Saturday - Birthday Gel

Saturday was my birthday, I have now completed my fifty-fifth year and life is rather good... We moved up from Shugborough to the village of Weston because Jill and Graham thought the Saracens Head might be ideal for a celebratory meal and we were looking for a good TV signal in order to watch the F1 qualifying.
Below, Caxton moored just above the Bridge at Weston.

Above, Graham and Jill of NB Matilda Rose, our travelling companions.

Above, that will be us all washed and scrubbed up...

We had booked a table which was just as well because the restaurant proved to be very popular. We enjoyed a pleasant meal in pleasant surrounding's with very attentive service from the waitress. The food was the pretty usual pub fare these days with main courses in the £10 bracket, sweets and starters at £4 to £5. An OK dining experience but I think I still expect just a little more imagination in the food options.... maybe I am being too unrealistic?

Sunday - Big Catch-UP!!

Sorry for no updates since Tuesday but the broadband signals have been simply dire!

We are now moored above Sandon Lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal, four miles south of Stone. Just a short push this morning up from last nights mooring at Weston-upon-Trent to get out into the countryside and watch the German Grand Prix.

Taking of the Michael

A prime mooring alongside the Crown Inn at Handsacre is reserved for a trip boat, the Canal Explorer. (above) Fair enough you might say, however as you can see below, someone is taking the Michael............

Only a year out of date and still sitting happily on its very special mooring..

Rugeley Harrier

WHAT A TREAT!!!! We moved up from Handsacre to Rugeley this morning watering on route. Into Rugeley for a wander and provisions and look what we found... A Harrier Hawk busy clearing pigeons from the town centre - traditional pest control no less! I was thrilled to be able to hold this beautiful creature.

Fradley to Handsacre

The view from Woodend Lock this morning as we made our way up towards Handsacre.

There he goes in the sunshine..

My usual view of the dastardly duo on the towpath...

The entrance to Kings Bromley Marina...

Wheat ripening.

Our destination, The Crown Inn. Here we can get a van close to where Caxton is moored.

Looking for landfall..

Yesterday afternoon I walked with Fletcher and Floyd to Kings Bromley Wharf. I was looking for a suitable place for us to be moored on Monday when AJ Canopies are coming to fit Caxton's new cratch cover etc. We need somewhere that has road access to allow Fraser to get his van close to the boat. Things didn't look too promising until I spotted the entrance to Kings Bromley Marina - this doesn't feature in my Nicholson's guide - could this be the answer? I tramped down the A515 until I found the road access to the marina and went to see if I could get a temporary mooring for Monday. Yes, they would have been very happy to oblige but sadly the marina was closed on Monday and that means that there would be no one to let AJ Canopies through the security gates. So back to the drawing board then. Today we are going to move Caxton up towards Handsacre and see if we can moor near The Crown at Bridge 58 instead.

Reunited

This morning Jill and Graham of Nb. Matilda Rose joined us at Fradley. Floyd and Fletcher spotted them first as they were locking through Shade House lock. We are together again after a three month break in which Joe and I went back to land and house projects and Jill and Graham continued to cruise before a spending most of May in Norfolk. The dogs have all reacquainted themselves and Floyd has already trotted himself around to his friend Muttley's boat to see if he was coming out to play.

Lunchtime found us enjoying a pint together at The Swan at Fradley Junction while the dogs shared a packet of pork scratchings.

As luck would have it, there was another new arrival at the junction, The Cheese Boat was moored opposite the pub on the entrance to the Coventry Canal. Joe and I had last come across them in November on our maiden trip and thoroughly enjoyed their wares so we all trooped across and bought a supply/selection of these fine cheeses. The four dogs queued for their taster as well and they were not dissappointed...