Ooo that was unexpected

 Aug 1st

Groan....this weather pattern.... it's really getting us down. The heating went on last night, a couple of hours was enough to make the boat feel cosy but we should be wanting air conditioning at this time of the year not the heater! 

Toffee got us up well before 6 am this morning, the TV went on for a weather check.  I wondered if today would be another day of dodging the showers but for once it looked okay, good to make a dash toward Great Haywood anyway, so by 7.30ish Ian walked to Lime Kiln lock to get it ready.

Early morning rail commuters crossing the canal

Peek a Boo.

Star lock was behind us, Ian had gone below to make a brew, moored boats on either side and what should be coming at me in reverse? Another boat! Had he seen me? Look at the photo below and I feel sure his line of sight must have been obscured by that tree.

No effort was made to stop, in fact I ended up going into reverse and waiting to see what his next move would be. When he eventually realised a boat was in his way a bit of forward throttle on his part and the bow was pointed toward the offside. Turns out he wanted the water point which was close to the lock. Trying to reverse a boat is a tricky manoeuvre at the best of times.  Boats are notorious for not doing as they are told! His saving grace was the winding hole. He got himself far enough over for me to creep by.

We never made it to Great Haywood. A lovely mooring at the bottom of Weston lock beckoned to us. Plenty of room for Toffee and wonderfully peaceful. It is also the furthest point away from the railway so no disturbance from thundering trains.

  I walked Toffee while Ian tried to sort out the horn. No longer the deep throaty sound which could be heard from afar, no, now it sounded more like a castrated cat! Looking down the horn barrel he evicted three spiders nests and the huge spider. No wonder the sound was terrible.  

  Top of Weston lock was busy. Boats coming and going, this continued for the rest of the day.

If our daughter in law Iwona saw this photo I'm sure she would freak out! Toffee is like a mountain goat, extremely sure footed. It does look as if she is right on the edge though, rest assured she is in fact, nearer to the grass.

Wildlife today.

Canada Goose with Angel wings

Meadow Brown

Red Admiral