Trent & Mersey Canal:Little Heyford

We wern't the first to leave this morning.  A boat passed us at 6 am.   We left at 7:00 am.  Pat had gone ahead to prep the first lock (Middle Lock) leaving the swing bridge to me.  As I exited the Coventry Canal and turned left, a nother boat was moored at the junction and took off to follow.   We forged ahead with them coming up behind as we left each lock, but then with us well ahead after Woodend.    However, by Armitage Tunnel they had caught up, so I let them pass.   It was a rather broken down boat, listing badly to port and seemed to have a crew of four and seemed unable to keep a straight course.    At Rugeley we caught up where they were struggling to moor up past bridge 66 where the long line of moored boats ended.   We carried on to Bridge 67 reckoning that we would be nearer the shops not having to walk back to the bridge where we usually stop.   Pat went off to Morrisons, found Aldi and checked it out, found it wanting and carried on to Morrisons.   The odd boat passed us shortly after, had difficulty avoiding the bridge and nearly colliding with an opposite direction boat in the process.   The crew appeared to be working on the engine as they went by.    Pat eventually reappeared and we set off again to find that the odd boat had moored up again and was now being painted.  Very curious.   We had intended to moor at Wolseley Bridge, but there were too many boats, so we carried on to Little Heywood.    I went off to check out WiFi availability in the village.  The Red Lion seemed to have none, but the Lamb & Flag with a "To Let: Pub Business" sign outside had free pub WiFi.   Interestingly I found a WiFi hot spot around the Arriva Bus Stop, active for a few metres.    That's something I didn't know of and I wonder how widespread this facility is.   The rain which the Met Office had forecast didn't arrive until the afternoon and then was shortlived.   It is supposed to be worse tomorrow.  We'll see.