13 October 2023

Uh oh!!! There was the sound of r#*n drops on Ellie’s roof during the night and despite all my fingers and toes being crossed, it just didn’t seem to ease.

You’ll be glad to know that we actually had someone in charge of the boat today, and I took my role very seriously!! As Captain, I ran a tight ship whilst keeping an eye on Judi, the mutinous cabin boy. After her potential mutiny yesterday, she was keen to stay in my good books. I warned her that the plank was still at the ready. John was assigned Royal duck spotter (a busy day ahead??) and Grahame, General dogsbody, a role he is well used to!

We discussed the less than ideal weather forecast and decided that only mad dogs and Aussies would venture out again today. And off we ventured!

There were other crazies on the canal in the morning and the general consensus amongst us all was that “it wasn’t as bad as Wednesday”.

”Hi, how’s your day?” “Orright! Not as bad as Wednesday” !

Our wet weather gear was donned, again, and off we sailed, leaving Grindley Brook behind us.

Just around the corner we came to our first Staircase Locks of the trip. There are signs guiding us through the process, but we were lucky enough to have some volunteers manning the joint and overseeing the process, so we didn’t have to think too hard. It was busy work and we quickly warmed up.

Going up staircase locks requires a little planning. There has to be enough water in the second and third step to fill the first (or bottom). And if there are already boats in the system it complicates the matter slightly.

Once again we were the third boat up, (we’ve gotta get up earlier!), so we had plenty of time to purchase a very bad coffee (1/10… Grahame tipped half of his out) which was a shame, because the shop situated on the steps was cute as a button, the girl was lovely, and the cakes (which Judi purchased) looked (and later tasted) delicious!!!

Once we cleared the staircase lock, we had open water for quite a while. Clear water and the engine running meant only one thing: shower time!! The engine heats our water so showers first thing in the mornings aren’t really possible. But a half hour into our travel, the water is hot, hot, hot and we take it in turns while the other three keep us moving.

We regularly passed boats moored in tranquil settings, under ancient oak trees….

…. or in marinas with boats parked high and dry!

We raised and lowered several pedestrian bridges, as the day progressed, but our windlasses were kept in the storage locker as there were no more locks.

All the while , we were grateful that “it wasn’t as bad as Wednesday”.

Until it was!!! And worse. It r#*ned steadily for most of the middle of the day. Not heavy showers like we get at home, just constant.

We took it in turns to man the tiller while the others stayed mostly below decks keeping as dry and warm as possible. We kept the kettle boiling to provide hot coffee and soup when required.

John and Jude pulled the afternoon shift and guided us through some beautiful countryside.

The oak lined canal was narrow and everything was so very green. ( And wet!!!) The oaks are apparently the legacy of the Shropshire unions policy of planting trees to “provide the raw materials to replace their carrying fleet”. Thanks SU!!

We spotted squirrels, cows sheep and horses but oddly no ducks…. And it was such lovely weather for them.

We had some respite from the rain during the short tunnel passage.

We spied several lakes down through the trees and my research tells me that we were passing Blake Mere, Ellesmere and Cole Mere. (Mere, I guess, meaning lake;??)

Around 3 pm we noticed some blue sky and did a little dance in the hope that would help. And it did!

By the time we arrived at The Narrowboat Inn, the sun was shining and the birds were singing and all was good!!

John and I won the Euchre game in yet another nail biter. Score now stands at John 5, Grahame and I are on 3 and Judi is on 1.

Although we can’t be there when polling opens, we are sending our support from the other side of the world.

So, was it as bad as Wednesday??? Probably!!