and so to Fradley

After another relaxed start, we ambled along the Trent and Mersey on a glorious morning, with remarkably little traffic coming the other way.

Down Woodend we went, and on to Shade House, where we found Seyella tied on the visitor moorings. Geoff kindly came out and gave us a hand down the first two locks, which gave us time for a punctuated natter.

There was just the one 70 foot space below Junction Lock when we got here, but numbers of boats have moved on since; it seems everyone has been making a lazy day of it. Braidbar 52, Maid of the Mist, is also tied here, and has been for a few days seemingly. How come some people get away with it?

We had a chat with her owner, but didn't discover the secret. It's not good when it seems some get away with it and others don't. At this time of year, with things getting busier, everyone really should play by the rules.

It's continued to be pleasantly warm, and sunny most of the time, sufficiently so that we've got out some short sleeved shirts and stuff, and put away the thermal undies. We also sampled the ice creams now available from The Swan; very good.

Our cruising plans may be complicated by the news that there's to be a stoppage on the North Oxford at Ansty from the 9th to the 19th of May, demolishing a bridge belonging to Punch Taverns that they've been neglecting. As long as it runs to time, or finishes early (which is the intention) it shouldn't prevent us from getting to Crick on time, but it will make the hire yards' lives very difficult, I guess.