The boat in the picture below moored behind us last night, it was only when we went to bed we heard the grinding of the pin on the armco railing. Off Toby went in his PJs with a torch, putting an old rag around the pin, after that is was silence and we all got a good nights sleep.
A long day today, as we wanted to get to Nantwich, so mum could get the train home tomorrow, and we could sit out the forcasted rain. It was a day of slow progress with lots of locks and lift bridges. We were following a very slow boat, even with us doing the lock for them so they could get ahead, we still caught them up at the next lock.
A pumpout at Swanley Marina, Toby is holding the pumpout thingy, and mum is holding the water hose to get a good seal – not the nicest of jobs, but it doesn’t seem to put anyone off from wanting to stay!
Hurleston Locks felt so different today, compared to when we came up and had to queue for almost two hours. We were straight in with three vlockies (it pays to move on a week day!), we gave our thanks with Barra Brith cake. It was very windy, one boater coming up the flight really didn’t have a clue. He missed the first lock entrance and had to have a second go. On crossing in the pound with Toby, it was Toby who had to go the wrong side to get in to the lock, the other guy was sticking to the towpath side no matter what.
A right hand turn and we said our goodbyes to the Llangollen canal. Nantwich was surprisingly busy, we were lucky to get a mooring – although somewhat unlucky as a boat pulled out from the services just in front of us, and took the better spot.
Dinner consisted of pizza chicken and a dessert of blackberry and apple crumble with lashings of custard. Five left over portions which will keep Toby going for breakfast for the rest of the week!
