Feels a kinda slow week

In reality it hasn't been, it's just felt it. 

After getting back Sunday evening from my painting course I set about consolidating some of my notes and trying to source some of the advised items from Phil, nothing exciting, just some of the basics that he has always used. 

I was hoping that there'd be a couple of decent decorators in Tamworth which would be our destination in a few days. One of the things I wanted was a brush mate, a clever little box with it's chemical sachet that stops used brushes that are hung in it from curing. It keeps a wet painted brush wet for it's next coat of paint. Looking at places in Tamworth the cheapest listed on websites was £28. For £17 I could get one from eBay and have it delivered to Argos for collection. I'd have preferred bought local but a day trekking around different shops just to spend more money wasn't inspiring me. In the end I had all six items that I wanted to buy delivered to Argos in Tamworth ready for our arrival in a few days.

It was looking like a later than intended start to Mondays cruise as Deb had to take the car to Fazeley and get a train back from Tamworth to Stone before meeting me back at the boat. In the end we decided to leave it to an early start on Tuesday morning. 

Tuesday to Great Heywood

Wednesday a quick pit stop in Rugeley and a massive queue getting through the locks in Fradley. We arrived to  the boat in front of us telling us to stop and pull over behind them. 

  "Why I asked" this was about five boats off the visitor moorings at Shade House Lock.

  "They're all in a queue" Mrs boater replied, whilst Mr grew animated on the towpath as they were stuck on a bolder.

  "What ALL of them?" there were probably sixteen boats that I could see. "What even the ones pointing the wrong way?"

I really didn't want to get grounded on a blowy day so I said we'd go on ahead and breast up with another boat and wave them through. As it transpired, three of the ones in front had managed to get a mooring spot and said they'd stay the night and, funnily enough all the ones pointing the wrong way had no intention of locking down so there were just eight of us in the queue. 

So a fairly decent pace from Great Heywood to saw us waiting over two hours to get through Fradley. We filled the water tank on the Coventry Canal and called it a day just passed Huddlesford Junction, at a nice mooring with wide grassy towpath and low evening sun... sadly right on top of a wasp nest. We soon shifted on a bit and had a fresh smelling farm for company. 

Thursday to Fazeley Junction close to the now empty Peels Wharf and back to the car. And now we've moved on just around the corner to the Tame Aqueduct so we can get some noisy boat jobs (sanding/prepping/painting) done without disturbing the residents of the flats we were moored opposite. 

One of my favourite events next weekend, The Alvecote Big Weekend... Historic boat gathering, bands, food and drink at the Samuel Barlow and of course a handful of us selling our wares.

Boatwise - Paul has been busy with other pre planned jobs in the yard for the last week or so. A New bow thruster tube (sounds like the other one was days from failing and sinking the boat) and a repaired boat for a fellow trader. He's back on it now so we'll go up for a visit some time next week before he sets off for Alvecote. 

In other news Dudley is spending his last day with his gonads tomorrow. We've tried explaining to him but I'm not sure he's understood. It'll come as a bit of a shock as he'll be going to his favourite squeaky toy shop vets, I wonder if the experience will put him off it at all.

Moored on a wasp nest

And quickly moved on a bit to a very 'fresh' farm

Opposite Peels Wahrf

Around the corner to a less built up bit

One day left with my whats?