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Friday 24 March 2023

Down Hill All the Way.

 We were up a little earlier than normal. The fire had stayed in overnight so we were soon too hot again. At home we sit at 17 deg. quite happily, but with the stove going we are basking in 23 degs! Last night I had cleaned the loo out so we start afresh (pardon the pun, of sorts). We also managed to watch a bit of TV too, as the wind blew a little. I had thought we had only a little coal aboard but plenty of logs, but it was the other way round. I went to buy some logs, but they had none so I bought another bag of coal.

The engine started first time this morning with no smoke either. However when I had checked it required 4 litres of coolant replacing. Good job I had some handy. We then swapped the mooring ropes to our cruising length ones and put the centre lines on and then we were ready for the off.

The footpath between Kings Bromley and Fradley is largely closed but the only activity seems to be near Kings Bromley where they are laying a new footpath, I think paid for by the HS2. It looks like it Canal and River Services are carrying out the transport part at least. They are from Weston Wharf, and I liked this little tug as we passed.

Not alot of activity as we passed. They are leveling the path cutting down a little, laying a membrane and then a cinder topping. They don't seems to be going too far in advance and it looks like they are waiting for more ciders!

I always seem to take a shot of the straight alongside the Black Slaish Woods. The sun was just trying to get through and I love the way the trees seem to lean in too.

I just saw this bird land in the tree by the canal from a distance. I thought it would be a buzzard, but when I look at the picture there is no yellow bit of the beak and It doesn't seem to have yellow legs either so not sure what it may be.

I was disappointed to find that all the pots we had put in the Wood End Lock had gone. There always used to be some here but they were smashed when the moorings and lock house were closed. There are no shards, although it is likely to have been done a good while ago. I wonder if somebody has taken them. It means we will have a chance to look around the charity shops for our return. We will see if they last any longer this time.

The HS2 of the straight down to Shadehouse Lock, the top Fradley Lock, has progressed but not at a super pace. There are several blokes about and lots of plant sitting about, but not a lot seems to be going on. I wonder if and when it all gets completed there will be a big sell off of  the equipment. In the old papers you often see when the canals were finished there was a sell off of the wheelbarrows, picks and shovels, horses and carts to recoup some money. I bit different with this kit though.

The only moving boat we had seen was just as we left the marina but as we approached Junction outside the Swan pub another boat came out of the Coventry Canal to head our way, closely followed by a day boat to wind. Then there was a boat coming up with an American couple that had hired a boat for three months. Just like Clapham Junction! When we locked down there was a tug pushing an open party boat along, just getting ready to move too.

We loitered in Keepers Lock as there was another boat heading up. The sun was really trying to get through. After Hunts Lock comes Common Lock and the marina there seems to be filling up well now.

Helen took the helm whilst I did a few little jobs. I'm not quite sure how many layers she has on but getting towards the top end despite it being quite warm to me. We were lucky that the wind was astern of us and it was cool when in the face.

After Bagnall Lock we started looking for a mooring. This beautiful magnolia just after Kent's Bridge with the summerhouse, flag pole and narrow boat make quite an attractive picture. They have done a good job of the house too. 

We moored on the bend by the old school house, and after a bit of lunch went for a walk around the village. When we got back Helen went to look in a shop window and I set too freeing up the sliding hatch as it was jamming. The timber at one end has got wet and the slide was loose and jamming. I made it fast again and sprayed WD 40 on the runners and it now moves with just a push of the finger. I also set about replacing one of the latch bolts on the front doors and after a bit of messing about it is now closing better, and hopefully with a little judicious insulation tape it will be less drafty for Helen as she sleeps on that side. It is nice to tick a few jobs off the list.

It has been a great day with only one real very short shower of hail,and rain as we cleared Fradley, but the rest of the time was sunny and quite warm. It is supposed to be a bit cooler tomorrow but looks like being another good day. It has been a good day.


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