Rugeley

Well it was good to see Chris and Debbie on The Meaning of Ubique at Tixall yesterday, if only while they winded, from their blog they seem to have had an interesting year so far.

Made it to Rugeley through the rain and no, they don't have a camera shop so I will have to fall back on my literary skills then, oh well.

Currently chucking it down, don't fancy a day here tomorrow so hoping it will improve by the morning, if not I guess we'll get wet, can't complain though, well I could but no one would listen so I'll just carry on, this boating life is so tough at times!!

At least the Morrisons here is right next to the cut, not too far to carry the food, theoretically dieting at the moment, how many calories in a class of Merlot? Can't be many.

Death of.........

Well ain't life wonderful, set off this morning to walk up through the Shugborough estate, take a few photties and get a nice bit ready for the blog, took one photo, lined up for the next, nothing, camera totally dead, recharged the batteries, still dead, camera appears to be kaput. Have now poked every button, whacked it, sworn at it and even threatened to hurl it in the cut, the camera is still not playing, I fear a big bill is on its way, oh alas, alack. Hope there is a camera shop in Rugeley as that is the next town, or else Burton, oh bother!!!!

An atmospheric mooring.

Yesterday I had a days fishing at Penkridge, bite a chuck, small perch, roach and loads of gudgeon, big ones too, the biggest must have gone nigh on two ounces.

Today it was down to Tixall and unbelievably we have managed to moor on the Wide!

Just across from us is the old gatehouse to Tixall Hall, looks like a set for a Hammer film, just needs Christopher Lee peering from a window.

There was quite a moody sunset as well, I suspect we will have a day or two here, make the most of really nice moorings.

Return to Penkridge.

Well we had a meal at the Fox and Anchor and it was superb, not too expensive either, recommended.

A gentle cruise down to Penkridge.

This is obviously an old boundary stone but I wonder what bounds it marks.

and who was Long Moll?

Today we did a bit of shopping and decided to have lunch at the famous Cross Keys, only keg beer and when we asked the possibility of lunch the staff appeared to lose all interest so we adjourned to the Boat, a good pint of Bombardier and a steak sarnie, spot on. Cross Keys? 3 out of 10.

Also found the local fishing tackle shop, good grief, so much kit I don't know what most of it does, or doesn't do. I get the impression that most of it is designed to catch more anglers than fish.

Coven

Not a witch in sight but we did walk up to the village, butchers, bakers, small co-op(Sorry, no candlestick makers) and a post office, virtually all new build housing so didn't bother with the camera. A couple of beers in the Fox and Anchor (Ouch! second mortgage time) and as the Menu looks quite good we are bracing ourselves to part with shillings numerous and have a meal there tonight, well we have just had a small legacy.

Wow, what a fish!

A days fishing at bridge 8, these are just two of the lovely roach I caught, then the lad off the boat moored behind us caught chub that would have had mine as a snack, well I wasn't trying. Now the local farmer has started harvesting the field next to the moorings and everybody is covered in dust, c'est la vie.

Ducks, the family and some interesting pictures of a lost branch.

After a most pleasant two day stay at Little Onn we have continued south through Brewood only stopping for a quick shop and yet another superb curry at the Curry Inn. Now moored by bridge 8 on the S.U.C.S. moorings, a couple of days here and we intend heading for the River Soar, (Please note I only say intend).

Having not put any pictures on of late.............

This is the Gnosall Complimentary Hull De Weeding Service, not so good when they start at 4:30am.

Needless to say I took photties of the family visit.

Bubbles on the Towpath at Market Drayton.

The damp and ill fated birthday BBQ at Coole Pilates.

The birthday boy.

And now for something completely different, a discovery we made whilst out for a gentle stroll.

If you go down off the embankment at Norbury and follow the back lanes to Oulton you come across this little bridge,

if you climb down the bank and battle through the stingers it becomes clear what it is going over and if you walk under the bridge you find

one of the lock chambers on the Newport branch.

It all appears to be in remarkably good condition. To me it seems that if ever restoration goes ahead keeping the locks is a more sensible answer than the idea of an inclined plane which has been put forward.

As we will be leaving the Shroppie shortly we would just like to put on record our thanks to Simon and Dave at Norbury Wharf for all the help and the quality of the work they have done on Armadillo.