On to the Anchor

We didn't want to start too soon this morning as there was little point in getting to Boot Wharf before they opened, so it was just on eight when we set off. It being Sheila's turn to steer, I divided my time between making coffee, tidying up the recycling and keeping a look out. Although neither as windy or wet as had been forecast, it wasn't terribly inviting outside, so a fair bit of the looking out was done from within, through the bow doors.

Charity Dock was looking its usual weird mess, partly entertaining in the use of old mannequins and other props, partly just disgusting as a marine junkyard. You feel sorry for the people living in the houses across the cut from it.

There was a gaggle of lurking type boats just before Marston Junction, including one that had comprehensively sunk. It's always been a bit of a spot for such boats, though usually on the other side of the junction.

Things didn't go quite to plan when we got to Boot wharf, as they were craning boats in. Seemingly, Thursday is their day for swapping over the boats they've had out for blacking, so not a good time to go for a pump out. We carried on through the chaos and out the other side and went to Springwood Haven instead. Here we paid £18 for an adequate but not special pump out. We could have tried to hang on until Fazeley Mill, but that might have meant doing an extended day or two, so an extra three quid seemed worth it to avoid the hassle.

There was plenty of room here at the Anchor Inn when we arrived just a bit before noon. After lunch, we had a walk along the towpath to Hartshill, where there were more boats but still spaces – June is a good time for visiting some of these more popular waterways. When we got back, Des and Gill on Farne had tied behind us, so we'll get a bit more socialising in tonight. ;)

Tomorrow, down Atherstone, stopping to shop between locks 5 and 6 as usual, then probably on down to spend the night between 9 and 10.

Location:Hartshill

On we go

Today's weather was forecast to be an OK start, turning seriously grotty later. We wanted to get a pump out and diesel at Boot Wharf, so set off just after half seven. In the event, we took a bit longer than usual for this section, being held up first by a short privateer, who however stopped by where the Navigation Inn used to be at Bedworth, and then by a very slow moving ABC hireboat.

We weren't in a desperate rush, so apart from the mild frustration of not being able to take advantage of the deeper water between Suttons and Bedworth it wasn't a big deal. Arriving at Boot just after half nine, we were expeditiously dealt with (72 ppl and any declaration) and on our way by ten. Sheila took over the steering and I started another washload running.

By a quarter to twelve we were approaching Hartshill in a rising wind and with rain threatening, so decided to call it a day. We'd no sooner tied on the towpath beyond the official visitor moorings, well away from the road bridge, than it did indeed start to precipitate. Since then it's been very windy; we've had to move the broom and the spare boat hook down off the roof into the well deck to stop them blowing away. Sally's water bowl was already in the well deck and startlingly suddenly rolled around it. It's been stowed in the bow locker.

So it's been an afternoon for browsing the internet, spending money and catching up with crosswords. I've carried out our plan to buy an unlocked iPhone 5c on eBay, a factory recon unit with a new battery. When we get into Derby next week, I'll get 3 to change the SIM for a nano one and go over to using the new phone. May I never have to wrestle with Androids again!

Frustratingly, Canal World has been offline all day; it looks as if they have a major problem there. More reassuringly, CRT have confirmed via a stoppage notice that Lock 6 at Atherstone has reopened after the problems with the top gate were fixed on Saturday.

Tomorrow we'll head on down that flight, stopping to shop at Aldi as we go, and aim to finish at Alvecote. A longish day by our standards but one which pretty well gets us back into the local waters for Mercia.

The wurst of times

... are improved by eating sausages :)

We'd bought some bratwurst in Lidl in Hinckley the other day; I grilled them during yesterday afternoon and we had a couple each, cold, with salad last night. They were very good, better I fear than the home made sausages we got from the Market Bosworth butcher. Those were very fatty, full of water and cooked poorly.

The German jobs were solid with meat and extremely tasty. We had the remaining two of the six in sandwiches for lunch.

We needed a pump out and diesel today, so I'd taken the precaution of checking the website for Star Line Cruisers at Boot Wharf. This confirmed firstly that they were open seven days a week and secondly that they started business at half eight each day.

So we got going before half seven, Sheila steering. Another skilled passage of the junction was performed under the eye of a fisherman and a bloke tending his allotment and we got to Boot Wharf just on half eight.

Where a sign informed us that they now open from ten to four on a Sunday.

Aaargh.

We did think of carrying on to Springwood Haven, but the diesel at Starline was only 86 ppl for domestic and we knew that they accept any declared split. We tied on the service mooring and settled down to wait, catching up with emails and reading.

Folk duly turned up at ten and took a mere three quarters of an hour to do the business. They are very friendly and chatty at Boot Wharf.

Off we went again, aiming for Hartshill or beyond. Passing Springwood, the wisdom of our decision to stay with Starline was confirmed; they were shut. As it turned out, when we got to Hartshill there was plenty of space just before the first bridge, so we tied there, it now being gone twelve and the washload nearly finished.

We've had a quiet afternoon; the 3 connection is a bit slow just here, but the T-mobile one seems fine.

Tomorrow, we'll go down Atherstone, shop at Aldi and the Co-op (better bread) and tie somewhere on the way to Polesworth.