Day 6 and meeting up with special friends.

I know it's getting tedious but we again set off just after 6.30am. Before entering Shrewley tunnel Ian got covered from head to toe in all his waterproofs. We remembered the amount of water pouring from the roof when we went through a couple of days ago and having got soaked to the skin, he was taking no chances.

Posted near the tunnel

 With Hatton flight on the agenda for today we had stocked up with a good breakfast! 3 toast each instead of 2! A couple of hours later we entered the flight. I nominated myself for setting the first 5 locks and we would do five a piece.

Top of Hatton Flight

Probably the most photographed dragonfly on the Hatton

Looking down the flight

  I was dreading these locks because I find the paddle gear really stiff and we were unfortunate enough not to pair up with another boat so I struggled with all the paddles by myself. After getting down to the final 4 we suddenly spied a familiar figure walking towards us. It was Jo ( see Jo's blog ) and Keith (Hadar) coming to help us through the last few locks.

What a wonderful and very welcome sight. Such a relieve to have the extra help and we fair rattled through the last few. I had sent Keith and Jo a message the day before saying that we would be somewhere on the flight but had no idea when. Jo took it upon herself to walk up the flight and it was with me at the helm and Ian at lock 29 when she found us. Keith joined us at lock 28. After a wonderful reunion we moored by the start of the Arm and arranged to meet at 12.30pm for a meal at Wetherspoons and a lovely meal it was too.

Ian, Keith and Jo

 For everyone who has been following Keith's progress with the Gall Bladder saga both Ian and I were pleasantly surprised at how well he looked. He has lost 3 stone in weight what with all the trauma of the operations and hospital stay, but with Jo's TLC he has started to put a bit back on. Judging by the amount he ate of the curry at Wetherspoon he has also got his appetite back. We spent 3 hours catching up before it was time for us to be on our way. Meeting up with special friends, even though we may not see them for months, is always wonderful and we hope to meet up again, if not this year, then definitely in 2015.

Curry for all except Ian. He had ham egg and chips.

 We traveled another 5 mile and did the two Cape locks before mooring before Radford Lock. The rain had started so the time was right.
Total mileage 9.4, locks 28 and time ( taking out the 3 hours with Keith and Jo) 7.45 hours