Flat battery.

Since my last blog this is the first good signal we have had. I am beginning to think I need a better network. After doing the blog I decided to start the engine to boost the batteries and heat the water and to my amazement the starter battery was flat. Giving it some thought I tried swapping it with one of the leisure batteries. It worked we were back to normal,however I still don't know what caused it to go flat. We had a night out at the Cross Keys in Penkridge on Saturday night and left early Sunday morning. Cruising till lunch time, which included seven locks we moored at Moat House Bridge,still on the Staffs and Worchester canal. Monday saw us turn onto the Shropshire Union Canal at around ten forty. Once again we cruised till lunch and moored just before Wheaton Aston. Only one stop lock today,nice and quiet. The following day we carried on calling at Norbury Junction to top up the diesel where it was cheap.that night we moored at Anchor bridge(42),however we didn't go in the pub and I'm not sure it was actually open. Nine mile and a flight of five lock(all set for us)brought us to Market Drayton,where we moored. After lunch we walked into town(the long way)and looked round the Wednesday Market. Thursday was our hard day seventeen lock and very few set for us, we finally moored outside the Shroppie Fly, leaving the last three locks of the Audlem flight for the next day. Having walked into the village for some supplies we had a well earned pint. Next morning we competed the three locks and went on to the two at Hack Green before mooring about three mile from Nantwich.we couldn't arrive in Nantwich until Saturday morning as we were staying till Monday to let Pamela come and collect Lucy(the dog). Arriving in Nantwich early in the morning we were lucky to get the last mooring opposite the Marina,it would have been better to have arrived later when some boats had moved on. Pamela,Nathan,Archie and Amberley arrived for lunch and we had a lovely day before seeing them off at six o clock. We decided to move on for three quarters of an hour it was such a nice evening,so we moored near Hurlston Junction,this is where you turn on to the Llangollon canal. This morning we went up to Barbridge Junction and turned right heading for Middlewich. We moored just before arriving in Middlewich to have lunch and are staying the night here. Tomorrow we will lock down at Wardle lock and turn left, which will take us toward northwich where we bought the boat. A note for our friends Vivianne and David,this morning we saw Fresh Fruits at Hurlston Junction- that will mean nothing to the rest of our readers.

On our way

The plan was to set off last Saturday arriving at Willington for the evening mooring, having done all the large locks in one day. On Friday we collected our prescriptions and found that Marlene had to see the doctor for a review. With the plan in tatters we settled with Spending the weekend in Shardlow where we had a night out at the Clock Warehouse. On Monday morning Marlene phoned the doctors for an appointment that morning,only to be told it would be four o clock. We finally started out at five o clock completing Aston and Weston locks before mooring for the night. Two locks and one and a half mile,a slow start.Tuesday morning we were off early, thanks to Pamela's dog Lucy,who got us up at seven. Lucy is staying with us while Pamela is on holiday in France. Clearing Willington before lunch we moored up to dry some washing. Later we carried on to Shobnal fields where we moored for the night. Wednesday was a simple run up to Fradley where we spent the night. In the evening we had a pleasant walk round the nature reserve. Four locks on Thursday and a steady cruise to Rugeley where we did some shopping. Later we carried on and moored in the open just before Taft Bridge(69). From Rugeley to the mooring I walked with Lucy, doing a bit of this, this trip. Another early start on Friday found us at Great Hayward for nine thirty. Once again Lucy and I had walked the three mile. Turning left at the junction on to the Staffs and Worcester Canal(we had been on the Trent and Mersey) we headed for Penkridge where we plan to spend the weekend. Arriving mid afternoon we met our old friends Jennifer and Graham on Best of Friends. This morning we walked into town and had a look round the Market. A quiet day tomorrow then on to Autherley Junction and on to the Shropshire Union.