Hello Reader and welcome back, lots to tell so settle down.
Well after the last trip home from Tattenhall marina a few weeks ago taking about six hours I declared this was too long and that we should break the journey, David didn't think that an overnight stop in Buxton was a very direct route so we settled on Warwick service station, the Days Inn. A snip at £40 although there was a £5 charge for the overnight parking on top. The room was spotlessly clean and the bed very comfy. I'm going to go about booking another one to see if it was an introductory off or their usual price.
We had been overnight in London where we had attended our daughter's 40th Birthday party. I don't usually admit to having a child of 40 and this is probably the last time I do. (She's not the eldest either).
Here's a snap of David at the party...
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| It was an afternoon party, where all the children were invited and much crafting available for them to do.... |
As we drove up the motorway David continued the fun by picking all the jewels and stickers off.
For supper I googled good pubs and we picked The Malt Shovel at Gaydon half a mile from the M40.
I wanted to eat some veg so ordered the roast beef and as we are married David ordered the same and the same wine too.
I have to say Reader it was the very best Sunday Roast I have ever had out, thick slices of medium rare beef, spicy red cabbage, parsnips, carrots and a mixture of mangetout savoy cabbage and broccoli, we even ordered a portion of cauliflower cheese, the whole lot served with "Proper gravy" in all it was absolutely fantastic. So if you are a user of the M40 at Junction 12, try out the Malt Shovel at Gaydon.
So we arrived at Tattenhall an easy 2 hours later. While we were loading the luggage two boaters walked past and said nice things about WaL. They thought she was new, well she kinda is again now. The conversation went on a bit and one said (as many people do) that red paint can fade and that was why he would never buy a red car....
Reader my car at home is red, my boat is red and at the time I was wearing a red top. We have been advised by the new pigments and paints available that this isn't likely to be the case going forward. Who knows? Who cares? We love it.
I'm glad to say that WaL was absolutely fine, started first time and after David had returned from planting the car further along we departed.
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| Farewell Tattenhall. |
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| Poxy Canadian geese, we reckoned over 100. Maybe if they re-introduce wolves they would eat the bloody things? |
As we past The Shady (Oak) pub David recognised NB Briar Rose, HERE David wasn't sure whether the new owners had already taken her over or Adam and Adrian were there, problem solved when Adam popped his head up. Their new boat is going to be ready soon. A brief chat as we were to get ahead to meet George and Carol otherwise we would have stopped and chewed the fat.
Adam very kindly came to our first lock of the afternoon windlass in hand to lendahand.
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| Adrian and Adam, both good eggs. |
Just look at this weed! This stuff grows like Topsy, grows in great drifts that breaks off drifting down the canal and can get around your prop and definitely under our bow several times.
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| Almost blocking the canal in places. |
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| Just room for one boat here on the best mooring with uninterrupted views of Beeston Castle |
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| Another great drift. |
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| I spotted this on the horizon that I hadn't noticed before. Can it possibly be original? |
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| But just look what's been built on it's doorstep! |
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| See what I did here....? Red berries red boat. |
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| The above pictures of the beginnings of autumn colours are for you Marilyn, I think it's still a bit early. |
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| As I walked along on stretch the perfume from this was so strong, I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. |
I'm not a great one for cats although I had several as a child. But I tell you Reader this small black cat was simply begging to be adopted, he was right next to me doing the last lock of the day. I was on the verge of taking him and would have done so if David hadn't of had some strong words of abjection. But is it theft if the cat in question is itself wanting to come and live with you?
I had to say goodbye to him.
Time by now was getting on. With only Bunbury to do we had a choice to do it now or in the morning. On seeing a short section of armco we did moor up despite David saying we'd be fine to moor at Bunbury locks either below or above. I did not share his optimism, so Bunbury in the morning it is.
Supper tonight was a shared carton of thai chicken soup and some of the load of cheeses David had picked up from the Cheese Shop in Nantwich this morning.
Shropshire Blue is a cracker.
