Narrowboat Vegvisir

And we're on the move. A really early start, at 6.30am, pushing through a large squadron of Canada geese on a blustery morning. The weather was due to deteriorate, and we had 8 hours and 12 locks on the day's programme. We were soon at Tixall Wide with the Gatehouse looking lovely in the sunshine. We passed the point where the Stafford River way group are trying to get the River Penk navigable for boats to reach the centre of Stafford. A marina is being built as a first step and revenue producer. Wish them luck! At each lock there would be a short queue in each direction as everyone got moving again: more sociable crews exchanging news and gossip. The weather increasingly squally with some real downpours. The offending lock is safely negotiated. Heading in the right direction then. And very glad indeed to stop at 15:07 with another long slog tomorrow. And good...

Plan A being out of the window, we have Plan B.. go via the Staffs and Worcs in hopes that Otherton Lock will be fixed quickly.. or Plan C.. burn next Wednesday's rehearsal and commitments for stewarding and singing at the start of the Conwy Festival, and go all the way back to Birmingham and Wolverhampton, to get to the Shroppie. Not ideal. A few more bits before heading into the countryside. A double rainbow! So good to get moving again.  Bye bye mooring from, at last, the other direction. Quite a few boats on the move so locks were sociable affairs, as crews mingled so help eachother through. Supervised in one case by a Muscovy duck keeping a close eye on proceedings. Back in close company with the trainline, we found a lovely mooring at one of the few spots on this section where the canals and rails separate. Only a mile or so north of the junction where we must decide our route. Under the bridge or straigh...

What an excellent evening yesterday.. Good friends, conversation, food and drink. Thursday is an absolute rest day, nothing planned to do except some admin. I went for a wander and inevitably found an old trackway. You can see why it's called Redhill! which took me high above the town. On my return, via MnS Foodhall I had some crumbs from a packet of Ryvita finished today, chucked them over the side, where they were pounced upon by some young moorhens.  Vocal in their appreciation! The rest of the family can be seen coming in at speed, and what looked to me little more than dust was soon disposed of. Friday, Andrew was off to deal with home and family needs while I boat sat. A good opportunity to yomp up to the laundrette although quite hot. Crossing the R. Trent on the old bridge instead of the new one, I could see the canoe course set out. We have been running scenarios  whether to continue up the Trent and Mersey a...