We certainly think fate is leading us on a learning lesson right now. We had so many plans for 2024 that almost to a plan have been impacted or cancelled. Many reasons and some have positive outcomes for others so we can't be too upset. In fact for me personally who for 61 years has lived most of those years in the future to have plans adjusted or cancelled is a great lesson. Life right now is telling us appreciate what you have now this day this hour this minute.
Sermon over back to the boat. Due to other commitments alluded to above our Four counties / Chester / Anderton lift / Llangollen trips have been commuted into a return slow time journey to our mooring at Shebdon. So Friday we arrived at Percy mid day and she was already slipped back in all blacked up annode'd and ready to go. We filled with water then did a 180 turn out of the marina to look for a mooring below the Audlem flight of 15 locks. Nothing below the first lock so we started up and stopped after lock 14 to see if there was anything on the visitors between 11 and 12 which there was so we nailed another couple of locks and moored up for the night. Frustratingly loosing a windlass as part of the final lock mooring up process. We consoled ourselves to the fact out loss would be someone else's happiness if they kept the windlass which we have to assume they did !
A lazy night then a lazy start the next day. ( Sat 1st June) saw us ascend the rest of the flight turning every lock - why are there so few boats moving ? Part way up we adopted a vlovky who was friendly and efficient and was rewarded with a bottle of Tim Taylors 'Landlord' for which he was pleased to receive.
At the top lock I struggled to get the top gate fully open and expected to be able to just edge out but no Percy got stuck.... a pair of American fellas tried to help and wanted to 'push' Percy back in - they seemed excited to do this ... as they were approaching with Rachel on the back in decent reverse I 'bounced' the gate and freed us thankfully much to the disappointment of our American friends. I then set to clearing the lock recess with our boat hook - basically lots of rotting veg and sticks on the shelf where the lock gate goes into .... opened the gate all was well apart from a some new blacking not being there anymore !
We mored at the first mooring on the visitors at the top of the flight at around 1.15 pm two hours after setting off and rewarded ourselves with lunch and ice cream from the cake lady at the top lock.
I took a walk back to the Coop - just under three mile round trip for supplies later. Below the top lock was a dead eel - quite massive as long and as thick as my leg... what a canal monster and a shame it is no more.
Not sure of the gate number but it had some decent holes in it !!
A bit of fishing and I then started to remove the new but seemingly failed Giandel inverter which just keeps going into overload with no load on it .... trying to get them to support their product is difficult, I'll update if I get some support.
A quiet night ensued as no other boats joined us.
Today off to do the Adderley flight then moor in or around Market Drayton for the horrible bottom lock of Tyrley on Monday all being well.
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