Jade..... You are a wimp!!!!!

I can NOT believe this dog of ours. She can leap 3ft off the boat onto the bank  but she wont jump across the small gap to get onto the board when crossing the lock!!! How embarrassing when Ian had to pick her up and carry her across. Thank goodness we left Judy at the boat. She hates being picked up and for Ian to even try would probably have meant a ducking for him and the dog!

I should say that we were on our way to the Alrewas Canal and Music Festival. We stopped, this morning, below Common Lock after having sailed through Fradley at 8am with only one other boat in front. We said the usual "Good Morning" to them as they went past us but then we realised that 2 of their 3 dogs were allowed to run along the towpath by themselves. Now both Ian and I find this practice totally unacceptable. How on earth can one pick up after the dogs if no one is with them? At Woodsend Lock we arrived just us they were going in and Ian, having his annoyed hat on, asked them why they allowed the dogs to run free and without supervision. The reply was "Our dogs have already been this morning and only go once a day".  Right!!! How can they possibly know that if they stay on  the boat??? Unfortunately we didn't get the name of their boat otherwise we would have named and shamed them! We never caught them up again as we had to fill every lock but we saw them turn left at the Junction in Fradley and onto the Coventry Canal. So walkers and boaters alike, keep your eyes peeled for doggie doo's on route!
So.... back to the festival. After the embarrassing bit with Jade, who should we meet at the lock but Annie and Jim Mcdonald from Nb Elizabeth. You might have caught a glimpse on Elizabeth on The Golden Age of Canals. Jim happened to be on the back of a steam powered ice breaker Laplander. He had volunteered to take it to Wychnor Lock at the other end of the river section. Annie had no idea he was doing this, fully expecting them to wind round and come back. We left her wondering just when he would return.


Nb Elizabeth owned by Jim and Annie McDonald




A very unique boat




Jim on the back of Laplander exiting the lock onto the river. Their dog Tilly (pin) wondering why she's left behind. She went racing after Jim and Annie was left at the lock wondering how far she would get. Tilly eventually arrived back 10 minutes later having chased Jim as far as she could until the weir got in the way of her progress. Annie was very relieved to see her return!




The festival site in the background. Apparently the music had been brilliant last night. Tonight is Mike night so anything goes. If we had been just that bit nearer we would have gone to join in, but the thought of another 25 minute walk there and back and in the dark put me right off.




Being pursued by the kids.

 The mooring here is very quiet but the fishing is rubbish so I might persuade Ian to move on tomorrow. If we can get a mooring in Alrewas then so much the better. I can visit our favorite butcher!!!!