Simon arrived from Salford for a day of R&R and so I took the opportunity to do a Di Blasi-less car shuffle before we set off. Through Big Lock we then pulled onto the waterpoint for a fill and were overtaken by two other boats who followed us down through the lock. As an Alvechurch craft arrived to use the lock, the crew got a bow line ashore but were drifting across the cut. I asked the steerer to throw me a line and he did just that! I then had to throw the looped end back to him so he could put it over the dolly and then I pulled them in. Once the watertank was full, we set off and the rain started. Only light drizzle at first but it became heavier and heavier as the day continued. The two boats in front were going at a slower pace than Jannock is comfortable with but there was not enough difference to try and overtake so we settled to a steady speed. Before Northwich, the first boat pulled over and then we were un-ceremoniously rammed by a Black Prince hireboat panicking as he'd just met the boat in front of us on a bend. This boat then stopped as they had lost a painted can off their roof into a tree and so we continued on at a slightly better rate after that. I was disappointed to find all of the visitor moorings at Anderton are now either 24 or 48 hour only so we had to continue on before finally mooring up. Graham www.jannock.org.uk
