WaL days three and four ... the return journey ...

Saturday (21st) was spent in Stone and was a big day for me.  For nearly two years I've been promising myself that I'd get my hair cut  but had no idea how or where.  I've used the Midland based Francesco group of hairdressers way back in the distant past and remember always being pleased with the outcome.  In my opinion a lot of hairdressers these days are not comfortable or experienced at cutting curly/wavy hair on a not so young lady, so I needed someone I could trust.  I made myself an appointment and very nervously on Saturday morning went into the salon.  Louise the salon owner couldn't have been more understanding about what it was I wanted/needed to have done and I was thrilled at the outcome.

 The New Me!

Later in the afternoon my brother Alan, sister-in-law Marg and niece Lisa came to visit and over tea and cake we had a very pleasant time catching up.

 8 o'clock this morning (Sunday) we pulled the pins in Stone and headed for the winding hole ...

 where George pointed WaL's nose into the hole to turn the boat around ... not easy with a seventy footer!

 What a Lark was then reversed up to the water point to fill the tank ...

 and we were off ...

From the look of Astron I thought that it would have been on the Historic Boat Club register ... but apparently not.

 First lock of the day and first downstream lock for well over five years for me at Aston.  Most locks on the canals are 72(ish) feet long so I take great care to keep WaL away from the cill.

 Lots of cattle enjoying the view and the sunshine today

 and sheep chatting to each other about the boats that approach and depart from under their bridge

George has been doing some tiller work today so that I could put a couple of wash loads through and even take some pictures!

 The Trent and Mersey Canal ...

 was busy today.

 Flute Meadow Bridge as we pass through Burston.  We were last here on Rock 'n' Roll in April 2012

 Geoff is seeing Margaret on Seyella down Sandon Lock in the photo above; there are also boats waiting to come up and two in front of us also waiting to go down ... it could be a long wait!

 A strong by-wash to contend with as I bring WaL out of the lock

 By 12:30 we were moored up behind Seyella near the Saracens Head where the ducks and geese were starting what sounded like WWIII!

Not a bad place to moor for the night ... onwards and downwards again tomorrow morning.

WaL day two ... In the rain ...

 Our mooring above Sandon Lock ...

 late Thursday afternoon (18th) ...

 just before we visited Margaret and Geoff for drinks ...

 and the amazing moon as we left them at 11 o'clock!

 Yesterday (19th) the rain came ... and boy, did it rain!

 It was set for most of the day and rather than sit about for it to stop long enough for us to move in the dry we all decided to go for it at about 10:15.  We encountered drizzle for the first 15 minutes or so and then the heavens opened and we really got wet!  I was steering and George was holding the umbrella but before too long the rain stopped and ...

 by the time we reached Stone our waterproofs were practically dry.

 Moored up on the five day moorings ...

behind narrowboat Seyella.

After lunch we went into town for some bits of shopping and

in the evening shared a fish supper in the company of Margaret and Geoff.

We're on the Trent and Mersey Canal and it's bendy round here, lining up What a Lark (70') on a right hand bend into a skewed bridge followed by a sharp left hand bend was challenging, but all done without even a kiss on the sides (or top/chimney) of the boat.

I thoroughly enjoyed being on the tiller again even in the rain.

I wonder how Lisa and David are faring?

What a Lark this is!

We're at Great Haywood Marina at the moment (Wednesday afternoon 17th) with Lisa and David where we met up with friends of theirs (now hopefully friends of ours too) Louise and John at the Saracens Head in Weston on the Trent and Mersey Canal.  We spent a great couple of hours chatting and getting to know a bit about each other over a very nice meal and we left wishing them happy travels with their new addition Lola.

Still there this morning but that's not David (or Lisa) in the cratch ... it's George of course ... but why?

We're on a boat swap with them!

They are enjoying life on the wide side on the Thames whilst we cruise in a cigar tube on the narrow ditches of the midlands.

First we have to stock up the cupboards with a Tesco delivery ...

and then George takes a deep breath and reverses WaL out of the pontoon ...

Concentration!

Heading for the Marina entrance

and a tight left hand turn, then a very tight right turn and then reverse ...

to moor behind Seyella with whom we will travel for the next few days.

After a cuppa on-board with Margaret and Geoff we pull pins and follow them upstream

It was Tuesday 28th January 2014 when I last touched a tiller ...

and today, understandably, I was a tad nervous.

All going well as I pull over to let George off to set Hoo-Mill lock for me as Seyella leaves it ...

No problem!

He was enjoying being out and about on lock duty.

Looking back from whence I came!

I am soooo enjoying this too!

Like a hot knife through butter at Weston Lock!

Two locks done just one more to go today

Passing the gate leading to the Saracens Head which we visited yesterday afternoon

I recognised this bridge as soon as I saw it ... Salt Bridge!

We have reached our destination ...  we've caught up with Margaret and Geoff at Sandon Lock and have now moored for the night.

I am so proud of myself steering on the narrow canal and through the locks without touching the side after being away from it for 5½ years.

Must go now ... there are drinks and nibble to taste next door!

The next step ...

 Monday (15th July) it was time to move ... back to Abingdon.

We'd left it until 10 o'clock hoping that we'd miss the rush (?) of boats leaving after the weekend but think that everyone had the same thought in mind as it took us two hours before we finally got moored up on the visitor moorings above the lock ... just where we wanted to be.

 Tuesday morning at 10 to 5 ... an early start, there's still lots of sorting today and today is our last chance

(remember ... changes afoot?)

 We were very lucky to see Chris, fuel boat Merchant as we could do with a top-up of diesel ...

 Chris will come and service Still Rockin' after the tanker has filled Merchant's big fuel tank ... the wide beam abreast of him is also waiting for diesel

 Here he comes now ...

with the lovely Stanley!

We're expecting visitors this evening and there's still lots to do ... must get on ... watch this space.