Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 20:35:53 +0100 From: Ann Harvey Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Amos's August trip - Part 2 [ The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set. ] [ Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set. ] [ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ] SUNDAY 13 AUGUST We left our moorings at about 9.30 am and arrived at Penkridge just before noon and moored outside the Cross Keys pub. The weather was sunny to begin with but then turned overcast and we got a few drops of rain. We had an easy passage through the locks as we met a lot of boats coming up. We went into the Cross Keys and were just in time to get the last unbooked Sunday lunches. A party that pulled up and came in just after us were turned down. The lunches were excellent and good value at 4.95 UKP including a pudding. After another pint we went back to the boats to let lunch digest and then make up our minds whether to carry on or stay put. We are fed and well provisioned so a pub for the night is not essential. Acton Trussell is a possibility, but Tixall may be just too far for comfort. The weather is warm and cloudy with just occasional light showers, so good cruising weather. After lunch Pat knocked on the boat to ask if we wanted to go on. We all agreed to go on to Acton Trussell. At the first lock (Filance) it began to drizzle slightly. By the time we^Òd got to another couple of locks it was raining heavily. Lots of boats coming up made locking easy with open gates and leaving open gates as well most times. We pulled up opposite the Moat House at 5.10 and Koinonia followed soon afterwards. The rain continued on and off. In the evening we went for a drink in the Moat House. This place is given over to functions and meals. It would have been pleasant to sit outside at the picnic tables but the weather was not suitable. Inside it was full of diners and staff prioritised their attention to these and the residents. We therefore retired onto Koinonia to discuss our route and prospective stops, and then off to bed at 11.30 pm. MONDAY 14 AUGUST This morning the weather is overcast and windy-looking, however it is warm and feels more pleasant than it looks from inside. We set off at 9.30 am and arrived at Great Heywood junction at 12.30. Patrick needed to top up his water and after that we all went down and moored below the lock. We had a drink in the Clifford Arms garden, and then went back to the boats as a drizzle had set in. We then decided to carry on for an hour or two, but before we had the chance to do so a boat pulled in, in front of us. It was Ron and Margaret Lea, on Vela, on their way home to Ashwood from their epic 10-week trip to London and back. They were delighted to see someone they knew after all those weeks, and by the time greetings were completed and stories had been exchanged it was a bit late to continue. We met Ron and Margaret again in the Clifford Arms that evening. A noisy evening from the six of us drew the attention of the other customers. There was much hilarity as we tried to take the mandatory photo with time-delay and the assistance of a beer glass and an ashtray in lieu of a tripod. One chap couldn^Òt resist it any longer and offered to take Pat^Òs photo for him. We realised that we^Òd met the couple drinking at the bar before. Penny quietly reminded me that the woman had been the non-stop talker with the duracell batteries that we^Òd met last year, and suggested that we refrain from getting into conversation. Pat and Ken knew no such restraint and were trying to remember where we^Òd met before. Fortunately her batteries were flatter this year, or maybe she couldn^Òt get a word in edgewise this time. First up in the morning will wake the rest. ---