Thursday 26 April 2018

Across the summit to Compton

I've said before that the Staffs and Worcs summit south of Coven Heath is not our favourite bit of canal – it's very like the BCN of which it is effectively the western boundary, running mostly through deep cuttings with a plethora of bridges of various sorts, road, rail and pipe, crossing it.

We made the first of our flying starts this trip, taking tea in bed, admittedly, then Sheila set off whilst I breakfasted before taking over to let her feed. Once that was done, there was time to get the washing machine going as we approached and started through the Rockin'. No boats coming the other way this time, so it was a fairly uneventful run.

The weather was a bit spiteful during the morning with a cold wind and occasional showers of a thin, mean rain. At last, Compton lock hove into view. I worked us down and we chose to come right through the road bridge onto the generous length of visitor moorings beyond.

We were all alone at first, then were joined by one other boat. After an early coffee, we walked back to the bridge and onto the road to the Sainsbury's Local shop to top up the supplies. I then returned to the boat whilst Sheila went in search of a haircut. There's a new salon right next to where we are moored which gave Sheila a 20% discount as it was her first time.

That brought the price down to what she would have paid in Derby...

This afternoon we turned out and tidied the engine room, including the steering step box. As a result, I found the bottle of Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure I was sure I had bought sometime but couldn't find. It was in a Midland Chandlers bag together with a wodge of oil absorbing mats, so I think I must have got it in last October's Freaky Friday, shoved it in the step and forgotten about it.

Feeling all virtuous, we took ourselves for a walk along the towpath past Wightwick Mill lock and Wightwick lock to the road bridge beyond, then ambled back. Several boats appeared as we did so and have tied around us, so that the moorings are quite full at half past four. Coming back, we found a path through the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, making a pleasant woodland ramble and ending up on the road just the other side of Compton bridge, next to the Tiger Wok Thai and Chinese Restaurant and Takeaway.

That reminds me to report on our meal at the Anchor Inn last night. It's still part of the Vintage Inns group but has had a thorough makeover. It's very pleasant and the Doom Bar was good but the food was no more than OK. In particular, my venison steak was distinctly chewy and had clearly been left on the pass for some time as it was not much more than warm. Not good value for £17.50.

Sheila's steak and mushroom pie was much better, though again the meat was on the chewy side, not what you expect in a pie, and it was a very basic production, shoved into a bowl and some puff pastry put on top.

Not quite at the complaining stage, but we won't be going back.

We'll sit tight tomorrow, probably, as the forecast is for heavy rain all day.



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