A p** on cyclists...

I met a jolly pleasant and considerate cyclist today.  Just the one.

I also met a lot of selfish, thoughtless, ignorant gits that think anyone and everyone using a towpath should leap immediately out of their way.  They couldn't have had those new fangled brakes fitted because they don't appear to be able to slow down let alone come to a halt.  Mooring up today on the York Street visitor moorings at Stourport,  wind blowing the boat away from the bank type of day, and I had cyclists weaving around me and the ropes to get past.  I couldn't step back to pull the boat into the side because some middle aged tosspot was determined to ride his 'mountain bike' along the path come hell or high water and some silly  boater wasn't going to impede him.
I said nothing, but I seethed.
I am beginning to loath the sight of  bicycles and I bet I am not alone.

May Baby

 Thank goodness my Mum decided to have me in this nice warm weather...

We have stayed out of Stourport today though we we likely go in tomorrow as the annual raft race is being held and that promises to be a spectacle.  So today has been taken up with a few chores and a lot of surfing the net for white goods for the new boat. This afternoon I took the two dogs out for a walk and came across a lot of traveller ponies with the usual selection of foals at their sides.  The little filly is probably barely a week old and is enjoying a bit of sunshine.

Here I am posing for the camera..

LED blubs

I have been researching bits and pieces for Caxton's replacement and came across the following site - http://www.ledlightingsupplier.co.uk/categories/kitchen-and-bathroom/  How things have come on in the last three years when we first went down the route of a totally LED boat!

Landlubbers aboard

Moored at Wolverley

 We had positioned ourselves at Kinver in anticipation of a visit from longstanding friends, Val and Alan.  They were away in their caravan and only an hour away by car so a visit and small cruise were arranged.  The two dogs had managed to get mud on both Val and Alan before they had even stepped aboard Caxton so things were off to a flying start - V&A are NOT doggie people I might add.  We planned to amble down to Wolverley and lunch in The Lock pub a moderate distance for Alan to then use my cycle and return to Kinver to collect their car; the offer of the bike was declined in favour of a taxi however. 
As we approached Wolverley lock we came across Nb Rome moored up on her home mooring, several blasts of Caxton's horn brought Graham and Evelyn out from the peace and comfort of their home to ensure that 'rabble' from Caxton kept going...  Good to see you both again folks!
We stayed overnight and moved off this morning into Kidderminster where we shopped for doggie goodies and a couple of M&S meal deals - I should have been looking for an outfit to wear for a birthday do at the end of May but my heart sinks at the thought of clothes shopping - it will be a last minute panic buy yet again.

We are now moored at Pratts Wharf just south of Kidderminster and talking of 'pratts', who lost her grip on the windlass today and is now sporting a rather fetching lump to the side off the face with a bluish tinge to enhance the battered look? Answers on a postcard...

Prestwood to Kinver

 Caxton moored below the lock at Kinver

We left Prestwood at 10ish this morning and ambled down towards Kinver.  Everything was fresh from overnight rain and the canal fringe is looking verdant.  The walk was pleasant and uneventful until Fletcher spotted a couple of slices of white bread just sitting there winking at him - the couple of slices of white bread were just sitting next to an angler but Fletcher seemed to overlook this additional detail and one lunge later the couple of slices of white bread had changed ownership!  I at once got myself into Abject Apology mode and this practiced grovelling seemed to do the trick because taciturn angler was amused rather than furious.

 Hyde Lock in the sunshine.  I had just opened the lock gates for an approaching boat and was heading off up the cliff along a bridleway to walk the dogs.

 Where does this go then?

When I got back to Caxton we had neighbours..fellow bloggers, Eric and Elsie and Ben on Nb Bendigedig

Moving South and dodging showers

 We moored up just outside Brewood (pronouced Brood) for the weekend to catch the F1 Turkish Grand Prix and to continue my recovery from the vilest cold I have ever had, ever.  I am now well on the road to normality but Himself has now been struck down by the same germ.
Eric and Elsie and Ben of Nb Bendigedig were moored up a couple of boats from us but we kept ourselves to ourselves given the bacterial threat we were posing.

Leaving the Shroppie

 Monday morning we pulled pins and moved off south, servicing Caxton at Autherley junction before leaving the Shropshire Union canal and turning left on to the Staffs and Worcs.  This has been our first visit to the Shroppie and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time on this,lovely canal.  We pulled in at Compton and visited Limekiln Chandlers for a few essential boaty bits before getting a supply of groceries from the local supermarket.  When we arrived back at the boat Nb. Bendigedig was moored behind so we were able to have a chat and then work down through a couple of locks together.

 Moored at Prestwood last night on these lovely five day moorings

And now we are off for our last walk of the day.

Three coats of intertuf, that will do nicely...

 Wednesday 27th April and Caxton is docked at Norbury Junction for her date with a jet wash and a paintbrush.  I headed off to Essex in a hire car, the two dogs, dog beds, dog food, dog toys and a change of clothes for me all stowed neatly aboard.  I was off, leaving Joe to prepare and repaint the well deck, the gunwales and the foredeck while the Norbury crew tackled the blacking.

 What a little ice can do... Jet washed and ready for the first of three coats of blacking.

 Newly painted tunnel bands

The water filler has been moved up onto the gunwale and a piece of metal welded in place to prevent run-off into the well deck.

Looking smart in her new coats of protective blacking.