And the Gods opened the taps.

A hint of red last night,

 

But rain was not far away, and the drumming on the cabin top and steady drip from the solar panel became our wake-up call. Not surprising really because it had been forecasted, but now we had a slight dilemma. Normally we sit out the bad weather, well there is no need to move these days, although when we hired it didn't matter what the weather threw at us, we just had to get up and go. But my worry was not having a phone signal. I had finally managed to secure a doctor's phone appointment for tomorrow. It's to do with the worry over my blood pressure. I just wanted to see a nurse when we returned to Langley but these days you can't just get in to see anyone. No, the doctor had to agree to it first! Hence, the phone call. But Ian's phone has no signal and mine was that weak that it would be touch and go if it would work. Our plan was to get to Hawkesbury today, The 3 signal is pretty good there, so what to do?

While we debated, the rain got heavier. Wait until after lunch was the conclusion. Meanwhile, the boat started to feel a bit damp and chilly, so on went the diesel heater again. Blast, not having been fired up for several weeks, we were that dismayed to see the same amount of smoke when the problem was reported to Steve back in November last year. We thought it to be sorted, but obviously not.

 

Oh, and remember that farmer strimming the lock side at Elkington? I asked for a strip of wildflowers and grasses to be left? Well, he did. 👍 Jenn (Dire Straits) sent this photo. Wonderful, and thank you.

Lunchtime and the rain stopped, yep we would go. Sometimes our timings are all wrong and sure enough, just as we were about to push away, a boat appeared. And OMG how slow!!! If this was to be the speed all the way to Hawkesbury, it would be dark before we got there! And then we watched as it forced a boat hard against the side in Old Oak's wooded cutting. That boat became stuck fast! We passed by and offered help. Gosh, he was mad! Raved something rotten about selfish people hogging the centre channel. Unfortunately, we couldn't get anywhere near to the bank. We hung around to make sure he was okay, and with no end of forward and reverse, eventually got themselves free.

And blow me down if this boater doesn't do it again to more oncoming boats! I am assuming that helming was new to them, otherwise I could see no reason for the snail's pace or keeping to the middle.

 For the three-quarter of a mile to Stretton, it took roughly 40 minutes.  Stretton swing bridge was coming up, good opportunity to ask if they would let us pass, so I dropped Ian off at the bridge, and he legged it to the swing bridge. He got it open just as they arrived, and he got a favourable response to the question. Good, oh, we may make Hawkesbury before dark after all.

One day this bridge will fail. It's that rickety, closing took two attempts!

 That was a good bit of timing!! Just handed the tiller to Ian, so I could prepare the veg for dinner when down came the rain. I'm not talking about a gentle drizzle, no it was almost as if the Gods were having a shower and had turned the taps on full. Wow....Ian was wet through in seconds. I did have to chuckle to myself. And then going back below, Ian did a sudden reverse. I raced to the front and there was FS heading, rather rapidly, toward a dredger. They seemed totally oblivious to his approach and I feared at one point the contents of the bucket would be tipped over FS. They stopped but briefly, for no sooner had FS passed, down came that arm again for another scoop of the silt. And the reason? They were back filling on the towpath.

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Just started to pass.

And straight back to it.

Crikey, another reverse manoeuvre felt, again rushed to the front  and through the cratch rain soaked window I saw a motor and butty appearing from around the overgrowth. No room fro FS so no wonder that reverse was needed.

We knew that motor, Trout. It used to be owned by ex ECP&DA treasurer Karen.

Finally arrived at Hawkesbury, moored by the meadow and checked the phone signal and would you credit it! Zilch! We had even banged in the pins! Ian walked toward the lock, phone in hand and luckily right after a Stoke Golding hire boat, he got a signal. Upped and moved but not quite the mooring we would have liked, right on a bend, bow and stern out in the channel and pivoting in the middle! But needs must, so all we can hope for is no steel to steel contact by passing boats.

 And seen on route,

Look what we found. Had to try and get it, didn't we!

 And wildlife

Ian took this photo for me on his phone. I had been after a blue butterfly for ages.

Holly Blue