Could we go any slower? Or have more fun?

Of the last post, Ann says that instead of noting they were looking grumpy, I could have said that they had been up since four in the morning and had just flown in from Copenhagen. "But you didn't" sez I. Ah, a small flaw in the explanation. But they had been on a train for a number of hours from Truro, and they have been holidaying since October and THAT is tiring!

The smiling Persicos

Salvi steered us through the Wast Hill tunnel on our way to Edgbaston. It's hard to see but it was VERY hazy - diesel particulates galore! Two boats had come through before we entered and their exhaust fumes had not in any way cleared!

I cannot remember where this is, but there are permanent moorings on the offside. What a wonderful view!

Is this Ray and Leonie's old boat with the NZ removed?

On Saturday, after Ann and I took the rubbish over University bridge and took a few photos, we headed out of Edgbaston with Ann steering - and a great job she did of it!

Poppies at the bridge

The view from the duckhatch at Edgbaston - there are university halls of residence across that bridge and woods between the canal and the buildings. A beautiful place!

From the bridge we could see Salvi spiralling the rope, a la Michael Roy ...

See, Ann can even smile while steering!

We stopped for water not far up from King's Norton Junction. The weather was beautiful, so we decided to settle in for the afternoon and evening.

While David and Salvi re-positioned the bike (see photo below), it was so hot that Ann and I took a couple of the chairs to a small wooded area and plonked ourselves down in the shade. Surprisingly, the mooring was very peaceful, although there is a block of flats across the canal. It was such a hot night (at least initially) that we left the front doors open and the offside cratch side open, the stern door lid back with the offside pram-cover side off, and the duck hatch open with a sheet pegged across it so that air could move. Of course, about 3am, the temperature dropped - but clever all of us - the duvets were close at hand ...

David and Salvi found a good place for the bike which doesn't obstruct the view and keeps it out of the way.

On Sunday, without hurrying about it, we started on the way towards the Lapworth flight, but we decided not to descend them and moored up outside Hockley Heath in the sunshine in the peace and quiet – too much like hireboating to be doing 6.5 hour days, or like racing with the assistance of the wonderful M&J, to get through the multiple lock flights on the way to Alvechurch to hole up waiting out the rain and the time gap until pre-op and surgery.

Salvi did all of the steering, wherein his sailing experience came in very handy. I was very disappointed that the lift bridge at Shirley was fixed open (and the road closed) because I was looking forward to having a go at opening that and stopping traffic. Dammit!! And just after it, we had to stop because we had a piece of a branch between the prop and the rudder – I was on weedhatch duty because David is DEFINITELY not allowed to put his  hands in this very, very black canal water. I had to use the short boat hook (sorry, Mick, we have one on Waka Huia and you no longer do on Unknown No 3 …) to investigate with an implement, rather than putting my hand down without being able to see what I might be grappling with … I think though in the stopping and pulling the boat in to the side (thanks, Salvi) the branch bits (2) floated out. So I retained my heroine status, but without having to disentangle crap from around the prop shaft. My arm was washed thoroughly and smothered in sanitizer, and the glove with which I covered my hand was soaked in a bucket before being washed…

On Monday we decided that we really ought to do the Lapworth Flight so we prepared by having bacon and eggs - protein top-up ... I channelled Julia, and went two or three locks ahead and got them ready, then came back and helped clear the lock Salvi was in and off again I went. It was very efficient, but rather tiring, I would have to say. So my admiration for Julia increased exponentially. 

Ann soon got the hang of lockwheeling, and was ably tutored by David, who had the utmost difficulty in NOT taking part. It must be very difficult not being allowed to do anything when everyone else is fully occupied on stuff you enjoy and are good at! I did relent and tell him he could close up one gate after Salvi exited. However, once off the boat, he found people to chat to who were not boating. So he wasn't very much help. However he did seem a lot happier!

In the lock

When there were 6 locks to go, we saw that the 48 hour moorings in Lapworth looked very inviting, so we accepted, and moored up before about 2pm I think.

Salvi rather liked the chilli and tomato relish. So much so that it is all gone now. Note to self: make more next time!

We finished off the locks the next morning, then stopped for breakfast down in the junction.
 

Coming in to the last lock

 

Ann and David coming to the last lock - Salvi is just getting in to it without touching the sides.

This was meant to be a serious but smiling photo - however, Ann stepped backwards into the nettles.

 

David's artistic arrangement of orange tomatoes on bagel ...

We had inducted Salvi and Ann into 5 Crowns, and they were rapidly addicted. So much so that ANY opportunity to play was seized: Example: Me 'Ann, shall we go to the pub?' Ann: 'No, but let's play cards'. So finishing up early was never a problem.

Ann wins twice...

Marilyn wins! OK, I didn't take any photos of the cards from David's and Salvi's wins, but it did happen.

That wasn't the end of the boating day, but more later.


All was right with the world on board Waka Huia during their tenure – Salvi and Ann were both wonderfully relaxed. Boating at less than 3mph will do that to you!