Leaving Tixall Wide

What a "bendigedig" (Wonderful) place Tixall Wide is, the bird life is beautiful, but all good things have to come to an end and so we departed waving out goodbyes to Eric and Elsie (Bendigedig) and Alan and Eiddwen (Shush). Turning south at Great Heywood we rejoined the Trent and Mersey looking to make Fradley Junction and the 'Mucky Duck' for Dinner. 14 Miles and 3 Locks later we arrived to be greeted by 4 dogs who took exception to Mutley sticking his muzzled nose into their bottoms.

The two mothers then started to show the two puppies what to do to show an amorous male the way home, but Mutley being Mutley wasn't taking it in very quickly and received at least 6 assaults before he got the message, typical Tibetan Terrier. Baxter in the meantime got on with his own business and left the woman alone.

Isn't it funny how when the Sun comes out to play, so do the Brits. The Mucky Duck was heaving. Dinner was fair and a couple of pints later we retired early ISH to bed (No Satellite Signal, Bloody Trees).

I don't know what it is about Fradley Junction water points but there is either a 'Challenger' boat moored, who has decided he wants to piss everyone else off and go to the Cafe for breakfast or as yesterday an elderly couple had decided they were going to use the water point as a drive in boat wash, the water point is slow at the best of times but in a busy period to block the point for in excess of an hour to wash your boat and pollute the cut, was little more than inconsiderate, but did give Jill a laugh as the old man inadvertently sprayed his wife with the hose, at which she took exception and gave the little man a dressing down.

Back on the Coventry heading south, on a beautifully warm yet very windy day, we cruised for 16 Miles and 4 Locks to reach another of our favourite moorings opposite Pooley House just outside Polesworth. Jill has been suffering today with a heavy cold, and although she put a brave face on she was really not in a state to enjoy the journey. A good nights sleep and a lay in should sort her out!

We are soon coming to the end of our inaugural cruise, we have to back at Rugby by Wednesday next, Car is being serviced and MOT'd Thursday. We have noticed, how over the the last 9 weeks, how much fitter we have both become, at the outset of our voyage we found that cruising and locking for 3-4 hours was hard work, albeit then very cold, whereas now we can cruise for 7-8 hours without taking too much out of ourselves. Long may it (fitness) and the weather remain as today.