Thursday 26th September
It was hardly light when we got up this morning, what was going on there then? We had quite a long trip planned from Tixall Wide to Penkridge, 10 miles and 7 locks. Ken wanted to call in to Midland Chandlers for some cable and connectors for the inverter and we needed to stop at the sanitary station in Penkridge too.
Mick and Cathy were up to their usual tricks, leaving just after 7 am. Cathy had to walk to the first lock because the moorings were very low and she couldn’t get back on the boat after she had pushed the front off! We left early for us at about 7-40 and made steady, if not speedy, progress and arrived at Park Gate Lock where (Midland Chandlers is) about 11-30 am and we naughtily moored up opposite the boat yard (we didn’t see the sign until we pulled away) while Ken popped in to get his items.
Next stop was the sanitary station where a disaster befell us. A combination of us not pulling enough hose out, not tying the boat up tight enough and a boat coming past caused the hose to come out of the filler, rear up like a snake and project a stream of water straight into the saloon! This would not have been so bad except that neither of us noticed. I was emptying the loo and Ken was at the back of the boat.
I returned from the elsan to find Ken taking the dripping doormat and runner out of the front door. There was rather a flood indoors so I got the mop and started clearing up the water from the fireplace (which was awash) and the floor, during which operation I managed to tip the bucket over twice, adding to the problem!
With the mess finally cleared up we continued to our final lock and there was a boat just coming out (hoorah) so we could go straight in. As we passed The Cross Keys at Filance Bridge we spotted two familiar figures sitting outside the pub, yes it was Mick and Cathy, surprise surprise! We joined them when we had moored up of course!
Tomorrow we are continuing down the Staffs and Worcester towards Stourport, Mick and Cathy are going up the Shroppie so we have finally said goodbye to them. We are planning to get to Compton tomorrow, hope the roadworks on the bridge are finished!
