This morning we had mizzle, we could have stayed at Shackerstone, nice quiet mooring, pleasant outlook and not much in the way of boat traffic but we had arranged for friends to see us at Limekiln tomorrow, this could have been changed to here of course, but then leaving on Wednesday instead may put us a tad behind schedule so we pulled pins and headed off.
Bridge 48, well I was flummoxed when the bridge 'ole was blocked by CRT. Surely the stoppage hasn't started yet? I know brickwork needs to be replaced but I thought the job was on for January. I pulled over, nowhere to stop so hovered towpath side.
And so I waited. Was I invisible? Had they not seen I was waiting? I could have sounded the horn, thought that rude so I didn't, they must look up eventually.
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| Still waiting! |
Finally, movement was seen. Yep the boat was moving back at last.
I asked the question. Was work starting early? "No" one of them replied, "Just getting every thing ready for when it does"
Ian did most of the steering today. I sat in the well deck, peering into the margins with the hope of seeing a water vole. Not even the sound of a plop as the vole entered the water or the telltale sign of a dead straight line as they swam across from one side to another, was seen, but I did see a Green Woodpecker and Sparrow Hawk so although not my quarry, at least I did have something to photograph.
We decided to stop at bridge 19. To get to Limekiln tomorrow is a mere 1.5 miles, 30 minute cruise, very doable. All nicely settled then, TV tuned, and about to prepare dinner when Ian drops the bombshell that Trinity Marine doesn't open for diesel until 9.30 am.
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| First mooring |
Go back a few days and on the way to Shackerstone I noticed the pump at Trinity Marina had a price of 82p for diesel. Wow, that was the cheapest we have seen so far. Ian had phoned earlier to confirm the price and then once we had moored, checked to see if we could get diesel for 9am and that was when he dropped the bombshell. We were to meet our friends any time after 10 am tomorrow, that would be cutting it fine so once more, having got nicely settled, Ian made us up stakes and head for the marina.
Getting the diesel how difficult could that be! The pump was a DIY, good news 'cos Ian could top the tank right up. So after seeing the chap in the office, the pump was switched on, Ian lifted the nozzle, takes it across to the filler and then the smallest of drop from the nozzle hit the water. The rainbow colours of the diesel immediately spread out across the canal making it look like a massive spillage has occurred. Crikey, hope someone doesn't report an environmental disaster. Anyway 8 pence worth and 0.10 of a litre was put in. Then it stopped. Crikey we must have used more than 0.10 of a litre since last filling! The pump refused to start, back Ian went to the office, the chap returned with him, took hold of the trigger but it didn't work for him either, He tried several times, scratched his head and returned to the office to reset the pump, wow...we got 8 pence worth of diesel for free!
60 litres was all Ian could get in but best to keep it topped up, one never knows when one could be stuck in ice for a while. Anyway, we moved to a mooring after Coventry Road Bridge. Such a muddy towpath again but I really didn't want to carry on to Limekilns tonight.
And seen on route,
I though this made a pretty picture but as I got nearer, will you look at that crack!
And these next few photos show how shallow this section was and we were only doing 2.5mph!
And wildlife,
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