Fradley Junction

Technically it was raining again as we left Radford this morning, but only a few drops.  Otherwise the weather was quite bright but with threatening black clouds in the distance.  The cruise alongside the sodden plain by the River Sow and the busy railway line was essentially uneventful.  Tixal Wide had its usual complement of moored boats. Do you get a plaque for this?   Tixall Lock was waiting for us, but after Great Haywood Junction traffic built up and we were now having to queue for the locks - but there are only two until near Fradley, so no worries.   Pat's wrist is playing up, so I have forbidden her the use of a windlass and she now manages the boat in the lock which all works very well.  We stopped at Rugeley for the supermarket and then set off again having lunch on the move.  No conflicting traffic at Armitage Tunnel which is a longish stretch of single line working.  Nearing Kings Bromley we saw two boats ahead and sure enough, there was a queue at Woodend Lock.  Just as we entered the heavens opened for 10 minutes.  Its amazing how everyone just laughs it off.   Once we had our place in the locking sequence there was no further delay to speak of other than waiting for opposite direction boats.  Pat was waiting on the front of the boat to leap off and swing the bridge at the junction, but little luck with moorings.  We are on paupers row, right at the end near the bridge and aground about 2 feet from the bank.   During a moment of idle thought on the way I was asking Pat "Why don't we see dead ducks?.  We see lots of baby ducks and adult ducks, but no dead ducks".  "Duck knows," she said!

Comments

[Martin]

'paupers row' - a lovely expression! At least if you're (un)loading stuff it's handy to park the car by the bridge.