I eat humble pie.

It's always the way that when you expect something to arrive it doesn't. Well actually that's not strictly true. The solar controller did turn up but unbeknownst to us, it had to be signed for and our daughter was at work at the time of delivery, so of course the driver drove off with it still in his van. Ian got the bad news via email. This meant another day waiting at Branston Water Park, thankfully yesterday was Christine's day off, it arrived as did Christine as soon as it was in her hands.  The controller worked a treat. In fact as this was the latest model, more volts were being put into the battery than we have ever had before. Ian was one very happy chappie!

 

We could have left that afternoon but decided to wait until Thursday morning. I changed our thick winter duvet to a much thinner summer one and wanted to find a laundrette to freshen it up. So here is a bit of information for all you boaters who don't have a washing machine and rely on finding launderettes. About a mile above Branston lock by the lorry park is a CRT rubbish point, and through the lorry park by the road is one of those Revolution launderettes. It takes a 20 kg load for £11 or a 9 kg load for £5.50. Detergent is included in the price. The dryer gives you 15 minutes for £3.50, we paid for 30 minutes which was ample to dry the towels and Duvet. All in all we were moored right outside for roughly 75 minutes, time enough for a late breakfast and getting a few jobs out of the way.

 

What I failed to mention earlier was how I was made to eat humble pie after we had left Branston Park moorings. Ian always checked to see if all our cladding pins have been retrieved, only two were found. Three had been used as Ian always puts on a spring. He was convinced I had left it attached to the cladding. I was equally adamant that I had not. "My rope was through a proper cladding ring" I huffily replied. Anyway he was insistent that he go back to check and the only place I could stop to drop him off was right by the  Branston lock.  He set off at a good pace leaving me to pull FS back from the landing. I was almost successful, at least far enough back for another boat to get in front. When he returned it was with that pin. "Guess where I found it" said he. "Exactly where the stern of the boat had been". Oh, dear....It had been my fault after all as I was the one that untied the stern rope! 

 

The plan today was to reach Fradley. This didn't happen because the filling of the water tank below Barton Turns took forever. Nothing to do with a slow tap, in fact the flow was brilliant, but because we were almost out of water. Last time we filled up was when we left Trent Lock 10 days ago! With large forward and aft tanks to fill, well you can understand why. Then we wanted to stop at the butchers in Alrewas. We never go through Alrewas without stopping at Coates. They may be pricey but the choice of fresh meat is second to none. 

Heading toward Wychnor lock the precaution river notice was on. The river Trent was up, very marginally, in fact the flow was pretty minimal really but I suppose better to make boaters aware that a sudden rise could occur at any time.

 

 I did feel a slight pull towards the weir but that was probably my fault for steering too near to the buoys.

By the time we had walked to the butchers, and the Co-op, had lunch back on FS time was getting on. Having found a decent mooring it was decided to stay but then.....

 The phone rings, it's Marilyn to say they were Kings Orchard waiting for oil filters. They wanted to leave early tomorrow morning (very early, I'm talking 6 am early) and meet us in Fradley. Good God girl....we don't do early mornings any more! But she was insistent we get together tomorrow before the forecasted rain arrived by 8 am! So decision made, head for Fradley now and not at such a silly hour of the morning tomorrow.

At Bagnall lock a queue had formed of boats descending and ascending. Ian spoke to a lady who had come along the Coventry canal, turned right at the junction, past the visitor moorings on the left and descended all the locks to Alrewas. The news she gave him was not good. Not a mooring to be had along the Coventry canal at Fradley or the visitor moorings in Fradley itself. 

 

Now we had a dilemma. Marilyn and David hoped to moor near to the swing bridge on the Coventry and then walk to see us on the visitor moorings in Fradley. Plan B came into practice. We would find moorings before Common lock, (next lock after Bagnall Lock) and they would stay where they were until later in the day tomorrow. Then if the forecasted rain stopped we would liaise and try to meet at the Fradley Junction. Fingers crossed it goes to plan!

Now the moorings below Common lock had always been well maintained. Talk about a shock when we got there. It didn't look like a proper mooring at all. This I believe might be why no one was moored. It's a good job we knew where to stop because the state of the vegetation was appalling. Why oh why have CRT stopped strimming right up to the edge. I don't believe they care about us boaters any more. In fact, they would probably be very relieved if all the canals were filled in!

Okay so I'm in moaning mood, it's just such a shame to see this decline happening to a wonderful resource. The waterways are a place to relax and wind down, I shouldn't get het up. Nop just chill out women and be thankful for what you have!