Small milk churn I completed for Sawley Marina the other week - it's in their window!
Martin and I had left Whittington weeks before and arrived at Fradley unscathed, ready to meet Richard with the car. During that time we had found out that Martin had got his posh engineering job near Oxford, so dutifuly we had celebrated with a HUGE takeaway chinese from Lichfield.
Martin with Lister 'on his knee' and asleep - he forgets he has back legs!
Leapfrogging the car became something of a bore for me, as I wanted to be back in the boats helping. Richard had booked a day off and started to move the boats with Martin down through the locks at Fradley.
Coming through into Alrewas village, I walked ahead to prepare the next lock down onto the river section.
Parking the car at Alrewas, I walked half way back to Fradley in time to meet the boats as they had completed Common Lock, so I was too late, but at least we knew we were all ok.
A miserable day, hence the hi vis - but the river was behaving after all the rain - for the minute!
The heavens opened, as we bid our farewells at Alrewas lock. I watched as the boats sailed into a lovely storm and guiltily jumped back into my heated car to meet them next at Barton Turns, about 3 miles away.
The boys relaxing - Lister with his nose wedged against the metal door frame.... they have also swapped beds
I joined the crew and we carried on through Burton on Trent to moor overnight at Willington. Richard had arranged to meet his brother Ian there for a lift back to Barton to fetch the car, for work the next day.
Stenson Lock - me on my own to do the boats - I hate that lock it's so deep!
Martin and I did the next section of canal on our own again, a little more confident, but knowing there were some horrible deep locks in our path! Stenson was first, and I let a couple of boats go past before I had enough courage to get it done! The big boat went in and then I dropped the cross-straps one by one to swing the butty in. And it went in a dream, (better than Richard!) and we dropped down the lock slowly and cautiously.
Safely out of the lock we composed ourselves!
Separating the boats coming out of the lock, I cross-strapped again and aimed for the towpath to pick Martin up. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that damn bywash (we had had a lot of rain and it was running well) and ended up in the trees. Martin managed to vault across to get on the stern of the butty and I floored it to regain the correct line for the boats.
I love this sign - makes me chuckle everytime we come past!
I had decided by this time that we would call it a day and moor before the next big lock at Swakestone - what a chicken! Richard met us there with the car for another day off the next day.
Nearing Sawley cut and thank fully the river was still in the 'green'
Richard was pushing to get the boats safely to Sawley where we had booked moorings, before the river came right up, as it did only the next day! I had leapfrogged the car again to Shardlow, helped them through the Clockhouse lock and then met them at Sawley.
Floyd aficionados will understand the irony in the proximity of the blue boat! In good company.
So here we are, probably for the winter, depending on Richard's work. Next on the list, finish creating my new website and then ...... stretching the butty. Now that will be an adventure.......
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