| This Month's Totals and Average | |||
| 21.98 miles | 0 locks | 9.32 hrs | 2.36 lmph |
A dull start to the week. Pat decided over breakfast that the planned shopping trip for today would be postponed till tomorrow - she would have a day on 'housework' today, shopping tomorrow, then depart Wednesday.
With the unexpected 'free' day, we drove to Atherstone for the service (Communion with Pam). Returned to "Paws" for lunch. Walked round to the office in the afternoon for a top-up on the electricity meter, and cleared the loo.
Drove up to the Moira Furnace Museum & Park to support the Moira Canal Festival. We had volunteered to assist, but our names never reached the rota. Had a great day out - most of the usual stalls and attractions (although there seemed to be slightly fewer), with special guests the "D-Day Darlings" returning to celebrate VE Day. The planned flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight had to be cancelled due to technical difficulties. Lunch in the"Hub" café before returning to "Paws" mid-afternoon.
A quiet day doing not a lot. Sunny for most of the day. Took a quick drive out for fuel for my car to cover the weekend's driving (Moira Festival, and church).
Another windy day, and dull as well (therefore cooler). Pat wanted some more 'fresh' produce so we drove over to Seckington to the farm-shop again, then down to Upton to the Sparkenhoe Cheese farm - had lunch at their café while there. Returned to "Paws" for a quiet afternoon. An email from the Moira Festival volunteer co-ordinator arrived which showed that we had not been allocated a job at any time over the weekend, so we will go, and pay to support it (probably Saturday), then leave once we're finished (leaving Sunday for church again). Interest late afternoon consisted of the police helicopter circling the marina and new estates area, with two cars under lights going past - they were here for about 30 mins but we couldn't see anything else.
Another sunny day, but the wind was still there. Ann arrived late-morning and stayed until nearly dinnertime. Unfortunately, the wind prevented a day-trip out, but we had a great afternoon chatting and catching-up.
A drive to Tamworth was this morning's job - Morrison's to get rid of "Podback" bags and major stores, then Sainsbury's for fuel for Pat's car (with voucher). Back to "Paws" for lunch. In the afternoon, Pat wanted a drive to Lakeland and the garden centre - coffee and nice walk round. Ann confirmed coming tomorrow.
More heavy rain battering on the roof overnight. Pat woke not feeling great, so I got sent out for some emergency stores and a couple of personal items. Pat up by the time I got back, and a quiet afternoon ensued.
A heavy downpour of rain overnight will have made a small dent in the water problem. Drove to Alrewas for the service, then joined Sarah for a protracted lunch and catch-up at The Tame Otter in Hopwas - excellent meal and great company. Finally got back to "Paws" for a very light tea around 17:30. Had a phone catch-up with Ann and made a tentative agreement for her to visit on Wednesday.
The beautiful weather continues, although there are already threats of closures due to lack of water. Took a drive to the Four Shires Farm Shop for fresh produce, then had a quiet afternoon aboard.
A very quiet night led to a lovely sunny morning. Generally took our time getting going, but finally on the way at 10:20, returning northward. Found the dredging team still between bridges 40 and 41, and looking as though they were knocking off for the weekend. Arrived back at base at 12:40 for lunch.
After lunch, cleared away from the trip and emptied the loo cassette. A quiet afternoon, then out to join other moorers for a VE80 celeration barbeque with live music from the era.
| 5.63 miles | 0 locks | 2.42 hrs | 2.33 lmph |
 custom.footpath.walks |
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A dull and cloudy day with a light (but cold) breeze. No sign of our vole this morning. Time up again on our mooring so we got on the move after breakfast, continuing south via Dadlington and Stoke Golding to the winding hole at Basin Bridge 22, where we turned round and returned north to Stoke Golding for the night, stopping at the visitor moorings at the north side of the town.
Sat up late watching the VE Day 80th celebration on TV - disappointede that the church at Stoke Golding (who have a good set of bell ringers) didn't ring the national celebration.
| 4.65 miles | 0 locks | 2.08 hrs | 2.23 lmph |
| games.amplified.excellent |
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Long lie this morning, but when we did finally emerge, the water vole was back. Had a quiet morning watching the vole, then went out for lunch at the Sutton Wharf Café . Had a chat with the CRT Volunteer manning a "Friends" stand on the way out. On the way back, another couple was chatting so we offered a look round "Paws". Plans made for tomorrow. A hot sunny day, although it clouded over late afternoon.
The wind had died by morning so we decided to go out for another short break. After breakfast we cleared the rubbish and loo, then drove into Hinckley again for the fresh provisions to last to the weekend. A quick lunch once we got back, then prepped for departure. I moved "Paws" to the services berth for fuel.
We set off, southwards this time, meeting the dredging team between bridges 41 and 40. Tailed the pusher-tug to bridge 38 where they were dumping the spoil, then got up to normal speed down past Shenton to Sutton Cheney. There was actually space on the pontoon so got moored up. Shortly afterwards, the two other boats there moved off, leaving us on our own. Although we had a generally quiet remainder to the evening, we did have a bit of excitement - we spent nearly 0 mins watching a water vole on the reeds along the towpath opposite (tried to get a photo but not possible.
| 3.68 miles | 0 locks | 1.78 hrs | 2.06 lmph |
| triangle.query.crew |
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A very windy night led to a sunny but cold and windy morning. Pat decided to do routine chores in the morning, and sent me out shopping into Hinckley centre. On return, we had lunch while watching the BBC coverage of the VE80 parade. Pat spent the afternoon putting the shopping away.
Drive to Alrewas again for the morning service - we were both doing readings today (they say they like to make use of us while we're there ).
After lunch, I went to Hinckley for a parcel, then we all had another quiet afternoon.
Rain showers arrived after dinnertime, and the wind started picking up.
Woke to a cooler day, with more wind. Took our time getting going, then reversed back from the bridge to the stop-gate. Assistance was again provided by one of the workparty at the shop in swinging the gate, then I reversed to the winding hole and turned "Paws". Returned south to base, through the well-known surroundings, getting back for a late lunch just before 13:30.
Once lunch was over and we had cleared away from the trip, we had a quiet afternoon.
| 8.02 miles | 0 locks | 3.03 hrs | 2.64 lmph |
| custom.footpath.walks |
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The rain had cleared by morning, although it was still cloudy. Cleared the partially blocked bathroom basin outlet pipe. Decided I couldn't be bothered doing any more jobs so did some research on cordless power-washers before having a quiet remainder to the day. The cloud lifted by lunch and it was a fresh sunny afternoon.
Pat had a very long lie-in (until 09:15!), then we both decided it was too hot to start washing down the outside of the boat, so had a very lazy day on puzzles and books, and listening to the almost non-stop twitter of the birds. The clouds rapidly built during the evening, and the rain started just before bedtime (with the occasional rumble of thunder).
