Nothing spectacular about this sunset, I just liked the silhouette of the wind turbine against the sky.

 

And also reflections. 

 

Shorts have been found and dug out from somewhere amongst the mountain of clothes stored under the bed, and bonus.... they still fit...yea..... Well, they are made of stretchy fabric, so I managed to squeeze all the wobbly bits in.

So with lily-white legs to dazzle anyone that came within range, the pins were pulled and we set off towards Fradley.

Most of the journey was uneventful, not too many boats met, in fact it was remarkably quiet for a Sunday. One was met at Huddlesford Junction, just as we passed the Lichfield canal. Restoration work is still on going on this canal, and what a shame HS2 cuts through the new route.

A lonely monkey was seen at one of the bridges. Should we stop to adopt it? A friend for our mascot Marvin, maybe? No, I'm imagining a mother trying to calm down a distraught child, best leave it where it can be found.

 

Marvin our mascot.

We caught up with a canoeist who was completely unaware that this huge steel boat was behind him. I could have sounded the horn, thought better of it and glad I did, but the reason why later.   Best just to pootle along behind. Strange it was going so slow, normally all you see of a canoeist is their wake as they disappear in the distance. Eventually it did get ahead, we were slowing to pass some offside moorings and when we did see him again, it was on his return journey and. not only was he a gentleman of considerable age, but as we passed, he asked if our boat was electric! Ah, now we knew the reason for his lack of awareness. FS is often thought to be electric. It's all to do with the vast quantities of sound proofing under the engine cover and a hospital silencer (The hospital silencer greatly reduces exhaust noise on inboard engines operating with dry exhaust systems)

Stopped at Fradley for water before we made the turn onto the T&M.  Still not a good flow though, we knew the tap below Junction lock by the facilities was ever so slow, this tap's pressure was marginally better. Until, that is, another boat pulled in and attached their hose to the second tap, wow the flow almost stopped! Time to give up and try again at Alrewas. 

Fradley was busy. Boats coming and going in all directions. Two boats came past while we were at the tap and lucky for us, they headed left toward Middle lock. Took FS through the swing bridge and round to the right.

Coming out of Junction lock was yet another boat, that too went straight on. Gosh, there's going to be some wait at Middle lock. Now these locks are usually manned, but not a hide nor hair of a CRT volunteer to be seen. Most odd, I thought. 

I had to keep FS well forward on the descent at this lock. Looks like the gate isn't sealing properly.

 l

Gongozzlers

More boats waiting to ascend Junction Lock

For goodness’s sake, that's never someone lifting a bottom gate paddle to empty Hunts lock! And right in front of me, too! Didn't she look??? Obviously not. Talk about stealing a lock!!!!

 Sometimes I despair at the right mind of some boaters. I ask you, would you put a satellite dish on the cabin side waters edge as well? and just the right height to be taken out by a passing boat! And he moored opposite bushes, that's asking for trouble!

Ah looks like more canoeists and paddle boarders head our way!

One way said hello Arewas lock, always a pain with those bottom gates swinging open. The only solution to keep the gates closed was to lift a top paddle, race to the bottom gates and get them shut quick!

A very nice ;lady helped to close the offside gate.

So look at the photos below,  Room enough for one boat to get through and on a slight bend where no idea if another boat is coming. What possesed CRT to allow this garden mooring, but more to that, to allow the staging to be built so far into the channel! If the garden boundary had been used, and the boat set back into that, at least boaters would stand a chance of making it through unscathed.

A lovely looking boat, which I think was called One Way, was moored along that stretch and as I passed, two people were looking through the side hatch. "We follow your adventures", said the chap, well I thanked them for even making the attempt of reading the drivel I write about. I believe they also more on the Erewash, so I will have to keep an eye out for them in the future. 

Stopped just short of the bridge, tried my hand at fishing, failed miserably onlt one perch caught!

And wildlife today

Gosh the mum did well in keeping 12 ducklings safe. No Pike or Herons to snatch the youngsters.