Oh no...portaloos in the garden

 That disused factory. Well, 2am and Ian wakes up. Something was happening across the canal. Sounded like youths shouting and stuff being dragged across the floor. I slept through all of it but Ian got up and stayed in the lounge until the noise stopped around 3ish. Then just as he was departing once more for bed, ducks pecking away on the hull. He gave up and went to sleep in the chair instead.

It was sod's law that we missed out on all the locks being with us by minutes! Untieing ropes not long after an ascending boat had passed us and a boat coming through the bridge 'ole heading in our direction. Not wanting to pull out in front we resigned ourselves to having to turn the first 5 of the Atherstone flight around. The plan was to moor by the Kings Head and meet Kevin and Gunda, our son in laws parents, for a lunchtime meal. But best-laid plans and all that.....

That's the boat that beat us to it.

 So we started our descent and gosh, the flight was busy. For a Tuesday in October, I expected it to be quiet but was forgetting about half term! In a way that benefitted our progress as in the end, we only had to turn around two of the locks. And plenty of dog walkers about at this time in the morning. This Lab made us laugh. Decided he was not going to move another paw and would not go any further no matter how many times that chap called him. In the end, and when the chap was out of sight, the Lab thought better of staying put and legged it after his owner.

Chap taking himself for a walk!

Last lock before the Kings Head and a splash of colour to brighten our day.

Having asked one of the ascending boat crews if the moorings by the pub were free, the reply was "no idea".  So with fingers crossed, we found the mooring empty. Result...or so we thought! Pulling in and seeing two portaloos in the garden it suddenly dawned on us that the pub was closed and the place was having a makeover. Moment of panic as to what we should do now. Ian gave Kevin a quick ring to explain the situation and a new arrangement made that they would come and collect us by car and find somewhere else to eat. So moved onto a mooring just beyond the A5 bridge to await their arrival.

Sure enough 30 minutes later a knock on the cabin side and they had arrived. They took us to Nuneaton and a place called The Jailhouse.  A former Police house and cell block with bistro type fare. Suburb inexpensive meal which we highly recommend. If only it had been near to the canal it would have become our prefered eatery!

It was late when we returned to FS, gone 5.30pm it was, and relieved to see a length of moorings free near to the lock further along. It was that noisy by the bridge that we pulled pins and moved 300yds further along. Trains are a bit near but that constant noise from the A5 was beyond a joke. Hopefully, Ian will get a better nights sleep.

And wildlife,