Minus one, plus three!

We probably had a more eventful time on the two days we were moored going nowhere than we usually have when cruising. Our reason for not cruising was the beautiful weather! Which brings me to my minus one.

I am sure most people have had the same high winds and rain that we have been experiencing. On Wednesday we awoke to the sound of our satellite dish rattling on the roof in the wind. We have to detach it from its bracket when cruising but it remains attached by the cable. So Ray said "I'll take that down to stop it annoying us".  After a first cup of coffee, he got dressed and was going to rescue it. Just before he put his shoes on all went quiet. He went out to find the cable with no satellite dish attached. Of course the wind had not been kind enough to blow it onto the bank. So somewhere in the canal at Market Drayton is a satellite dish! That's our minus one!

Some family and friends know that Nimue, our stripey tabby was pregnant. Yesterday she gave birth to three gorgeous kittens, two just like her and the third a black with white markings like her half brother and sister. Mother and babies all doing well, I don't think Nimue has stopped purring since she gave birth to them. So if anyone knows anyone who would like a kitten they should be available towards the end of June, when we will probably be around the Yorkshire/Lancashire borders somewhere. So this is our plus three!

After all the excitement of the past couple of days it was time to make a bit of progress so we ignored the rain and continued our journey. We can stand getting wet for a while so we moved on from Market Drayton towards Audlem. Three hours was enough but that got us through Adderley Locks and the first two of the Audlem Flight. We are moored near the damson tree that provided us with the fruit for last year's jam.

Today's journey 4.7 miles and 7 locks

So far this year we have travelled 250.7 miles, 150 locks, 5 swing bridges and 6 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels


During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels


Since Ray retired we have travelled 1452.4 miles, 1236 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 46 tunnels