Monday 27th April A change of direction -------------------------- We arrived at Stafford BC on Sunday evening and mulled the week ahead. On Monday we were to shuffle the cars, take on provisions and get under way. The weather was dire but we just hoped by mid afternoon things might improve before we set off towards Tixall or Stone on a route taking us via Harecastle & Middlewich to Church Minshull.
And the rain did stop and blue patches appeared in the sky. So we duly winded and then headed off . . . . in the southerly direction from whence we had come. The change of heart came about for 3 reasons 1) The T&M route was essentially a route we had previously covered whereas the Shroppie option was new to us, 2) a potential mini gig in Stone was postponed due intervention by the highest authority (and his name doesnt start with Robin) and 3) we needed diesel and were not sure of the deals available on the T&M but were confident that Turners at Wheaton Aston would be the cheapest we would find. I reckoned on a substantial saving compared with the marina prices we had clocked. These factors seemed to outweigh our previous lack of enthusiasm to spend the first several hours cruising back along the territory we had covered at Easter and we had a pleasant chug to Penkridge top of Filance Lock. Almost immediately the boat in front started his engine. The conversion from ship canal to muddy ditch boating has now been completed without great difficulty. Its a different experience and refreshing to rediscover the charms of boating at slow speed and in close proximity to so many things. The speedwheel operates on a 12 hour basis rather than the 24 hour (2 revolutions) often used on the G&S. There are only 3 speeds required 1) Idle (about 4 oclock) = ker-tickety-ker-bonk 2) Slow (about 7 oclock) = tickety-bonk 3) Cruise (about 11 oclock) = chufferly-putt Its no longer a source of worry when the boat klunks and scrapes sides, bottoms or even other boats. Passed a boat named LEMEHOCL somewhere on the S&W. I have seen that word before in a pub with Dave Hearmon, once of this parish, and he knows what it means but I have forgotten. Even the massed ranks of Messrs Google & Co only throw up more enquiries as to its meaning. Beeky
