Longish Day

We left the mooring at “silly o’clock” this morning and armed with a walkie talkie I sauntered to the Armitage Tunnel, couldn't face a sprint it was just too early. Nothing coming so it was a clear passage for Paul. Must say it was blooming cold on the back of the boat so I was wrapped up well. At woodend lock there was a boat on the lock mooring much muttering from us but there was enough room for us to moor and wait for the boat in front of us to go down. The guy on the mooring came out to explain why he was there, apparently a friend who was travelling with them fell into the lock and needed 40 stitches in his face and an overnight stay in hospital. I did say he wasn't in the way so why worry, his reply was, not everyone had been so tolerant. Good job he didn't hear us wittering away.

Didn't take us long to get through the locks and on to the Coventry where we finally filled up with water ,got rid of the rubbish and emptied the cassette. As we prepared to leave a boat came through the swing bridge so we followed him for a while then he seemed to put a spurt on and once again we were going nowhere. We had made our minds up that at the next available spot we would pull over so Paul could go down the weed hatch yet again. Just approaching bridge 90 when heading straight for us was a little boat no more than 35 foot with an old couple on the back (as old as us so quite old…) We had seen them coming so  by now Paul had put the boat in reverse but the little boat kept coming at the same speed and was making no attempt to slow down or move over, of course the inevitable happened and he hit us, I must add at this point we were stationary, he was just going too quick luckily for him or should I say us he hit us on our bow rope so no damage done to us but there was a nasty mark on the paintwork on cheek of his boat. As the Skippers came level Paul said in a polite manner (very unusual for Paul) “ that just serves you right, you were going to fast, made no attempt to slow down or go into reverse” the reply was “go away”. By this time they had run aground and a lady looking out of her kitchen window of the house by the bridge was really laughing as she had witnessed it all.

Just after the bridge we pulled onto the armco to check the weed hatch and for once every thing was clear it must be the lack of water that is hampering our progress. We now have a draft of 28inches so those few extra inches have made all the difference. The rest of the journey has been slow but hassle free thank goodness. We are moored just past Streethay Wharf  next to the site of the new marina. Done four and a half hours travelling today. We have decided to try and get in at Sutton Road Bridge tomorrow and spend the weekend there so I can get to Sainsbury's lets hope there is a space.

What we want to know is why is everyone moving at 4.30 when they should be moored up having their tea. we have found this over the past weeks that as it gets later more boats are still travelling  after dusk and they are not hire boats either. Especially the one that came past in the dark last night (question:are you covered by your insurance if you are travelling in the pitch dark?). As I sit here writing this a boat has gone by every 5 minutes, I do appreciate that not everyone has the time we have but hey this is a canal and there is no rush hour, IS THERE?