It was a dull and misty start to the day and it stayed that way. We got off at the normal time as did many other boaters as there was a continuous flow passing in both directions at the same time. We didn't have far to go so we were in no rush.
Our nights moorings were in the shade but were nice and quiet and as there was precious little sun this morning we didn't miss much.
We headed back towards Streethay Wharf. Despite the incursion of the A38 in several places the trip is quite a treat as there are bling bends and nice rural bits to wet the whistle. The mist didn't burn off completely until nearer lunch time.
It seemed to busy today and we met plenty of boats. Thankfully most of them at a convenient position and only had to stop once to allow a boat through ahead of me.
In the end we didn't stop at Streethay wharf as there were plenty of others vying for attention there. I had wanted to see them about a blacking slot and possibly a quote for a repaint but it will wait until we pass this way again. We went just round the corner to Kings Orchard Marina and went in to get some fuel at 65p/ltr domestic and a 13kg gas bottle at £23-70. (It was advertising fuel at 66p at Streethay by the way). We are also here for a few days as we have to go home. It was convenient for the hire car too. The marina is three miles from Lichfield and a little less from the hire point and it took them longer than 45 mins to reach me. Unfortunately the young lady is one of those that rely totally on their sat navs. in one way or another. They seem to have no sense of direction and the thought of quickly glancing at a map to orientate themselves never crosses their mind. It actually took less than ten minutes in the car in the end.
Yesterday at Fradley we obtained a copy of the Towpath Telegraph ( I think it is). I read an article by the owner of Norbury Wharf who was wondering where all the boats had gone. He felt that over the school holidays private boaters were not moving about. On the short trip today I think he was right as every boat we saw almost was very shiny and obviously spent much of the year in a marina. The other day I put this down to boats returning to marinas after their couple of weeks holiday, but I think he has something. Mind you it seems perfectly obvious that if you have a choice save your excursion until the canal are less busy. No queuing for locks and water points, less stress about hoping to find a spot right outside the pub without having to get up at 6 AM and less of a worry getting you paint scrapped by a speeding hire boater who is dashing round a 100 mile and 100 lock ring in 6 days. For our journey this year I haven't really felt there has been too much of a crush at locks. I think there has only been a couple of occasions that we have had to wait any length of time. There was a little stress on the Kennet and Avon about whether we would find a mooring but this was largely because there are few places you are able to stop due to the the shallows and the bank but we found some where everytime and I didn't have a stroke! Also on our travels so far we have only had 'bother' with privateers rather than hire boaters so I'm afraid you pays your money and takes your choice. We try to fine somewhere likely to be less busy than others during the height of the season too. If there is an Indian Summer then September and early October are champion times to be out and about. There is nothing better than sitting in front of your stove after cruising in the meek sunshine with only a little wind and red cheeks and the leaves turning to their glorious colours just for you.
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