Monday 18 September 2017

"Photos what Photos"

Monday 18th September
Last Thursday (14th) after we had moored near Shugborough Hall we had a walk with Jaz to the shop  close to the doctors surgery but it had closed down! So we walked round to the Spar further on, I only wanted a few bits & pieces. On our way back to the boat we stopped for a pint in the Clifford Arms, they are very dog friendly and there were 2 other dogs already in the pub, the barmaid came over with a jar full of dog biscuits and gave Jaz a few!
On Friday morning we left our mooring to head for Wolsley Bridge about 8.45am and only had Colwich lock to do and as we approached it there was a boat coming up in the lock so we didn't have to wait too long to get down the lock. When we got to the moorings at Wolseley Bridge there was plenty of room to moor. We wanted to moor there so we could go for an Indian meal at the Shimla Palace, we always go here when we are passing, the food is good and the lads are lovely, very friendly and very helpful when your not sure what to have. We weren't disappointed the  meal was excellent.
Saturday morning we were on our way again stopping at Taft Bridge to fill with diesel & get a new gas bottle, the diesel was 63pence per litre & gas bottle was £24, after we were finished we carried on & stopped briefly at Rugeley so I could pop to Tesco to get Jaz her chew sticks while Kev put the gas bottle away & put the additive in the diesel tank. We then set off once again and Kev walked along the towpath for a while with Jaz while I followed on the boat. When we got to the top of Shadehouse lock at Fradley there was a mooring so we tied up there. On Saturday evening Kev & I walked down to the Mucky duck pub for a few pints, we hadn't been here since the new landlord & landlady took over about a year ago. What a vast improvement, the pub was looking good and the cellar room was looking great and there was a man playing a guitar and singing down there. Most of the tables were reserved for people who had booked to eat and the food looked fab, we had already eaten or we would have definitely have had something to eat. There was a really good new menu and one man had ordered a 24oz T-Bone steak!! They are bought to order so you have to pre book for them, there is a vegetarian menu too & Kev said the beer was good too so if anybody is thinking of a meal or a drink when your in Fradley I am sure you won't be disappointed. Apparently the brewery have spent £40,000 on the kitchen alone!!
Yesterday morning I went to fill the lock while Kev brought the boat in and when we got down to the 3rd lock at Fradley where the junction is there was a volunteer lockie on so he had the lock ready for Kev while I caught up. After that lock we stopped at the services to get rid of the rubbish & empty the cassette and then I headed for the next lock to get it ready for Kev. When we got to Branston we stopped for lunch and then I walked once again to Branston lock where there was a boat coming up the lock so by the time Kev got to it the boat was just about ready to leave.
When we got to Willington we moored up, We had a walk to the Green Dragon pub and had a pint and then walked to The Rising Sun pub for a few games of pool and a few pints too! There is a new landlord & landlady in this pub too and they had only been there a few weeks, really friendly people and the landlady put mini pies, roast potatoes & gravy on the bar for everybody which is a nice touch but once again we didn't have any as we were going to have a Chinese takeaway! So when we left the pub Kev went to the Chinese while I went back to the boat to put the oven on and warm the plates, lovely Chinese it was too!!
This morning we moved across to the services to get rid of rubbish once again and empty another cassette, I then walked Jaz for a while then got back on board at Buckford bridge, we  passed a familiar boat along the way Nb Inca,when we got to our first double lock Kev got off to go set the lock while I waited on the boat. Nobody to share the lock with so I was on my own in the lock but its not bad going down these double locks on your own.
We stopped before Weston for a bite to eat and then as we left Kev stayed on the towpath and took Jaz to Weston lock while I followed once again on the boat.
For some reason the camera hasn't got any photos that I have took since the last post, probably no great loss there then lol.
We are now back in our marina at Shardlow and will go home tomorrow, we are going home a bit earlier than we expected to be as our cottage we rent out has become vacant and the girl Nicky from the letting agency who looks after it told us there are quite a few holes in the walls that need filling, so Kev will fill them then emulsion the walls while I clean the place after he has finished.

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