| This Month's Totals and Average | |||
| 41.92 miles | 0 locks | 17.79 hrs | 2.36 lmph |
Spring cleaning continued throughout, with 'time off' for shopping (getting stores in for Pat arriving on Sunday afternoon), and moving things around to put them back where "the Admiral" prefers them. Drove across to Alrewas on Wednesday to collect the music for October which Rev.Roger had kindly taken in. Turned "Paws" round on Saturday to make it easier to get Pat's bags in through side hatch.
Lovely sunshine on Tuesday turned to windy on Wednesday. Cleared again giving a lovely end to the week.
Woke Monday to the news that the Pope had passed on at the age of 88.
With the blossom on the hawthorn trees (the Maytree) well into bloom, I got started on the spring cleaning (expecting it to take most of the rest of the week in between shopping etc. Mostly dull with occasional sunny patches.
A beautiful sunny day for Easter Sunday. Drove across to Alrewas for the (slightly later) Communion service with Rev.Jo. Stayed chatting with Rupert after the service then headed back to "Paws" for a late lunch and a quiet afternoon.
After a wet and windy night, Saturday morning was slightly brighter, the rain had ceased and the wind was slightly reduced. Drove over to Whittington to support Eric's All-Day Barbeque in aid of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust - very quiet (not surprising considering the weather). Had lunch with them then returned to "Paws" for a quiet remainder to the day.
Sure enough, a dull start to the day. Drove over to Shenstone (SW of Tamworth, but still in Rev.Jo's circuit) to join with the congregations of St John's (CoE) and Trinity (Methodist) for their Walk of Witness around the village. Renewed contact with Rev.Jonathon Iddon (latterly of St Paul's Fazeley) who now has an interim charge at St John's Shenstone. The rain stayed off until we were finished and I was on my way back to "Paws" for a late lunch. A quiet afternoon and evening to the sound of rain on the roof.
Back to the blue skies and sunshine (but for how long?). A morning of pottering, again, then drove across to Alrewas again for the service in the afternoon. The weather started to deteriorate during the evening.
The wind picked up overnight, and there was heavy rain. A dull day for the most part, but brightening towards the end. Generally pottered with routine chores. The Marina staff started the preparations for the tarmacing job due on 28th. Drove across to Alrewas in the evening where All Saints church was showing the 2016 film "Risen" - an interesting different take on the Easter story, from the standpoint of the Roman Tribune tasked with investigating the "disappearance" of the "dead body".
A very mixed bag of weather today, yoyoing between bright and sunny to nearly raining.
Took an easy day physically after pretending to be a contortionist yesterday. Did some research, and booked up for the Festival of Church Music at Coventry Cathedral 11th October (the programme is 11 anthems ranging between old and not-so-old). Music has been arranged - Rev.Roger from Alrewas very kindly being my postbox. Look forward to singing at such a prestigious venue. Did a short trip into Hinckley for perishables, then returned for a quiet end to the day.
A nice start to the day. Got started first thing on the throttle cable - never changed it before. Had a look round both ends, and headed to Willington for the replacement part. A lot of slow traffic and queueing delaying the drive. Item purchased and returned to "Paws".
After lunch, got started again in the engine 'ole. Released the old cable at the Morse lever and connected the new one - all went easily. Not so easy at the engine end where initially I couldn't get the cable disconnected (eventually found the sliding catch which released the threaded end connection). Then I couldn't get the cable securing clamp off - it was held by a bracket attached using screws which had nylock nuts on the back, and no space to get fingers or spanner in! Eventually found a way to do it and the new cable went in easily. Finished the job around 15:00, battered and bruised, and feeling like it had taken about 4 hours (when it was only 1½-hour). Exhausted, sat down with my afternoon cuppie, happy the job was done.
Cloud had increased during the day and the wind had risen, but the rain held off.
Drove across to Alrewas as usual for the service. A lot more cloud today with a little rain, but still some sunshine. After lunch, got the car washed, did some e-paperwork, then got "rabbit-holed" by a genealogy email (will require further investigation).
The batteries in my bedroom clock had died overnight and I didn't notice. Woke and the clock said 7.20 (didn't see the pm after it), but wondered why it was so light. Got up and checked my watch - 09:05! Quick breakfast and on the move (surprisingly by 10:00). Headed to the winding hole and turned, returning northwards for base. The dredging operations were halted again for the weekend, and I met the dredger just north of the railway bridge and noted the barge tucked in at the Battlefield Winding Hole.
Just north of Bridge 37, I suddenly found I had no throttle (in/out of gear was OK). I suspect a broken cable, but limped back to base at tickover, getting in at 12:30. Cleared away the travelling gear then had lunch.
During the afternoon, nipped out for essentials, and emptied the loo, then finished the diary, maps and stats.
| 3.88 miles | 0 locks | 2.1 hrs | 1.79 lmph |
 custom.footpath.walks |
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Another quiet day in the sun, with puzzles and a book. Quite a bit of traffic passing, and new neighbours on the mooring. A lot of walkers on both sides of the cut, some with dogs, others just enjoying the weather.
Woke early to another sunny day. After breakfast, took another walk out to the end of navigation - I'd said I would drop off a BCNS "services" leaflet to "Silver Fox" before I left. Once back aboard, made ready, let go, turned "Paws" round and headed back southwards.
Took a brief stop just south of Bridge 50 and had lunch sitting in the sun with my book.
On the move again, not knowing where I would moor, considering the dredging work. Just north of Shenton, I passed a loaded dumb-barge on its way north to the field they're using for the spoil, then passed the dredger just before the old railway bridge (34a). Nothing around when I reached the Sutton Cheney visitor moorings, and nothing on them. Moored up for the night. Another boat popped in behind, but they were only on an ice-cream stop, and left shortly after. So far, not planning to move tomorrow.
| 10.49 miles | 0 locks | 4.37 hrs | 2.40 lmph |
| latched.unopposed.soon |
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Another beautiful day. Had a long lie then pottered. Early lunch then went for a walk out to the end of navigation. Had a long chat with Pauline & Derek on "Silver Fox" moored at the end - turned out they are BCF members as well. After the chat, headed back to "Paws" for an afternoon cuppie and a quiet end to the day. The internet connection has been poor since arriving.
Forecast of sunshine and light winds for the rest of the week so decided to get out again. A quick trip into Hinckley for a few items to tide me to the weekend, then cleared the rubbish and loo ready for departure. Lunch!
After lunch, prepped for departure and let go just after 12:30. Headed north again past Carlton, Congerstone, Shackerstone and Gopsall, mooring in the same place at the terminus at Snarestone. A lot of newborn lambs in the fields today, and a few of the fields of oilseed rape were well into bloom with their carpet of yellow. Once moored, I also had our first sighting this year of "ickle fuffs" (tiny baby ducklings), perhaps only a day old.
| 6.85 miles | 0 locks | 2.67 hrs | 2.57 lmph |
| shorthand.practical.nerves |
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No lie-in, despite being my birthday (70 today ) - the congratulatory texts started at 07:40! Breakfast, then bed stripped and changed, the dirty stuff into the washing machine before heading into Tamworth for some equipment supplies at B&Q, then lunch at Costa (ventura) . Intended to stop off at the farm shop on the way back, but remembered they are closed on Mondays.
On return to "Paws", put the washing to dry and finally had a quiet end to the day.
I was awake early so there was less rush than usual leaving for church at Alrewas - I was taking one of the readings.
After the service, returned to "Paws" for lunch. Topped up the water then had a quiet afternoon.
Up slightly early for a quick getaway. Decidedly chilly this morning, a moderate breeze and quite a bit of cloud. On the move just before 09:00, returning northwards past Dadlington and Sutton Cheney. No dredging work today (and nobody on the visitor berth). What they have done so far is good. Continued past Shenton with a slight delay for paddle-boarders, then on back to the marina. Even in the short week I've been out, there seems to be more colour in the trees, green and white. It was a little 'hairy' getting onto our berth, but managed without hitting anything (hard). Moored for 11:20, and did all the usual arrival things.
A bit of clearing up inside, then had lunch.
Out by car in the afternoon for shopping at all the supermarkets. Shelves suitably refilled, had an afternoon cuppie, then cleared the loo. A quiet remainder to the afternoon.
| 5.63 miles | 0 locks | 2.28 hrs | 2.47 lmph |
| custom.footpath.walks |
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Slightly cloudier this morning, but still with sunshine (and the cool breeze!). Decided to stay here for the day, before returning to base tomorrow. Got a load of washing done in the morning, then went for a circular walk of the village. Went along the towpath to Bridge 25, dropping in to Ashby Boats (new owners took over today). From there, walked up the hill to the village centre, then back down the opposite hill to the visitor moorings. After lunch, pottered in the galley, then had a quiet end to the day. Far more traffic today and, from no boats, the mooring was full be dinner time.
Up promptly and on the move by 09:15, continuing generally southwards past Dadlington and round Stoke Golding. Winded at Basin Bridge winding hole and returned north round Stoke Golding to the visitor moorings. Moored up, and walked up to the village for milk and a TV paper.
After lunch, worked on the diary, stats and maps, catching back up after yesterday. Decided to stay put for the remainder of the day.
| 4.08 miles | 0 locks | 1.85 hrs | 2.21 lmph |
| wake.treatable.shadows |
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After a full day and two glorious nights, time is up on the mooring. Made ready and was off the berth for 09:30. Turned "Paws" round and returned southwards, through Snarestone Tunnel and past the town visitor moorings. Continued past Gopsall and Shackerstone, mooring again by Bridge 47 near Congerstone. Lunch before moving on again.
After lunch, moved on south past Market Bosworth and Shenton, with the intention of mooring at Sutton Cheney. Arrived at the visitor moorings to find the dredging team working so had to move on. Found a spot just before Geary's Bridge 33 and moored for the night. I had a number of texts and phone calls after this and it was too late to get the diary, stats and maps done before dinner.
| 10.99 miles | 0 locks | 4.45 hrs | 2.47 lmph |
| landed.poems.auctioned |
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After a deafeningly quiet night, where the stars were brilliantly bright (no light pollution), morning dawned sunny again. I decided to take advantage of the 48-hour mooring and stay put for the day. Even at this early stage in the year, the solar panels coped with recharging the overnight usage (although it did take all day). The wind picked up mid-morning, still chilly out of the sun. Received a catch-up call from Kenney while on his way to work. Yesterday's change of owners at the restaurant seemed to go OK, we'll have to see what happens over the coming weeks and months. The remainder of the day, I spent on puzzles and reading.
