We started the day well prepared for the rain that was forecast.
It was already raining when we set off, though just a light drizzle at first.
The rain soon came down cats and dogs though, so Sarah and I took turns steering. Whilst I was hiding from the rain, I got a couple of small jobs done – fixing the speaker box corner that had come apart, and a Macgyver-style fix for Sarah’s glasses with a very tiny bit of cotton thread, with stopper knots on either end until we can get to an optician.
We went through a couple of lift-bridges, and then as it was coming up to lunch time and the rain by this point was torrential, we moored up for lunch and waited until 2pm for the rain to ease off.
Renourished and with the skies slowly brightening, we tackled the last lift-bridge and got up to Grindley Brook staircase. Sarah requested I point out that the canal turns sharply to the left just before the bridge, in case anyone thinks she’s lost the plot and is steering the wrong way!
We were the 5th boat in line at the staircase, but Sarah must have made a good impression with the lock keeper Amy when we came up, as she let all 5 of us down in a row. Naturally we gave thanks in the usual way – Amy went for the last chocolate brownie, and the vlockie had some Bara Brith which we’d got from the butchers in Chirk.
Funny place for flowers to grow! 
Rosemary chilling by the lock
We moored up after the last of the Grindley Brook locks. There were still some blackberries there so Sarah and Rosemary went picking whilst I made some bread and mopped out the rain from the bilges.
Rosemary is treating us to dinner tonight at the Horse and Jockey; it looks like we’ll be spoilt for choice judging by the menu.