PREPARATIONS AND WE’RE OFF.

Well I have finished work for another year. It was sad to say goodbye to all of my friends at UTL, but I will be back before they know it.

Before leaving for our cruise there are always jobs to be done. Maintenance for the Captain, and usually shopping and cooking for me.

This year was no exception. The Captain did an excellent job of cleaning out the engine bay and giving it a coat of paint. He has fitted a solar dump too, don’t worry its not as bad as it sounds. It should enable us to use any extra solar power to heat the water in our emersion tank. We just have to see if it actually works. I have great faith in him but my fingers crossed just in case.

I have made sure we have plenty of food, but more importantly a good stock of beer and wine.

We could not leave the day after I finished work, which was Good Friday, as I had a hospital appointment on the following Tuesday. Nothing got done on Good Friday either as we bunked off and went to celebrate my sons birthday at the New Inn at Shardlow. A lovely canal side pub that does great food, (we went by car not boat).

https://thenewinnshardlowpub.co.uk/

We didn’t actually leave until the following Friday, as a plan was hatched with our good friends Col and Mags for them to join us as far as Atherstone, and as they still work it had to be the weekend.

This meant we didn’t have to rush, and we took the opportunity to nip into Coventry and say our goodbyes to Mr and Mrs Hop, Vyk and Greg at the Hops d’Amour.

https://www.facebook.com/hopsdamourcoventry

We also got a ride in Keith’s new toy, a 1930 white Rolls Royce.

Then it was time to say goodbye to Swan Lane and we were off. The weather gods were kind to us, the sun shone and the wind was warm.

I spent the first part of the journey cooking, as once again I had promised to produce one of my tapas feasts.

But once done I was able to enjoy the passing scenery and the bird song.

We moored in the middle of nowhere for the night, enjoyed good food and a couple of drinks with our friends. Next day we pushed on to Atherstone.

The weather was a little cooler but still fine and dry.

As we approached the visitors mooring I spied and old friend on the towpath, Eric off NB Cherrie. I shouted across and he waved and said see you in the Angel.

The Angel is our favourite pub in Atherstone, great real ales for the Captain, and Krombacher lager for me. Col and Mags were happy bunnies too. Eric did come in but didn't see us.

https://www.facebook.com/theangelinnrealalehouseatherstone/

After a couple of pints a delicious curry at the Raj Mahal finished the day off nicely.

Back to the boat and an early night for Col and Mags, as they had an early start in the morning to do the 6 hours cruise back to Trinity Marina, whilst we were heading down the 11 Atherstone locks.

A tap at the window as we watched TV took us by surprise, and apprehensively I got up see who it was. It was Eric and his dog. We chatted for a while, catching up on the gossip before he headed home. It was great to see him again.

Col and Mags did get off early next day but the Captain got up to say bye, before back to bed for our usual cup of tea and a biscuit. We eventually surface about 10am and set off for the locks. There were volunteer lock keepers on the first 3 which was helpful, but then we were on our own for the next 8. I soon got back into the swing of it and it took us a respectable 2½ hours. Good going.

It was a day for bird spotting, the main event being the number of Kestrels there were about, and I even thought I spotted a Red kite soaring above us, but I didn’t get a good look at its tail (buzzards have a round tail whilst Red Kites have forked tails).

The cutest thing we saw was at a lock, a tiny wood mouse, which showed no fear as it made its way round the Captains foot and down to the water for a drink before hopping off through the grass like a miniature kangaroo.

We moored up at the bottom of the locks, it was so peaceful with only bird song to be heard. Across the water was a field of yellow rapeseed which sparkled in the sun. As night dropped there was no traffic noise or people disturbing the peace.

A late start next day, we did the 8miles and 2 locks in about 4 hours to Fazeley. Slightly cooler again but when the sun came out it was lovely.

And Fazeley can mean only one thing, a fish and chip supper from Fazeley Fish Bar for the Captain, and a kebab for me.

https://www.facebook.com/Fazeleyfishbarfazeley

We had a couple of pints in the Three Tuns first. This canal side pub has been hit and miss in the past, there were a selection of real ales on the pumps but non suited the Captain, but he did spy a can of Northern Star porter by Northern Monk brewery, which he found very much to his taste.

https://northernmonk.com/beer/

Next day on to Fradley Junction were we joined the Trent and Mersey canal. After mooring up we had to go and try the Dirty Duck or to give it its proper title The Swan, it claims to be the most photographed pub on the canals. Again it can be hit and miss with its range of real ales, but the Captain was a happy bunny when he spotted a mild on the bar (didn’t remember to gets the name). They were serving food which looked very tasty and good value for money.

https://www.swaninnfradley.co.uk/

That’s all for now folks.