And relax..

Sunday 21st May, and nothing to do. A lie in and a few jobs around the boat. Gin and tonic on the stern deck with our neighbours,  Susan and Clive from nb Carpe Duem, soaking up the sunshine.

At 4pm it was time to drop the marquee. Many hands make light work.

Then a huge heap of salad for dinner, and out for a walk to stretch our legs. By now quite a few of the Explorers have slipped away and the remainder, apart from us, on Monday.

So I had an early start to get back to Llandudo for an appointment that couldn't be shifted. On the way to the station, I saw the canal was very low and told CRT about it

It shouldn't look like that!

Meanwhile Andrew was off walking to a distant B&Q which turned out to be close to our mooring 10 days ago: Coombeswood Basin. When he came back we had the moorings all to ourselves. 

I was able to get an earlier set of trains to return - just as well, since the original one was delayed. We soon realised that we were stuck on the bottom and, having dipped the depth along the  towpath to verify the same problem all along the edge, decided to go for an evening cruise.

Brilliant friends to the last, as soon as the last remaining boater heard us on the move he tumbled out to help us work the 6 locks onto the main line. Many thanks Francis! 

It was a lovely evening, despite the freshening breeze, and it was good to be back on deeper water.  We had three more locks, a tunnel and 5 miles to go to Ladywood Wharf in Central Birmingham.  It was a slow motion race with the sun.

Once at the moorings at half 8,  we were somewhat depressed that they were full. Until we recognised one of our friends from the Explorer cruise, who let us moor alongside them (breasted up is the proper term). Hurrah!

It had been a long day and we were happy to go to roost.