steering and your correspondent stowing the goodies once we'd got clear of the constricted bit past the moorings and through the first bridges. I'd just about finished as we reached the Ash Tree club moorings, so I went on the bow to see Sheila through the bridge hole and dogleg in the canal.

We stopped on the water point at the start of the Spode long term moorings. We only stayed long enough to fill to the three quarter level as Peggy O'Neill was waiting behind us. We'll fill again at Fradley having run a wash load on the way.

Time was now getting on, so we decided to stop in Handsacre. There was a goodly amount of traffic coming the other way; by the time we'd passed Armitage Tunnel, there were three boats queuing on the far side.

There was plenty of room beyond the Crown at Handsacre; we've tied a bit beyond the pub moorings, about half way between the bridge and the winding hole. Here we've been loafing after lunch, frankly. We had one bit of excitement when a privateer, reversing to get into the space in front of us with perhaps more enthusiasm than prudence, picked up a hay net on their prop and suddenly found that they couldn't slow down or manoeuvre.

Their stern hit our bow rubbing strake a right clang, leaving a chunk of the paint from their tunnel band decorating the blacking. Comastic beats yacht enamel every time. They were very apologetic and produced the remains of the hay net as proof of their difficulties.

Terry Robertson of TR Training says that the most frequent word on his lips is "gently"; if you don't hurtle about with the throttle well open, things go much more smoothly even when in difficulties.