A minus, a plus and a sort of minus for C&RT

Midges!!!! Thousands of them swarming around our heads as we travel. Waving our arms about like mad doesn't help one bit and just makes us look demented! I ask you..... Are we the only ones they are attracted to? Seems like it to us! And then there are the swans. The problems with these birds are they like our gunwales to much or....could it be because they are just to shiny and the cobs believe they are attacking another swan. All I know is it's sounds like gunfire going off when in the boat. The constant pecking and chasing are driving us nuts.

Christine, Kev, Josh and Thomas arrived last night complete with 2 parcels. Two plates, one of the horses which I smashed a couple of weeks ago and managed to bid successfully on ebay, and a lovely plate with 2 black Labradors. Reminded me so much of Judy and Jade.

 It was a joy to have the two youngsters around. Yes Josh went a bit hyper after his doughnut but he is such a lovely lad one forgives him everything! And Thomas never stops smiling and is into everything. Well he is 10 months after all. Took loads of photos but only posted a few here 'cause don't want to use up all my internet usage.

And my doggie fix. Echo doing what she does best now that she is 14. Sleep!

Today we have reached Shadehouse lock on the T&M. Set off at a silly time of 8am but wanted to reach Fradley before it got really busy. I must say this bit of the T&M from Branston to the start of the river section at Arewas is not one of my favorites. We follow the A38 for ages and it's sooooo noisy and dusty and such a relief when Wychnor lock comes into view.

Next to the A38

Must say both of us couldn't believe that the lock landing hasnt been sorted yet. It's been over 2 years since the bank collapsed and should have been high up on C&RT to do list. Ian has sent an email to the area manager Darren Green (Central Shires) voicing our disappointment.

 At Arewas we stopped to go visit Coates the butchers. One of the best butchers in the area and no stop is complete without a visit. After watering up we set of once more to another notorious lock on this section, Bagnall Lock. The bottom gates never stay shut and one has to sit back onto the gates with back button until a crew member has time to open the top paddle. It was a lovely surprise to notice bars on the lock beams that are put into groves holding the gates shut. Well done C&RT but what about Wychnor lock landing?????

 Another nice surprise was 3 C&RT volunteers at Fradley. One was at Keepers lock with the other two at Middle Lock and Shadehouse. Expecting an easy time of it we were mortified when they decided it was lunch time and cleared off! Still to be fair they do have to have a break. Our fault, we should have arrived earlier!

C&RT volunteer chatting to Ian. Left for his break soon after.

The moorings at the top of Shadehouse lock looked pretty full but we managed to squeeze in between two boats right at the end. After washing the boat I treated myself to another fishing sesion and caught this nice chub. I did catch more but nothing as big. Still a fish is a fish whatever the size. In my book size doesn't matter.