Oh no, not Bunbury staircase again!

November 8th

Gosh, it's been hard to get our booster vaccine. The government has been pushing for all over 50s to get their third Covid jab and we have been trying, but to find a walk-in center nearby for folk like us, well it has been difficult! Market Drayton had a clinic, it was near to the canal and yes we could book our vaccination, but not until the 20th. Trouble with that is what do we do for 11 days? It would only take roughly three-days to get there from Bunbury and that's taking it easy. Anyway Ian did book two slots just in case we couldn't find anywhere else. 

Chester was the next large place that may have had a center and looking online, found a walk-in center near the town but it was for the first and second vaccines only...dam! Then this morning, Ian had another look on the website and saw that the Vicars Cross pharmacy was open for walk-ins every afternoon for the rest of this week. It was classed as a pop-up Covid center.  About a mile and half walk from the winding hole, a bit of a trek and a shame but we couldn't get any nearer. It was all because Greenfield lock was closed and the nearest winding hole was near the Cheshire Cat.

 Deciding this was the place to head for and before setting off toward Chester, FS's port side was given a wash.

Look at that...no jumper on again. Oh, to be able to withstand the cold.

 Bunbury staircase lock... I hate it! I had my concerns over being in the middle chamber with the gate leaking badly but was pooh-poohed by Ian 'cos he said we would be taking the top lock of water down with us. (See why I was concerned click HERE)  That was all well and good but Chris (Anglo Welsh engineer) was waiting for the return of one of their hire boats. We offered to wait and go down together, but Chris told us to descend and he would wait to see them down when they arrived. OMG that meant he was going to fill the top lock after I had descended and I would become a sitting duck with that torrent of water cascading through the gap in the gates. I panicked slightly and put FS's bow hard against the bottom gate. Ian said I was worrying unnecessarily but he wasn't down here in the thick of it! So glad when the bottom gate was opened even though I did have to go into reverse a tad so it would swing.  Not looking forward to when we make the return journey as that top lock has to be full to bring FS back up and this time the bow will be by the torrent and the furthest away from me!

The noise alone was enough to put one off. I closed the stern doors just in case!

 Diesel was purchased, 100ltrs but for the hose to reach, had to triple breast with would you believe, Merlin as the outside boat. Chris laughingly said to be careful with taht boat because the owners are rather fussy!

 

This reduced the channel quite a lot and sods law states that when you don't expect someone to turn up, they do. Yep a boat came toward us, Ian was at the office paying for the diesel, and that Anglo Welsh boat Chris had been waiting for also turned up blocking the lock entrance completely. Mayhem ensued with that boat trying to squeeze past FS and the chap wondering how he was going to get into the lock and eventually, after suggesting that the Anglo Welsh boat go into the gap (he didn't want to because he was expected to wind the boat first) and inching FS forward, we all managed to sort ourselves out.  With Ian eventually back on board (who said it was us women that do all the talking? 1 minute to pay for the diesel and 9 minutes just talking with the Ed and Chris, all totally unaware as to what was happening at the lock!) Then it was off to find a good mooring for the afternoon. We did two locks, Tilstone and Beeston Stone Lock and I had forgotten how awful those lock landings were. More of them tomorrow, it's our paintwork that worries me on that steel and the fact the by wash on some are in a tricky place!

And wildlife. What is it about the Ladybirds!!! They are everywhere at the moment.

Can you see the Kingfisher?