On to Hatherton

Despite a bit of a broken night, we still managed to get going by half six, Sheila steering while I loafed in bed drinking tea and then got up and breakfasted. Thus refreshed, I took over the helm whilst Sheila got her grub, and she finished just in time to work Sanity Again through the stop lock at Autherley, or Cut End as it was known.

All was calm and peaceful around Pendeford, and we only saw a few early fishermen about. Another advantage of the early start was that there was no traffic coming the other way through the Rockin'. We've seen our first ducklings today, a bit later than folk further south.

The weather remained very sunny, but chilly, and the wind slowly strengthened until it was a bit of a nuisance, both for steering the boat and in terms of chill factor on the steerer. After around three and a half hours, we reached Hatherton, by which time the holiday makers had got themselves on their way, and things were getting busy. We'd planned to stop at Long Moll's bridge just north of Hatherton again, but the wind direction would have been from the water treatment plant (aka sewage farm) to the moorings, so we've stopped here at Hatherton instead.

After tying and sorting out, ham and cheese toasties were consumed, breakfast having been a while ago.

At Cut End, there was the usual pile of detritus collected from the bywash, including a large pallet which Sheila chucked into the well deck. She spent the rest of the morning cutting it up, along with the few bits of driftwood we'd acquired recently, so that we are now well supplied with kindling.

We've further improved the shining hour by washing the port side of the boat, so we're feeling quite virtuous. Just as I was about to settle down and write this, the guy from the boat behind pointed out that when our bilge pump ran, a bit of diesel emerged with the water and floated colourfully off down the canal.

Investigation showed that a joint in the leak off pipe was weeping just a tad, and dripping into the stern bilge. I've nipped it up, and run the engine to check that it now seems to be nice and dry.

Tomorrow, on through Gailey to Penkridge, Sheila steering and your correspondent locking.