Oh gawd will we be able to moor.... anywhere?

We stayed here a couple of nights.  South facing, wide towpath sunny weather and nice views.  

Easy decision.

When we did leave, Lesley and I set off walking with the wee doggies, Tucker and Marsha.  All the way to the water point where both boats filled up and lesley and I took the rubbish to the grounds of the pub The Lime Kilns on the opposite side, after trying to negotiate the A5 I think it was we abandoned that and returned to the starting point, the towpath and there were steps up to the otherside of the main busy road.  Death adverted we got aboard and continued.  

Un petit convoy.

We eventually came to bridge 22 and a place we have moored at previously, there are moorings marked on the opposite side too, however a trio of scantily clad ladies were seated on chairs on the grass, the wooden panels were mostly broken on both sides and almost full.  WaL tried to get in to the off side moorings much to the amusement of the reclining ladies, got her back end in the mud and after a bit of whooshing thought better of the whole idea.  

As David loitered mid stream and elderly man walked along to us and called over did we know Duck Corner?  He and some other boats had left there this afternoon and it was free.

Well Reader while we were moored at bridge 3 it seemed that so many boats had arrived on this canal, remembering that it's a dead end so they all have to leave past us again but hardly any left in comparison.  We are here because of all the stoppages so all these other boats had done the same?  Would we ever be able to moor anywhere?

Nervous times.

After a quick stop at the farm shop at Bridge 23 where the lady no longer sells condiments she does however sell highly recommended sausage rolls, meat generally and milk.

Well we chugged onto Duck Corner and unbelievably it was free.

Hogarth moored up snuggly behind WaL

   

WaL in too if only everso slightly on a curved bend.

It was a lovely spot, we have stopped here in years gone by.  A wide verge, a layby for our car.  Also stopping there was a nicely fitted out van conversion who went off to work in the  mornings and appeared back after all the dog walkers and other locals had gone home.

Joe barbie queued the farm shop sausages we brought that afternoon, we sat outside until late in the warm evening golden light listening to the birdsong.

Everything was delightful.