Near collisions and canoeists, quite a day!

Yesterday must have been a fluke as my initial observations of leaving early to avoid the queues was correct. Wish I had followed my own advice today.

Needing to empty loo we waited for a hire boat to leave the facilities before setting off, only for another boat to arrive just before we untied. Oh well, thankfully we didn't have to take on water (such a slow fill) and only had the cassette to empty. It did mean though that our departure was delayed somewhat and it was well after 9 am before we entered junction lock.

The boat near the lock on the left is the one on the facility mooring.

Turn left at the junction above the lock and it's onto the Coventry canal. Not so for us as we went straight on but it did mean those boats coming out from the Coventry were now in front. For the remaining 3 locks, we had to contend on being patient and wait.

Junction lock with C&RT volunteer

Shade house lock and C&RT volunteers were there to speed things up but it was not just novices that get it wrong. This lady volunteer unintentionally started closing the top gate on the boat waiting to descend. Not quite the speedy lock wheeling we had imagined.

Most of the journey to Rugeley was uneventful. I say most because not long past Handsacre and on a right-hand bend, we came across a boat on our side of the canal. The chap at the back made no attempt to avoid us and a collision appeared imminent. But then we realised this chap had a serious problem. Smoke was pouring out from the back cabin and a loud beeping was heard. The best thing for me to do was to reverse and try to get out of his way. No manoeuvrability from him understandably, but the boat had slowed down sufficiently so to avoid the collision. He waved us past, I asked if help was needed but he declined which I thought very surprising. I asked if we should stay in case of an emergency but again he declined. Oh well, only so much one can do.

 Then through the bridge 'ole and we meet two men in a canoe. Next thing they head straight for the offside bank and gets tangled up in the vegetation. No help needed this time but we did all have a good laugh.

At Armitage narrows another hairy moment when an oncoming boat decided he would like to join us. Bit difficult as the narrows can only accomadate one boat width!  His wife tried to warn him by phone to not enter and looked exasperated when he didn't pick up and nosed in anyway. I can imagine what will be said on her return.

That's the wife on the phone

Opps

In spite of the lock queues at Fradley, we made it to Rugeley in a tad under 4 hours. A space was found and a walk to Wetherspoons for a late lunch before grabbing bags and doing a Morrison shop. Good time after the walk to put feet up but not to rest. No....with FS going backwards and forwards as well as sideways (and Ian had put on a bow spring) it was moan about at all those speeding boaters tearing past who have no idea what tickover is!

And seen on route