A Heritage Pump-out

With about 90 minutes boating to do today, we didn't even start getting ready to leave until half eight and were underway at quarter to nine. Sheila steered on a cool but bright day – apparently we are due a mini heatwave later this week. There were a few boats on the move, though not as many as we'd expected, given that a lot of people not bound by school holidays like to get out on the cut in September. It was a very pleasant bit of boating. The canal here is not spectacular but highly picturesque.

The toilet tank was around two thirds full, so probably wouldn't last until we get back to Mercia, especially if we take an extra day or two. There are a number of pump-out opportunities on the way, but none so good as the Heritage yard at the end of the Macc. The service wharf is easy to tie to and the pump-out, though a bit pricey at £17, is second to none for the quality of the rinse.

Alan that does the pumping is a former Braidbar owner, having sold Dreams Fulfilled earlier this year, so we had a good old natter with him as he ran quantities of water through the tank. Finally it was coming through as clear as might be expected and we settled up and set off again.

We got to Hall Green just on half eleven and had a bit of a relax until lunchtime. Since then, I've sorted a poor connection in the supply to the lamp we stand on the slide in tunnels and we've had a quick trip to the Co-op at Scholar Green. We didn't buy much –it's a fairly basic Co-op – but enough to keep us going until we shop at Sainsbury's tomorrow.

The plan is to top up the water tank whilst we breakfast in the morning, get through the tunnel and on to Etruria for the night.